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Dietary supplement

Safflowers Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Nature's Sunshine

Safflowers label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Safflowers against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Safflowers is a dietary supplement by Nature's Sunshine with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for heart and cholesterol support, skin moisturizing, menstrual cramps.Based on those ingredients, 208 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Safflower. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Safflowers by Nature's Sunshine

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Safflowers by Nature's Sunshine — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Safflowers by Nature's Sunshine

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 11, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: safflower, the flower of a plant traditionally used in herbal medicine. The capsule also contains gelatin and water as inactive ingredients.

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Safflower's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Traditional cardiovascular and respiratory support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Coronary heart disease (CHD), Hypertension, Myocardial infarction, Stroke, Unstable angina, Cholesterol management — and 2 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Safflower is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Unstable angina (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Safflower is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Coronary heart disease (CHD), Hypertension, Myocardial infarction, Stroke.

The evidence we have isn't established. The product facts show insufficient reliable evidence to rate safflower for unstable angina, coronary heart disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and diabetic kidney damage.

That means research to date isn't robust enough to say whether it works for these uses.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Safflower

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Safflower oil in food amounts is generally well tolerated, but concentrated flower extracts and high-dose supplements have less safety data backing them. There's a serious concern in the adverse-effects data: at least seven case reports link high-dose safflower oil to acute liver failure requiring transplant, usually in people taking it for weight loss.

It's unclear what exact dose or how long someone needs to take it to cause liver failure, but the risk is real enough to take seriously. If you're pregnant, medicinal amounts of safflower should be avoided — the flower has traditionally been used to trigger menstruation and may stimulate the uterus.

If you're breastfeeding, there isn't enough reliable data, so it's best to stick to safflower in food rather than supplements.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Safflower

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Safflower.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 208 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before you take this product, check with your pharmacist if you're on blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs — high doses of safflower increase bleeding risk, and warfarin users have experienced bleeding and elevated blood-thinning levels. Also double-check if you're on diabetes medications, since safflower may raise blood sugar.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Safflower is best considered by people without diabetes or blood-clotting disorders who aren't pregnant or breastfeeding. If you're on warfarin, antiplatelet drugs like aspirin or clopidogrel, or diabetes medications, talk to your pharmacist before taking this — the interaction risk is real.

The liver-failure cases are rare but serious, so avoid high doses and don't take it long-term for weight loss.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 25, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Safflowers, straight from the product label.

Brand Nature's Sunshine
Barcode (UPC) 099904006003
Net contents 100 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 25, 2024
DSLD ID 313133
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Kosher
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Safflowers by Nature's Sunshine, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
100
UPC/BARCODE
099904006003
IngredientAmount% DV
Safflower420 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Water

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

General Statements

Bottle made from 100% post consumer recycled material. We are committed to you and our planet. Scan to learn more. We source the world's purest ingredients, no matter where they are grown, to ensure the active nutrients are delivered just as nature intended.

New look! Same great product

Formula

Ko Kosher Service Pareve

Seals/Symbols

Ko Kosher Service Pareve

Guaranteed pure

Formulation

Do not use if inner seal is missing or damaged.

Traditional cardiovascular support Traditional herbal support for the respiratory and glandular systems

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Brand IP Statement(s)

Natures Sunshine Herbal experts since 1972

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Recommended Use: Take 1 capsule with a meal twice daily.

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Safflowers by Nature's Sunshine label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Safflowers label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Safflowers by Nature's Sunshine

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container100 Amounts shown are per serving.

Safflower

Interacts with
208 drugs
420 mg per serving

Safflower is a thistle-like plant used mainly for its seed oil (a common cooking oil) and its colorful flowers. Safflower oil is a reasonable source o...

Safflower monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Gelatin, Water. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Safflowers by Nature's Sunshine Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Safflowers?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
208Drugs
208 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Safflower 208

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Safflowers interact with 208 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Safflowers interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Safflower

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Safflowers with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Safflower3 drug types · 208 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

High doses of safflower oil might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Small clinical studies show that taking safflower oil, approximately 55 grams daily for 2-3 weeks, decreases platelet aggregation. However, taking lower doses of safflower oil, such as 5 grams daily for 4 weeks, does not seem to affect platelet function. In one case report, a 74-year-old male stabilized on warfarin developed urinary tract bleeding and an elevated INR after taking a safflower extract 20 grams daily for 14 days.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, safflower oil might alter the effects of antidiabetes drugs.
Some clinical research shows that taking safflower oil 10 grams daily for 3 weeks can increase fasting blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, clinical research in patients with metabolic syndrome with or without impaired glucose tolerance shows that taking safflower oil 8 grams daily for 12 weeks reduces fasting glucose levels by around 8 mg/dL. Some clinical research also shows that taking safflower oil 8 grams daily for 16 weeks does not affect fasting glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Warfarin

Theoretically, safflower oil might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with warfarin.
In one case report, a 74-year-old male stabilized on warfarin developed urinary tract bleeding and an elevated INR after taking a safflower extract 20 grams daily for 14 days.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Safflower full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Safflowers, from the product label.

Nature's Sunshine

See all Nature's Sunshine products
Name
Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc.
City
Spanish Fork
State
UT
ZipCode
84660
Phone Number
(800) 223-8225
Web Address
naturessunshine.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Safflowers by Nature's Sunshine: Common Questions

Does Safflowers by Nature's Sunshine interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Safflowers has a known interaction with 208 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Safflowers contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take Safflower while I'm pregnant?
No. Medicinal amounts of safflower should be avoided in pregnancy because the flower has traditionally been used to bring on menstruation and may stimulate the uterus. Safflower in food is fine, but supplements shouldn't be taken during pregnancy.
Is it safe to take while breastfeeding?
There isn't enough reliable data to know either way with medicinal safflower during breastfeeding. It's best to avoid supplements and stick to safflower in food. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor for personalized advice.
What are the side effects?
Safflower oil in food amounts is generally well tolerated. The most serious concern is rare: at least seven case reports link high-dose safflower oil to acute liver failure requiring transplant, though it's unclear exactly what dose triggers this. Avoid high doses and long-term use, especially for weight loss.
Does this actually work for anything?
The evidence we have isn't established. We don't have reliable evidence to say whether safflower works for unstable angina, heart disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, or diabetic kidney damage. More research is needed.
Why is this just one ingredient?
This product contains only safflower flower as the active ingredient. The capsule itself is made from gelatin and water, which are inactive fillers that hold the supplement together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Safflowers is safe with your meds?

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Safflowers label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Safflowers’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Safflower

Interacts with 208 drugs

Safflower is a thistle-like plant used mainly for its seed oil (a common cooking oil) and its colorful flowers. Safflower oil is a reasonable source of unsaturated fats, but strong proof tha...

Read the full Safflower monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Safflowers's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 14 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Safflower 14 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  3. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  4. Borkman M, Chisholm DJ, Furler SM, et al. Effects of fish oil supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in NIDDM. Diabetes 1989;38:1314-9.. PubMed
  5. Amato, P. and Quercia, R. A. A historical perspective and review of the safety of lipid emulsion in pregnancy. Nutr Clin Pract. 1991;6(5):189-192. PubMed
  6. Demke, D. M., Peters, G. R., Linet, O. I., Metzler, C. M., and Klott, K. A. Effects of a fish oil concentrate in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Atherosclerosis 1988;70(1-2):73-80. PubMed
  7. Kaji, K., Yoshida, S., Nagata, N., Yamashita, T., Mizukoshi, E., Honda, M., Kojima, Y., and Kaneko, S. An open-label study of administration of EH0202, a health-food additive, to patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Gastroenterol. 2004;39(9):873-878. PubMed
  8. Kwon, J. S., Snook, J. T., Wardlaw, G. M., and Hwang, D. H. Effects of diets high in saturated fatty acids, canola oil, or safflower oil on platelet function, thromboxane B2 formation, and fatty acid composition of platelet phospholipids. Am.J.Clin.Nutr. PubMed
  9. Lloyd-Still, J. D., Simon, S. H., Wessel, H. U., and Gibson, L. E. Negative effects of oral fatty acid supplementation on sweat chloride in cystic fibrosis. Pediatrics 1979;64(1):50-52. DOI
  10. Challen, A. D., Branch, W. J., and Cummings, J. H. The effect of aspirin and linoleic acid on platelet aggregation, platelet fatty acid composition and haemostasis in man. Hum Nutr Clin Nutr 1983;37(3):197-208.
  11. Asp ML, Collene AL, Norris LE, Cole RM, Stout MB, Tang SY, Hsu JC, Belury MA. Time-dependent effects of safflower oil to improve glycemia, inflammation and blood lipids in obese, post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-masked, cro
  12. Liu Y, Liu S, Shi Y, et al. Effects of safflower injection on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of warfarin in rats. Xenobiotica. 2017 Oct 25:1-6. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed
  13. de Ataide EC, Reges Perales S, de Oliveira Peres MA, et al. Acute liver failure induced by Carthamus tinctorius oil: Case reports and literature review. Transplant Proc. 2018;50(2):476-477. PubMed
  14. Ruyvaran M, Zamani A, Mohamadian A, et al. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) oil could improve abdominal obesity, blood pressure, and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. PubMed

See these in context on the Safflower monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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