Safflower, also called false saffron, is a plant belonging to the Aster family grown in Asia and Europe, North America and Australia. Safflower is a fast growing, thistle plant that grows to a height of between 60cm and 1.30m.

In Egypt, safflower was already used to dye fabrics around 3500 BC. The petals containing red carthamin and yellow carthamidin are often referred to as “saffron substitute.” The oil from the seeds was used in the antiquity for making ointments. In the 13th century, the Romans brought the safflower to Central Europe, where the flowers were used for coloring foods, but also for medicinal purposes. At the beginning of the 20th century, the plant was completely replaced as a dye by chemicals. The cooking oil has a high content of polyunsaturated linoleic acid and vitamin E, but oxygenates quickly and should be refrigerated immediately.

Medical use of safflower tea:
The flower-leaves yield a very tasty tea with a fruity-sweet flavor.

Safflower petals is well known in Chinese traditional medicine infused as a tea. Clinical studies have shown effects on leukemia, hepatitis and migraines. Safflower flowers have a stimulating effect on the heart and circulation. They also possess antipyretic (cooling) and analgesic features, and they are said to have aphrodisiac properties. In Thailand, in this context, a tea called “Love Potion No. 1″ is offered, whose main component are the flowers of the safflower.

European folk medicine used safflower flowers as a treatment of menstrual and climacteric conditions, indigestion, jaundice and measles, wounds, inflammation and joint pain. Although safflower tea is given to babies for flatulence, the tea is not recommended during pregnancy.