Inula viscosa traditional medicine

"A Bag of Plants The Medicinal and Useful Plants of Israel".
Author; Nissim Krispil. Yara Publishing House, published in Hebrew, Jerusalem, Israel. (1987).

Descriptions of Inula viscosa in traditional medicine uses were compiled from ancient scriptures and from first
hand interviews with Arab and Bedouin villagers in Israel and Palestinian territories who practice traditional
folk medicine until this time

Translation from Hebrew:
P 351; The writer Pilinius (c. AD 23-79). Roman scientific encyclopedist and historian wrote; “the Inula plant
strengthens the teeth, when prepared it is used against cough, boiled juice of its roots evict worms, dried and
crushed to powder it is used against cough and a medicine for stomach cramps and against stomach gases,
it is useful for healing of poisonous animals bites”.

P 351;   The researcher B. Tzisik calls Inula viscosa “Rara”. Llocal Arabs in several locations in Israel call
the plant “Rara ayub” the name means the plant that helped the biblical Prophet Job (Ayub in Arabic) endure
his torture and pain, he finds further references in the Bible, in the book of proverbs, (king Solomon’s
proverbs), Inula viscosa remedy is mentioned as: “wounds and browses and abdomen chambers ailments
should be treated with Ra”.

P 352; “At the Arab village Abud in Samaria (Palestinian Authority), I was told by the locals that they use
powder of dry Inula viscosa leaves or a water extract as a topical treatment for open and bleeding wounds,
they said that application of the water extract has a efficacy similar to that of Iodine.”

P 355; As already said, uses on Inula viscosa in traditional medicine practiced by the Arabs in Israel, A.
Hareuveni, the researcher of flora of the land of Israel wrote in his studies: “ there are places where Inula
leafs are dried, than powdered and spread over the wound, there are those who say that the leafs have to
be dried inside the house for several days, other people say that fresh leaves can be placed on the wound,
all the Arabs I spoke to hailed the healing activity of the plant. In several villages in the vicinity of Jerusalem
the plant is used to reduce swollen body parts”.

P 355; B. Tzisik writes in his studies; “In the traditional medicine of the Arabs Inula viscosa is highly
respected, they use it for treatment of arthritis and paralysis…”

P 356, 357;   “Wound treatment with Inula viscosa tincture; Inula viscosa leaves tincture in alcohol is
considered a proven medicine for treatment and prevention of infections that can form in open wounds, the
tincture is produced by squeezing a large amount of leafs, in this context, some of the peasants immerse the
leaves in alcohol and use it as medicinal iodine is used on open and bleeding wounds, for wounds that
happened in the field, fresh leafs are attached to the wound, this help blood clotting and prevents infection.”

P 357; “Inula viscosa infusion for blood pressure and diabetes reduction; Inula viscosa is considered by the
Arab peasants as one of the five best herbs for treatment of diabetes and blood pressure reduction, fresh
leafs are picked, the dosage is 3 to 5 leaves per cup of tea, this makes a yellow infusion, side effects of
drinking this infusion is enhanced urination and running stomach”

P 358;   “Bathing in leafs infusion as a treatment for arthritis and joints pain; 200 gram of Inula viscosa leaves
is boiled for five minutes in a Litter of water, the infusion is filtered and added to half full bath tub of warm
water, the patient stays in the bath for 30 minutes, the treatment is good for treatment of arthritis and joints
pain.”

P 358;   “Treatment for swollen or bleeding gums: 10 gram of Inula viscosa leaves is boiled in half a liter of
water for 5 minutes until a yellow infusion is reached, a mouth full of the infusion is repeated several times as
needed.”

P 358; “ A paste for treatment for Hemorrhoids: Fresh Inula viscosa leaves are picked, dried and crushed,
the powder is mixed in olive oil and applied to the affected part.”

The medicinal spa of Plombye section of wood carving from “Junta” a book

writtenby De-

Balna,

Venice, (1553). I

nula viscosa

lea

s placed in the water for

therapy.

A worrier’s wound treated with Inula v., wood carving from the

book

of the Swiss military surgeon Felix Wirtz, (1518-1574).

“The Medicinal Plants of the Holy Land”
Authors; Prof. Dan Palevitz and Dr. Zoahara Yaniv. The Israeli Agricultural Research Administration.
Published in Hebrew by Tamuz Mudan, Israel, (1991)

Translation from Hebrew:
P 157;   “Folk Medicine: Inula viscosa is a plant of many uses, it is recommended to use Inula leaves for
treatment of scurvy, a tonic prepared from the leaves is used to treat hangover after heavy drinking, Inula
viscosa leaf powder is used for arthritis treatment.
In Algiers, Inula viscosa branches are boiled in oil, the oil is used for topical treatment of swelling, arthritis
and sun stroke, Arabs in the holy land regards Inula viscosa as one of the most important medicinal plants,
one that heals 40 different ailments.”

“MEDICINAL PLANS OF NORTH AFRICA”
Author; Loufty Boulus, Published by Reference Publications, USA, (1983). Library of Congress Catalog Card
Number: 82-20412.   International Standard Book Number: 0-917256-16-6

P 64,65; Inula viscosa (L.) Ait. Uses: Flowering branches used for bronchitis, tuberculosis, anemia,
astringent, fattening, for malaria and diseases of the urinary system, boiled in oil, the oil is rubbed on bruises
and swelling, cataplasm for rheumatic pains; powdered and mixed with henna leafs, a cataplasm is used for
sunstroke, (Algiers Drug Market).

“Moshe Ben Mimon (Mimonides) Medicinal Plants”
Author; Nissim krispil. published in Hebrew, Yarid Sfarim, (1989).

Rabbi Moshe Ben Mimon, (1138- 1204) a multi disciplinary scholar philosopher and physician of the royalty
at his time, regarded to this day as one of brightest Judaism luminaries of all times, has written about the
value of Inula viscosa.

Translation from Hebrew:
P 125; “it contains many useful medications for the body, for the liver and its efficacy is clear and
explainable”, in his writings, Rabbi Moshe Ben Mimon, mentions the writings of the Arab physician Al Tamimi
of Jerusalem, who lived in the tenth century, (died in 985 ad.), and practiced medicine at the Fatimi Halifs
palace, and so he wrote: “ The Raesen (Inula viscosa) prepared in honey and perfumes and consumed as a
drink, is called “the tonic of kings”, it is useful for the elderly, it treats wet nose, (running nose), it is useful for
joints treatment, enhances the hart and stomach, and arises the sexual lust and desire for intercourse”.

P 125;   “It is used in traditional medicine as a treatment for joints pain, back pain and swollen feet, Inula leaf
tincture is considered a proven medicine for treatment of infections in open wounds.”

“The Pharmacognosy of the local plant Inula viscosa”
Author; Stephen Spiteri.
Web publication, Symposium 1998.
http://www.cis.um.edu.mt/~phcy/symp98/StephenSpiteri.html

Introduction
Abroad a large number of plants are constantly being screened for their possible pharmacological value.
Malta too withholds a variety of medicinal plants. One of these is Inula viscosa, (Maltese:Tulliera komuni,
English:Sticky Fleabane), also known as Dittrichia viscosa or Cupularia viscosa. This medium, densely
glandular, slender perennial with erect stems and a smell of camphor belongs to the Compositae family. It
grows on stony hill slopes, damp habitats, waste and fallow ground and even on roadsides. In folk medicine it
is used as diuretic, topical antipruritic, it is boiled in oil for myalgia, and it is used as haemostatic on surface
wounds.
Scientific studies that have been carried out abroad revealed some interesting pharmacological effects of the
plant, these include:
·        Gastroprotection and prostaglandin E2 generation in rats by flavonoid extracts
·        The effects of Isolated Hispidulin on guinea pig smooth muscles
·        Research on the role of the plant in the treatment of diabetes
The results of these studies were published as articles on journals. Most of these articles were collected and
the scientific information on them was organized in a digestible and cohesive way.

“The Mandragora gave smell” Folklore Chapters of the Plants of Israel. Author;
Amotz Dafni.   Publication of the Applied Research Company, Haifa University, Israel, (1991).

Translation from Hebrew:
Page 35;   “ Villagers in Samaria use the powder made of dry Inula viscosa leaves for wound healing, and
are those who apply fresh leaves directly on wounds, the Arab villagers of the land use Inula for a steam
bath treatment of rheumatism”

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