Lepidium sativum

Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Lepidium sativum L.

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)

  • Lepidium spinescens DC.
  • Garden Cress
  • habb el-rashad حَب الرشاد
  • rashad zira'i رشاد زراعي
  • rashad رشاد
  • shakhalayim tarbutiyim
  • שַׁחֲלַיִם תַּרְבּוּתִיִּים

Annual

  • Disturbed habitats
Click Flora of Israel Online to view distribution
and other botanical details.

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

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.