Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

florapal.org

Family

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Synonym(s)

Hordeum sativum Jess.

English name(s)

Common Barley
Six-rowed Barley

Hebrew Name(s)

se'ora tarbutit

שְׂעוֹרַה תַּרְבּוּתִית

Arabic Name(s)

sha'ir شعير

Life Form

Annual

Habitat

Disturbed habitats

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Hordeum vulgare L.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Dermatological	Itch/ pruritis	Anti-pruritic	Grind grains, wet with "leben" (yoghurt) & apply to affected area.	Grain	Z
Dermatological	Skin swelling from a wound/ injury	Vulnerary	Cook seeds of "turmus" (Lupinus termis) in water & use water to prepare a dough with Hordeum flour; bandage affected area with dough.	Grain	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Sore throat	Anti-Infective, Demulcent	Cook grain in water, gargle while hot & spit out.	Grain	Z
Endocrine/ Metabolic	Diabetes	Hypoglycemic	Prepare hordeum flour & eat	Grain	Z
Gastrointestinal	Gastric pain	Carminative	Cook grains + "najil" (Cynodon dactylon) in water & drink.	Grain	Z
Gastrointestinal	Gastric ulcer	Anti-ulcer	Decoct grains & drink.	Grain	Z
General	Abdominal swelling	Anti-hydropic	Cook grains in water & drink.	Grain	Z
General	Dry mouth	Refrigerant	Cook grains in water & drink.	Grain	Z
General	Fever	Anti-pyretic	Decoct grains & drink.	Grain	Z
General	Swelling of body	Anti-hydropic	Cook grains + rosemary (Rosmarinus sp.) (Admin. not specified.)	Grain	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Kidney stones	Anti-lithic	1. Mix black species of Hordeum. vulgare + "lubiya" or cowpea (Vigna unguiculate). (Admin not specified.) (Z) 2. Boil Hordeum grains for a long time + husks of " tzalaqot tiras" (female inflorescence of maize/ corn); add sugar & drink. (Z) 3. Decoct seeds & drink x1 cup on an empty stomach mornings. (B)	Grain, Seed	Z, B
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Urinary obstruction	Deobstruent	Cook grains in water & drink/	Grain	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Urinary tract inflammation	Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent	1.Decoct seeds & drink x1 cup on an empty stomach mornings. (B) 2. Decoct grain & drink. (Z)	Grain, Seed	B, Z
Mental Health	Soothe nerves	Anxiolytic	Mix grain + honey + "washaj" (gum resin of Dorema ammoniacum/ gum ammoniac). (Admin.not specified.).	Grain	Z
Musculoskeletal/ joints	Reset bone fracture which has set incorrectly	Vulnerary	Cook Hordeum straw in water in closed pot & hold affected limb over steam for few minutes; on removal immediately rebreak bone with a light tap.	Leaf, Stem	Z
Musculoskeletal/ joints	Rheumatic pain	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	This recipe is in 2 parts A & B: A. Prepare dough of ground hordeum flour + vinegar + coriander & apply to painful area. (Helpful especially if pain is accompanied by fever). If this is unhelpful then prepare B. B. Grind lentils (Lens culinaris)+ burnt, ground sheep bones + Coriandrum + Colchicum luteum + Terminalia chebula peel & eat for three days. After this extract "kusani" (? Cichorium sp. ) & drink x1 cup of conc. extract every evening.	Grain	Z
Nervous system	Headache	Analgesic	Prepare bread loaf from Hordeum flour + "bizr kitan" (Linum sp.); slice in half while hot & use as hot compress on head.	Grain	Z
Opthalmic	Eyes inflammation	Anti-inflammatory	Preparation/ Admin. not specified.	Grain	Z
Surgical/ Trauma	Peritonitis	Anti-Infective	Decoct grain & drink.	Grain	Z
Wound Healing	Burn	Vulnerary	1. Grind roasted seeds & spread directly on burn. (B) 2. Prepare dough from Hordeum flour & apply to burn. (Z)	Grain, Seed	B, Z

Notes

Cautions

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.