Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

florapal.org

Drimia aphylla (Forssk.) J. C. Manning & Goldblatt

Family

Asparagaceae

Synonym(s)

Urginea martima (L.) Bak.

English name(s)

Sea Squill

Arabic Name(s)

`eisalan عيصلان
`ud el-ray عود الري
`unsul عنصل
basul بصول
bosalan بوصلان
ghosalan غوصلان
kharif خريف
kholasan خولصان

Hebrew Name(s)

khatzav matzuy

חָצָב מָצוּי

Life Form

Geophyte

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

Drimia aphylla (Forssk.) J. C. Manning & Goldblatt

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Dermatological	Dandruff/ hair loss	Anti-dandruff, Hair restorer	Crush dried bulb into fine powder, mix + sulphur powder + soap + "henna" (Lawsonia inermis) + olive oil & cook until a paste/ lotion. Apply to shaven head x1/day for 1 mth. Before treatment wash shaven head with solution of cooking salt + garden onion juice.	Bulb	Z
General	Abdominal ascites	Anti-hydropic	Decoct bulb & drink.	Bulb	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Bone sprains & fractures	Vulnerary	Crush bulb & apply to affected area as stiff bandage (with or without egg white + soap).	Bulb	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Rheumatic pain	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	Crush bulb & apply to affected area as stiff bandage (with or without egg white + soap).	Bulb	Z
Nervous System	Nerve paralysis in brain. (See NOTES)	Nervine	Decoct bulb in water & drink hot or add + honey (3:1 ratio) & eat 1 large tablespoon x3/day.	Bulb	Z
Respiratory	Asthma	Anti-asthmatic	Roast inner layers of bulb over fire, mash, mix + honey & eat.	Bulb	Z
Wound Healing	Wound inflammation	Anti-Infective, Vulnerary	Extract pulp from bulb & apply to affected area x2/day until improvement.	Bulb	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.

Notes

The condition "nerve paralyis in the brain" is unclear but may refer to a stroke.

Cautions

Drimia aphylla contains scillarenin glucosides. It should not be used in cardiac conduction defects, cardiac arrhythmias, heart block, hypercalcemia, hypokalemia, cardiomyopathy & with therapy using Potassium or digitalis. Side effect include diarrhea, gastritis, nausea, vomiting, irregular pulse. Interactions with other drugs include potentiation of calcium, cardiac glycosides, extended glucocorticoid therapy, laxatives & quinidine, etc.