Safflower ~ Premium Quality
SAFFLOWER
VITAMINS, HERBS, DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS A-Z LISTSAFFLOWER
Other Name(s):
Alazor, American Saffron, Bastard Saffron, Benibana, Benibana Oil, Benibana Flower, Cártamo, Carthame, Carthame des Teinturiers, Carthamus tinctorius, Chardon Panaché, Dyer's Saffron, Fake Saffron, False Saffron, Hing Hua, Honghua, Huile de Carthame, Kusumbha, Kusum Phool, Safflower Nut Oil, Safflower Oil, Safran Bâtard, Safranon, Zaffer, Zafran.
Effects Precautions Interactions Dosing
OVERVIEW
Safflower is a plant. The flower and oil from the seeds are used as medicine.
Safflower seed oil is used for preventing heart disease, including “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis) and stroke. It is also used to treat fever, tumors, coughs, breathing problems, clotting conditions, pain, heart disease, chest pain, and traumatic injuries. Some people use it for inducing sweating; and as a laxative, stimulant, antiperspirant, and expectorant to help loosen phlegm.
Women sometimes use safflower oil for absent or painful menstrual periods; they use safflower flower to cause an abortion.
In foods, safflower seed oil is used as a cooking oil.
In manufacturing, safflower flower is used to color cosmetics and dye fabrics. Safflower seed oil is used as a paint solvent.
How does it work?
The linolenic and linoleic acids in safflower seed oil might help prevent “hardening of the arteries,” lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Safflower contains chemicals that may thin the blood to prevent clots, widen blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and stimulate the heart.
USES & EFFECTIVENESS
Possibly Effective for...
High cholesterol. Some research suggests that taking safflower oil as a dietary supplement or substituting it for other oils in the diet helps lower total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol. However, it does not seem to lower other blood fats called triglycerides or raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol.
Possibly Ineffective for...
Low birth weight. Some research suggests that adding a specific safflower oil product (Safola by Marico Industries Ltd.) to infant formula or breast milk does not improve weight gain or skin thickness in low birth weight infants.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for:
Cystic fibrosis. Early research shows that taking safflower oil by mouth for one year does not improve test markers or severity of cystic fibrosis in children.
Diabetes. Early research shows that taking safflower oil by mouth for 3 weeks can increase blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Safflower oil does not seem to affect insulin levels or insulin sensitivity.
High cholesterol that is passed down through families (familial hypercholesterolemia). Evidence about the effects of safflower oil in treating high cholesterol that is passed down through families is conflicting. Some early research suggests that replacing dietary butter with safflower oil decrease “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in people with this condition. Other research shows no beneficial effects.
Hepatitis C. Early research suggests that taking a specific product containing safflower, pumpkin seeds, plantain seeds, and Japanese honeysuckle (EH0202) by mouth for 3 months reduces general discomfort, bloating, nausea, and vomiting in people with hepatitis C. However, the amount of hepatitis C virus present in the body does not appear to be affected.
High blood pressure. Evidence about the effects of safflower oil on blood pressure is conflicting. Some early research suggests that taking safflower oil by mouth for 6-8 weeks lowers blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. However, other evidence suggests that taking safflower oil is not effective for lowering blood pressure.
A scaly skin condition (phrynoderma). Early research suggests that taking safflower oil containing vitamin E and linoleic acid by mouth for more than 8 weeks can improve skin dryness and roughness in people with phrynoderma.
Fever.
Tumors.
Coughs.
Breathing problems (conditions that affect the breathing tubes called bronchial tubes).
Blood circulation disorders.
Pain.
Menstrual disorders.
Chest pain.
Traumatic injuries.
Constipation.
Abortions.
Other conditions.
