Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

florapal.org

Family

Linaceae

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Hairy Pink Flax

Hebrew Name(s)

pishta se'ira

פִּשְׁתָּה שְׂעִירָה

Arabic Name(s)

hubbeiba حبيبة
kittan ahmar كتان أحمر
kittan az'ab كتان أزعب
kittan zahri كتان زهري
zeir زير

Life Form

Annual

Habitat

Batha
Phrygana

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Linum pubescens Banks & Sol.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Opthalmic	Cataract	Visual health	Cook plant in the milk of a mother nursing a female infant; apply drops to eye.	Aerial parts	Z
Women`s Health	Facilitate delivery & labour	Parturient	1. Extract oil from seeds, heat & eat x2 teaspoons of hot oil when contractions begin. 2. Add 1 teaspoon of seeds to yoghurt & eat x1 cup daily until delivery. 3. Decoct 1 teaspoon of dried flowers & drink daily until delivery.	Flower, Seed	B

System/State

Traditional
Complaint/Use

Activity / Interpretation

Traditional
Preparation/ Administration

Parts Used

Source

Opthalmic

Cataract

Visual health

Cook plant in the milk of a mother nursing a female infant; apply drops to eye.

Aerial parts

Women`s Health

Facilitate delivery & labour

Parturient

1. Extract oil from seeds, heat & eat x2 teaspoons of hot oil when contractions begin.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of seeds to yoghurt & eat x1 cup daily until delivery.
3. Decoct 1 teaspoon of dried flowers & drink daily until delivery.

Flower, Seed

Notes

Cautions

Seeds & other parts of some species of the Linum genus contain cyanogenic glycosides which can be toxic if water is drunk at the same time. Contraindicated in oesophageal stricture, slow bowel movement conditions & acute gut inflammatory conditions. Can also cause bowel obstruction if fluid intake is inadequte.

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.