Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Nerium oleander L.

Family

Apocynaceae

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Oleander

Arabic Name(s)

dafla دفلى

Hebrew Name(s)

harduf ha-nekhalim

הַרְדּוּף הַנְּחָלִים

Life Form

Phanerophyte shrub

Habitat

Humid habitats

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Nerium oleander L.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Cardiovascular	Heart disease (including heart pain & strengthening heart).	Analgesic, Cardiac	1. Prepare infusion of leaves & drink. 2. Heart pain: prepare tea by cooking leaves in water & drink. 3. Strengthening Heart: decoct leaves in water, strain & drink 1 cup x3/day. (TOXIC See CAUTIONS).	Leaf	Z
Dermatological	Dressing for skin infections caused by scabies/ pox/ measles/ pruritus/ blisters	Anti-Infective, Anti-pruritic	1. Decoct dried leaves (can add "qutran" = Pix liquida/coal tar) & apply mixture as dressing to skin. 2. For itching (pruritus): cook leaves in water & apply directly to skin.	Leaf	Z
Dermatological	Eczema	Anti-inflammatory	Boil leaves, filter, cool & apply externally as ointment to affected area x3/day.	Leaf	B
Dermatological	Itchy skin	Anti-pruritic	Decoct leaves & apply filtrate as ointment x3/day until healed.	Leaf	B
Dermatological	Ringworm of scalp (Tinea capitis)	Anti-fungal	Apply latex to affected area.	Latex	Z
Gastrointestinal	Haemorrhoids	Anti-haemorrhoidal	Boil flowers in olive oil & spread on anus.	Flower	Z
Gastrointestinal	Jaundice	Hepatic	Burn branch in fire & apply externally to neck to cause a burn.	Branch /twig	Z
General	Scurvy	Anti-scorbutic	Prepare infusion of aerial parts & apply filtrate to affected areas as needed.	Aerial parts	B
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Urinary retention	Deobstruent	Decoct leaves & drink x1 cup/day. (TOXIC See CAUTIONS.)	Leaf	B
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Arthritis (B) Rheumatic pain (general/ back/ knees/ legs) (Z)	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	1.Cook leaves in water & apply locally to affected area. (Z) 2. Infuse white flowers in oil & apply locally. (Z) 3. Prepare infusion of plant leaves & apply filtrate externally to affected area for pain as needed. (B)	Flower, Leaf	Z, B
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Bone fracture	Vulnerary	Boil leaves in water & expose limb to steam in order to reset fracture.	Leaf	B
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Gout	Anti-inflammatory, Uricolytic	Soak leaves in hot wate & use filtrate to massage affected area.	Leaf	B
Nervous System	Headache	Analgesic	Burn dried leaves & inhale as incense. (TOXIC See CAUTIONS.)	Leaf	Z
Oral Health	Bleeding from mouth (? gums)	Anti-gum disease	Decoct leaves in water & drink. (TOXIC See CAUTIONS.)	Leaf	Z
Reproductive Health	Infertility	Fertility	Mix powdered leaves + cloves + "hilbeh" (Trigonella foenum-graecum); prepare as tampon & insert vaginally. (TOXIC see CAUTIONS.)	Leaf	Z
Women`s Health	Expel dead fetus by contracting uterine muscles.	Oxytocic	Burn leaves + Ferula asa-foetida & allow smoke to enter vagina.	Leaf	Z
Women`s Health	Induce abortion	Abortifacient	Decoct leaves & flowers. (Admin. not specified.) (TOXIC See CAUTIONS.)	Flower, Leaf	Z
Women`s Health	Promote menstruation	Emmenagogue	Mix dried, ground leaves + honey & insert as tampon vaginally. (TOXIC See CAUTIONS.)	Leaf	Z
Wound Healing	Antiseptic for skin & wounds	Anti-septic	Boil flowers in water for 5 hr + little cooking salt, mix, cool & apply as salve to skin.	Flower	Z
Wound healing	Bleeding wound	Haemostatic	Decoct leaves & wash affected area externally with filtrate.	Leaf	B

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

Z gives an example of the toxic effects of this plant when 3 cows died after eating its branches.

Cautions

Nerium oleander is a toxic, poisonous plant & is not recomended particularly for oral use. Some of its compounds including oleandrin & oleandrigenin are cardiac glycosides which are toxic in large amounts. Toxic reactions include nausea, vomiting, excess salivation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, irregular heart rate, palor, cold extremities due to poor or irregular circulation. CNS effects include drowsiness, tremors, seizures, collapse, coma & death. Oleander sap (externally) can cause; skin irritations, severe eye inflammation, irritation & allergic reactions.