Overview
Safflower is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for angina. Kusumbha (Safflower, Carthamus tinctorius) is an important flower used for its dye and oil. The flowers yield a red-orange dye (Carthamin) used in textiles and food coloring. The seeds yield Safflower oil, rich in unsaturated fatty acids. The flowers are used medicinally as an emmenagogue and in joint pains. The plant is thistle-like with spiny leaves. It grows 2-4 feet tall. The oil is used in cooking and for cardiac health. The dried flowers are used in Ayurvedic preparations. Dose: 1-2 tola seeds; flowers externally. Verse: 19.
How Safflower Helps with Angina
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Safflower has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing angina:
- Potency (Virya): Heating
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Pungent
- Taste (Rasa): Pungent, bitter
- Qualities (Guna): Light, dry, penetrating
Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Pungent, bitter
- Quality (Guna)
- Light, dry, penetrating
- Potency (Virya)
- Heating
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Pungent
- Dosha Effect
- KP<, V
- Key Constituents
- Benzoquinone pigments Cartharmone (red colouring pigment) Flavones Lignans Triterpene alcohols Polysaccharides Xylose, fructose, galactose Fatty acids Palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolinic acid (Williamson 2002)
- Also Known As
- English: Safflower
Sanskrit: कुसुम्भ, वह्निशिख
Hindi: कुसुम, कुसुम्भ - Dhatu
- Blood, reproductive
- Srotas
- Circulatory, digestive, female reproductive
▶ Classical Text References (3 sources)
Uma-Kusumbha Taila – (linseed oil and safflower oil) :उमा कुसु भजं चो णं व दोषकफ प तकृत ् । Taila of Uma (linseed) and Kusumbha are hot in potency, produce diseases of the skin, aggravate Kapha and Pitta.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables
(Kukkuta) Chicken and Spotted deer should not be taken along with curds Uncooked meat along with bile radish along with black gram Sheep meat along with leaves of Kusumba herb Germinated grains along with Bisa Lakucha Phala along with black gram soup (masha supa) Banana along with butter milk is not recommended Curds along with Tala phala (Palm date) Pippali, Maricha and honey Kakamachi along with jaggery Black pepper along with fish or during digestion of fish - 33-36.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Anna Raksha Vidhi
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables; Anna Raksha Vidhi
The parasites growing due to the vitiation of shleshma may be caused due to food consisting of milk, jaggery, sesame, flesh of marshy animals, (rice) flour preparations, rice cooked in milk, oil of kusumbha (safflower-Schleichera oleosa), uncooked, putrefied, stale, infected, antagonistic and unsuitable items;
— Charaka Samhita, Vimana Sthana — Specific Medical Principles, Chapter 7: Signs of Morbidity (Vyadhita Rupiya Vimana / व्याधित रूपीय विमान)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Vimana Sthana — Specific Medical Principles, Chapter 7: Signs of Morbidity (Vyadhita Rupiya Vimana / व्याधित रूपीय विमान)
Various other oils — from nimbaka (neem), atasi (linseed), kushumbha (safflower), sarshapa (mustard), karanja, and others — have specific therapeutic actions.
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 45: Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances
Various other oils — from nimbaka (neem), atasi (linseed), kushumbha (safflower), sarshapa (mustard), karanja, and others — have specific therapeutic actions.
— Sushruta Samhita, Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances
Kusumba — pungent, Kapha-destroying.
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 46: Annapana-vidhi Adhyaya - On Food and Drink
Kusumba — pungent, Kapha-destroying.
— Sushruta Samhita, Annapana-vidhi Adhyaya - On Food and Drink
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 45: Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances; Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 46: Annapana-vidhi Adhyaya - On Food and Drink; Annapana-vidhi Adhyaya - On Food and Drink
Safety & Precautions
Contraindications: Pregnancy, as it stimulates the; uterus
Safety: No drug–herb interactions are known but as it is used to thin the blood with an anticoagulant action it should be used cautiously with antiplatelet medication such as warfarin and heparin (Chen & Chen 2004).
Other Herbs for Angina
See all herbs for angina on the Angina page.
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.