What Is the Difference Between Safflower and Saffron? Explained Clearly in One Go
At the mention of saffron, everyone is surely familiar with it; many people use it in daily life, and because its name differs from safflower by only one character, people mistake them for the same thing, but they are not. So what is the difference between safflower and saffron?
Difference one: different family and genus
Safflower is a plant of the Asteraceae family, Carthamus genus, also known as honghua, duhonghua, and jinhonghua; saffron is a perennial flower of the Iridaceae family, Crocus genus, and also a spice, also known as xihonghua and fanhonghua.
Difference two: different medicinal parts
The medicinal part of safflower is the tubular florets; the medicinal part of saffron is the stigma at the top of the flower's pistil.
Difference three: different effects
Safflower has the effects of promoting blood circulation and menstruation, and dispersing blood stasis and relieving pain, and can be used for symptoms such as amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, chest impediment and heart pain, blood stasis abdominal pain, and traumatic injuries; saffron has the effects of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, cooling blood and detoxifying, relieving depression and calming the mind, and beautifying the skin, and is often used for symptoms such as irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and postpartum blood stasis abdominal pain. In addition, it can also prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and regulate liver and kidney function.
Difference four: different usage and dosage
The dosage of safflower is larger, generally measured in grams; the dosage of saffron each time is relatively small, and if used to steep in water, only 3-5 strands can be steeped each time.
The main uses of safflower include steeping in liquor, making up prescriptions, and soaking feet; the main uses of saffron include brewing tea, steeping in liquor, cooking porridge, making soup, making up prescriptions, and applying as a face mask.
Difference five: different price
Safflower generally costs several tens of yuan per jin and is sold by the jin; saffron is sold by the gram, generally several tens of yuan per gram, which is several tens of thousands of yuan per jin.
Difference six: different places of origin
Safflower is a native plant in China, mainly produced in Henan, Hunan, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Tibet and other places; saffron is an introduced plant, native to the ancient Persia region, and present-day Iran, Iraq and other places.