safflower

Safflower is a plant whose beneficial properties have been known to man for more than one millennium. The plant got its scientific name "dyeing safflower" due to the fact that it has been used since ancient times for coloring various materials. Other names for this flower can be found in the literature, for example, "American saffron" or "wild thistle". In other languages, the name of this plant sounds like this:

• English - safflower;
• French - Le Carthame des teinturiers, Safran des teinturiers;
• German - Die Färberdistel, Saflor, Öldistel, Färbersaflor, Falscher Safran.

Safflower is a herbaceous plant with a fairly massive stem and fleshy leaves covered with thorns. Safflower can reach 150 cm in height, but is usually much lower. A distinctive feature of the plant are large, fluffy inflorescences of bright orange color. They contain dyes. When the safflower fades, the seeds ripen - oblong white seeds.

The genus Safflower has about two dozen species, among which only one is cultivated - dye safflower, to which this article is devoted. All the rest are wild or weedy and do not represent benefits from the point of view of application in everyday life, medicine or cooking.

The birthplace of safflower is considered to be Africa or South Asia.It is currently distributed in Egypt, India, Western Europe, the Middle East, China, Uzbekistan, the Americas, and Russia. Safflower prefers warm climates and needs plenty of sunlight.

Safflower is usually sold as part of various herbal preparations or teas, which can be bought at a pharmacy or in stores selling herbal products. In addition, safflower oil can be found on sale, which also has medicinal properties.

• dark yellow or orange;
• mild, bittersweet taste;
• floral scent.

• glycosides
• sodium
• potassium
• calcium
• iron
• magnesium
• vitamin A, D, B12, B6 and C.

• is a mild laxative;
• has a diuretic effect;
• has a choleretic effect;
• calms the nervous system;
• tones;
• relieves inflammation;
• normalizes the menstrual cycle;
• reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood;
• is an effective emetic;
• has an antibacterial effect;
• lowers blood pressure.

When treating with drugs prepared on the basis of safflower, you need to be especially careful, as this plant does not combine well with certain medications, especially anticoagulant drugs. In addition, safflower is contraindicated in:

• pregnancy;
• reduced blood clotting.

Safflower seeds are a useful product that has found application in various areas of human life. Usually safflower seed is used as an alternative to sunflower seeds - as a source of fatty oil.In addition, safflower seeds are fed to poultry.

Vegetable oil is extracted from safflower seeds, which is characterized by a high percentage of nutrients. Safflower oil is colorless and odorless and has a slightly bitter taste. Safflower oil is used in cooking, folk medicine, as well as in various industries. The drug contains a large amount of linoleic acid, which has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular activity of a person and lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood. Safflower oil is a dietary product and is recommended for use by patients with diabetes.

A decoction of safflower flowers is also called safflower tea. It helps to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as restore the functions of the liver and kidneys. To prepare the infusion, you need to take ¼ tsp. dry, crushed flowers and pour a glass of water. You need to insist such tea under the lid for half an hour. Safflower tea is recommended to drink once a day, before going to bed.

• in cooking, safflower oil and flowers of the plant are used;
• safflower is a great alternative to saffron;
• safflower oil does not smoke well, so cooks like to use it for deep-fried dishes;
• in the East, with the help of petals, plants color products in yellow or orange;
• salads are seasoned with safflower oil;
• dried safflower petals are seasoned with meat, poultry and fish dishes;
• safflower goes well with legumes and cereals;
• Safflower petals are added to black, green, flower or herbal teas.

Flowers, seeds and oil of safflower are used in folk medicine for the treatment and prevention of various kinds of ailments, including:

• diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• dysmenorrhea;
• amenorrhea;
• endometriosis;
• cardiac ischemia;
• pneumonia;
• jaundice;
• gastritis;
• rheumatism;
• skin lesions;
• intestinal inflammation;
• stomach ulcer.

• For the relief of psoriasis you can make safflower water. The recipe is simple: pour 4 liters of clean water into a saucepan and bring to a boil; add 1 tsp. dried safflower flowers and boil for another 4-5 minutes; cool and strain. Drink at least 4 glasses of safflower water per day. It keeps in the refrigerator for several days.
• To avoid constipation, It is recommended to take safflower oil orally. You can add it to various dishes, or you can take it in its pure form. One tbsp is enough. in a day.
• To relieve exacerbation of chronic gastritis, prepare safflower infusion. To do this, put in a thermos 2 tsp. dried, crushed flowers and pour a glass of boiling water. Steep for an hour, then strain. Drink 1 tbsp. infusion 3 or 4 times a day after meals.

Cosmetics, which contain flowers or safflower oil, are characterized by a wide spectrum of action:

• moisturize and nourish the skin;
• improve blood circulation and thus give the skin a healthier color;
• have an antioxidant effect;
• treat minor inflammations;
• effective in skin peeling;
• heal microcracks;
• fight skin diseases;
• make hair smoother and shinier;
• prevent hair loss.

Recently, a diet that includes the use of safflower oil has gained popularity.This product is especially effective for people with diabetes and for women who have crossed the threshold of menopause. Daily use of safflower oil will not lead to rapid weight loss, but it will lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, as well as help eliminate some digestive problems. Safflower oil normalizes metabolic processes and has a cleansing effect on the body. In combination with other measures that promote weight loss, safflower oil can be simply an indispensable product in the fight against excess weight.

In the old days, a special dye was prepared from safflower flowers, with the help of which cotton and silk fabrics were dyed. In this way, it was possible to quickly achieve the desired shade of yellow, orange or red.

Safflower is rarely found in the garden. Usually the plant is grown on an industrial scale, setting aside entire fields for crops. In addition, safflower can be used in landscaping or for making bouquets of dried flowers. Safflower is propagated by seeds. Seeds can be planted from mid-spring directly into the ground, as the plant does not tolerate transplanting. Safflower needs warmth and lots of sunshine. It is drought tolerant but does not like waterlogged soil. It is necessary to ensure that the plant receives enough nutrients - do not forget to periodically fertilize the soil.

• Safflower oil is used to make margarine and linoleum.
• In ancient Egypt, it was customary to mummify the dead pharaohs and noble citizens. For this, special strips of fabric were used, dyed with safflower flowers.
• Once in the Astrakhan province there was a very rainy summer, as a result of which almost the entire sunflower crop perished. Then safflower was able to successfully replace it, since oil is extracted from the seeds of the plant, which is similar in its characteristics to sunflower oil.