Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Hordeum vulgare L.

Family

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Synonym(s)

Hordeum sativum Jess.

English name(s)

Common Barley
Six-rowed Barley

Arabic Name(s)

sha'ir شعير

Hebrew Name(s)

se'ora tarbutit

שְׂעוֹרַה תַּרְבּוּתִית

Life Form

Annual

Habitat

Disturbed habitats

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Hordeum vulgare L.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Dermatological	Itch/ pruritis	Anti-pruritic	Grind grains, wet with "leben" (yoghurt) & apply to affected area.	Grain	Z
Dermatological	Skin swelling from a wound/ injury	Vulnerary	Cook seeds of "turmus" (Lupinus termis) in water & use water to prepare a dough with Hordeum flour; bandage affected area with dough.	Grain	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Sore throat	Anti-Infective, Demulcent	Cook grain in water, gargle while hot & spit out.	Grain	Z
Endocrine/ Metabolic	Diabetes	Hypoglycemic	Prepare hordeum flour & eat	Grain	Z
Gastrointestinal	Gastric pain	Carminative	Cook grains + "najil" (Cynodon dactylon) in water & drink.	Grain	Z
Gastrointestinal	Gastric ulcer	Anti-ulcer	Decoct grains & drink.	Grain	Z
General	Abdominal swelling	Anti-hydropic	Cook grains in water & drink.	Grain	Z
General	Dry mouth	Refrigerant	Cook grains in water & drink.	Grain	Z
General	Fever	Anti-pyretic	Decoct grains & drink.	Grain	Z
General	Swelling of body	Anti-hydropic	Cook grains + rosemary (Rosmarinus sp.) (Admin. not specified.)	Grain	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Kidney stones	Anti-lithic	1. Mix black species of Hordeum. vulgare + "lubiya" or cowpea (Vigna unguiculate). (Admin not specified.) (Z) 2. Boil Hordeum grains for a long time + husks of " tzalaqot tiras" (female inflorescence of maize/ corn); add sugar & drink. (Z) 3. Decoct seeds & drink x1 cup on an empty stomach mornings. (B)	Grain, Seed	Z, B
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Urinary obstruction	Deobstruent	Cook grains in water & drink/	Grain	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Urinary tract inflammation	Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent	1.Decoct seeds & drink x1 cup on an empty stomach mornings. (B) 2. Decoct grain & drink. (Z)	Grain, Seed	B, Z
Mental Health	Soothe nerves	Anxiolytic	Mix grain + honey + "washaj" (gum resin of Dorema ammoniacum/ gum ammoniac). (Admin.not specified.).	Grain	Z
Musculoskeletal/ joints	Reset bone fracture which has set incorrectly	Vulnerary	Cook Hordeum straw in water in closed pot & hold affected limb over steam for few minutes; on removal immediately rebreak bone with a light tap.	Leaf, Stem	Z
Musculoskeletal/ joints	Rheumatic pain	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	This recipe is in 2 parts A & B: A. Prepare dough of ground hordeum flour + vinegar + coriander & apply to painful area. (Helpful especially if pain is accompanied by fever). If this is unhelpful then prepare B. B. Grind lentils (Lens culinaris)+ burnt, ground sheep bones + Coriandrum + Colchicum luteum + Terminalia chebula peel & eat for three days. After this extract "kusani" (? Cichorium sp. ) & drink x1 cup of conc. extract every evening.	Grain	Z
Nervous system	Headache	Analgesic	Prepare bread loaf from Hordeum flour + "bizr kitan" (Linum sp.); slice in half while hot & use as hot compress on head.	Grain	Z
Opthalmic	Eyes inflammation	Anti-inflammatory	Preparation/ Admin. not specified.	Grain	Z
Surgical/ Trauma	Peritonitis	Anti-Infective	Decoct grain & drink.	Grain	Z
Wound Healing	Burn	Vulnerary	1. Grind roasted seeds & spread directly on burn. (B) 2. Prepare dough from Hordeum flour & apply to burn. (Z)	Grain, Seed	B, Z

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Hordeum vulgare

Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

florapal.org

Notes

Cautions