Hong Hua - 红花 - Flos Carthami - Safflower
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Flos Carthami |
| Common English: | Carthamus Safflower Saffron |
Category
Herbs that Regulate the Blood: Herbs that Invigorate the BloodProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid (Slightly Bitter) (Sweet) | Warm (Lukewarm) | Heart Liver (Lung) | 3-10g 12-15g = a large dose 0.9-1.5g when harmonizing Blood Tincture: 2-4ml Add toward the end of decocting. |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Dispels Blood Stasis, Invigorates the Blood, Opens the channels, Unblocks menstruation and alleviates pain | Blood Stasis, especially in women for gynecological problems such as abdominal pain, amenorrhea, postpartum dizziness, retained lochia and abdominal masses Trauma, non suppurative sores, carbuncles and dark, purplish erythema Incomplete expression of rash of measles Chest Bi due to Blood Stasis |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong | Lignum Sappan | Rx. Rehmanniae |
Chest and abdominal pain due to Qi and Blood Stasis. | Trauma with pain and swelling. | Eye redness, swelling and pain. |
| Hb. Leonuri | Rz. Sparganii | Rx. Arnebiae/Lithospermi |
Blood Stasis with abdominal pain or postpartum lochiostasis. | Abdominal masses and accumulations. | Measles with purple rash. Toxic swellings, carbuncles and boils. |
| Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae | Lignum Sappan | Sm. Persicae |
Induces labor. | Promotes the movement of Blood and unblocks menstruation. Traumatic injury with painful, swollen bruises or hematomas. Coronary Heart disease. | Invigorates the Blood for all types of Blood Stagnation such as dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, swollen painful sores and chest and abdominal pain. |
Sm. Persicae | Fol. Nelumbinis | Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae |
Menstrual pain or amenorrhea. | Postpartum dizziness or abdominal pain from Blood Stagnation. | Stillbirth or difficult labor. |
Rz. Alpiniae Officinarum | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Rx. Bupleuri |
Epigastric or abdominal pain. | Abdominal pain. | Hepatomegaly. |
Pheretima | Ram. Mori | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Bi syndrome. | Hemiplegia. | Macular eruption. |
Lignum Santali Albi | ||
Chest pain and angina. |
Notes
- In large doses it dispels Blood Stasis; in small doses it harmonizes the Blood.
- Stigma Crocus Sativa (Tibetan saffron) Fan Hong Hua or Xi Hong Hua is more potent and more costly than this herb, and is used for severe Blood Stasis with chest pain.
- Rouge is made from the dried flower of this herb.
- It is a potent activator of the Blood.
- Gynecological problems are its most frequent application.
- Good saffron is also produced in Spain and Iran.
- According to some sources, this herb induces labor.
- Studies have shown that it inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
- It moistens Dryness and harmonizes the Blood to soothe Liver constraint. Large doses break up the Blood, while small doses gently move and nourish it.
- For ceruminitis with persistent fetid pus, grind 0.3g of Hong Hua with 30g of Alumen Ming Fan into powder and pack it into the ear.
- It is also said that a water decoction of this herb nourishes the Blood, while a wine decoction removes Blood Stasis.
- Hong Hua and Hb. Leonuri Yi Mu Cao both invigorate the Blood and enter the Blood Levels of the Heart and Liver channels. Hong Hua is warm, invigorates the Blood more strongly, reduces swelling and, in large doses, powerfully breaks up Blood Stasis. Yi Mu Cao is slightly cold and gently cools Blood Heat when the Heat is linked to Stagnation. It also promotes urination.
- Hong Hua and Lignum Sappan Su Mu act in similar ways. Hong Hua is slightly warm and harmonious, whereas Su Mu is slightly cool.
- Flos Crocus Sativa Fan Hong Hua is sweet and cold and enters the Heart and Liver channels. Its functions resemble those of Hong Hua, but it is far stronger at invigorating and cooling the Blood, eliminating Blood Stasis and clearing Heat toxin. It is often used when Heat Attacks the Ying and Xue levels with maculae and high fever. Because it is expensive, it is rarely used. The dosage is 1.5-3g.
- The related herb Zang Hong Hua (Crocus Sativus, saffron) moves the Blood and unblocks menses in severe conditions, cools the Blood and resolves toxicity; its dosage is 1.5-6g.
- Paired with Tao Ren as a Dui Yao for heart or chest pain, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation.
From Class
- Blood movers: Dan Shen, Chuan Xiong, Hong Hua, Tao Ren, Mo Yao, Ru Xiang, Yu Jin: Pericardium-affinity blood invigorators; resins (myrrh, frankincense) help heal wounds inside the vessels. (Gioioso)
- Xiao Cheng Qi Tang (+ Hong Hua per Wang Qingren): Shang Han Lun formula for heat in the heart: Da Huang 2–12 g drains fire and invigorates blood, Zhi Shi 2–15 g dissipates clumps, Hou Po moves qi. (Gioioso)
- Safflower oil (Hong Hua): For blood issues — varicose veins, cardiovascular, gua sha medium; breaks up blood stasis (arteriosclerosis). (Yuen)