Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany
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Anchusa azurea Mill.
Boraginaceae
- Italian Alkanet
- Italian Bugloss
- Large Blue Alkanet
- zanab el-qitt ذنب القط
- leshon-par italqit
- לְשׁוֹן-פַּר אִיטַלְקִית
Hemicryptophyte
- Batha
- Phrygana
and other botanical details.
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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 |
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 |
Flower | Z |
| Mental Health | Fear |
Anxiolytic | Decoct flowers (optionally add + nabat sugar) & drink.(See NOTES |
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.
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. 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.