Safflower Petals (Hong Hua)

Safflower is a herb with deep roots in traditional Chinese medicine.  It is more widely known as a type of oil here in the United States, though the use of the petals is gaining in popularity for its significant health and medicinal value.

Historically, safflower petals have been used both internally (as an herbal tea) and externally.  It has been considered useful in treating circulatory problems, hypertension, heart conditions, rheumatism, and fertility problems in both men and women^[1].  One study has shown that safflower petals provide an anti-inflammatory response in the body^[2] as well as anti-tumor activity^[3].  The safflower is also used in conjunction with Western medicine (i.e. beta blockers) to treat cerebrovascular and coronary heart disease^[4].

Safflower contains a variety of fatty acid compounds: alpha linoleic acid, palmitic acid, gamma linoleic acid, decanoic and dodecanoic acid^[5].  Carthamin, one of the molecular compounds of the safflower plant has been shown to have a free radical scavenging and neuroprotective (nerve protection) effect^[6].

Battle Balm^® contains 100% Certified Organic Safflower as one of its 20 key ingredients.  It's just one of the hand selected herbs used to reduce inflammation, protect nervous function, provide essential fatty acids, perform as a topical pain reliever and more.  This herbal ingredient is part of the synergistic blend to help Battle Balm^® knock out the competition!

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References

1. Li Dajue and Hans-Henning Mündel. 1996. Safflower. Carthamus tinctorius L. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. 7. Institute
   of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben/International Plant Genetic
   Resources Institute, Rome, Italy.
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20848677 (Protective effect of dried safflower petal aqueous extract...)
3. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.2650080603/abstract (Carthami flos extract and its component, stigmasterol, inhibit tumour...)
4. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2011/207076/ (Effects of Flos carthami on CYP2D6 and...)
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10646633 (Safflower petals: a source of gamma linoleic acid)
6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19082884 (Antioxidant and neuroprotective activities of...)