【Alias】 Hong Lan Hua, Ci Hong Hua, Cao Hong Hua
【Source】This product is the dried flower of the Asteraceae plant Hong Hua (Carthamus tinctorius L.).
【Harvest】Harvest the tubular flowers in summer when they change from yellow to red, taking care not to damage the base ovary. Remove impurities and dry in the shade or with gentle heat; the best quality is soft and deep red. (Harvesting should be done early in the morning when the dew has not dried and the bracts are soft, but not too early.)【Meridians】
Heart and Liver meridians.
【Properties】Spicy, warm.
【Main Functions and Indications】
Invigorates blood circulation, regulates menstruation, disperses blood stasis, and alleviates pain. Used for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, retained lochia, abdominal masses, traumatic injuries, and painful swellings.
① “Tang Ben Cao”: “Treats locked jaw, blood stasis, and various postpartum diseases.”② “Kai Bao Ben Cao”: “Mainly used for postpartum blood stasis, locked jaw, abdominal pain with retained blood, and stillbirth, to be taken with wine. Also used for toxin-induced bleeding.”③ “Ben Cao Meng Quan”: “For throat obstruction and choking, crush and swallow the juice.”④ “Gang Mu”: “Invigorates blood, moistens dryness, alleviates pain, disperses swelling, and regulates menstruation.”⑤ “Ben Cao Zheng”: “Helps with difficult-to-express blood heat from measles and stagnant blood from rashes.”⑥ “Ben Cao Zai Xin”: “Promotes urination and reduces swelling, stabilizes pregnancy, and expels dead fetus.”【Cautions】Contraindicated for pregnant women.【Pharmacological Effects】Analgesic and sedative effects, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anti-tumor, improves myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction,anticoagulant, inhibits thrombosis formation.【Dosage and Administration】 Internal use: decoction, 3-6 grams; in powder or tincture form, fresh juice can be crushed. External use: ground into powder and sprinkled. 
【Differences】Safflower vs. Hong Hua
1. Source
Safflower: Also known as Western saffron, it belongs to the Iridaceae family, and in Uyghur medicine, it refers to the upper part of the saffron flower column and stigma, while in Chinese medicine, it specifically refers to the dried stigma of saffron.
Hong Hua: Also known as red-blue flower or prickly safflower, it belongs to the Asteraceae family and is the tubular flower harvested when the flower changes from yellow to red.
2. Dosage Differences
Safflower: It has a prominent stimulating effect on the human nervous system, but excessive dosage can harm the nervous system and, in severe cases, threaten life. The commonly used dosage in clinical practice is 1-3 grams.
Hong Hua: In comparison, the dosage is significantly higher. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia specifies the common dosage as 3-10 grams.
3. Contraindicated Populations
Safflower: Pregnant women and menstruating women are contraindicated from using safflower. It can stimulate the uterus, leading to complications such as miscarriage. Additionally, it can increase the risk of heavy bleeding, diarrhea, and abdominal pain during menstruation.
Hong Hua: Similarly, pregnant women and menstruating women should avoid Hong Hua due to its blood-invigorating properties, which can increase the risk of premature birth, uterine contractions, and vaginal bleeding, affecting both maternal health and fetal development. During menstruation, it can increase menstrual flow, leading to excessive bleeding and even anemia. Furthermore, as a warm property herb, it should not be used by those with heat symptoms to avoid exacerbating the condition.
4. Efficacy Differences
Safflower: It has effects of invigorating blood, relieving depression, and cooling blood to detoxify, commonly used for postpartum stasis, anxiety, and amenorrhea.
Hong Hua: Its main functions are to invigorate blood circulation and alleviate pain, commonly used for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, traumatic injuries, and painful swellings.
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