Commonly Used Medicinal Plants In Arab-Islamic Medicine (4/4)

Ruscus aculeatus, butcher, is native to the Mediterranean region and Western Europe. The roots and sometimes the young shoots are known for the therapeutic properties of the plant. R. aculeatus has been known since ancient times as a medicinal plant and was commonly used in the Greek, Roman, and Greco-Arab traditions. It is used as a diuretic in the treatment of urinary problems. It is also used in the treatment of a variety of inflammatory and circulatory diseases. In modern herbalism, R. aculeatus is the most frequently used herb in the treatment of varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and swellings.

Punica granatum, the pomegranate, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree native to the region from Persia to northern India and has been cultivated and naturalized over the whole Mediterranean region and the Caucasus since ancient times. The pomegranate has long been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including sore throat, inflammation, and rheumatism. Additional traditional uses include treatment of diarrhea and colic and to remove intestinal worms in children.

The fruit is also used for treating bladder disturbances, strengthening gums, and soothing mouth ulcers. Pomegranates feature prominently in all religions, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism. According to the Quran, pomegranates grow in the gardens of Paradise. The Quran also mentions pomegranates twice as examples of good things that God created. In Ayurvedic medicine, the pomegranate is considered “a pharmacy unto itself,” the bark and roots believed to have anthelmintic and vermifuge properties; the peels a powerful astringent and cure for diarrhea and oral aphthae; and the juice a “refrigerant” and “blood tonic.” Dried pomegranate peels are decocted in water and employed both internally and externally for numerous problems demanding astringents and/or germicides, especially for aphthae, diarrhea, and ulcers.

Mixtures of pomegranate seed, juice, and peel products paradoxically have been reported to not only prevent abortion but also conception. In Greco-Arab and Islamic medicine, pomegranate flowers serve as a remedy for diabetes mellitus.

Ruta chalepensis, ruta, is a perennial herb widely distributed in the Mediterranean region. It is one of the commonly used medicinal plants in Greco-Arab and Islamic medicine. Orally, it is used as analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, in menstrual problems, antispasmodic, anthelmintic, and abortifacient, relief of rheumatic pain, and mental disorders. Topically, it is used as hair tonic, insect repellent, and for snakebite.

Conium maculatum, poison hemlock, is a weed known almost worldwide for its toxicity to many domestic animals and to humans. The plant is used in traditional medicine as a sedative and antispasmodic, and in sufficient doses acts as a paralyzer to the centers of motion. Therefore, it has been recommended as an antidote to Strychnine poisoning, and in other poisons of the same class, and in tetanus, and hydrophobia. Because of its sedative action on the motor centers, C. maculatum juice is prescribed as a remedy in cases of undue nervous motor excitability, such as teething in children, epilepsy from dentition, in spasms of the larynx and gullet, and in acute mania. As an inhalation it is said to relieve cough in bronchitis, whooping cough, and asthma. C. maculatum was formerly believed to exercise an alternative effect in scrofulous disorders. Greco-Arab physicians were in the practice of using it to cure indolent tumors, swellings and pains of the joints, as well as for affections of the skin.

Capparis spinosa, the caper, is a perennial spiny bush that bears rounded, fleshy leaves, and big white to pinkish-white flowers. The plant is best known for the edible bud and fruit (caper berry), which are usually consumed pickled. In Greek traditional medicine, an herbal tea made of caper root and young shoots is considered to be beneficial against rheumatism. Dioscoride also provides instructions on the use of sprouts, roots, leaves, and seeds in the treatment of inflammation. C. spinosa is used as an analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-hemorrhoidal, aperient, deobstruent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, tonic, and vasoconstrictor. Decoctions from the root bark have been used in traditional medicines for dropsy, anemia, arthritis, and gout. The stem bark is bitter and diuretic. If taken before meals, it will increase the appetite. In Ayurvedic medicine C. spinosa is recorded with other hepatic stimulants and protectors as improving liver function. It is used internally in the treatment of gastrointestinal infections, diarrhea, gout, and rheumatism. Externally, it is used to treat skin conditions, capillary weakness, and easy bruising. The unopened flower buds are a laxative and are used internally in the treatment of coughs, and externally to treat eye infections. The buds are a rich source of compounds known as aldose reductase inhibitors; it has been shown that these compounds are effective in preventing the formation of cataracts. The buds are harvested before the flowers open and can be pickled for later use—when prepared correctly they are said to ease stomach pain. In Greco-Arab and Islamic medicine, the decoction of root bark is prescribed as deobstruent to liver and spleen, as anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory agents.

Atriplex species, saltbushes are dominant in many arid and semiarid regions of the world, particularly in habitats that combine relatively high soil salinity with aridity. About 40–50 Atriplex species are found in the Mediterranean basin. Atriplex halimus, Mediterranean saltbush (Kataf in Arabic) is a perennial native shrub of the Mediterranean with an excellent tolerance to drought and salinity. It ramifies almost from the base, can grow 1–3 m high and may reach 3 m in diameter. The plant is commonly used in the Greco-Arab medicine for its antidiabetic effects.

Zingiber officinale, ginger, has been used as a medicine in Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Greco-Arab and Islamic medicine since ancient times. In China, for example, the underground stem, or rhizome, of the plant ginger has been used to aid digestion and treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea for more than 2000 years. The rhizome of ginger found a widespread use in the Greco-Arab and Islamic medicine. It is one of the plants that are mentioned in the Holy Quran as one of the drinks of Paradise: “And in it, their drink is mixed with ginger.” Ginger has also been used to help treat arthritis, colic, diarrhea, and heart conditions. In addition to these medicinal uses, ginger continues to be valued around the world as an important cooking spice and is believed to help treat the common cold, flu-like symptoms, headaches, and even painful menstrual periods. Currently, health care professionals recommend ginger for helping prevent or treat nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness, pregnancy, and cancer chemotherapy. It is also used as a digestive aid for mild stomach upset, as support in inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, and may even be used in heart disease or cancer.

Rosmarinus officinalis, rosemary, is a woody shrub with fragrant evergreen needlelike leaves, and blue flowers which last through spring and summer. The fresh and dried leaves are traditionally used throughout the Mediterranean region; they have a bitter, astringent taste, and are highly aromatic, which complements a wide variety of foods. R. officinalis is known for its muscle relaxation effects, including the smooth muscles of the digestive tract and uterus. Because of this property, it is traditionally used to soothe digestive upsets and relieve menstrual cramps. Several studies indicated strong antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of R. officinalis.