Hóng Huā (红花), known in English as Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), is a warm, acrid Chinese herb from the Invigorate blood category. It enters the Heart and Liver channels. Its main action: invigorates Blood, dispels stasis.
| Pinyin | Hóng Huā (Hong Hua) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 红花 |
| English | Safflower |
| Botanical name | Carthamus tinctorius |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid |
| Channels | Heart, Liver |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; excessive menstrual bleeding; no Blood stasis |
Actions
- Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis
- Unblocks menses, relieves pain
Indications
- Amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea from Blood stasis
- Post-partum abdominal pain
- Blood stasis chest Bi
- Trauma
How to remember Hóng Huā
Invigorate blood herbs are mostly bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Liver channel: like most Invigorate blood herbs
- Learn by heart
- Warm: Invigorate blood herbs vary in nature
- Acrid: unusual for Invigorate blood herbs (most are bitter)
- Heart channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Hóng Huā
Other Invigorate blood herbs
- Dān Shēn
- Chuān Xiōng
- Táo Rén
- É Zhú
- Sān Léng
- Rǔ Xiāng
- Mò Yào
- Yán Hú Suǒ
- Chuān Niú Xī
- Huái Niú Xī
- Jiāng Huáng
- Yù Jīn
- Zé Lán
- Yì Mǔ Cǎo
- Wáng Bù Liú Xíng
- Jī Xuè Téng
- Gǔ Suì Bǔ
- Wǔ Líng Zhī
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Hóng Huā?
Hóng Huā is warm and acrid.
Which channels does Hóng Huā enter?
Hóng Huā enters the Heart and Liver channels.
What are the actions of Hóng Huā?
Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis; Unblocks menses, relieves pain.
What is Hóng Huā used for?
Amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea from Blood stasis; post-partum abdominal pain; Blood stasis chest Bi; trauma.
Which formulas contain Hóng Huā?
Xuè Fǔ Zhú Yū Tāng and Gé Xià Zhú Yū Tāng.
Practise Hóng Huā and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.