The Benefits and Precautions of Safflower, and Its Price

1. The Benefits of Safflower

(1) Positive Effects on the Cardiovascular System

1. Improvement of Cardiac Function

• Safflower (Honghua) can strengthen heart contractions, which is beneficial for patients with myocardial ischemia. It can relieve spasms of vascular smooth muscle and enhance tolerance to hypoxia, thereby helping to maintain normal cardiac pumping function.

Regulation of Vascular Status

• Safflower helps to lower cholesterol, improving the internal environment of blood vessels and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Additionally, it can partially prevent the further development of thrombosis, ensuring vascular patency.

(2) Anti-Inflammatory Effects

• Safflower contains anti-inflammatory active components that effectively inhibit bodily inflammation. Its active ingredients can influence immune function by antagonizing PAF receptors, increasing NO levels in the body, scavenging oxygen free radicals, and antagonizing various inflammatory factors, potentially providing value in the auxiliary treatment of various inflammation-related diseases.

(3) Effects on Blood Coagulation and Thrombosis

• Safflower can prolong prothrombin time and coagulation time in the blood, thereby improving thrombotic conditions. This has positive implications for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as reducing the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction.

(4) Effects on Women’s Health

1. Relief of Menstrual Discomfort

• Many women use safflower to alleviate menstrual pain, bloating, and other discomforts. It helps regulate the menstrual cycle and can improve issues such as amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea.

Postpartum Recovery

• Postpartum, safflower can be used to treat conditions such as retained lochia, promoting uterine recovery and reducing the retention of postpartum blood stasis.

(5) Treatment of Trauma

• Safflower is a commonly used herb for treating trauma. When the body suffers an injury resulting in bruising and swelling, safflower can promote blood circulation in the injured area through its blood-activating and stasis-dispelling effects, alleviating pain and swelling.

(6) Other Benefits

• Safflower also has the effects of dispersing stagnation and cooling blood to detoxify, which can improve symptoms such as chest obstruction, heart pain, blood stasis, joint pain, stroke paralysis, and purpura.

2. Groups of People Who Should Avoid Safflower

(1) Pregnant Women

• Safflower has blood-activating and stasis-dispelling effects, which can easily lead to miscarriage if consumed by pregnant women. It should be avoided during all stages of pregnancy, as safflower can stimulate the smooth muscles of the uterus and intestines, promoting uterine contractions, which may lead to premature labor or miscarriage if consumed in late pregnancy.

(2) Women with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

• Due to safflower’s blood-activating and menstrual-regulating properties, women with heavy menstrual bleeding may experience an increase in menstrual flow, potentially leading to anemia and other health issues.

(3) Patients with Bleeding Tendencies

• For patients with hereditary bleeding disorders such as hemophilia or those taking anticoagulant medications, consuming safflower may exacerbate bleeding tendencies and affect health.

3. The Price of Safflower

• The price of safflower varies based on factors such as origin, quality, and market supply and demand. Generally, the market price of safflower ranges from several dozen to over a hundred yuan per kilogram. If processed into medicinal products, the price per gram can vary significantly depending on the brand and dosage form (such as safflower pills or powders), ranging from a few yuan to several dozen yuan per gram. For safflower-based health products, prices may also fluctuate based on ingredients, advertised benefits, and packaging. However, specific prices need to be determined based on local market conditions and purchasing channels.