Medicinal Plants of the Bible - Macquirelatory.com

554 Pages·2008·22.15 MB·English

DUKE’S
HANDBOOK OF
Medicinal
Plants
Bible
OF THE
James A. Duke
with
Peggy-Ann K. Duke
Judith L. duCellie
Boca Raton London New York
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Duke, James A., 1929-
Duke’s handbook of medicinal plants of the Bible / James A. Duke.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8493-8202-4 (alk. paper)
1. Herbs in the Bible 2. Plants in the Bible. 3. Herbs--Therapeutic use. I. Title. II. Title: Handbook of
medicinal herbs of the Bible.
BS665.D85 2007
220.8’58163--dc22 2007020177
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
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Contents
Acknowledgments ..........................................................................................................................vii
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................ix
Author ..............................................................................................................................................xi
BibliographicAbbreviations .......................................................................................................xiii
ChemicalandMedicalAbbreviations ........................................................................................xvii
Hushpuppy .....................................................................................................................................xix
FormatofThisBook .....................................................................................................................xxi
Catalogof“Faith-Based”Farmaceuticals .....................................................................................1
Cilician Fir(Abies cilicica (Antoine & Kotschy) Carrière) ++ Abietaceae.......................................1
Indian Gum Arabic Tree (Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Delile) ++ Fabaceae.................................2
Talh(Acacia seyalDelile.) ++ Fabaceae...........................................................................................6
Biblical Acacia(Acacia tortilisssp.raddiana (Savi) Brenan) ++ Fabaceae.....................................7
Corn Cockle (Agrostemma githagoL.) + Caryophyllaceae..............................................................8
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea L.) + Malvaceae........................................................................................11
Camel’s Thorn (Alhagi maurorumMedik.) ++ Fabaceae...............................................................13
Onion(Allium cepaL.) +++ Liliaceae.............................................................................................16
Leek (Allium porrumL.) +++ Liliaceae..........................................................................................21
Garlic (Allium sativumL.) +++ Liliaceae.......................................................................................23
Aloe (Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.) (Gel) ++ Aloeaceae (Liliaceae).......................................................30
Jointed Anabasis(Anabasis articulata (Forssk.) Moq.) + Chenopodiaceae...................................35
Rose-of-Jericho (Anastatica hierochunticaL.) ++ Brassicaceae....................................................36
Windflower(Anemone coronariaL.) + Ranunculaceae..................................................................37
Dill (Anethum graveolensL.) ++ Apiaceae.....................................................................................39
Mayweed(Anthemis cotulaL.) + Asteraceae.................................................................................43
Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis Lam.) + Thymelaeaceae..........................................................44
Horseradish (Armoracia rusticanaP. Gaertn. et al.)++ Brassicaceae.............................................47
White Wormwood (Artemisia herba-alba Asso) ++ Asteraceae....................................................50
Giant Reed (Arundo donaxL.) + Poaceae.......................................................................................52
Tragacanth Milkvetch (Astragalus gummifer Labill.) +++ Fabaceae.............................................55
Sea Orache(Atriplex halimusL.) + Chenopodiaceae.....................................................................57
Desert Date (Balanites aegyptiacus (L.) Delile.) ++ Balanitaceae.................................................58
Frankincense (Boswellia sacraBirdw.) ++ Burseraceae.................................................................62
Black Mustard (Brassica nigra (L.) W. D. J. Koch ++ Brassicaceae...............................................65
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens L.) + Buxaceae..............................................................................69
Giant Milkweed (Calotropis procera (Willd.) Ait. X Asclepiadaceae............................................72
Caper Bush (Capparis spinosa L.) +++ Capparaceae.....................................................................76
Safflower (Carthamus tinctoriusL.) +++ Asteraceae.....................................................................80
Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) ++ Pinaceae................................................................84
Purple Star Thistle(Centaurea calcitrapaL.) + + Asteraceae.......................................................86
Spanish Thistle(Centaurea iberica Spreng.) ++ Asteraceae..........................................................88
Syrian Scabious (Cephalaria syriaca (L.) Roem. & Schult.) + Dipsacaceae..................................89
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) +++ Fabaceae (Caesalpiniaceae).......................................................90
Judas Tree(Cercis siliquastrum L.) ++ Fabaceae............................................................................93
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) +++ Fabaceae.................................................................................94
Endive (Cichorium endivia L.) +++ Asteraceae..............................................................................97
Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) +++ Asteraceae..........................................................................100
Cassia (Cinnamomumaromaticum Nees) +++ Lauraceae............................................................104
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verumJ. Presl) +++ Lauraceae...........................................................108
Ladanum(Cistus creticus L.) + Cistaceae.....................................................................................113
Colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.) X Cucurbitaceae..................................................115
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai.) +++ Cucurbitaceae........................118
Citron (Citrus medica L.) ++ Rutaceae.........................................................................................121
African Myrrh(Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Engl. ++ Burseraceae.....................................126
Balm of Gilead(Commiphora gileadensis (L.) C. Chr.) + Burseraceae.......................................128
Abyssinian Myrrh(Commiphora habessinica (O. Berg) Engl.) + Burseraceae............................130
Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. and other spp.) ++ Burseraceae.................................131
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum L.) X Apiaceae..................................................................135
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) ++ Apiaceae........................................................................138
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) ++ Iridaceae......................................................................................143
Melon (Cucumis melo L.) +++ Cucurbitaceae...............................................................................148
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) ++ Cucurbitaceae.......................................................................151
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) +++ Apiaceae.............................................................................155
Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) ++ Cupressaceae....................................................160
Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) +++ Zingiberaceae........................................................................162
Palmarosa(Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) J.F. Watson) ++ Poaceae.............................................168
Maltese Mushroom (Cynomorium coccineum L.) ++ Balanophoraceae.......................................171
Papyrus(Cyperus papyrus L.) ++ Cyperaceae..............................................................................172
Ceylon Ebony(Diospyros ebenum Koenig.) + Ebenaceae............................................................174
Coromandel(Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb.) + Ebenaceae..........................................................176
Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) ++ Elaeagnaceae........................................................178
Rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.) ++ Brassicaceae................................................................................181
Galbanum (Ferula gummosa Boiss.) + Apiaceae..........................................................................185
Fig (Ficus caricaL.) ++ Moraceae................................................................................................187
Sycamore Fig(Ficus sycomorus L.) + Moraceae..........................................................................191
Manna (from Fraxinus ornus L.) ++ Oleaceae..............................................................................194
Levant Cotton (Gossypium herbaceum L.) + Malvaceae..............................................................197
Gundelia(Gundelia tournefortii L.) + Asteraceae........................................................................201
English Ivy (Hedera helix L.) + Araliaceae...................................................................................202
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) ++ Poaceae.....................................................................................205
Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis name L.) + Liliaceae.................................................................210
Golden Henbane (Hyoscyamus aureus L.) X Solanaceae.............................................................212
Egyptian Henbane(Hyoscyamus muticus L.) X Solanaceae.........................................................213
Yellow Flag (Iris Pseudacorus L.) + Iridaceae..............................................................................214
English Walnut (Juglans regiaL.) ++ Juglandaceae.....................................................................216
Soft Rush(Juncus effusus L.) ++ Cyperaceae...............................................................................221
Grecian Juniper(Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb) + Cupressaceae......................................................224
Cade Juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus L.) + Cupressaceae...............................................................226
Phoenician Juniper (Juniperus phoenicia L.) + Cupressaceae......................................................228
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) ++ Asteraceae...................................................................................229
Calabash Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.) ++ Cucurbitaceae.................................233
Bay (Laurus nobilis L.) ++ Lauraceae...........................................................................................237
Henna (Lawsonia inermis L.) ++ Lythraceae................................................................................241
Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) +++ Fabaceae................................................................................245
White Lily (Lilium candidum L.) + Liliaceae...............................................................................247
Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) +++ Linaceae...............................................................................250
Storax (Liquidambar orientalis Mill and L. styraciflua L.) + + Hamamelidaceae......................256
Darnel (Lolium temulentum L.) X Poaceae...................................................................................259
Boxthorn (Lycium europaeum L.) + Solanaceae...........................................................................260
Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) +++ Rosaceae...........................................................................261
High Mallow (Malva sylvestrisL.) +++ Malvaceae......................................................................266
Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum L.) X Solanaceae................................................................269
Wild Mint (Biblical Mint) (Mentha longifolia (L.) L.) +++ Lamiaceae.......................................273
Black Mulberry (Morus nigra L.) +++ Moraceae.........................................................................276
Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) ++ Myrtaceae................................................................................279
Daffodil (Narcissus tazetta L.) X Amaryllidaceae........................................................................283
Jatamansi (Nardostachys grandiflora DC.) ++ Valerianaceae......................................................285
Watercress (Nasturtium officinaleR. Brown) ++ Brassicaceae....................................................289
Oleander (Nerium oleander L.) X Apocynaceae...........................................................................294
Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) ++ Ranunculaceae.....................................................................298
White Waterlily (Nymphaea alba L.) +++ Nymphaeaceae...........................................................303
Olive (Olea europea L.) ++ Oleaceae............................................................................................306
Olive Oil (Olea europeaL.) +++...................................................................................................309
Lebanese Oregano (Origanum syriacum L.) +++ Lamiaceae.......................................................311
Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogallum umbellatum L.) + Liliaceae...................................................312
Christ’s Thorn (Paliuris spina-christi Mill.) + Rhamnaceae........................................................315
Sea Daffodil (Pancratium maritimum L.) + Amaryllidaceae.......................................................316
Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) ++ Poaceae..................................................................................317
Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) (+++ Seeds) (XXX Opium) Papaveraceae....................320
Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) +++ Arecaceae.....................................................................325
Common Reed (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Stead.) ++ Poaceae....................................329
Calabrian Pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) +++ Pinaceae.........................................................................332
Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) ++ Abietaceae...................................................................334
Stone Pine (Pinus pinea L.) + Abietaceae.....................................................................................335
Mount Atlas Mastic (Pistacia atlantica Desf.) ++ Anacardiaceae................................................337
Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus L.) ++ Anacardiaceae..........................................................................339
Terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus L.) ++ Anacardiaceae..................................................................341
Pistachio(Pistacia vera L.) +++ Anacardiaceae...........................................................................343
Oriental Plane Tree (Platanus orientalis L.) ++ Platanaceae........................................................345
White Poplar (Populus alba L.) ++ Salicaceae.............................................................................348
Euphrates Poplar (Populus euphratica Oliv.) ++ Salicaceae.........................................................350
Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) ++ Rosaceae................................................................................352
Almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) ++ Rosaceae.............................................................355
Red Sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus L. F.) ++ Fabaceae.....................................................360
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) +++ Punicaceae...................................................................362
Tabor Oak (Quercus ithaburensis Decne) ++ Fagaceae................................................................367
Asian Buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus Auth.) + Ranunculaceae.................................................369
White Broom (Retama raetam Forssk.) Webb & Berthel.) + Fabaceae........................................371
Palestine Buckthorn (Rhamnus palaestinas Boiss.) + Rhamnaceae.............................................373
Castor (Ricinus communis L.) + Euphorbiaceae............................................................................374
Dog Rose (Rosa canina L.) +++ Rosaceae....................................................................................380
Madder (Rubia tinctorium L.) X Rubiaceae..................................................................................384
Biblical Bramble (Rubus sanctus Schreb.) +++ Rosaceae.............................................................386
Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.) ++ Polygonaceae..................................................................388
Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus aculeatus L.) ++ Ruscaceae.................................................................391
Fringed Rue (Ruta chalepensis L.) + Rutaceae.............................................................................394
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) +++ Poaceae...................................................................397
Glasswort (Salicornia europea L.) ++ Chenopodiaceae...............................................................402
Willow (Salix acmophylla Boiss.) ++ Salicaceae..........................................................................404
Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica L.) + Salicaceae....................................................................409
Brittle Willow (Salix fragilis L.) + Salicaceae...............................................................................411
Common Saltwort (Salsola kali L.) ++ Chenopodiaceae..............................................................413
Peelu (Salvadora persica L.) ++ Salvadoraceae............................................................................415
Thorny Burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach ++ Rosaceae..............................................418
Costus (Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch) ++ Asteraceae..............................................................419
Lake Rush (Schoenoplectus lacustris (L.) Palla.) + Cyperaceae..................................................422
Golden Thistle (Scolymus hispanicus L.) ++ Asteraceae..............................................................423
Alexandrian Senna (Senna alexandrinaMill.) + Fabaceae (Caesalpiniaceae)............................424
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) +++ Asteraceae..................................................428
Charlock (Sinapis arvensis L.) + Brassicaceae..............................................................................433
Vine of Sodom (Solanum anguivi Lam.) + Solanaceae.................................................................436
Bitter-apple (Solanum incanum L.) ++ Solanaceae.......................................................................438
Broomcorn (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) ++ Poaceae.............................................................440
Benzoin(Styrax benzoin Dryander.) ++ Styracaceae....................................................................444
Storax (Styrax officinalis L.) ++ Styracaceae................................................................................447
Sea Blite (Suaeda spp.) ++ Chenopodiaceae.................................................................................449
Salt Cedar (Tamarix aphylla (L.) H. Karst.) ++ Tamaricaceae.....................................................451
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale G.H. Weber ex Wigger f.) +++ Asteraceae.............................453
Sandarac (Tetraclinis articulata(Vahl) Mast.) + Cupressaceae....................................................459
Bean Caper (Tetraena dumosa (Boiss.) Beier & Thulin) + Zygophyllaceae.................................461
Shaggy Sparrowwort (Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl.) X Thymelaeaceae.....................................462
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) +++ Fabaceae..........................................................463
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) +++ Poaceae..................................................................................468
Tulip (Tulipa spp.) + Liliaceae.......................................................................................................472
Cattail (Typha spp.) +++ Typhaceae..............................................................................................474
Hairy Elm (Ulmus canescens Melv.) ++ Ulmaceae......................................................................478
Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) +++ Urticaceae......................................................................................480
Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash ex Small) +++ Poaceae..................................................485
Laurestinus (Viburnum tinus L.) + Caprifoliaceae........................................................................490
Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) ++ Fabaceae.........................................................................................491
Grape (Vitis viniferaL.) +++ Vitaceae..........................................................................................496
Spiny Cocklebur (Xanthium spinosum L.) + Asteraceae...............................................................502
Spiny Zilla (Zilla spinosa (L.) Prantl.) ++ Brassicaceae...............................................................505
Syrian Christthorn (Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd. ++ Rhamnaceae......................................506
Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) + Zosteraceae.................................................................................508
References.....................................................................................................................................511
CommonNameIndex..................................................................................................................521
ScientificNameIndex..................................................................................................................523
Acknowledgments
For mysterious reasons, this third of my biblical undertakings has required the patience of Job. And
for their patience, I am indeed grateful to Barbara Norwitz, my publisher, Jill Jurgensen, senior
project coordinator, and Karen Simon, project editor, for tolerating some idiosyncrasies I introduced
in 2007, 30 years after my first publication with CRC Press. But Jobian patience has been required
by Judi duCellier, my associate for those same 30 years; Peggy Duke, my wife and illustrator, as we
creep and creak to our 50th wedding anniversary; and Mary Jo Bogenshutz-Godwin, another long-
time associate and frequent co-author. Mary Jo has patiently helped in many ways, especially in
getting occasional updates to my USDA phytochemical database, and moving us closer to a Duke’s
Handbook of Medicinal Herbs of Latin America.

Faith-Based Farmaceuticals:
Introduction
With the accelerating decline of my long-enjoyed good health, I lose faith more and more each year
in the pharmaceutical firms of America. It is clear that they wield incredible and potentially cor-
rupting power. I have little faith in the pharmaceutical firms’ desire to see a healthy America. I see
them promoting multiple-pills-a-day regimens, to be taken for life, and not necessarily promoting
health. Their side effects sometimes outweigh any health advantages they offer. But I gain faith each
year in the natural farmaceuticals in the Green Farmacy Garden. While I consider myself both a
naturalist and a spiritualist, I have strayed from the Southern Baptists who introduced me to religion
before I was old enough to have a questioning mind. Mine is still a questioning mind! Turning 78
on April 4, 2007, I still envy those who believe, without doubt. I wish I did! Surely I so wish, if
they are right! Maybe even if they are wrong! They are less likely to worry themselves to death. I am
also impressed with figures suggesting that 90 to 95% of Americans resort to prayer in illness. If
they believe, they are much more liable to be helped. If they believe more in the healing power
of their acupuncturist, chiropractor, herbalist, homeopath, naturopath, orthopedist, or even their
minister or shaman, than they do in their allopathic physician, there is a good chance that, with the
power of mind/body synergy, those non-allopathic modalities are more likely to succeed than the
allopathic modality. Yes, I am saying that with many people, believing is more liable to cure than
is allopathy. And those same people, reading that our many Biblical foods are menus of medicinal
phytochemicals, from which their bodies can selectively mine those needed by the ailing body, are
more liable to be helped by using the biblical food farmacy.
Many of us have come to believe my earlier published statistics that pharmaceuticals kill a thou-
sand times more Americans than herbs. The famous Gary Null and a few others even say that phar-
maceuticals are bigger killers than cancer, cardiopathy, diabetes, or stroke. And, it is easy to see that
the newest, most expensive, and most advertised pharmaceuticals are among the most dangerous.
Yes, shortly after Phase 3 clinical trials and final FDA approval, the pharmaceutical firms get their
marketing efforts into gear with the permeating message, “Ask your physicians if New Drugs A, B,
C and W, X, Y are right for you,” simultaneously giving free samples to the allopaths to encourage
you to take the new drug. And off go their drug reps to reward the allopaths with more than free
samples — training seminars in romantic places, where they will learn most of the positives about
the new drug and few of the negatives. Before you know it, you are taking Drug Z for the side
effects of Drug A. You, the American Public, are induced into what I call Phase 4 “Cynical Trials,”
in which half of the new pharmaceuticals will be relabeled, with stronger warnings, or partially or
completely recalled within a decade. Meanwhile, more expensive pharmaceuticals will continue
to cause many more deaths than are caused by the safe herbs we are led to believe are dangerous.
They are not! Check the Bextra, Celebrex, and Vioxx stories, and soon-to-be-heard statin stories
(three close friends of mine, too old to be worried about cholesterol, have been hospitalized because
of using statins), and head counts of iatrogenic fatalities. The Null numbers: The total number of
annual iatrogenic deaths in America is 783,936(Null et al., 2003).
Remember that pharmaceuticals have been with us less than 150 years. If our ancestors left
Africa via the Holy Land 2000 years ago (for faith-based literalists), maybe a million years ago
(for the less literal), then our genes, tracing back to our African/Holy Land ancestors, have had at
least ten times more temporal experience with biblical herbs (e.g., cinnamon, coriander, cumin,
dill, garlic, grape, mint, milk thistle, myrrh, olive, onion, pomegranate, saffron, turmeric, and