Ceratonia siliqua L.
Leguminosae (Fabaceae)
- Carob
- Locust Tree
- kharnub (literal) خرنوب
- kharub خروب
- חָרוּב מָצוּי
- kharuv matzuy
Tree
- Mediterranean maquis and forest
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distribution and other botanical details.
Medicinal Complaints / Uses
Ceratonia siliqua L.
System/State | Traditional Complaint/Use |
Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/ Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardiovascular | Poor blood circulation |
Vasoprotective | Decoct fruit & drink 1 cup/day. |
Fruit | B |
Child Health | Asthma in infants & children |
Anti-asthmatic | Decoct crushed/ grated seeds in water, cool, filter & drink x3/day. |
Seed | Z |
Dermatological | Hair loss |
Hair restorer | Cut 400 gm of fruit into small pieces, soak in 1L water for 12 hr & boil for 10 min; squeeze or pound boiled fruit, filter & apply filtrate to scalp x1/day. |
Fruit | B |
Dermatological | Tumors of skin & fingers. (Unclear if maligant or benign.) |
Anti-tumor | Decoct leaves in water & apply decoction topically x3 /day. |
Leaf | Z |
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) | Oral cavity & throat antiseptic |
Anti-septic | Decoct leaves in water, cool, filter, add vinegar & gargle after meals & before sleep. |
Leaf | Z |
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) | Soften throat |
Demulcent | Macerate fruit in cold water + "sus" (Glycyrrhiza sp.) root & drink. |
Fruit | Z |
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) | Throat inflammation & tonsillitis |
Anti-Infective, Demulcent | 1. Crush ripe fruit (seeds removed), cook in water + sugar for hours until syrup; eat 1 tablespoon x4/day after meals. |
Fruit | Z |
Endocrine/ Metabolic | Diabetes |
Hypoglycemic | 1.Grind dried fruits, boil in water, filter & drink filtrate x2 teaspoons/day mornings until well. (B) |
Fruit, Seed | B, Z |
Gastrointestinal | Abdominal swelling |
Anti-hydropic | Cook fruit in water + leaves of "ghar" (Laurus nobilis) & drink. |
Fruit | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Constipation |
Laxative | 1. Mix fruit syrup + cow's milk & drink. After eat as many dried figs as possible. |
Fruit | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Diarrhea/ Dysentery |
Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal | 1.Diarrhea: Dry fruits, grind & soak in water overnight, filter syrup & drink 1 cup x2-3/day. (B) |
Fruits, Seed | B, Z |
Gastrointestinal | Digestive tract inflammation |
Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent | Decoct leaves in water & drink x3 tablespoons /day. |
Leaf | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Jaundice |
Hepatic | Grind dried fruits, soak in water overnight, filter & drink 1 cup of the syrup/ filtrate x2-3/day. |
Fruit | B |
General | Fever |
Anti-pyretic | Prepare fruit syrup + salt, moisten gauze pad with mixture & use as a suppository. |
Fruit | Z |
General | Strengthen body |
Tonic | Eat fruit. |
Fruit | Z |
Haematology | Anaemia |
Anti-anaemic | Dry fruits, grind, soak in water overnight, filter syrup & drink 1 cup x2-3/day. |
Fruits | B |
Infectious Diseases | Diphtheria |
Anti-Infective | Mix fruit syrup + "tahina" (sesame seed paste) (Admin.not specified.) |
Fruit | Z |
Infectious Diseases | Measles |
Anti-Infective | Use fruit syrup. (Admin. not specified.) |
Fruit | Z |
Kidney & Urinary Tract | Kidney stones |
Anti-lithic | Add 1 spoon of fruit paste to 1 cup of water & drink 1 cup x1/day for 1 week. |
Fruit | B |
Kidney & Urinary Tract | Urinary retention |
Deobstruent | 1. Decoct fruits & drink x1 cup/day until healed. |
Fruit | B |
Kidney & Urinary Tract | Urinary tract infection |
Anti-Infective | 1. Grind dried fruits, soak in water for 12 hr, boil (time not-specified) & drink x1 cup mornings for 1 week. |
Fruit | B |
Musculoskeletal/ Joints | Mend a bone fracture; by resetting it. |
Vulnerary | Cook young branches & leaves + "za'tar" (Thymbra capitata) + branches of "ghar" (Laurus nobilis) + branches of olive (Olea sp.) + "saris" (Pistacia lentiscus) + "maryameyeh" (Salvia fruticosa). After holding broken limb over steam for few minutes, the bone can be re-broken with a light tap. |
Branch /twig, Leaf | Z |
Opthalmic | Eye inflammation |
Anti-inflammatory | Crush leaves or fruits, soak in water, boil for 4 hr & apply to eye. |
Fruit | B |
Oral Health | Mouth sores |
Mouth wash | Boil fruit syrup until a paste is formed. This can be spread inside the mouth using any of following: 1. "shabba" (alum, see NOTES 1). |
Fruit | Z |
Oral Health | Mouth/ gum inflammation |
Anti-gum disease | Grind dried fruits, soak in water overnight, filter & rinse mouth x3 /day. |
Fruit | B |
Oral Health | Toothache |
Analgesic | Decoct leaves in water, cool, filter, add vinegar & gargle. |
Leaf | Z |
Pain Relief | Chest pain |
Analgesic | Grind dried fruits, boil in water, filter & drink filtrate 2 teaspoons x2/day in morning & evening until well. |
Fruit | B |
Respiratory | Cough |
Anti-tussive | 1. Macerate fruit in cold water + "sus" (Glycyrrhiza sp.) root & drink. (Z) |
Fruit | Z |
Respiratory system | Pertussis |
Anti-Infective | Mix fruit syrup + "tahina" (sesame seed paste). (Admin. not specified.) |
Fruit | Z |
Wound Healing | Infection/ pus |
Anti-Infective | Boil fruit syrup, cool & spread on infected area. |
Fruit | Z |
Other Uses
Ceratonia siliqua L.
System/State | Complaint / Use | Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cosmetic | Soap substitute |
Cleansing product | Dry leaves & use to lather water as soap substitute in laundry. (See NOTES.) |
Leaf | Z |
Culinary | Preparing syrup/ honey |
Nutritive | Prepare an extract of crushed fruit in hot water; boil until most fluid evaporates leaving a concentrated viscous, sweet, brown syrup ("rubb" or "dibs-el-kharub" = carob honey) which is eaten. |
Fruit | Z |
Veterinary | Anthelmintic in animals |
Anthelmintic, Vermifuge | Boil fruit in water & and add to animal`s drinking water |
Fruit | B |
Veterinary | Clean uterus in livestock |
Depurative | Add fruit to animal fodder of cows, sheep, goats. |
Fruit | B |
Veterinary | Delay in animal giving birth |
Parturient | Add fruit to animal fodder. |
Fruit | B |
Veterinary | Scabies in cats & dogs |
Scabicide | 1.Crush leaves or fruits, soak in water, boil for 4 hr & apply to affected skin of animal. |
Fruit /Leaf | B |
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.
2. Both Z & B use Ceratonia siliqua against diarrhea while Z also uses it as a laxative.
3. Alum mentioned in some Z recipes usually refers to a hydrated double sulfate salt of Aluminum.
4. Z uses "nasha" an Arabic word for amylum (starch of Triticum sp.)