Qurtam کرتم

Description

Qurtam at sknatural is Carthamus tinctorius Linn. It belomgs to family “Compositae /Asteraceae”. It is warm and dry in first order/warm in second order, dry in the first. Generally, people use its seeds and flowers.

Safflower, a highly branched, herbaceous, thistle-like annual plant, undergoes commercial cultivation for the extraction of vegetable oil from its seeds. The plants reach heights ranging from 30 to 150 cm (12 to 59 in) and produce globular flower heads with yellow, orange, or red flowers. Usually, each branch bears from one to five flower heads, each containing 15 to 20 seeds. Indigenous to arid environments with seasonal rain, safflower thrives in such conditions due to the development of a deep taproot

Properties:

Concoctive and purgative of phlegm, expectorant, clears the irritative conditions of bronchial tubes and voice, aphrodisiac and semenagogue, emmenagogue, diuretic, antiflatulent.

Other names:

Arabic Name(s): Bizr Qurtum
Urdu Name(s): Qurtum, Qurtum Kusanbah, Kussum, Pawari
English Name(s): Wild Saffron

Recommended dosage:

Flowers 5-7 g.

Medicinal uses:

Qurtum’s flowers and seeds act as concoctive and purgative agents for catarrhal affections of phlegmatic origin. They effectively treat conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, abdominal dropsy, anasarca, and spasmodic colicky pain.

A hot infusion of dried flowers serves as a diaphoretic for jaundice, nasal catarrh, and muscular rheumatism. Conversely, a cold infusion of flowers functions as a laxative and tonic in measles, assisting in the rise of eruptions in certain fevers.

The seeds aid in rheumatism and, when combined with honey, effectively address respiratory catarrhal affections, clearing the throat of phlegm and tenacious mucus, and relieving hoarseness of voice. Additionally, they serve as diuretics and are components of emmenagogue, aphrodisiac, and semenagogue preparations.

People cook tender leaves and stems as vegetables. The oil extracted from the seeds, a valuable edible oil, is used in cookery, although it may be adulterated with clarified butter or ghee. When mixed with sesame oil, it acts as a useful remedy for itch and is applied to painful joints.