Saffron, Honghua, Flos Carthami

Saffron, Honghua, Flos Carthami Carthami Flos (Honghua) or Safflower is the dried flower of Carthamus tincatrius L., family Asteraceae (Compositae).

Carthami Flos can stimulate the uterine smooth muscle. Its mechanism may relate to the excitement of H1 histamine and alpha-adrenergic receptors. It has estrogen-like effect, improving blood flow through anti-platelet aggregation, anticoagulant, and promoting fibrinolysis. Carthami Flos can stimulate heart function, increase coronary blood flow, increase capillaries microcirculation and dilate blood vessels. It has anti-myocardial ischemia and anti-myocardial infarction activities. Carthami Flos also can deserve liber lipid, has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-oxidative activities. Pungent in flavor, warm in nature. Enter heart and liver channels. Invigorate blood and clear channels, remove blood stasis and relieve pain.