kausumbha :

Close-up of the flowers Photograph by: Pseudoanas

Use in other system of medicine:

Culinary

- Dye from flowers used as substitute for saffron, for coloring food. Not valued as a spice.

- Oil from the seeds is a valuable and edible oil.

- In China, young shoots eaten in time of scarcity.

Folkloric

- Hot infusion of dried flowers used as a diaphoretic in jaundice, nasal catarrh and muscular rheumatism.

- Cold infusion used as a laxative and tonic in measles and scarlatina to favor efflorescence of eruptions.

- In Indochina, flowers are given for dysmenorrhea and paralysis, as tonic and emmenagogue.

- In China, plant is used as abortifacient and to expel retained placenta.

- Plant boiled in sesamum oil is used as remedy for itches.

- Medicated oil prepared from the plant used as external application for rheumatism and paralysis.

- Flowers used for hair growth.

- In Punjab, seeds used as diuretic and tonic.

- In Thailand used as herbal tea to reduce cholesterol and prevent atherosclerosis.

- In Korea, seeds used as folk medicine to enhance bone formation or prevent osteoporosis.

Others

- Dye: Dye is impermanent; colors silk a brilliant scarlet, but is not permanent. Used in the preparation of toilet rouges. for which it is mixed with powdered talc.

- Oil: Oil from the seed used in making soap and candles; also used as lubricant and in candle-making.

- Ice cream pigment: The addition of carthamidin (0.06 mL) in ice cream scored higher overall acceptability.

- Cosmetics: Safflower oil, rich in essential omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid is included in skin care products and bath oils

Kotakkal Ayurveda - Mother land of modern ayurveda

kausumbha - Carthamus tinctorius Linn. - Asteraceae

kausumbha :

Use in other system of medicine:

Medicinal Plants