Evidence supporting the use of: Safflower
For the health condition: Congestion (bronchial)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) has a long history of use in traditional medicine, particularly in Chinese and Ayurvedic systems. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), safflower (known as "Hong Hua") is primarily used to invigorate blood circulation and dissolve blood stasis, but it has also been employed in some herbal formulas to address respiratory issues, including bronchial congestion. The rationale in traditional systems is often based on the herb’s reputed ability to promote circulation and reduce inflammation, which may indirectly support clearing congestion. However, direct references to safflower as a treatment for bronchial congestion are limited, and its use for this purpose is not a prominent or primary indication in classical herbal texts.
Scientifically, there is minimal evidence to support safflower’s efficacy for bronchial congestion. Most research on safflower focuses on its cardiovascular benefits, anti-inflammatory properties, and effects on lipid metabolism. A few animal studies suggest potential anti-inflammatory actions, but these do not translate directly to clinical evidence for bronchial congestion in humans. Therefore, while its use for this condition is rooted in traditional practices, particularly within multi-herb formulas, there is a lack of substantial scientific validation. The evidence supporting safflower for bronchial congestion is weak, mostly anecdotal or historical, meriting a low evidence rating.
Other ingredients used for Congestion (bronchial)
AllspiceAloe vera
alpha-pinene
Waterhyssop
basil
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
Indian frankincense
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
caffeine
capsaicinoids
chamomile
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
clove
Coptis chinensis
cowage seed
turmeric
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
ethanol
forsythia
garlic bulb
ginger
grape
onion
green tea
horseradish
Indian tinospora
licorice root
lovage
mustard seed
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
spruce
ophiopogon root
oregano
perilla
phellodendron amurense
platycodon root
pomegranate
quercetin
rosemary
scrophularia root
shiitake mushroom
spearmint leaf
Sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
vitamin C
Yellow root
squawvine
boneset
Mullein
hyssop
cardamom
atractylodes
capsicum
Mugwort
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
inula racemosa
anise
blackboard tree
Szechuan lovage
buckthorn
fritillaria
lemongrass
Yerba santa
elecampane
coltsfoot
chrysanthemum
juniper berries
siler root
sweet flag
oriental arborvitae
Trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
eucalyptus
Menthol oil
aster root
Abies spectabilis
horehound
Sichuan pepper
cayenne pepper
soursop
Alcohol
Agastache
Anamarrhena
alpha-terpineol
Ardisia
Angelica
Allicin
Asarum heterotropoides
Aconite
asafoetida
andrographolide
Adrenergic amines
Asteraceae
Allyl sulfide
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Arisaema
Asarum sieboldii
Alantolactone
atractylone
black seed
Baikal Skullcap
Baphicacanthus cusia
Bidens pilosa
Black spruce
bicarbonate
Blepharis
balsam
bishop\'s weed
Boswellic Acid
bayleaf
black galingale
Barleria
bitter grass
bisabolene
bael
berry
Boswellia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
black salt
bee products
Bombax
Buddha\'s hand
borage
Bupleurum
balloon flower
Belamcanda
borneol
Camellia sinensis
Chinese silkvine
curry leaf
Chinese mountain ant
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Citrus
cineole
cajuput
Chinese raisintree
cowherb
curcumen
Cistus
Curcuma
calamus
cinnamaldehyde
Carthamus
culvers Root
Chondrus
dragonhead
diterpenes
Ephedra
European Elder
Eclipta
Echinacea
Elder
essential oil blend
ephedrine
fang-feng
fat liver oil
fernbush
frankincense
Gnaphalium
gamma-terpinene
Guaco
Gallesia
giant blazingstar
Gardenia jasminoides
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Galangal
Heartsease
honey
heal-all
Hedyotis
Houttuynia
Helicteres isora
Horsemint
iridoids
Isatis
long pepper
Ivy
jungli-bean
Khella
Ledebouriella
Litsea
Lomatium
lichen
Laggera pterodonta
limonene
labrador tea
Ligusticum
linalool
Lewis's monkey flower
Mountain Pepper
Mustard
Marsh Tea
mallow
Monoterpenes
Methylxanthine
Meadow sage
Mucolase
Neoandrographolides
Nigella seed
Nutmeg
Ophiopogon
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Orris
Phellodendron
Pinellia ternata
Pluchea
prepared aconite tuber
Platycodon
Pepper
Paris polyphylla
Peucedanum
Pyrrosia
Piper retrofractum
Piper nigrum
Polygonum
Rubiaceae
ravinsara
reed herb
Sichuan Lovage
Sophora
Scoparia dulcis
Smartweed
Sesquiterpenes
Sweet Annie
Solanum indicum
Sambucus nigra
Sagebrush
Sinigrin
Sandalwood
Stereospermum
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sweet Bay
Sundew
Servicetree
Thymus
Tamaricaceae
Terpinolene
Vervain
Visnea Mocanera
Vasicine
Violet
Viola
Vladimiria souliei
Vasicinone
Wulinshen
Winter Savory
Yerba buena
Zingiberene
Zedoary
Zingerone
Other health conditions supported by Safflower
Abdominal PainAngina
Arthritis
Blood Clots (prevention of)
Bruises (healing)
Bruises (prevention)
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cardiovascular Disease
Cholesterol (high)
Circulation (poor)
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestive Heart Failure
Constipation (adults)
Constipation (children)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Diabetes
Digestion (poor)
Edema
Fatty Liver Disease
Gastritis
Hypertension
Inflammation
Insomnia
Liver Detoxification
Migraine
Pain (general remedies for)
Phlebitis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Triglycerides (high)
Varicose Veins
Wounds and Sores