Euphorbia cactus Ehrenb. ex Boiss.

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In Omani studies: Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "The latex although needing careful handling, was used as a general adhesive. The whole plant was one of the most important drought fodders for camels, in the way Sansevieria was for cattle. The side branches were cut off with a matchet, care being taken not to damage the core of the plant from which new growth would come, and armfuls were carried off to an area of flat rock which had been enclosed by low stone walls to prevent pieces flying around as the pile was chopped and beaten with heavy clubs. The harder woody parts were discarded and the rest fed to the hungry camels. Camels fed on this diet were able to go without water for many days. It was important both in the dry season when other fodder was scarce, and also in the cold winter season when ... camels were felt to be in need of 'heating' fodder to protect them from illnesses brought on by the cold weather and winds. Goats eat this Euphorbia reluctantly and only if very hungry indeed, though they eat the flowering tips with more enthusiasm. Some experts swore by the use of a single small drop of the juice to treat an infected and painful eye which had not responded to any other treatment, but also claim that only adults were able to support the severe pain this caused. Other experts say this was a wrong and dangerous treatmen, and that they would never recommend it. (Some indeed relate the story of the woman who was given this treatment by her husband and who, as a result, lost the sight of the affected eye). The juice was used to treat a variety of skin conditions however. The hard, raised circular sores with sweeping edges [J: isob, DA: insab] were treated with the juice of this Euphorbia, as were areas of skin causing severe itching [J: derfit, DA: hazaz], such as scabies and ringworm [J: fedfed]; but the juice was never allowed to touch an open cut, as inflammation and sometimes ulceration resulted. The juice was also painted around the base of a pointed swelling or boil to draw the pus. Persistent sores and ulcers that were taking a long time to heal were treated with the juice, and this too was very painful, but it was said that such a treatment, if it could be borne, was nvariably successful, the latex burning away all the necrotic tissue and purulent matter and leaving the skin of the lesion raw, but clean and uninfected. The juice was also used to treat the dreaded and usually incurable condition called in [J: izen], (possibly malignant ulcer or yaws), which started as one or two small sores [J: kiskisot], which gradually deepened and spread, progressively eaten away and destroying the nose and jaw. Experts occasionally recommended the latex of this euphorbia to burn out the ulceration in the damaged parts of the face in an attempt to arrest the progress of the disease, but accept that this was rarely syccessful. Sores on the scalp, often the result of infected bites of headlice and especially common in children, called in [J: arzi or enfirot], as well as skin rashes and cutaneous ailments in livestock were also treated with this latex, but it was rarely used on younger children or on the smaller livestock because of the pain it caused. (Battery acid is used to treat the same conditions in the same way today by some people). A single drop of the juice was also put into a tooth which was giving a lot of pain, or into an abscess – either directly or in a little wad of cotton which was wedged into the offending tooth. This acted as an anaesthetic, allowing further operations to be carried out on the tooth, such as its extraction". (Ref. Plants of Dhofar). In addition, Ghazanfar (2007) mentioned that: "The stems have been used as fodder for camels. The latex from the plant has been used in traditional medicine for treating skin conditions and toothache". (Ref. Flora of Oman; vol.2). Furthermore, Pickering & Patzelt (2008) stated that: "Fodder for camels in the dry season. Sap is caustic". (Ref. Field Guide to the Wild Plants of Oman; 2008).

*Ghazanfar, S. (2007). Flora of the Sultanate of Oman, vol.2: Crassulaceae – Apiaceae. Meise, National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Scripta Botanica Begica, Vol. 36). ISBN 9789072619747 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