Safflower is an annual oilseed crop that grows to a height of 30 to 150 cm. Also known as false saffron, dyer’s saffron, American saffron, bastard saffron, Mexican saffron and zaffer, the plant is cultivated in Iran, Northwest India, North Africa, Far East and North America. The plant blooms in mid summer and bears brilliant yellow, orange or red tubular flowers, along with long, spiny leaves. The seeds of safflower are rich in oleic acid and vitamin E and produce edible oil that is nutritionally known to be similar to olive oil. The safflower oil is considered to be a healthy choice for losing weight, improving heart health and maintaining healthy skin and hair. The flowers are used for making tea and help in maintaining good health.
Nutrition and Health Benefits of Eating Safflower:
Nutrition and Health Benefits of Eating Safflower:
- Consumption of safflower helps in boosting immune system, thereby giving strength to fight against diseases and infection.
- It is useful for relieving the symptoms of fever and is used as a drug for treating measles.
- Safflower is known to be a good uterine tonic and hence, is used for treating premenstrual syndrome and correcting irregular menstrual cycles.
- Since it contains very low saturated fatty acids, safflower oil helps in reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood.
- Safflower paste is applied on the skin to provide relief from mild skin inflammations, rashes, and so on.
- Safflower oil is considered to be a good remedy for acne prone skin, reducing dryness of the skin and nourishing skin with moisture.
- Due to its richness in polyunsaturated fatty acids and essential fatty acids, safflower oil is used for massaging the scalp and the hair. This results in dilating the blood vessels in the scalp, improving blood supply to the scalp and supplying more nutrients to the hair roots.
- A teaspoon of safflower kernels, when mixed with six shelled almonds and honey is used for treating constipation. The same dose has also been beneficial for young, weak and pregnant women.
- Safflower is a very effective aphrodisiac and hence, helps in the treatment of sexual debility. For this, powdered safflower seeds should be mixed with pistachio nuts, honey and almonds. This mixture when taken with milk, every day before going to bed, improves sexual vigor and thickens semen.
- Infusion of the flowers when combined with honey and consumed helps in treating asthma.
- A mixture of ½ teaspoon of powdered safflower seeds and one tablespoon of honey helps in treating bronchial asthma. The mixture should be consumed once or twice a day.
- Safflower also acts as an expectorant and thus, reduces the spasms by liquefying the tenacious sputum.
- A brew made from safflower foliage is taken for preventing abortion and female sterility.
- Safflower is also known to reduce pain, fever and enlarged breasts.
- Safflower should not be consumed by pregnant women, as it can induce bleeding.
- Safflower should not be taken by patients with peptic ulcers or hemorrhagic illnesses, since it can prolong blood clotting time.
