Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

florapal.org

Italian Alkanet, Italian Bugloss, Large Blue Alkanet

Family

Boraginaceae

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Italian Alkanet
Italian Bugloss
Large Blue Alkanet

Hebrew Name(s)

leshon-par italqit

לְשׁוֹן-פַּר אִיטַלְקִית

Arabic Name(s)

zanab el-qitt ذنب القط

Life Form

Hemicryptophyte

Habitat

Batha
Phrygana

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

For distribution and other botanical details for this plant

Click to view:

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Anchusa azurea Mill.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Dermatological	Hair strengthener	Hair restorer	Extract flowers & drink +1 spoon of honey.	Flower	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Earache	Analgesic	Cook flowers + poppy capsules/pods (seeds removed) + khadaljan (Alpinia officinarum) & drink or direct steam to ear. (See NOTES 2)	Flower	Z
Gastrointestinal	Diarrhea / dysentery	Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal	1. Cook flowers in water & drink 2. Add water extract of flowers to "shodon aliza" (identity of this plant is unknown) which has been mixed with almond oil & heated; drink.	Flower	Z
Gastrointestinal	Drooling (excessive salivation)	Non-specific	Cook flowers in water & drink.	Flower	Z
Gastrointestinal	Jaundice	Hepatic	Use flowers. (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)	Flower	Z
Gastrointestinal	Strong abdominal pain	Analgesic, Carminative	Cook flowers in water & drink.	Flower	Z
General	High fever	Anti-pyretic	Cook flowers in water & drink.	Flower	Z
General	Strengthen/ tone body	Tonic	Cook flowers in water & drink.	Flower	Z
Haematology	Lack of blood (anaemia)	Anti-anaemic	Decoct flowers, add + nabat sugar & drink. (See NOTES 3.)	Flower	Z
Mental Health	Fear	Anxiolytic	Decoct flowers (optionally add + nabat sugar) & drink.(See NOTES 3.)	Flower	Z
Respiratory	Cough	Anti-tussive	Cook flowers in water & drink.	Flower	Z
Womens Health	All women after childbirth (See NOTES 3)	Alterative, Tonic	Decoct flowers, add + nabat sugar & drink. (See NOTES 4)	Flower	Z
Womens Health	Menstrual pain	Analgesic	Decoct flowers & drink.	Flower	Z

Notes

1. Z notes that the Hebrew name for this species translates as Italian bull's tongue & that an additional common Persian name is "goleh gabzebun" which he relates to the Persian name "golgobzamo" (gol = flower, gobzamo = bull's toungue).
2. Nabat sugar used in some recipes is crystalline sugar formed by dissolving sugar granules in water & slowly vaporizing it.
3. Alpinia officinarum used in the recipe for earache is a non-native introduced species.
4. Z mentions that using Anchusa azurea for all women after childbirth is described together with the complaint for anemia & therefore may refer to treating blood loss & anemia after childbirth.

Cautions

Anchusa azurea contains cynoglossine alkaloid that may have a paralyzing effect. Therefore CAUTION using this species internally.

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.