Sarcopoterium Spinosum (L.) Sp.
Thorny Burnet
Folklore –
Where is it reffered to in the Bible?
What are the uses for it today?
Who are the people who use it?
For what medical purpose is it used?
Uses –
In the treatment of –
Description: A bush of the Rosaceae family growing throughout the Mediterranean landscape on terra-rosa, gravel and red loam. The Thorny Burnet can also be found in the Negev Mt. area, and desert. The branches are wooden, ending in branched thorns. The leaves are compound and pinnate; winter leaves are relatively large compared to the smaller summer leaves. Flowering season is from March to April. The flowers are monosexual, the inflorescence are torrent like with the flowers arranged at the top. The fruit is round with a brown-red color. The plant is collected throughout the year.
Folklore and other resources: This plant is one of the thorn plants named in the Bible, expressing desolation and ruin: “ And thornes (Sirim) shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses” (Isaiah, XXXIIII, 13). The plant is also listed as a plant used in building fences and hedges: “ Therefore behold, I wil hedge up thy way with thornes, and make a wall, that she shall not find her pathes” (Hosea, II, 6). Until this day the plant is used in the Arab sector for the construction of fences and hedges. It is also used as a source of kindle.
Folk medicine – In the Arab folk medicine the Thorny Burnet is widely excepted as a treatment to ease the suffer of the diabetic patient. The plant is also used to treat stomachaches, toothache, gingivitis, oligouria, external inflammation and as a tranquilizer.
Uses – To treat diabetes boil 100 grams of the root in a Liter of water for an hour. Drink 3-4 cups of the beverage a day. This remedy is considered to be very efficient and preliminary research was conducted to isolate the active substances (1,2).
Fruit tea: boil a handful of the thorny Burnet fruit in a Liter of water for an hour. Filter the tea, and gurgle a mouthful. This treatment I effective for people whom suffer from sore in the mouth, gingivitis and toothache. Drinking a cup of this tea benefits stomachache and oligouria.
For external inflammation: cook 500 grams of the Thorny Burnet root in three liters of water for an hour. Filter the tea and pour it in to a hot bath. Stay in the bath for half an hour.
reference :
1) Mishkinsky et al (1966) Archives Intern. Paharmco. et ther., 161, 303-313
2) Shani et al (1970) Archives Intern. Paharmco. et ther., 185, 344-349