SAFFLOWER (alazor carthamus tinctorius)

	S
	SAFFLOWER
	*alazor carthamus tinctorius*

Name
SAFFLOWER

Scientific Name
alazor carthamus tinctorius

SAFFLOWER

The safflower is a showy grass pertaining to the family of the tubulifloras composed ones. Usually it does not reach more than half meter of height, and its stem straight and is raised; the leaves have oval and lanceolada form between. It throws great small heads, surrounded by the superior leaves. The flowers are of intense a yellow color, and with time they become orange. The fruits have prismatic form, with a narrow base and an inferior length to 1 meter. One grows up cultivated in certain zones of Catalonia, Murcia, Valencian community and Andalusia, being also asilvestrado throughout.

It blooms in summer, during all the station. With medicinal aims they interest the flowers and the fruits. The flowers of the small heads are collected just before they are marchiten and they take to dry as soon as is possible; if it is not had dryer, the drying will become in the shade. As far as the fruits, they take shelter when the plant is going to dry itself.

In the fruits abundant insaturadas fats exist. These fats are obtained by prensación of the fruit, rendering until a 23% of safflower oil. As far as the flowers, most characteristic of them they are the colorantes matters: red (called red of safflower) and a other yellow; this last one widely has been used like falsification of saffron. In addition, the flowers also contain flavonoides and a arctiosido called bitter principle, that is in all the plant. The safflower oil has been used much like laxative laxative or, based on the doses; but this oil reunites a series of characteristics that him make deserving of a hipocolesterolemiante action. In effect, by his great not saturated fatty acid predominance, one is used to reduce the excess of cholesterol in blood. In general, the insaturadas fat use very is recommended for everybody, independently of which some type of hipercolesterolemia is taken place or not, that is to say, that abnormally stays the cholesterol levels high in blood. These fats are mainly in blue fish, vegetal oils, etc. Other actions of this plant, less known, must to present compounds in the flowers; these exert a antifúngica action and antinematodes. In India, this plant is used of external form like analgesic. In any case, the main virtue of the safflower is based in being a good laxative; but like always, it has to always be used sporadically and under medical supervision, like when it is used to reduce the cholesterol.

Formerly they were extracted both colorantes that before we mentioned: with the yellow the wool was dyed; but the color varied with the solar light, reason why it was done without his use.

Infusion: From the flowers; a small spoonful of flowers is added to a boiling water cup. They are possible to be taken up to 3 cups to the day.

Emulsion: With the fruits, crushed and after letting them rest, a laxative or laxative emulsion is obtained, based on the amount that is taken.

Oil: The oil is used in the normal feeding, after receiving a suitable treatment.

Laxative. Laxative. Hipocolesterolemiante.

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