Asphodelus microcarpus Salzm. & viv.
Branched Asphode
Folklore –
Where is it referred to in the Talmud?
Who are the people who use it?
For what medical purpose is it used?
Uses –
In the treatment of –
Releasing gas from the abdomen
Description – A bush of the Liliaceae family whose height reaches is 1 meter. The plant in Israel populates open territories in the Mediterranean region, and deeply invades the desert regions. The roots are finger or carrot like, colored brown and are filled with juice. The leaves are elongated, and look somwhat like onion leaves. In spring a stem develops between the leaves, that branches at its top; each branch caries the flowers in a racemes or in panicles. Branched Asphode flowers from February to May. The flowers are pinkish-white, and in the center of each perianth leaf is an orange-brown line. The fruit is an egg like capsule. The plant is collected throughout the year.
Reference and Folklore – Branched Asphode is first referred to in the Talmud as a plant eaten by livestock: " Irit (Branched Asphode) that was collected to be eaten by livestock"(Tozfota, Shevit V, XVII). This identification is doubtful, for livestock won't willingly eat the plant. A. Hareoveni suggests that the Hebrew name of Branched Asphode should be Yablit, that is referred to in the Jewish literature as a plant out of which glue was made and used to seal wine jars. And Indeed, in several cultures around the world glue is made out of Branched Asphode roots.
From Maimonides - "Honta (Androgynous), Also pronounced Gounta. He is "Al Birevak" and it that the barbarians call "Tichlash". His Greek name is "Asphodilus".
This plant root is similar to a small carrot. These are the used roots, when dry and ground, from them comes a sort of flour that sticks, he is "Al Ashrsh".
" It is proper for the medic, that he remembers the medicines that were counted by Galenius, for they are precisely dry, and remember their degree of heat and dryness.
And the hot and the dry in second are eight drugs, and they: … Aprodilish" (Branched Asphode).
And the drugs that are cold and dry in the third, nine, and they are: … Ashpodi" (Branched Asphode)
Folk medicine – A. Hareoveni finds in the use of the plant in folk medicine another example that strengthens his opinion. The folk medicine use of Branched Asphode is still practiced by the Arabs of Israel - in treating hard warts that grow in between knuckles of hand and feet. Indeed, there isn't an efficient and used remedy for removing warts as roots of Branched Asphode. Other medicinal uses are for treating jaundice, eczema, swollen feet, cracked skin and to relief gas from the stomach.
Uses – Pluck out of the ground a few "fingers" of the root, wash well with water, peel the brown skin and grind to a porridge. The porridge is smeared on the wart and bandaged with a linen bandage. Repeat the treatment three times a day for a month.
For swollen feet: Squeeze the juice of the roots and smear on the foot. This juice is powerful in treating eczema, cracked skin and ringworm.
Root tea: cook ten root fingers in a liter of water, sweeten with honey or sugar and drink as a tea. This tea is efficient in releasing gas from the abdomen.