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Safflower – a plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. This plant is ancient, it was used in ancient Egypt for the mummification of pharaohs. Also safflower is called wild or American saffron, dye thistle. Most often, safflower is an annual plant, a two-year life cycle is rarely observed.
Safflower can reach a length of 1,5 meters, although there are very small plants that do not exceed 40 cm in height. The grass stem is straight, has a white glossy color. The leaves are large, have an oblong shape with solid edges, bordered with thorns. The flowers are orange or deep yellow, tubular. The safflower fruit is represented by an oval white achene.
Safflower grows as a weed, but is also grown as a cultivated plant. In Russia, grass is found in the Caucasus, Crimea, Kherson, Kursk and other regions. Safflower is actively cultivated in Spain, Egypt, China, Africa and America.
Useful properties of safflower
The beneficial properties of safflower are due to the chemical composition of the flowers and seeds of the plant. So, in the flowers there are chalcone glycosides, among which: cartamidine, cartamin, isocartamin. The seeds, in turn, contain 60% fatty oils.
Safflower is used in the pharmacological industry, as the herb has a number of medicinal properties:
A decoction of safflower herb is used to get rid of chronic constipation. It improves intestinal motility, contributes to the normalization of its microflora.
It is recommended to use safflower infusion as an auxiliary treatment for erosive and ulcerative lesions of the stomach and intestines. The tool can be used for gastritis, as well as for various forms of hepatitis.
Safflower has a diuretic effect. In this regard, it is recommended to use it both for general cleansing of the body of toxins and other decay products, and for the treatment of diseases of the urinary system. Infusions and decoctions based on safflower help get rid of edema.
Through the use of safflower, you can improve blood circulation in the body. The plant has the ability to thin the blood, which is the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke.
Safflower is used as a prophylactic against the threat of developing psoriasis and malignant tumors. The substances included in its composition contribute to the normalization of metabolic processes in the body, cleanse the liver and kidneys from decay products, and have antitoxic properties.
It is recommended to use safflower for the treatment of gynecological diseases, for the normalization of the menstrual cycle, for amenorrhea in adolescence. Safflower is able to relax smooth muscles, it is recommended as an adjuvant for heavy bleeding during menopause, with prolonged postpartum bleeding.
As part of complex therapy, safflower is used to get rid of endocrine pathologies. In particular, safflower oil helps to quickly get rid of extra pounds, which is especially important for diabetes.
Infusion and decoction of safflower helps to reduce the rheumatic pains characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, decoctions and infusions based on the flowers of the plant can be taken orally and used externally.
The immune defense of the body is enhanced, the immune response is normalized with the proper use of medicines based on safflower.
So, safflower is used for medicinal purposes to achieve a diuretic, choleretic, laxative, blood-thinning effect.
Useful properties of safflower used in the food industry. Safflower flowers are widely used to obtain a dye that is safe for human health – red, yellow, saffron. The coloring agent is cartamin. Dyes are used in the food industry, they are added mainly to confectionery products to give them the desired color. The oil extracted from safflower is used to make margarine. Its flowers are used to make medicinal tea.
Useful properties of safflower used in cosmetology. For the cosmetic industry, safflower oil is of particular value. It consists mainly of linoleic acid, which has a moisturizing effect, nourishes and strengthens the skin, enhances its blood circulation.
Properties of safflower honey
Safflower is not considered a honey plant, so it should be planted together with other honey plants. Flowers appear from mid-summer and bloom until the end of August. If the conditions are favorable, then from 5 hectares of safflower, daily bees can produce up to 2,5 kg of honey.
The properties of safflower honey are as follows:
Honey contains a significant amount of potassium and iodine, somewhat less sodium, manganese, copper, calcium, phosphorus, selenium and other minerals. Amino acids, enzymes, proteins, dextrins, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin PP, B vitamins are present in safflower honey. In addition, it contains fatty acids: palmitic, lauric, arachidonic, oleic and others.
Safflower honey is used in cosmetology and medicine, masks and applications are made from it for scabies, dermatitis, rosacea, burns, psoriasis, and lichen. honey helps prevent age-related changes in the skin, prevents its aging, and has a tonic effect.
Useful masks based on safflower honey for hair and scalp. They improve hair nutrition, make them smoother and shinier. As part of complex therapy, safflower honey helps to combat baldness.
Inside, honey is taken not only as a treat, but also as a prevention of such diseases as: thrombophlebitis, arterial hypertension, heart attack, stroke, amenorrhea, endometritis, gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and intestines, enterocolitis.
Compresses with honey help with arthritis, helping to reduce pain, relieve inflammation.
The use of natural safflower honey will help in the treatment of tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis. It is advisable to take it orally for the treatment of any colds. If honey is mixed with warm milk, then you can get a mild analgesic effect on a sore throat. In addition, honey has a bactericidal and mucolytic effect.
To maintain immunity, it is useful to drink a glass of water with honey diluted in it every morning on an empty stomach (2 teaspoons per glass). You can enrich this immune-boosting drink with lemon juice. Such a useful habit will have a positive effect on metabolism, metabolism will normalize, it will be possible to improve appetite, reduce swelling.
If you take safflower honey before going to bed, you can get rid of insomnia, reduce the negative impact on the psyche of stress, and more effectively relieve nervous tension.
Safflower honey should be purchased only from trusted manufacturers who value their reputation and will not allow it to be spoiled by releasing a fake. You should not choose honey for its bright orange color, as freshly extracted safflower honey has a transparent consistency and a slight yellow tint when viewed in the sun. Solidified safflower honey has a greasy texture and a light yellow color.
safflower tea
Safflower tea is brewed from the flowers of the plant. Its long-term use contributes to the provision of a pronounced diuretic effect, and so strong that a person is able to experience the urge to urinate with an empty bladder. In this case, the use of tea should be abandoned for two weeks.
It is recommended to drink safflower tea for heart failure, anemia, numbness of the upper and lower extremities. If you drink tea for six months, you can get rid of the manifestations of these diseases, according to Chinese traditional medicine.
Benefits of safflower tea:
Normalization of the digestive process;
Prevention and treatment of gastritis, ulcers, hepatitis C;
Improving the nutrition of the skin;
Cleansing the liver and kidneys;
analgesic effect;
Blood thinning;
Elimination of the consequences of strokes;
Normalization of blood pressure;
Increase in general tone.
Store safflower tea in a dark, cool place. It should not be brewed with other teas. To prepare a drink, you need to place a quarter of a teaspoon of tea in a cup and pour boiling water over it. The time for tea to infuse is from 20 minutes to half an hour. After that, the drink is filtered and drunk. It is good to drink a cup of safflower tea at night. Nevertheless, even during the daytime, the benefits of tea will be invaluable: in addition to all the above properties, it works as an intestinal antiseptic, effectively destroying pathogenic bacteria that enter it from the outside.
Another variation of safflower tea is safflower water. It is an effective treatment for psoriasis. This requires that some part of the safflower is always present in drinking water. To prepare it, you need 4 liters of boiled water, to which a teaspoon of dry raw materials is added. Then the resulting composition is boiled for several minutes, cooled, filtered and put in the refrigerator. Drink at least 4 glasses of this water per day.
Application of safflower oil
Safflower oil is extracted from the seeds of the plant by cold pressing. It contains about 80% linoleic acid, which is useful for humans, but is not synthesized by the body itself. In addition, the oil contains other useful acids.
Application of safflower oil:
Taking oil inside can improve appetite, lower blood cholesterol levels. This is an excellent prevention of atherosclerosis.
Oil is a source not only of useful acids, but also of vitamin E, vitamin K.
Use safflower oil to get rid of extra pounds. The decomposition of subcutaneous fat occurs due to the action of the conjugated form of linoleic acid.
Safflower oil is used as a mild laxative when taken orally.
The oil, when applied to the skin, works as an antioxidant. It is ideal for the care of dry sensitive skin, softening and moisturizing it. Oil retains moisture inside the epidermis, regulates the hydro-lipid balance of the skin.
The oil, when used locally, is able to eliminate the capillary pattern and rosacea, improve skin color. At the same time, it acts systematically, influencing the cause of the problem.
Safflower oil is used as a sunscreen.
Apply oil to care for thin, dry hair. It allows you to renew their structure, restore their strength, brilliance and beauty.
Oil can be used in cooking for cooking any dishes: sauces, salads, dressings, side dishes, etc. You can bake and fry on its basis.
Safflower oil is used as follows:
In its pure form, or as an additive to the balm and shampoos (a tablespoon of oil per 100 ml of product) to improve hair;
As a base for a night cream for dry skin care;
To improve the properties of cosmetics (10-20% of the oil from the total volume of the selected product);
As an additive to anti-aging cosmetics (up to 25% of the total volume of the selected product);
As a base oil for massage;
As a basis for applications in the treatment of rosacea.
Planting and caring for safflower
Planting and caring for safflower is not difficult. The plant is not demanding on the soil, is not afraid of weeds, it can be planted after any cultivated plants that have grown in this place before. However, next time you can sow safflower in the same place only after five years.
The soil should be prepared in advance, in the fall. At the same time, you need to apply nitrogen fertilizers, which safflower prefers. It will be necessary to harrow and dig up the soil not only in autumn, but also in spring, before planting.
Before making seeds in open ground, they are treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This must be done a month before sowing. Seeds can be sown as early as April. The plant is frost resistant. The distance between the rows should be at least 50 cm. The first shoots can be seen 7-14 days after planting, and the plant will begin to bloom after 2 months.
The plant has a strong root system, so it tolerates drought well. Watering safflower should be no more than once a week, it is best to do this in the evening. The condition for good growth of safflower is the absence of weeds. Weeding and loosening should be carried out at the time when the first 4 leaves appear. Spraying grass is not recommended. You can feed the safflower with a solution of manure. No further special processing is required.
Harvest should be after it is fully ripe. Safflower is resistant to diseases and pests, so its cultivation is not difficult. The collected grass is dried and stored in a dark, well-ventilated area.
Contraindications to the use of safflower
Contraindications to the use of safflower are as follows:
History of uterine bleeding. To stop uterine bleeding, safflower can be used only after consulting a doctor and under his supervision.
The period of gestation. The use of safflower during pregnancy threatens miscarriage and premature birth, since the substances that make up the plant can relax the smooth muscles of the uterus.
Chronic diseases that require systematic medication.
Gastrointestinal disorders, diarrhea. The fact is that safflower has the ability to increase intestinal motility, which, with diarrhea, can lead to dehydration.
Individual intolerance to plant components.