safflower Overview Information
Safflower is a plant. The flower and oil from the seeds are used as medicine.
Safflower seed oil is used for preventing heart disease, including “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis) and stroke. It is also used to treat fever, tumors, coughs, breathing problems, clotting conditions, pain, heart disease, chest pain, and traumatic injuries. Some people use it for inducing sweating; and as a laxative, stimulant, antiperspirant, and expectorant to help loosen phlegm.
Women sometimes use safflower oil for absent or painful menstrual periods; they use safflower flower to cause an abortion.
In foods, safflower seed oil is used as a cooking oil.
In manufacturing, safflower flower is used to color cosmetics and dye fabrics. Safflower seed oil is used as a paint solvent.
How does it work?
The linolenic and linoleic acids in safflower seed oil might help prevent “hardening of the arteries,” lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Safflower contains chemicals that may thin the blood to prevent clots, widen blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and stimulate the heart.
safflower Uses & Effectiveness 
Possibly Effective for:
- Reducing cholesterol. Taking safflower oil as a dietary supplement seems to lower total and “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. However, it does not seem to lower other blood fats called triglycerides or raise “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
Insufficient Evidence for:
- Fever.
- Tumors.
- Coughs.
- Breathing problems (conditions that affect the breathing tubes called bronchial tubes).
- Blood circulation disorders.
- Pain.
- Menstrual disorders.
- Chest pain.
- Traumatic injuries.
- Constipation.
- Inducing sweating.
- Causing abortions.
- Other conditions.
safflower Side Effects & Safety
Safflower appears to be safe for most people.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Safflower seed oil seems to be safe to take by mouth during pregnancy. But don’t take safflower flower. It can bring on menstrual periods, make the uterus contract, and cause miscarriages.There isn’t much information about the safety of using safflower seed oil or flower during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Bleeding problems (hemorrhagic diseases, stomach or intestinal ulcers, or clotting disorders): Safflower can slow blood clotting. If you have any kind of bleeding problem, don’t use safflower.
Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Safflower may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking safflower.
Surgery: Since safflower might slow blood clotting, there is a concern that it could increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using safflower at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
safflower Interactions
Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination
- Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with SAFFLOWER
Large amounts of safflower might slow blood clotting. Taking safflower along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
safflower Dosing
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:
- For high cholesterol: Safflower oil as a dietary supplement.
