Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany
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Cyclamen persicum Miller
Primulaceae
- Cyclamen
- Persian Cyclamen
- sabunet el-ra'i صابونة الراعي
- za'matut زعمطوط
- zquqiya زقوقيا
- raqefet metzuya
- רַקֶּפֶת מְצוּיָה
Geophyte
- Batha
- Mediterranean maquis and forest
- Phrygana
and other botanical details.
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Medicinal Complaints / Uses
Cyclamen persicum Miller
System/State | Traditional Complaint/Use |
Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/ Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cancer | Cancer |
Anti-carcinogenic | 1. Cut washed corm (see NOTES 1) into small pieces, boil in water, filter & drink x1 cup/day until recovery. |
Corm, Leaf | B |
Dermatological | Baldness |
Hair restorer | Rub skin of scalp with wollen cloth until irritated, then rub with plant tuber. |
Tuber | Z |
Dermatological | Dermatitis |
Anti-inflammatory | Extract juice from corm & apply to affected area x2/day until healed. |
Corm | B |
Dermatological | Dry skin |
Emollient | Decoct 200 gm of leaves in 0.5 L water for 10 min & apply to affected area x3/day. |
Leaf | B |
Dermatological | Lichen planus (See NOTES 2) |
Anti-inflammatory | Extract juice of corms & apply to affected area x2/day, morning & evenings until healed. |
Corm | B |
Dermatological | Skin inflammation |
Anti-inflammatory | Apply corm juice to affected skin x 2/day for 1 week. |
Corm | B |
Gastrointestinal | Haemorrhoids |
Anti-haemorrhoidal | 1. Decoct corm in water & apply locally x3/day until healed. (B) |
Corm, Tuber | B, Z |
General | Thirst quencher |
Refrigerant | Use juice of stems bearing flowers (Admin. not specified.) |
Stem | Z |
Musculoskeletal/ Joints | Arthritis |
Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory | Boil corms in water for 5 min, cool & apply to affected area x2/day for 1 week. |
Corm | B |
Musculoskeletal/ Joints | Sprain |
Vulnery | Crush fresh tuber, apply to painful area & bandage. |
Tuber | Z |
Nervous System | Chronic headache |
Analgesic | Mix dried, ground tuber + dry ground tobacco & use as snuff. |
Tuber | Z |
Respiratory | Respiratory congestion |
Decongestant | Decoct corm & drink x1 cup/day until well |
Corm | B |
Respiratory | Shortness of breath (asthma) |
Anti-asthmatic | Clean, peel & squeeze tubers to extract juice & inhale x2 drops into nose for 3 days. |
Corm | B |
Venoms, Bites & Stings | Scorpion & bee sting |
Anti-venom | Rub stung area with fresh tuber. |
Tuber | Z |
Wound Healing | Abscess/ boils |
Anti-Infective, Vulnerary | Extract juice from ground corms & apply to affected area x3/day for 3 days. |
Corm | B |
Wound Healing | Burn |
Vulnerary | Extract juice from corm & apply to affected area x2/day for 3 days. |
Corm | B |
Other Uses
Cyclamen persicum Miller
System/State | Complaint / Use | Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Industrial | Laundering |
Cleaning product | Tuber used for laundry. (Preparation not specified.) |
Tuber | 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.
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 - https://florapal.org/disclaimer/
Notes
1. Both corm and tuber are used in describing the part of Cyclamen used in these preparations. Both terms refer to underground storage units. A corm is a solid short, vertical, swollen underground stem base, round with a basal plate like a bulb, but flatter in appearance. It is used by some plants to survive adverse conditions e.g summer drought/ heat. A tuber is a short underground stem. Cyclamen grows from a round tuber that develops from the hypocotyl (stem of a seedling). It is often mistakenly called a corm.
2. Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory/ immune-mediated disease affecting skin, nails, hair & mucous membranes with several causes. It appears as swelling & irritation on affected area.
3. Z notes that other Arabic names for Cyclamen include "sabun/ sabunat el-ra'I" ( shepherd's soap) & "bakur miriam" which is also used for frankincense.
Cautions
Cyclamen genus contains species with toxic triterpene saponins. Small amounts (300mg) can cause diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting. Higher doses can cause asphyxiation.