Anchusa azurea - medicinal and other uses

Italian Alkanet, Italian Bugloss, Large Blue Alkanet

Anchusa azurea Mill.

Family

Boraginaceae

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Italian Alkanet
Italian Bugloss
Large Blue Alkanet

Arabic Name(s)

zanab el-qitt ذنب القط

Hebrew Name(s)

לְשׁוֹן-פַּר אִיטַלְקִית

leshon-par italqit

Comments

Life Form

Hemicryptophyte

Habitat

Batha
Phrygana

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

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distribution and other botanical details.

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Anchusa azurea Mill.

Medicinal Complaints / Uses
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

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 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.