The Efficacy and Functions of Honghua (Safflower): Invigorating Blood Circulation, Regulating Menstruation, and Alleviating Pain

The Efficacy and Functions of Honghua (Safflower): Invigorating Blood Circulation, Regulating Menstruation, and Alleviating Pain

Honghua (Safflower) Honghua, the name of a traditional Chinese medicine, refers to the dried flowers of the plant Carthamus tinctorius, belonging to the Asteraceae family. The flowers are harvested in summer when they change from yellow to red, and are then dried in the shade or under sunlight. It is widely cultivated across the country. … Read more

The Efficacy and Functions of Honghua (Safflower)

The Efficacy and Functions of Honghua (Safflower)

Honghua (Safflower) Honghua, also known as Cao Honghua (草红花). Honghua has a unique fragrance and a slightly bitter taste. The best quality is characterized by long petals, bright red color, and soft texture. Honghua is mainly produced in Henan, Zhejiang, and Sichuan provinces. The efficacy and functions of Honghua are primarily manifested in promoting blood … Read more

Understanding Chinese Medicine | Honghua (Safflower) and Zanghonghua (Saffron)

Understanding Chinese Medicine | Honghua (Safflower) and Zanghonghua (Saffron)

Image of Safflower Plant Chinese Medicine Name: Honghua (红花) Alias: Honglanhua (红蓝花), Cihonghua (刺红花), Caohonghua (草红花). English Name: Carthami Flos. Medicinal Part: Dried flowers of the plant Carthamus tinctorius L. from the Asteraceae family. Properties: Warm in nature, pungent in flavor. It enters the Heart and Liver meridians. Functions: Activates blood circulation, regulates menstruation, disperses … Read more

Promoting Blood Circulation and Alleviating Pain with Honghua (Safflower)

Promoting Blood Circulation and Alleviating Pain with Honghua (Safflower)

Author: Wu Qiong, Chief Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy, Southern Theater Command General Hospital; Sun Chunling Editor: Fu Yongjin, Chief Pharmacist, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University Honghua (Safflower) Honghua is a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb with significant medicinal value. Below, I will provide a detailed introduction to the effects, types, usage, and … Read more

Essential Knowledge of Chinese Medicine: Safflower (Honghua)

Essential Knowledge of Chinese Medicine: Safflower (Honghua)

The application and cultivation history of Honghua (Safflower) is long-standing. According to the “Compendium of Materia Medica” (Bencao Gangmu), the blue flower is also known as safflower, and its leaves resemble those of orchids, hence the name. It grows in the Lianghan region and the Western Regions. The “Records of the Great Historian” states that … Read more

Analysis of Honghua (Safflower) in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Analysis of Honghua (Safflower) in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Honghua (Safflower): Also known as: Grass Safflower. 【Source】Dried flowers of the plant Carthamus tinctorius L. from the Asteraceae family. 【Morphological Characteristics】An annual herb, 30-100 cm tall, with a smooth and hairless stem. The stem is erect and branched at the top. Leaves are alternate, nearly sessile, embracing the stem, elongated oval or ovate-lanceolate, 4-9 cm … Read more

Distinguishing Between Honghua (Safflower) and Zanghonghua (Saffron) in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Distinguishing Between Honghua (Safflower) and Zanghonghua (Saffron) in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Zanghonghua (Saffron) and Honghua (Safflower) have names that differ by only one character, yet they are two distinctly different medicinal materials in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Moreover, there is a significant price difference between these two herbs; Zanghonghua (also known as Xihonghua or Crocus sativus) is a precious medicinal herb that is very expensive and … Read more

Learning Chinese Herbal Medicine: Herbal Dyeing (Part Two) – The Red Dye from Safflower

Learning Chinese Herbal Medicine: Herbal Dyeing (Part Two) - The Red Dye from Safflower

The Red Dye from Safflower Red is a color of passion and brightness, symbolizing auspiciousness and happiness. In ancient times, red dyeing often utilized three plants: Honghua (Safflower), Qinci (Madder), and Sumac.Honghua(The stem is erect, branching in the upper part, with lanceolate or elongated oval leaves in the middle and lower parts, which may be … Read more

Overview of Safflower (Honghua)

Overview of Safflower (Honghua)

Safflower, also known as Honghua (Carthamus tinctorius), belongs to the Asteraceae family. The dried tubular flowers are orange-red, with narrow flower tubes that are 5-lobed at the tip. The lobes are linear, and the yellow anthers are fused into a tube that extends beyond the lobes, with a central stigma protruding. It has a distinctive … Read more

Traditional Chinese Medicine: Honghua (Safflower)

Traditional Chinese Medicine: Honghua (Safflower)

Honghua (Safflower) Honghua refers to the dried flowers of the plant Carthamus tinctorius, belonging to the Asteraceae family. The flowers are harvested in summer when they change from yellow to red, and are then dried in the shade or under sunlight. The product consists of tubular flowers without ovaries, measuring 1 to 2 cm in … Read more