Safflower is a popular component of traditional Chinese medicine. Safflowers consist of long, tubular stems, with flowers that are orange, red or yellow in appearance. In China, safflowers are grown in the Henan, Hubei, Sichuan and Zhejiang provinces. The flowers are picked from the plant in the summer, after the petals turn bright red, and are dried in the shade for herbal medicine.
Safflower contains several fatty acids, including linoleic acid and linolenic acid. In traditional Chinese medicine, safflower is considered pungent and warm, and is associated with the Heart and Liver meridians. Its functions are to invigorate the blood and release stagnation, to promote circulation, and to promote menstruation. Modern uses for safflower include abdominal pain and swelling, postpartum pain, dysmenorrheal and amenorrhea. It is often used with peach seed, angelica root and red peony as part a larger formula.
Safflower oil is sometimes used to treat arteriosclerosis. In addition, it is often employed as a cooking oil. In industry, safflower flowers are used to color cosmetics and dyes, while safflower seed oil is used as a paint solvent.
The typical dosage of safflower is between 3 and 10 grams, depending on the condition being treated. Some practitioners also recommend safflower oil, but in much smaller doses (less than 1 gram).
Whole or cut dried safflower petals can be found at most herbal shops and Asian markets. Safflower is also available as a powder or concentrated extract.
Safflower should always be taken with caution. The American Herbal Products Association has given safflower both a class 2B rating (meaning it should not be used during pregnancy) and a 2D rating (indicating that it should not be used by patients with hemorrhagic disease or peptic ulcers). Safflower may also prolong the coagulation time of blood, so it should be used with caution by people on blood thinners. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking safflower or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.
References
Governor Gavin Newsom has retracted the proposed budget cuts to the Medi-Cal acupuncture program for low-income Californians for the 2024-2025 budget year. This decision marks a significant victory for health care providers and advocates who have long championed acupuncture as a vital component of comprehensive medical care.
There’s no doubt that many of your patients visit your practice because they are in pain. And there’s certainly no doubt that curcumin from turmeric (Curcuma longa) can be incredibly effective in stopping that pain, whether due to chronic conditions like arthritis or acute pain from intensive workouts. But your patients may also benefit from curcumin for other reasons.
| Digital Exclusive
Fair and appropriate wages in health care are typically based on economic evaluations. A simple literature review illuminates that acupuncture is missing economic evaluations; which implies you are either underpaid or overpaid. The complexity of services provided by most American acupuncturists, which they are trained and certified to provide, must be reimbursed fairly.
