▲ Pharmacist Guan discusses Hong Hua
Hong Hua (Carthamus tinctorius) is a commonly used medicinal herb since ancient times. Many people confuse it with Xi Hong Hua (Crocus sativus), but the two differ in both properties and effects.
Although Hong Hua has a wide range of uses, consuming it carelessly may lead to adverse effects, so it should not be taken lightly. Today, we have invited Pharmacist Guan Jinfa, the deputy chief herbalist of Hu Qing Yu Tang, to discuss the clinical applications of Hong Hua.
#01
Pharmacopoeia Knowledge of Hong Hua
Hong Hua is the dried flower of the plant Carthamus tinctorius, harvested in summer when the flowers change from yellow to red, and then dried in the shade or sun.
Characteristics
Hong Hua consists of tubular flowers without ovaries. The surface is reddish-yellow or red. The corolla tube is long and splits into five lobes at the tip, with the lobes being narrow and strap-like. There are five stamens, and the anthers are fused into a tubular shape, yellowish-white; the stigma is long and cylindrical, with a slightly bifurcated tip. The texture is soft.
Taste and Meridian Affinity
It has a faint fragrance, a slightly bitter taste, and is warm in nature. It enters the Heart and Liver meridians.
Functions and Indications
It invigorates blood circulation, regulates menstruation, disperses blood stasis, and alleviates pain. It is used for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, retained lochia, abdominal masses, chest pain due to blood stasis, abdominal pain from blood stasis, stabbing pain in the chest and hypochondrium, trauma from falls, and painful swellings.
Dosage
3-10g.
Precautions
Use with caution in pregnant women.
#02
Clinical Applications of Hong Hua
Blood Stasis, Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
Hong Hua disperses and warms, and can be used in combination with blood-invigorating herbs like Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong) and Tao Ren (Prunus persica).
Chest Pain, Abdominal Pain from Blood Stasis, Hypochondriac Pain
Hong Hua can invigorate blood circulation, regulate menstruation, and alleviate pain, effectively treating pain due to blood stasis in the heart and abdomen.
Trauma and Painful Swellings
Hong Hua is effective in promoting blood flow and reducing swelling and pain, making it a key herb for treating trauma and painful swellings, often used with Mu Xiang (Aucklandia lappa), Su Mu (Sappan wood), Ru Xiang (Boswellia), and Mo Yao (Myrrh).
Dark Rash due to Blood Stasis
Hong Hua can invigorate blood and open the meridians to resolve stasis and eliminate rashes, and is used for dark rashes due to blood heat and stasis, often combined with cooling blood-clearing herbs like Zi Cao (Lithospermum) and Da Qing Ye (Isatis tinctoria).
Historical Medical Texts
Since ancient times, many TCM texts have recorded the properties and effects of Hong Hua. For example, “Xin Xiu Ben Cao” states that Hong Hua “treats locked jaw, blood clots, and various postpartum diseases”; “Ben Cao Hui Yan” records that “Hong Hua is a herb that breaks blood, moves blood, harmonizes blood, and regulates blood.”
How to Select Quality Hong Hua?
What are the characteristics of quality Hong Hua?
✪ Long petals
✪ Red-yellow color
✪ Vibrant appearance
✪ Soft texture is preferred
#03
Legends of Hong Hua
In Xinchang, a woman surnamed Xu fell critically ill after childbirth. Her family invited the famous doctor Lu Riyuan to treat her. When he arrived, the patient was on the verge of death, with only a slight warmth in her chest. After examining her, Lu Riyuan thought for a moment and said:“This is a case of blood stagnation; quickly purchase several tens of pounds of Hong Hua for it to be effective.” He boiled the Hong Hua in a large pot, and after it boiled, poured it into three wooden barrels, placing a window frame over the barrels for the patient to lie on and inhale the medicinal vapor. After the decoction cooled, he reheated it and poured it back into the barrels repeatedly. After a while, the patient’s stiff fingers began to move, and after half a day, she gradually regained consciousness and escaped danger, for which her family was immensely grateful.
#04
Recommended Medicinal Dish with Hong Hua
Hong Hua Fish Head Tofu Soup
Ingredients
6g of Hong Hua, 1 large fish head, 200g of tofu, 200g of Chinese cabbage.
Preparation
1. Clean the fish head and remove the gills; wash the Hong Hua; cut the tofu into 4 cm cubes; wash the cabbage and cut it into 4 cm long sections; place the fish head in a stew pot, add Hong Hua, tofu, cabbage, cooking wine, salt, green onion, ginger, and chicken broth.
2. Bring the stew pot to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 50 minutes over low heat.
Effects
It resolves stasis, opens the meridians, and replenishes Qi and blood. It is suitable for patients with coronary heart disease due to blood stasis to consume.
#05
Additional Herb
Xi Hong Hua (Crocus sativus)
is the dried stigma of the plant Crocus sativus, also known as “Saffron”. It is produced in Europe and Central Asia. In the past, it was mainly imported from India and Iran through Tibet, but it is now cultivated in China.
Xi Hong Hua has effects similar to Hong Hua, and its clinical applications are also largely the same, but it is more potent and has the additional effect of cooling blood and detoxifying, especially suitable for rashes with heat and warm diseases affecting the blood.
Due to the scarcity and high price of Xi Hong Hua, the dosage should be small, generally 1-3g.Use with caution in pregnant women..
About the Author
Guan Jinfa
Quality Director of Hu Qing Yu Tang
Deputy Chief Herbalist
Licensed Pharmacist
Column Introduction
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a treasure of Chinese civilization, having accumulated and innovated over five thousand years, protecting countless descendants of Yan and Huang and making great contributions to human health.
Therefore, Hu Qing Yu Tang has launched the “Pharmacist Guan Talks About Herbs” column to help you understand the traditional Chinese medicine culture that has been passed down for thousands of years.
Editor: Zhang Yiting Image and Text Layout: Zhang Yiting Source: Guan Jinfa Photo Source: Feng Yan Review: Bai Zhu, Guan JinfaDistribution of Hu Qing Yu Tang’s pharmacies and clinics
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