Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Common Cypress, Italian Cypress, Mediterranean Cypress, Pencil Pine, Persian Cypress, Tuscan Cypress

Family

Cupressaceae

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Common Cypress
Italian Cypress
Mediterranean Cypress
Pencil Pine
Persian Cypress
Tuscan Cypress

Hebrew Name(s)

brosh matzuy

בְּרוֹשׁ מָצוּי

Arabic Name(s)

sarw da’im el-khudra سرو دائم الخضرة
sarw el-bahr el-mutawassit سرو البحر المتوسط
sarw naz سرو ناز

Life Form

Tree

Habitat

Hard rock outcrops

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Cupressus sempervirens L.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Dermatological	Eczema	Anti-inflammatory	Apply powder of dried, crushed leaves to lesion.	Leaf	Z
Dermatological	Haematoma / haemorrhage	Haemostatic, Vulnerary	Apply powder of dried, crushed leaves to lesion.	Leaf	Z
Dermatological	Herpes zoster	Anti-herpetic	Apply powder of dried, crushed leaves to lesion.	Leaf	Z
Dermatological	Ringworm & eczema	Anti-fungal, Anti-inflammatory	Prepare plaster /compress from mashed fresh fruit. (Admin. not specified.)	Fruit	Z
Endocrine/ Metabolic	Diabetes	Hypoglycemic	Prepare a "coffee" drink from dried, roasted fruit & drink.	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Diarrhea / dysentery / digestive tract inflammation	Anti-Infective, Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent	1.Grind 10 fresh green cones into small particles, boil in approx. 3 cups of water for 15 min; cool, filter through gauze or flannel cloth & drink hot 1 cup x2/day morning & evening + 2 teaspoons sugar (if too bitter). 2. Cook branch tips in water & drink. 3.Cook cones in water & drink.	Branch /twig, Cone	Z
Infectious Diseases	Leprosy	Anti-Infective	Apply powder of dried, crushed leaves to lesion.	Leaf	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Kidney disease	Renal	Prepare a "coffee" drink from dried, roasted fruit & drink.	Fruit	Z
Musculoskeletal	Repair poorly healed bone fracture	Vulnerary	Boil in closed pot branch tips of "sarw" (Cupressus sp. ) + "tayun" (Dittrichia? viscosa) + "feijan" (Ruta chalepensis) + "maryameyeh" (Salvia fruticosa) + "el-jar" (Laurus nobilis) +" el-butum" (Pistacia atlantica) +" saris" (Pistacia lentiscus); place broken limb over steam for a few moments, then rebreak bone by tapping it lightly.	Branch /twig	Z
Musculoskeletal/ joints	Rheumatism	Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	Cook branch tips in covered pot; patient stands in a loose gown over the pot for as long as possibe & then rests in bed away from cold.	Branch /twig	Z
Oral health	Toothache & repair spoiled/ rotten teeth	Analgesic, Anti-caries	1. Cook cones + Cinchona bark + "shabba" (alum, usually hydrated double sulfate salt) + vinegar; gargle every morning. (Z) 2.Toothache only: decoct fruit & rinse mouth with decoction. (B)	Cone, Fruit	Z, B
Respiratory	Asthma	Anti-asthmatic	Prepare incense of dried leaves & fruits. (Admin. not specified.)	Fruit /Leaf	Z

Notes

Cautions

The cones/ fruit of Cupressus sempervirens contain essential oils including α- pinene, α-terpinene, thymol & terpinolene. Leaves contain phenolic compounds including rutin, quercetin, myricitrin, p-coumaric acid etc which can be toxic. Large doses may irritate the kidneys. Has been reported as causing abortion & death in cattle grazing on foliage etc.

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.