Cupressus sempervirens

Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Cupressus sempervirens L.

Cupressaceae

  • Common Cypress
  • Italian Cypress
  • Mediterranean Cypress
  • Pencil Pine
  • Persian Cypress
  • Tuscan Cypress
  • sarw da’im el-khudra سرو دائم الخضرة
  • sarw el-bahr el-mutawassit سرو البحر المتوسط
  • sarw naz سرو ناز
  • brosh matzuy
  • בְּרוֹשׁ מָצוּי

Tree

  •  Hard rock outcrops
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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Cupressus sempervirens L.

System/State Traditional
Complaint/Use
Activity / Interpretation
Traditional
Preparation/ Administration
Parts Used
Source
Dermatological

Eczema

Anti-inflammatory

Apply powder of dried, crushed leaves to lesion.

Leaf Z
Dermatological

Haematoma / haemorrhage

Haemostatic, Vulnerary

Apply powder of dried, crushed leaves to lesion.

Leaf Z
Dermatological

Herpes zoster

Anti-herpetic

Apply powder of dried, crushed leaves to lesion.

Leaf Z
Dermatological

Ringworm & eczema

Anti-fungal, Anti-inflammatory

Prepare plaster /compress from mashed fresh fruit. (Admin. not specified.)

Fruit Z
Endocrine/ Metabolic

Diabetes

Hypoglycemic

Prepare a "coffee" drink from dried, roasted fruit & drink.

Fruit Z
Gastrointestinal

Diarrhea / dysentery / digestive tract inflammation

Anti-Infective, Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent

1.Grind 10 fresh green cones into small particles, boil in approx. 3 cups of water for 15 min; cool, filter through gauze or flannel cloth & drink hot 1 cup x2/day morning & evening + 2 teaspoons sugar (if too bitter).
2. Cook branch tips in water & drink.
3.Cook cones in water & drink.

Branch /twig, Cone Z
Infectious Diseases

Leprosy

Anti-Infective

Apply powder of dried, crushed leaves to lesion.

Leaf Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract

Kidney disease

Renal

Prepare a "coffee" drink from dried, roasted fruit & drink.

Fruit Z
Musculoskeletal

Repair poorly healed bone fracture

Vulnerary

Boil in closed pot branch tips of "sarw" (Cupressus sp. ) + "tayun" (Dittrichia? viscosa) + "feijan" (Ruta chalepensis) + "maryameyeh" (Salvia fruticosa) + "el-jar" (Laurus nobilis) +" el-butum" (Pistacia atlantica) +" saris" (Pistacia lentiscus); place broken limb over steam for a few moments, then rebreak bone by tapping it lightly.

Branch /twig Z
Musculoskeletal/ joints

Rheumatism

Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory

Cook branch tips in covered pot; patient stands in a loose gown over the pot for as long as possibe & then rests in bed away from cold.

Branch /twig Z
Oral health

Toothache & repair spoiled/ rotten teeth

Analgesic, Anti-caries

1. Cook cones + Cinchona bark + "shabba" (alum, usually hydrated double sulfate salt) + vinegar; gargle every morning. (Z)
2.Toothache only: decoct fruit & rinse mouth with decoction. (B)

Cone, Fruit Z, B
Respiratory

Asthma

Anti-asthmatic

Prepare incense of dried leaves & fruits. (Admin. not specified.)

Fruit /Leaf Z

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

Cautions

The cones/ fruit of Cupressus sempervirens contain essential oils including α- pinene, α-terpinene, thymol & terpinolene. Leaves contain phenolic compounds including rutin, quercetin, myricitrin, p-coumaric acid etc which can be toxic. Large doses may irritate the kidneys. Has been reported as causing abortion & death in cattle grazing on foliage etc.