Quercus coccifera

Quercus coccifera L.

Fagaceae

  • Quercus calliprinos Webb
  • Kermes Oak
  • Palestine Oak
  • `afs عفص
  • ballut mustadim el-khudra بلوط مستديم الخضرة
  • ballut بلوط
  • sindian سنديان
  • אַלּוֹן מָצוּי
  • alon matzuy

Tree, Phanerophyte shrub

  • Mediterranean maquis and forest

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distribution and other botanical details.

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Quercus coccifera L.

Medicinal Complaints / Uses
System/State Traditional
Complaint/Use
Activity / Interpretation Traditional
Preparation/ Administration
Parts Used Source
Child Health

Bedwetting

Anti-enuresis

Decoct fruit & bark & drink x1 cup x2/day.

Bark, Fruit B
Gastrointestinal

Diarrhea

Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal

Decoct male flowers in water & drink x3 large cups/day.

Flower Z
Gastrointestinal

Gastric acid / Gastric ulcer

Antacid, Anti-ulcer

Decoct male flowers in water & drink x3 small cups/day.

Flower Z
Gastrointestinal

Stimulate appetite & digestion

Stomachic

Grind roasted fruits into fine powder: 1. Eat x1 teaspoonful before meals or
2. Use powder to make a coffee-like beverage & drink x1 small cup.

Fruit Z
Gastrointestinal

Stomach/ intestinal pain

Carminative

Decoct fruit & bark & drink 1cup x2/day.

Bark, Fruit B
Kidney & Urinary Tract

Diuretic

Diuretic

Crush roasted fruits into fine powder: 1. Eat powder or
2. Prepare a coffee-like drink + sugar & drink x3 small cups/day.

Fruit Z

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.

Quercus sp. are monoecious i.e. male flowers, "staminate" (with funcional stamens) and female flowers "carpellate" (or "pistillate") (having only functional carpels) are found on the same plant. The male flowers used in several recipes are in the form of catkins. The fruit of Quercus sp. is a nut ( acorn or oak nut) in a cup-like structure or cupule with one seed (rarely two or three) /acorn.

Quercus coccifera, acorns, leaves, batk etc. contain tannic acid and have a high tannin content which in excess can irritate the digestive lining. Foliage can be poisonous. Acorns should be leached of bitter tannins & roasted before consumption. Contraindicated in kidney & liver conditions, fever, infectious states, using bark in cardio-insufficiency states & externally (e.g. baths), when skin is damaged especially eczma.