Carrier Oils For Aromatherapy

 Safflower Oil

Latin name: Carthamus tinctorius L,.

Family: Asteraceae (Compositae)

Etymology:

Tinctorius means of dyes or belonging to dyers. Carthamus is modern Latin and is derived from the Arabic quetum and the Hebrew qarthami, meaning to dye, to colour (reader's Digest 1985). Synonyms are American saffron, false saffron, bastard saffron, dyers' saffron.

The Plant and its environment

The safflower is a tall annual plant with an orange-yellow flower - hence the English name, which is a shortened form of saffron flower. It is related to the lettuce, sunflower, artichoke, chicory and daisy, and is sometimes referred to as American saffron (indeed, it has been used to adulterate saffron, hence another common name 'bastard saffron' ),. It is a plant of antiquity, and has always been highly regarded; safflower seeds have been discovered in Egyptian tombs up to 3000 years old. Both the flowers and the seeds have been used in the dyeing of material.

Producers include Mexico, India and the United States, although the quantities produced, while by no means insignificant, are far below that of the chief oil crops (Bruneton 1995).

The Oil :A fluid, unsaturated oil which is a pale to rusty yellow in colour, with a make up similar to that of sunflower oil.

Method of Extraction

Produced by cold expression of seeds.

Principal Constituents

Physical properties

Folk-lore and traditional Uses

The natural pigments safflomin and carthamine (or vegetable red) have a long history in dyeing and in the manufacturing of paints and cosmetics; it is used today in making of rouge and other make-up in Algeria. The leaves and seeds are capable of making milk curdle, thanks to a special enzyme . The oil has been used as a lamp oil. The flowers are laxative and diaphoretic ( Wren 1975).

Therapeutic properties - internal use

Use of safflower oil aids prevention of chronic degenerative diseases such as arteriosclerosis, arthritis and coronary thrombosis (Bartman1996) or those suffering with angina and circulatory problems. The oil is also helpful in cases of bronchial asthma and nephrosis. Safflower is reputed to have diuretic properties and safflower tea has sudofific properties ( ie it promotes sweating).

Therapeutic properties - external use

Eczema and rough skin (Bartram 1996)

Culinary use

The keeping qualities are poor and it is unstable at elevated temperatures it is therefore not good for most culinary purposes except as a salad dressing. It is however useful as a food supplement as it is a rich source of esential fatty acid.

Cautionary notes

Safflower oil has no known contraindications.

Reference: Carrier Oils for Aromatherapy and Massage: Len Price with Ian Smith & Shirley Price