Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine and other traditional healing systems for promoting circulation and preventing blood stasis, which is sometimes interpreted as the prevention of blood clots. In traditional Chinese medicine, safflower is known as "hong hua" and is commonly included in herbal formulas aimed at "invigorating blood" and resolving blood stasis, often used for conditions such as amenorrhea, traumatic injuries, and pain associated with blood stagnation. The traditional rationale is based on the herb’s purported ability to “move” blood and prevent it from “pooling” or clotting abnormally.

Scientific evidence supporting safflower’s effect on blood clot prevention in humans is limited and generally of low quality. Some in vitro and animal studies suggest that safflower and its constituents (such as safflower yellow pigments and hydroxysafflor yellow A) may have antithrombotic and anticoagulant properties, possibly by inhibiting platelet aggregation and promoting fibrinolysis. However, robust clinical trials in humans are lacking, and the efficacy and safety of safflower for this purpose have not been established in modern medicine. Thus, while its use is well-documented in traditional systems, scientific validation remains preliminary, and caution is warranted, especially for individuals taking anticoagulant medications due to potential interactions.

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