Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Raphanus raphanistrum L.

Family

Brassicaceae

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Garden Radish

Arabic Name(s)

fijeleh فجيلة
fijl barri فجل بري

Hebrew Name(s)

tzenon matzuy

צְנוֹן מָצוּי.

Life Form

Annual

Habitat

Batha
Phrygana

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Raphanus raphanistrum L.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Ear inflammation	Anti-Infective	Grill radish roots & squeeze into affected ear.	Root	B
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Impaired hearing	Non-specific	Grind seeds & tie into cloth to form small bundle; wet + juice of goat's adrenal gland & apply drops into ear. (See NOTES 1)	Seed	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Nasal inflammation & pain	Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory	Crush seeds, mix with water & apply as nose drops.	Seed	Z
Gastrointestinal	Biliary stones: dissolve & excrete them	Anti-lithic	Decoct whole plant in water & drink instead of water.	Whole plant (? aerial parts + root)	Z
Gastrointestinal	Dizziness, vomiting, headache & abdominal pain	Analgesic, Anti-emetic, Carminative	Eat powdered seeds every morning for 1 week.	Seed	Z
Gastrointestinal	Dysentery	Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal	Cook leaves or leaf veins in water & drink.	Leaf	Z
Gastrointestinal	Flatulence	Carminative	Eat fresh radish root with meals.	Root	B
General	General body weakness & pain (especially in old people).	Analgesic, Tonic	Boil bulb in water for 15 min + ginger root + mint, cool & reheat; mix liquid + equal amount bees' honey (previously boiled with froth skimmed off) & eat morning & evening.	Bulb (Root)	Z
General	Oedema	Anti-hydropic	Cook leaves or leaf veins in water & drink.	Leaf	Z
Haematology	Facial pallor (Z) Anemia (B)		1. Extract juice from bulb (See NOTES 3) & leaves & drink x3/day until pallor disappears. Also add radishes to patient's food. (Z) 2. Eat fresh radish root with meals. (B)	Bulb (Root), Leaf	Z,B
Haematology	Spleen diseases; when spleen is inflammed causing bloating on left side of abdomen	Anti-inflammatory	Crush seeds to powder + wine vinegar & drink.	Seed	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Diuretic	Diuretic	1. Eat bulb. (See NOTES 3) 2. Steep bulb & leaves in water + parsley for 12 hr; heat liquid & drink instead of water.	Bulb, Leaf	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Renal stones; dissolve & excrete them	Anti-lithic	Decoct whole plant in water & drink instead of water.	Whole plant (? aerial parts + root)	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Urinary obstruction	Deobstruent	Cook leaves or leaf veins in water & drink.	Leaf	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Urinary tract inflammation/ increase urinary output/ expell kidney stones.	Anti-inflammatory, Anti-lithic, Demulcent, Diuretic	Use Root. (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)	Root	Z
Men`s Health/ Sexuality	Increase virility	Aphrodisiac	1. Crush dried seeds into fine powder, boil in pure bees honey for 30 min over low fire; eat x1 large tablespoon morning & evening. 2. Mix powdered "bazr fajl" (radish seed, Raphanus) + powdered rhizome Alpinia officinarum + "halilaj" (Terminalia chebula) + "jozat el-tib" (nutmeg, Myristica fragrens) + black pepper (Piper nigrum)+ "sangagur" (Scincus scincus: a desert lizard or sand fish) + honey. Prepare a suppository for men or vaginal plug for women. 3. For males only: mix powdered "bazr fajl" (radish/ Raphanus seed) + powdered rhizome Alpinia officinarum + "halilaj" (Terminalia chebula) + "jozat el-tib" (nutmeg, Myristica fragrans) + "bazr el-rashad" (Lepidium sativum ) + honey (after boiling it & removing froth). Eat x1 spoon every day for 4-6 days without making contact with a woman. (See CAUTIONS: This recipe is only good if the man does not have a stomach ulcer). 4. Grind rhizome of Zingiber officinalis + Raphanus sp. mix + honey & eat x1 teaspoon mornings.	Seed	Z
Musculoskeletal/ joints	Back pain	Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory	Grind seeds, wet with water, spread over cloth & apply to back.	Seed	Z
Opthalmic	Strengthen eyesight/ eye disturbances/ eye inflammation	Anti-inflammatory, Visual health	Squeeze juice from fresh bulb (See NOTES 3) & apply as eye drops.	Bulb (Root)	Z
Women`s Health	Excessive menstrual bleeding/ quick cessation of menstruation	Emmenagogue, Haemastatic	Eat powdered seeds every morning for 1 week.	Seed	Z
Women`s Health	Regulate menstruation	Emmenagogue	Infuse/ extract seeds & drink extract on empty stomach.	Seed	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.

Notes

1. Use of animal parts (goat`s adrenal) in the recipe for impaired hearing is an historical but long discredited way to treat these problems & is not recommended.
2. For the complaint "facial pallor", the proposed action is described as "nutritive" as radishes are a rich source of nutrients including iron.
3.Raphanus stativus is a root vegetable whose appearence varies considerably according to the variety. In some Z recipes "bulb" is used although the correct description would be root which has been added in brackets..

Cautions

Raphanus raphanistrum is contraindicated in bile stones because of its cholagogic effect.