Portulaca oleracea L.
Portulacaceae
- Common Purslane
- Garden Purslane
- Green Purslane
- Little Hogweed
- Pigface
- Pigweed
- Purslane
- Pusley
- baqleh بقلة
- farfahina فرفحينا
- hummad حماض
- irjeleh أرجيلة
- rijla رجلة
- rijliyeh رجلية
- רְגֵלַת הַגִּנָּה
- ragelet ha-gina
- regelat ha-gina
Annual
- Cultivated areas (weeds)
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distribution and other botanical details.
Medicinal Complaints / Uses
Portulaca oleracea L.
System/State | Traditional Complaint/Use |
Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/ Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardiovascular | Chest & heart pain |
Analgesic, Cardiac | Prepare infusion of seeds & drink. |
Seed | Z |
Cardiovascular | High blood pressure |
Hypotensive | Prepare infusion from 10 gm dried aerial parts to 1 cup boiling water & drink a small dose daily. If using over long period, stop for 8 days then restart to avoid toxicity. |
Aerial parts | B |
Dermatological | Eczema |
Anti-inflammatory | Grind aerial parts & apply to affected areas. |
Aerial parts | B |
Dermatological | Strengthen hair against hair loss |
Hair restorer | Fry seeds + wheat grains + "barhang" (Plantago sp. seeds), grind mixture + sugar & eat. |
Seed | Z |
Endocrine/ Metabolic | Diabetes mellitus |
Hypoglycemic | Preparation/ Admin. not specified. |
Aerial parts | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Diarrhea |
Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal | Warm seeds in almond oil + "barhang" (Plantago sp. seeds) & drink. |
Seed | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Gastric ulcer & hematemesis (bleeding ulcer) |
Anti-ulcer | Eat plant. (Preparation not specified.) |
Aerial parts | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Liver congestion |
Hepatic | Preparation/ Admin. not specified. |
Aerial parts | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Supress heart burn; good for stomach |
Antacid | Eat plant. (Preparation not specified.) |
Aerial parts | Z |
Haematology | Iron deficiency anaemia |
Anti-anaemic | Eat fresh aerial parts with meal. |
Aerial parts | B |
Kidney & Urinary Tract | Diuretic |
Diuretic | Eat plant (Preparation not specified.) |
Aerial parts | Z |
Kidney & Urinary Tract | Kidney inflammation |
Anti-inflammatory | Preparation/ Admin. not specified. |
Aerial parts | Z |
Kidney & Urinary Tract | Urinary obstruction |
Deobstruent | Cook plant in water + chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) & drink. |
Aerial parts | Z |
Oral Health | Toothache |
Analgesic | Decoct 5-6 leaves in 1 cup of water & soak for 20 min; use as a mouth rinse for 15 min/day until healed. |
Leaf | B |
Venoms, Bites & Stings | Bee stings |
Ant-venom | Grind aerial parts & apply to sting. |
Aerial parts | 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.
Z notes that Portulaca oleracea is edible & used in salads. (See Cautions)
Portulaca oleracea contains high levels of oxalic acid & should be used with caution in patients with kidney & gall stones. It interferes with the absorption of calcium. Portulaca oleracea also accumulates nitrates at toxic levels & may cause poisoning in sheep & goats. In humans it may be toxic over time although there is currently a lack of confirmatory studies on this.