Vitis vinifera - medicinal and other uses

Vitis vinifera L.

Family

Vitaceae

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Grape-vine

Arabic Name(s)

waraq el-'inab ورق العنب
waraq el-dawali ورق دوالي
waraq el-karma ورق الكرمة
zabib زبيب

Hebrew Name(s)

גֶּפֶן הַיַיִן
גֶּפֶן הַיְּעָרוֹת

gefen ha-yayin
gefen ha-ye'arot

Comments

Life Form

Climber, Phanerophyte shrub

Habitat

Humid habitats

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Other Uses

Click Flora of Israel Online to view
distribution and other botanical details.

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Vitis vinifera L.

Medicinal Complaints / Uses
System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Ageing	Strengthen memory	Nootropic	Drink alcohol prepared from raisins (dried grapes).	Fruit	Z
Child Health	Abdominal pain & diarrhea in children	Anti-diarrheal	Mix 1.5 cups of wine (Vitis) + dried bread in saucepan & heat a little; spread mixture over cloth & wrap baby in it at night.	Fruit	Z
Dermatological	Abscess	Anti-Infective, Vulnerary	Prepare poultice from leaves & apply to abscess over night for 3 days.	Leaf	B
Dermatological	Boils & to open/ expel pus	Anti-Infective, Vulnery	1.Mix wine vinegar + cow dung & bandage lesion (see CAUTIONS). 2. Prepare dough of distilled alcohol ("araq") + flour & apply to affected area. 3. Grind seeds of Linum usitatissimum, moisten + water or vinegar & bandage affected area.	Fruit	Z
Dermatological	Eczema	Anti-inflammatory	Apply grape wine vinegar + henna (Lawsonia sp.) + Rheum sp. to affected area.	Fruit	Z
Dermatological	Hair loss & strengthen hair	Hair restorer	1. Immerse tip of young branch in cup of water & steep for 12 hrs; water becomes cloudy with white sediment. Drink water & spread on head. (Z) 2. Wash hair with grape water. (B)	Branch /twig, Fruit	Z, B
Dermatological	Pruritis	Anti-pruritic	Massage irritated area with wine vinegar.	Fruit	Z
Dermatological	Ringworm of scalp (Tinea capitis)	Anti-fungal	1. Mix wine vinegar + egg yolk & apply to affected area. 2. Mix wine vinegar + goat dung (see CAUTIONS), spread over cloth & bandage affected area.	Fruit	Z
Dermatological	Urticaria	Anti-allergy, Anti-pruritic	Eat dried fruits (raisins) x2 teaspoons mornings for 3 days. ( Z notes it "causes contraction of the bile ducts causing rash." )	Fruit	Z
Ear, Nose & Throat	Nasal tumors	Anti-tumor	Apply distilled alcohol + ? tartar oil (mustard seed) & apply to affected area.	Fruit	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Inflammation of oropharynx/ throat	Anti-Infective, Demulcent	Cook in (wine) vinegar Cinchona bark + alum + honey + water & gargle.	Fruit	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Nosebleed	Haemostatic	Inhale steam of wine vinegar over a fire.	Fruit	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Tonsilitis	Anti-Infective	Mix wine vinegar + alum (hydrated double sulfate salt of aluminium) + honey & gargle.	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Abdominal pain & gas	Carminative	1. Drink wine + cinnamon. 2. Drink x1 cup distilled alcohol (cognac, araq) alone or +sugar.	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Constipation	Laxative	1. Eat fruit. (Z) 2. Grind dried fruit (raisins) + figs + dates & eat x1 teaspoon before sleep. (Z) 3. Eat fresh fruits in season. (B) 4.Drink fruit juice x1 cup/day. (B)	Fruit	Z, B
Gastrointestinal	Haemorrhoids	Anti-haemorrhoidal	Prepare rectal suppository with raisins + lard + sugar.	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Jaundice,	Hepatic	1. Eat fresh fruits in season. 2. Drink fruit juice x1 cup/ day.	Fruit	B
General	Dizziness & body weakness	Tonic	1. Eat raisins (dried fruits) morning & evening. 2. Boil raisins in water & drink 1 cup x3 /day.	Fruit	Z
General	Fever	Anti-pyretic	1. Mix wine + Cinchona sp. (Admin not specified). 2. Mix grape wine vinegar + Capparis sp. leaves & apply as compress. 3. Rub head with vinegar alone or + lemon juice. 4. Infuse cloves (Eugenia sp.) + rose flowers in vinegar; spread mixture over cloth & place on forehead. 5. Grate onions & mint & macerate in vinegar; spread over forehead. For high fever: 6. Rub body/ head with wine vinegar alone or + salt. 7. Crush Mentha sp. & prepare bandage with water or vinegar on cloth; tie on forhead or chest.	Fruit	Z
General	Heat stroke	Anti-pyretic, Refrigerant	Mix wine vinegar + rose water & rub on forehead.	Fruit	Z
General	Supply body with energy	Nutritive	Eat ripe fruits.	Fruit	Z
General	Thirst; "especially after eating large amount of mandrakes" (Mandragora officinalis)	Refrigerant	Eat large amounts of grape jam.	Fruit	Z
Helminth infections	Worms (intestinal)	Anthelmintic, Vermifuge	1. Drink grape wine vinegar + "qat" (Catha edulis). 2. Soak seeds of Cicer arietinum in white vinegar, drink liquid & eat seeds.	Fruit	Z
Infectious Diseases	Measles	Anti-Infective	Spread distilled alcohol (cognac, "araq") over body. Burn goat`s hair & sleep in smoke filled room well covered. ( Z adds "disease exits through abdomen").	Fruit	Z
Mental Health	Madness & to soothe nerves	Anti-psychotic, Sedative	Mix raisins + almonds + nuts + bee honey + Majorana + garlic + Nigella + Cinnamomum Cassia + black pepper + olive oil & eat.	Fruit	Z
Men`s Health/ Sexuality	Increase virility	Aphrodisiac	1. Eat dried fruits (raisins). 2. Prepare alcohol from raisins & drink.	Fruit	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Back pain	Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory	Heat wine vinegar + Dorema ammoniacum, add Pistacia lentiscus resin & heat till mixture turns red; cool, spread on cloth & apply to painful area.	Fruit	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Knee pain, non traumatic & rheumatism.	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	1.Mix wine vinegar + goat or sheep dung + goat`s blood (see NOTES & CAUTIONS) & bandage knee. 2. Mix wine + water + wheat fiber & bathe in mixture. (Unclear if Cinchona sp. Is also added to this recipe)	Fruit	Z
Nervous System	Headache	Analgesic	1. Rub head with (wine) vinegar alone or + lemon juice or + distilled alcohol (araq) 2. Infuse cloves (Eugenia sp.) + rose flowers in (wine) vinegar; spread over cloth & place on forehead. 3. Grate onions + mint & macerate in (wine) vinegar; spread over forehead. 4. Mix grape wine vinegar + crushed ginger & apply as poultice to forehead & temples. Chronic Headache: 5 .Prepare dough of wine vinegar + flour & apply to forehead. 6. Inhale wine vinegar. 7. Mix henna (Lawsonia sp.) or ground myrtle (Myrtus) leaves + wine vinegar; spread on cloth & apply to head. 8. Migraine: Boil roasted ground seeds of Nigella sativa + olive oil or vinegar & inhale fluid through nose.	Fruit	Z
Opthalmic	Eye treatment	Non-specific	Collect juice secreted from branches when pruning & apply to eyes.	Branch /twig, Leaf	Z
Oral health	Gingivitis	Anti-gum disease	Use distilled alcohol (cognac, "araq") + water as mouthwash or gargle.	Fruit	Z
Oral Health	Mouth disinfectant	Anti-septic, Mouth wash	Mix distilled alcohol (cognac, araq) + water & use as mouthwash.	Fruit	Z
Oral Health	Strengthen teeth & stop bleeding from mouth (i.e. gums)	Anti-caries, Anti-gum disease	1.Cook grapevines (Vitis) in water + flowers of Rosa sp. + Myrtus communis leaves + lentils & gargle 2. Mix distilled alcohol (cognac, araq) + water & use as mouthwash (for gingivitis).	Leaf	Z
Oral Health	Toothache	Analgesic	1. Mix grape wine vinegar + Capparis leaves or salt. (Admin. not specified.) 2. Use distilled alcohol (cognac, "araq") alone or + water as mouthwash or gargle. 3. Cook bark of Cinchona sp. in vinegar + cypress cones + alum (hydrated double sulfate salt of aluminium) & gargle mornings. 4. Cook aerial parts of Majorana syriaca + vinegar + cumin + olive oil & apply to tooth.	Fruit	Z
Pain Relief	Pain relief from purulent infection under fingernail	Analgesic	Immerse finger in cup of "araq" (distilled alcohol) until pain subsides.	Fruit	Z
Respiratory	Colds, runny nose	Anti-Infective, Anti-catarrhal	1. Wine + Cinchona (Admin. not specified.) 2. Mix grape wine vinegar + Capparis leaves & apply as compress. 3. Massage with distilled alcohol + lemon juice or vinegar. 4. Apply vinegar compress to forehead & to wet cloths & inhale.	Fruit	Z
Respiratory	Cough & soften throat	Anti-tussive, Demulcent	Cook Sambucus nigra in water + dried figs or raisins & drink liquid.	Fruit	Z
Surgical/ Trauma	Haemorrhage	Haemostatic	1. Use leaves as a compress. 2. Mix donkey dung (see NOTES & CAUTIONS) + wine + honey & apply to haemorrhage.	Fruit, Leaf	Z
Venoms, Bites & Stings	Scorpion bite	Anti-venom	Pour distilled alcohol (cognac, araq, ) over bite & tie string on both sides (of the bite).	Fruit	Z
Women`s Health	Post-partum haemorrhage	Haemostatic	Boil stems in water & drink 1 cup x3/day.	Stem	Z
Wound healing	Antiseptic for wounds & skin	Antiseptic	1. Place fresh leaves on wound & replace daily. 2. Decoct leaves & wash/ clean affected area with decoction.	Leaf	Z
Wound Healing	Burn	Vulnerary	Mix wine vinegar + salt + oil & apply to burn.	Fruit	Z
Wound Healing	Heal open wounds/ open & heal closed skin lesions	Vulnerary	Use leaves. (Preparation/ Admin not specified. )	Leaf	Z
Wound Healing	Infected wounds & skin lesions	Anti-Infective, Vulnerary	Use vinegar or water to wet ground flax seeds, spread over cloth & apply.	Fruit	Z
Wound Healing	Skin & wound antispetic	Anti-septic	1. Apply fresh leaves to wound & replace x1/day. 2. Decoct leaves in water & use to wash & clean purulent wound/ lesion.	Leaf	Z

Other Uses

Vitis vinifera L.

Other Uses
System/State	Complaint / Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/Administration	Parts Used	Source
Cosmetic	Dye hair black	Dye	Cook grape leaves + mulberry leaves (Morus nigra) + fig leaves (from tree producing black fruit) & wash hair with mixture.	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. In various recipes for Vitis vinifera several types of preparations are used including raisons (dried grapes), vinegar & distilled alcohol as Cognac (from white wine) & "araq" or "arak" (a distilled spirit typically made from grape & aniseed).

Cautions

Some externally applied recipes for Vitis vinifera for skin problems, burns, ringworm, pain & rheumatism include adding dung from various animals e.g. camels, goats. This historical, discredited treatment is dangerous and not recommended.