Carthamus tinctorius

Family: Asteraceae

Part used: seed

Base oil: can be used 100 percent

Safflower is native to India. The plant grows about 3 feet high and has orange-yellow flowers. The flower heads yield a red and yellow dye, the seeds produce an oil, and the leaves are eaten as a vegetable. Approximately 75 percent of the oil consists of linoleic acid, which is an essential fatty acid that plays an important nutritional role in the body. It has been noted for its ability to slow down digestion and allow the food to combine with the digestive enzymes for proper assimilation.

Practical uses: good for all skin types. The carrier/base oil is used to dilute essential oils in aromatherapy for massage oils and other formulations.

Therapeutic Properties: analgesic, depurative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensor, regenerator, stimulant (uterine), tonic

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