Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav.

Conehead Thyme, Headed Savory, Israeli Thyme Mediterranean Thyme

Family

Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Synonym(s)

Coridothymus capitatus (L.) Reichnb.

English name(s)

Conehead Thyme
Headed Savory
Israeli Thyme Mediterranean Thyme

Arabic Name(s)

za'tar farisi زعتر فارسي
za'tar زعتر
zuheif زحيف

Hebrew Name(s)

qoranit mequrqefet

קוֹרָנִית מְקֻרְקֶפֶת

Life Form

Chamaephyte

Habitat

Batha
Phrygana

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Cancer	Cancer	Anti-carcinogenic	Decoct leaves & drink x1 cup/ day until recovery.	Leaf	B
Cardiovascular	Heart disease & chest pain	Analgesic, Cardiac	1. Decoct aerial parts in water, cool, filter & drink hot + sugar. 2. Drink watery extract of aerial parts 3. Burn aerial parts & inhale smoke.	Aerial parts	Z
Cardiovascular	High blood pressure (Hypertension)	Hypotensive	Cook aerial parts in water & drink.	Aerial parts	Z
Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)	Sore throat & swollen tonsils	Anti-Infective, Demulcent	Prepare extract of aerial parts & gargle.	Aerial parts	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Earache	Analgesic	Prepare watery extract of aerial parts + salt + lemon & apply as ear drops.	Aerial parts	Z
Endocrine/ Metabolic	Disease in which "one drinks much water" (See NOTES 1)	Hypoglcaemic	Cook crushed aerial parts in water & drink.	Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Abdominal pain	Carminative	1. Decoct or cook aerial parts in water & drink. 2. Mix aerial parts + "yansun" (Pimpinella) seeds + "kammun" (cumin) + "bizr el-rashad" (Lepidium seeds) + sugar; drink x1 teaspoon/day before meal.	Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Diarrhea/ dysentery	Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal	For diarrhea: 1. Prepare extract of aerial parts, mix + Artemisia sieberi & drink. 2. Grind aerial parts + hard boiled egg including shell & spread on forehead. For dysentery: 3. Mix aerial parts + "yansun" (Pimpinella) seeds + "kammun" (cumin) + "bizr el-rashad" (Lepidium seeds) + sugar; eat x1 small spoon /day before meal.	Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Regulate intestinal activity	Stomachic	Use leaves /non-woody parts of plant. (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)	Leaf	Z
Gastrointestinal	Regulate stomach function	Digestive, Stomachic	Decoct aerial parts in water & drink.	Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Swelling/ gas in digestive system	Carminative	Decoct aerial parts in water, cool, filter & drink x3 cups/day.	Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Vomiting	Anti-emetic	Crush aerial parts & smell.	Aerial parts	Z
General	Abdominal ascites & oedema of other parts of body	Anti-hydropic	Decoct aerial parts in water, cool, filter & drink for 40 days instead of water. Eat bread & other foods without salt.	Aerial parts	Z
General	Bloating	Anti-hydropic	Use leaves (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)	Leaf	Z
General	Internal inflammation	Anti-inflammatory	Decoct aerial parts in water, cool, filter & drink x3 cups/day.	Aerial parts	Z
General	Oedema	Anti-hydropic	Cook aerial parts in water & drink.	Aerial parts	Z
Haematology	Prevent blood coagulation	Anti-coagulant	Mix non-woody aerial parts + "'innab" (Zizyphus sp.) (See NOTES 2).(Admin. not specified.)	Aerial parts	Z
Helminth infections	Worms	Anthelmintic, Vermifuge	1. Use non-woody aerial parts + pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita maxima). (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.) 2. Prepare extract of aerial parts, mix + Artemisia sieberi & drink.	Aerial parts	Z
Infectious Diseases	Tuberculosis	Anti-tubercular	1. Mix aerial parts + "yansun" (Pimpinella) seeds + "kammun" (cumin) + "bizr el-rashad" (Lepidium seeds) + sugar & eat x1 teaspoon/day before meal. 2. Decoct aerial parts in water, cool, filter & drink instead of water.	Aerial parts	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Increase urine excretion & prevent bloating	Diuretic	Use leaves. (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)	Leaf	Z
Mental Health	Tranquilizer & "black bile" depression	Anti-depressant, Sedative	Use leaves. (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)	Leaf	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Reset & mend incorrectly healed bone fracture	Vulnerary	Cook aerial parts + leaves & young branches of "kharub" (Ceratonia siliqua) + branches of "el-ghar" (Laurus nobilis) + branches of olive (Olea) + branches of "saris" (Pistacia lentiscus) + "maryameyeh" (Salvia fruticosa); hold broken limb over steam for few min. After removing bone can be re-broken with light tap.	Aerial parts	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Rheumatism/ back & muscle pain	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	1. Cook aerial parts in water & drink. 2. Decoct aerial parts in water, cool, filter & add to hot bath; massage painful area.	Aerial parts	Z
Oral Health	Tooth rinse	Mouth wash	Prepare extract of aerial parts + vinegar & gargle.	Aerial parts	Z
Oral Health	Toothache	Analgesic	1. Suck leaves. 2. Chew upper parts (shoots/ stems ). 3. Decoct aerial parts in water, cool, filter & gargle x3/day as necessary.	Leaf, Stem /shoots	Z
Respiratory	Colds	Anti-Infective	1. Use leaves (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.) 2. Grind aerial parts, mix + oil & apply to various parts of body. Patient must lie in bed (causes fever to rise). 3. Mix aerial parts + "fliyu" (? fulaya)( Mentha pulegium) + "feijan" (Ruta sp.) + "qarfa" (? Kafoor) (Cinnamomum camphor) & inhale mixture. 4. Decoct aerial parts in water, cool, filter & drink hot + sugar x3/day.	Aerial parts, Leaf	Z
Respiratory	Cough & chest pain	Analgesic, Anti-tussive	1. Drink water extract of aerial parts. 2. Use leaves (Admin. not described.) 3. Burn aerial parts & inhale smoke. 4. Decoct aerial parts in water, cool, filter & drink hot + sugar x3/day.	Aerial parts, Leaf	Z
Respiratory	Cough & regulate respiration	Anti-tussive	Use leaves (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)	Leaf	Z
Respiratory	Expectorant for coughs, colds & infliuenza	Expectorant	Decoct aerial parts in water, cool, filter & drink hot + sugar x3/day.	Aerial parts	Z
Respiratory	Strengthen lungs	Pectoral	Mix non-woody upper parts + honey or sugar (Admin. not specified.)	Aerial parts	Z
Venoms, Bites & Stings	Scorpion sting	Anti-venom	Apply crushed powdered leaves to affected area.	Leaf	Z
Women`s Health	Uterine pain & inflammation	Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory	Cook leaves in water, filter & use vaginally as douche.	Leaf	Z
Wound Healing	Burn	Vulnerary	Sprinkle crushed powdered leaves over affected area.	Leaf	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. Z queries that the complaint in which one "drinks much water" could refer to diabetes.
2. In the recipe to prevent blood coagulation, an additional ingredient is "'innab" which Z identifies as Zizyphus sp. This appears to be a general Arabic name for the genus & is also used for Ziziphus spina- cristi.

Cautions

Thymbra capitata can be toxic in large amounts. Carvacrol, an essential oil can irritate the skin, gastrointestinal tract & mucous membranes, interact with drugs & inhibit blood clotting.