Rhazya stricta Decne.

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Eshvarak (Persian)

In Omani studies: Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "This was the chief medicinal plant of the more desert areas in Dhofar. It was collected and sold to the inhabitants of the monsoon areas and the communities settled along the coast. It thus provided a source of income to those living in the desrt, especially near the coast, who collected and sold bunches of the plants to the boats that formerly plied the Southern Arabian seaboard. It was highly regarded both for its medicinal virtues and for its more supernatural properties (in so far as the two can realistically be separated in the traditional medicine of the area). It is one of the shajarat al-jinn, 'the plants of the Jinn', and thus precautions should be taken when gathering it: something of iron should be worn by the collector, and he should approach the plant praising God and pronouncing Qur'anic formulae. ... He should avoid any shade cast by the plant - the shade being particularly dangerous - nor should the plant be collected before the sun is up. When plucking the stem it was considered wise to say - "I take this from you in the name of God on behalf of so-and-so", holding out a piece of iron towards the plant while picking it. The leaves and new growing tips were rubbed over the body as protection against jinn and the evil eye. The leaves were macerated in oil and used as a skin embrocation to treat indigestion, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastritis and other abdominal disorders. Liquid expressed from the plant was mixed with oil, and preferably also with some hubbeh sodeh (seeds of Nigella sativa) and roots of ginger, if available, and rubbed on painful swellings as a salve, to soothe the pain and to cause them to subside. Juice was expressed from a leaf into an infected and painful eye, and whole fresh leaf was placed over the affected eye for an hour or so, while the patient lay down. Water in which the plant had been cooked was drunk on the empty stomach to relieve abdominal pains, some of the cooking water also being rubbed on the painful part. This treatment was considered especially effective for women suffering from post- partum pains, both to relieve the pain and to protect the mother, who was considered to be particularly vulnerable to evil influences at this time. Leaves were cooked in water which was drunk to bring down a fever. The smoke of a smouldering plant was inhaled to treat a painful head or to relieve constriction in the chest and for the treatment of various breathing problems. Leaves were also thrown into the night fire to keep away evil and to protect the sleepers. Severe itching and allergies were treated by wafting the smoke from burning stem over the itching part prior to washing it with the water in which some of the leaves have been boiled. This plant was considered to be as effective dried as fresh, and bundles could be stored in caves or leaves rubbed off the stems and kept wrapped in leather satchels for future use or sale". (Ref. Plants of Dhofar). In addition, Pickering & Patzelt (2008) mentioned that: "Leaves have a variety of medicinal uses, both when crushed and mixed with boiling water or oil and when burned and the smoke inhaled. Avoided by grazing animals". (Ref. Field Guide to the Wild Plants of Oman; 2008). Furthermore, Ghazanfar (2015) stated that: "In Yemen and Saudi Arabia, the name harmal is used for Peganum harmala, an important medicinal plant. In Oman this name is given to Rhazya stricta. This is one of the most commonly used and important plant in traditional medicine, especially against diabetes. In Dhofar (southern Oman) it was collected and sold by the people living in the desert areas to the mountain dwellers and also to the sea traders on the coast. It was regarded highly for both its medicinal and supernatural powers. The whole plant including the seeds have been used for improving bad breath, chest pain, conjunctivis, constipation, and diabetes; it was also used for lowering fevers, soothing skin rash, as an anthelmintic, and to increase lactation. Indian sunbirds have been recorded to feed from the flowers". (Ref. Flora of Oman, vol. 3).

*Ghazanfar, S. (2015). Flora of the Sultanate of Oman, vol.3: Loganiaceae – Asteraceae. Meise, National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Scripta Botanica Begica, Vol. 25). ISBN 9789082352511 ISSN 0779-2387. *https://en.wikipedia.org *Miller, A., Morris, M. (1988). Plants of Dhofar, the Southern Region of Oman: Traditional, Economic, and Medicinal Uses. Published by Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman; ISBN 10: 0715708082 ISSN 13: 9780715708088. *Pickering, H. Patzelt, A. (2008). Field Guide to the Wild Plants of Oman. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. ISBN 9781842461778. *POWO (2023). ""Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org