Uses:

1. Purges Phlegm, Damp and Water:

-Purges Phlegm and cleanses the Chest: Cough, Asthma and difficulty breathing from excess Phlegm
-Edema, Fluid Retention;
-Gravel and Stones
-mildly laxative (especially the cold-pressed oil)
-“It ‘cleanses’ the chest and clears the voice” (Avicenna)
-‘purges Phlegm and Bile’ (Galen)

2. Clears Wind-Damp, clears Melancholy:

-Rheumatism
-Numbness, Paralysis
-vitiligo and black spots, psoriasis
-purges Melancholy

3. Moves the Blood, Benefits Heart:

-Expressed oil is good for the Heart, Hypertension and high Cholesterol
-used for Sclerosis and Hardness

4. Benefits Kidneys:

-oil and seed are said to increase Sperm.
-loss of sexual desire. (Avicenna)

5. Resists Poison:

-taken orally for Scorpion sting (Avicenna)

Main Combinations:

1. Constipation:
i. Safflower seed, Figs (equal parts)
ii. Safflower seed with Fig, Almond, Aniseed, Figs, native Sodium carbonate (Dioscorides)
iii. Safflower seed, Costus, Bitter Almond (Avicenna)
iv. Safflower seed, Almond, Honey (Avicenna)
v. Safflower seed with Fig, Almond, Senna, Fennel and Ginger (as in Electuary of Safflower seed of Unani)
2. To purge Bile, Phlegm and Damp:
i. Safflower seed is ground and taken with Barley water (Galen)
ii. Safflower seed, Aniseed and/or Bitter Almond (Galen)
iii. Safflower seed, Costus and Bitter Almond (Avicenna)
iv. Safflower seed with Senna, Rhubarb, Agaric mixed with Syrup of Rose Solutive.
v. Agaric, Chebulic Myrobalan, Turbith, Safflower seed, Ginger, Aniseed, Mastic, Clove, Cinnamon (Mesue)
3. To purge Burnt Phlegm, Safflower seed with Fig and Honey. (Avicenna)
4. Clear Phlegm from the Lungs, Safflower seed, Almond, Pine nut, Honey, as a Lohoch (licking medicine).
5. Jaundice, Safflower seed with Wormwood, Chicory (Pemell, 1652)
6. Hardness of the Kidneys, Safflower seed with Horehound seed, Linseed, Fenugreek, Safflower seed

Major Formulas:

Infusion to Purge Phlegm more Compound (Mesue)
Syrup of Senna Compound
Syrup to Purge all Humors of Frankfurt
Powder for Hardness of the Kidneys
Electuary Diacarthamus
Species Diacarthamus

1. Syrup of Safflower Seed Solutive.
i. Safflower seed bruised (4 oz.), Water (6 lbs.). Boil to 4 pounds, adding towards the end Senna (4 oz.), Aniseed (half ounce). Dissolve in the strained decoction White Sugar (2 lbs.). Clarify and boil to a syrup. (Pharmacopoeia Hispana, 1798)

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