Raphanus raphanistrum - medicinal and other uses

Raphanus raphanistrum L.

Family

Brassicaceae

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Garden Radish

Arabic Name(s)

fijeleh فجيلة
fijl barri فجل بري

Hebrew Name(s)

צְנוֹן מָצוּי.

tzenon matzuy

Comments

Life Form

Annual

Habitat

Batha
Phrygana

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

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distribution and other botanical details.

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Raphanus raphanistrum L.

Medicinal Complaints / Uses
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.