Table 1 Uses of traditional plant phytotherapeuticals recorded during the interview to ‘Zi Matteo’ and confirmed by other participants (Legend: Status: C: cultivated, SC: semi-cultivated, W: wild; Use(s): M: medicinal uses, E: ethnoveterinary uses, F: food uses, D: domestic and handicraft uses)
From: Notes about the uses of plants by one of the last healers in the Basilicata Region (South Italy)
Botanical taxon | Botanical family | Vernacular name recorded | Status | Part(s) utilized | Preparation | Use(s) | Claimed use(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agave americana L. | Asparagaceae | sciabblon | W | Leaves | Decoction is left overnight and then applied topically. | M | Treatment of muscle and rheumatic pain |
Allium cepa L. | Amaryllidaceae | cipudda | C | Bulbs | Oleolite (frying) | M | Healing of purulent skin abscesses (caused by thorns) |
Soup | M | Galactagogue | |||||
Crushed and then applied topically | M | Treatment of bruises | |||||
Used as an aromatic in the kitchen | F | Spice | |||||
Allium sativum L. | Amaryllidaceae | dd’agghie | C | Bulbs | Eaten raw | M | Anti-hypertensive |
Ground, mixed with parsley, and applied topically | M | Healing of insect bites | |||||
Necklace, to be worn by babies or children | M | Vermifuge | |||||
Heated on hot charcoal, then applied topically | M | Healing of warts | |||||
Used as an aromatic in the kitchen | F | Spice, aromatizing sausages | |||||
Aloysia citrodora Palau | Verbenaceae | citronella | C, SC | Leaves | Streaked on the skin | M | Mosquito repellant |
Amaranthus retroflexus L. | Amaranthaceae | p’pon salvagge | W | Young buds | Picked before flowering | F | Food |
Anethum graveolens L. | Apiaceae | f’nucchiastr | C | Leaves | Picked before flowering | F | Flavoring for canned olives |
Seeds | Used as an aromatic in the kitchen | F | Spice for sausages and for Easter cakes | ||||
Avena sativa L. | Poaceae | biama/avena | C | Seeds | Decoction | M | Reconstituent for small children |
Arundo donax L. | Poaceae | canna | W | Membrane | Topical application | M | Haemostatic |
Arum italicum Mill. | Araceae | ‘nzale | W | Sap | Topical application | M | Healing of warts |
Asparagus acutifolius L. | Asparagaceae | sparije | W | Shoots | Boiled and consumed alone or with scrambled eggs and fresh cheese | F | Diuretic |
Borago officinalis L. | Boraginaceae | vurrajiene | W | Aerial parts (at flowering) | Soup prepared with Allium cepa | F | Galactagogue |
Decoction | M | Sore throat remedy | |||||
In salad (finely minced leaves) | F | Food | |||||
Brassica oleracea L. | Brassicaceae | cav’l | C | Leaves | Roasted and applied topically | E | Treatment of mastitis or shoulder pain |
Calamintha nepeta L. | Lamiaceae | nepita | W | Leaves | Decoction for local washing | E | Treatment of rhagades and mastitis of cattle |
Capsicum annuum L. | Solanaceae | cancaricchi’e | C | Pods | Used as an aromatic in the kitchen | F | Anti-hypertensive |
Seeds | Fitted in a little bag and attached to clothing as an amulet (ritual-medical use) | M | Treatment of evil-eye | ||||
Ceratonia siliqua L. | Leguminosae | carrubba | C | Fruits | Decoction with Ficus carica L and Malva sylvestris L | M | Emollient |
Cichorium intybus L. | Asteraceae | cicoria catalogna | C | Aerial parts | Soup | M | Laxative |
Citrus limonum Risso | Rutaceae | l’mon’e | C | Fruits | Decoction | M | Treatment of diarrhea |
Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. | Rutaceae | purt’galle | C | Fruits | Decoction in mixtures with other species | M | Treatment of sore throat and cough |
Clematis vitalba L. | Ranunculaceae | vitacchia | W | Fruits | Decoction used as a gargle | M | Healing of mouth inflammations |
Cynara scolymus L. | Asteraceae | scaler’ | W | Flower heads | Decoction | M | Liver depurative |
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. | Poaceae | gramigna | W | Rhizome | Decoction | M | Diuretic |
Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L) DC. | Brassicaceae | ruca salvagg’e | W | Leaves | Oleolite (fried leaves) applied topically | M | Treatment of muscle pain |
Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich. | Cucurbitaceae | cucc’ marrong’e | W | Fruits | Decoction used as a gargle | M | Toothache remedy |
Eucalyptus globulus Labill. | Myrtaceae | calipso | C, SC | Leaves | Decoction with Malva sylvestris | M | Respiratory tract antiseptic |
Ficus carica L. | Moraceae | fica | C, SC | Fruits | Dried, then decoction with other herbs | M | Treatment of sore throats and bronchitis, intestinal depurative |
Sap | Topical application | M | Healing of insect bites and warts | ||||
Glycyrrhiza glabra L. | Leguminosae | pruvlizije | SC | Roots | Decoction | M | Anti-tussive agent |
Hordeum vulgare L. | Poaceae | dd’orije | C | Seeds | Decoction, in mixtures with other vegetables | M | Treatment of sore throats and bronchitis |
Bread embedded with a decoction of the seeds | M | Reconstituent for ill children and elderly | |||||
Juglans regia L. | Juglandaceae | nucia | C, SC | Leaves | Leaves put into the shoes | M | Treatment of excessive foot perspiration |
Lactuca sativa L. | Asteraceae | lattuca | C | Leaves | Decoction used as a gargle and a topical application | M | Treatment of gingival abscess |
Boiled, applied topically | M | Toothache remedy | |||||
Laurus nobilis L. | Lauraceae | laur’ | SC | Leaves | Decoction | M | Treatment of sore throat and stress |
Malva sylvestris L. | Malvaceae | malva | W | Aerial parts (at flowering) | Decoction | M | Mild laxative |
Decoction | M | Treatment of furuncles, abscesses and dermatitis (in babies) | |||||
Fresh leaves are boiled and placed into cloth sack to use as a warm compress | E | Treatment of mastitis | |||||
Marrubium vulgare L. | Lamiaceae | marrug’ | W | Aerial parts (at flowering) | Decoction used as a wash | M | Healing of cysts, panacea |
Myrtus communis L. | Myrtaceae | murtedda | W | Fruits | Infusion | M | Treatment of colds |
Ash sprinkled into shoes | M | Treatment of excessive foot perspiration | |||||
Papaver somniferum L. | Papaveraceae | papagna | SC | Fruits | Decoction | M | Tranquillizer |
Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) A.W. Hill | Apiaceae | putrsin’ | C | Aerial parts | Decoction | M | Abortion inducement |
Ground with garlic (Allium sativum) bulbs and topically applied | M | Healing of insect bites | |||||
Decoction with fern roots | M | Abortion inducement | |||||
Prunus domestica L. | Rosaceae | prugn | C | Fruits | Dried and eaten | M | Laxative |
Pyrus communis L. | Rosaceae | pir’ | C | Fruits | Boiled | M | Mild laxative |
Ocimum basilicum L. | Lamiaceae | basilic | C | Leaves | Smell inhaled | M | Headache remedy |
Olea europaea L. | Oleaceae | guliv’ | C | Leaves | Leaves chewed | M | Stomachache remedy |
Origanum vulgare L. ssp. viride (Boiss.) Hayek | Lamiaceae | rigan’e | W | Aerial parts (at flowering) | Smoked, fumes inhaled | M | Toothache remedy |
Populus alba L. | Salicaceae | chiupp | C, SC | Young stems | Handcrafted | D | Collars for cows |
Portulaca oleracea L. | Portulacaceae | purchiazza | SC | Aerial parts | In salad or boiled | F | Food |
Rosmarinus officinalis L. | Lamiaceae | ros’marin | C | Aerial parts (at flowering) | Decoction | M | Sore throat or stomachache remedy |
Ruta graveolens L. | Rutaceae | ruta | C | Aerial parts (at flowering) | Oleolite(fried) applied topically | M | Treatment of muscle pain |
Salvia officinalis L. | Lamiaceae | salvia | C | Aerial parts (at flowering) | Decoction | M | Sore throat remedy |
Leaves | Rubbed on the teeth | M | Teeth-whitener | ||||
Salix alba L. | Salicaceae | salic | SC, W | Young stems | Handcrafted | D | Tying vines |
Sambucus nigra L. | Adoxaceae | sambuc | W | Fruits | Decoction | M | Diaphoretic |
Decoction with other species | M | Sore throat remedy | |||||
Squashed on the skin | M | Healing of insect bites | |||||
Silybum marianum (L.) Gaert. | Asteraceae | cardon’ | W | Aerial parts | In salad or cooked | F | Food |
Boiled with other vegetables | F | Food | |||||
Spartium junceum L. | Fabaceae | g’nestra | W | Stems | Topical application | M | Healing of warts |
Tamarix gallica L. | Tamaricaceae | vruc/tamarice | W | Young stems | Ritual-magical use | M | Healing of warts |
Taraxacum officinale Weber | Asteraceae | cicorion’ | W | Aerial parts | In mixed salad or as boiled vegetable | F | Food |
Urtica dioica L. | Urticaceae | r’ddicula | W | Aerial parts | Decoction | M | Digestive agent |
Decoction | M | Liver protection | |||||
Local washing | M | Treatment of hemorrhoids | |||||
Boiled leaves mixed with tomatoes and eaten | M | Treatment of renal problems | |||||
Cooked (e.g. in omelettes, croquettes, and soups) | F | Mineralizing |