Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Lepidium sativum L.

Family

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)

Synonym(s)

Lepidium spinescens DC.

English name(s)

Garden Cress

Arabic Name(s)

habb el-rashad حَب الرشاد
rashad zira'i رشاد زراعي
rashad رشاد

Hebrew Name(s)

shakhalayim tarbutiyim

שַׁחֲלַיִם תַּרְבּוּתִיִּים

Life Form

Annual

Habitat

Disturbed habitats

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Other Uses

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Lepidium sativum L.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Dermatological	Maculopapular lesions (Heb; "ava'bu'ot"; according to Z = poxes/ pustules in eruptive disease.)	Anti-Infective	Grind seeds & apply to affected area.	Seed	Z
Gastrointestinal	Abdominal pain & dysentery	Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal, Anti-spasmodic	Mix powdered seeds of Lepidum sativum + seeds of "yansun" (Pimpinella sp.) + "kammun" (cumin) + za'atar farsi (Thymbra?capitata); add + sugar & eat x1 teaspoon/day before meals.	Seed	Z
Gastrointestinal	Appetizer	Stomachic	Eat fresh leaves with salad.	Leaf	B
Gastrointestinal	Improve digestion/ increase appetite/ strengthen stomach	Carminative, Stomachic	Eat seeds.	Seed	Z
General	Bitter	Bitter	Eat seeds with salads & foods.	Seed	Z
General	Oedema	Anti-hydropic	Cook seeds + "yansun" (Pimpinella sp.) + "kammun" (cumin) + "za'tar sabbali" (Thymbra spicata) & drink.	Seed	Z
General	Strengthen body	Tonic	Grind seeds & eat + honey.	Seed	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Diuretic	Diuretic	Eat seeds.	Seed	Z
Mental Health	Improve mood	Anti-depressant	Eat seeds + salads & foods.	Seed	Z
Mental Health	Nervousness	Anxiolytic	Mix powdered seeds + alum (usually hydrated double sulfate salt) + egg white; spread on body with lambs wool.	Seed	Z
Musculoskeletal/ joints	Joint pain in inflammation & rheumatism	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	Eat seeds.	Seed	Z
Nervous system	Severe headache	Analgesic	Grind seeds, mix + vinegar or lemon juice & spread on forehead every 90 min or several times.	Seed	Z
Opthalmic	Inflammed & swollen eyes	Anti-inflammatory	1. Mix powdered seeds + egg, apply to cloth & bandage eye. 2. Mix powdered seeds + olive oil & apply as compress/ poultice.	Seed	Z
Pain Relief	Pain in body	Analgesic	Mix powdered seeds + alum (usually hydrated double sulfate salt) + egg white & spread on body with lambs wool.	Seed	Z
Respiratory	Cough & expectorant	Anti-tussive, Expectorant	1.Grind seeds, dilute in milk & drink. 2. Prepare water based extract/ infusion & drink hot. 3. Boil powdered seeds in water & drink.	Seed	Z
Sexuality	Decrease sexual appetite	Anti-libido	Prepare infusion of leaves & drink.	Leaf	B
Sexuality	Increase virility	Aphrodisiac	Mix powdered seeds of the following: Lepidum sativum + Alpinia officinarum + Terminalia chebula + Myristica fragrans + Raphanus; add boiled honey with froth removed & eat x1 teaspoon daily for 4-6 days without coming into contact with a woman.	Seed	Z
Women`s Health	Pregnacy pain	Analgesic	Mix seeds + egg & drink.	Seed	Z
Women`s Health	Promote/ hasten menstruation	Emmenagogue	Cook seeds in water + "dar sini" (Cinnamomum cassia) + "aqar qarha" (Anacyclus pyrethrum); drink stew daily morning & evening.	Seed	Z
Wound Healing	External wounds	Vulnerary	Grind seeds & apply to affected area.	Seed	Z
Wound Healing	Purulent lesions /wounds	Anti-Infective, Vulnerary	Mix powdered seeds + onion + oil & bandage lesion with preparation. After removal of pus apply powdered seeds to lesion/wound.	Seed	Z

Other Uses

Lepidium sativum L.

System/State	Complaint / Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/Administration	Parts Used	Source
Culinary	Condiment	Seasoning	Eat seeds with salads & foods.	Seed	Z

System/State

Complaint / Use

Activity / Interpretation

Traditional
Preparation/Administration

Parts Used

Source

Culinary

Condiment

Seasoning

Eat seeds with salads & foods.

Seed

The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.

Notes

1. Z notes " this plant is good only if the man does not have a stomach ulcer. Otherwise it is harmful."
2. In the System /State : Sexuality note that leaves of Lepidum sativum are used to decrease "sexual appetite" (Anti-libido) according to B, while its seeds mixed with several other plants are used to increase virility according to Z. (Aphrodisiac)

Cautions

Lepidums sativum in large doses can irritate gastrointestinal mucous membranes. Seed extracts may be teratological. Roots may contain imidazole alkaloids shown to affect hormonal systems and/or sexual behavior in laboratory studies in-vivo.