Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.
Leguminosae (Fabaceae)
- Bitter Vetch
- Blister Vetch
- Ervil
- kursaneh كرسنة
- בִּקְיַת הַכַּרְשִׁינָה
- כַּרְשִׁינָה
- biqyat ha-karshina
- karshina
Annual
- Batha
- Phrygana
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distribution and other botanical details.
Medicinal Complaints / Uses
Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.
| System/State | Traditional Complaint/Use |
Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/ Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastrointestinal | Diarrhea |
Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal | Steep seeds in water for 1 day, filter & drink filtrate all day instead of water. |
Seed | Z |
| Nervous System | Migraine |
Analgesic | Mix powdered seeds + egg white to form paste; place on flannel & apply to forehead as necessary. |
Seed | Z |
Other Uses
Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.
| System/State | Complaint / Use | Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinary | Increase lactation in livestock |
Galactagogue | Boil seeds & add to animal feed (cows, sheep, goats). |
Seed | B |
| Veterinary | Nourishment for livestock |
Nutritive | Boil seeds & add to animal feed. |
Seed | B |
| Veterinary | Postpartum inflammation in livestock |
Anti-inflammatory | Boil seeds & add to animal feed. |
Seed | 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.
Vicia ervilia seeds contain canavanine which can be toxic orally; implicated in neurolathyrism causing spastic paralysis, parasthesia etc. For human consumption bitterness of seeds can be removed by several changes of boiling water. Toxicty for feeding ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats), avoided by processing seed through cracking, steeping in water & fermentation. A related species Vicia fava (fava bean) contains vicine causing hemoltyic anemia (favism) in genetically susceptible indiviuals with G6PD deficiency. Unclear if Vicia ervilia also contains vicine.