Cullen corylifolium (L.) Medik.

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Scurfy Pea
Blackdot
Malaysian Scurfpea
Psoralea Fruit
‘Tonify Bone Raisin’

Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "The local name [J: mahleb] is the same as that given in many parts of the Middle East to the (often imported) seeds of Prunus mahaleb (widely used in herbal medicine throughout the area), the adjective [J: shari] meaning 'of the mountains'. In years when the plants came up, the seeds were carefully harvested and stored in a dry place for use in the home and for local trade and barter. It was a very important medicine formerly, one of the group of major medicinal plants in Dhofar. The tiny black seeds were crushed and ground to a paste and added to milk or butter to treat mastitis and other painful, infected swellings such as those of mumps, or raised glands swollen as a result of a badly infected throat, ear or infected sores. The same powder mixed to a paste with water painted ... over the body of someone with rigors, or who had attacks of shivering, or a high fever with aches and pain all over the body. Any part of the body causing pain was treated with a similar mixture. A person suffering from asthma or from any breathing difficulties was treated with a lotion made of the crushed and powdered seeds added to oil and then painted over the whole torso. Children especially with painful coughs were said to respond well to this treatment. A woman who had newly given birth painted herself with the ground seeds mixed into some oil or ghee, occasionally with added ground turmeric (Curcuma longa, [DA: kurkum, herd]) used for its bright colour and spicy smell. The crushed seeds have a pleasant and pungent odour and many women, especially among the bedouin of the desert, would add the seeds to the cosmetic mixture they used to anoint and dye the skin of the face, bosom, neck and lower arms and legs, as much for their fragrance as for their protective and medicinal properties. Muscular aches, painful joints and strained muscles and ligaments also responded to such treatment, and someone suffering from a severe headache would paint his forehead with the same lotion. Severe pruritus [J: derfit] was treated with a lotion made from the pulverised seed, as were weeping and crusted sores resistant to other forms of treatment. Crushed seeds were added to milk and smoothed over the site of a snake bite. In general, local healers prescribed these seeds for their 'cooling' properties to combat 'hot' diseases and conditions. The seeds were thus an important medicine taken for a wide diversity of conditions, in Dhofar as well as in neighbouring Yemen. (Ref. Plants of Dhofar). Ghazanfar (2007) mentioned that: "Not browsed by goats or camels. The seeds have been used in traditional medicine for various ailments. They are believed to have ‘cooling properties’ and are recommended to treat ‘hot’ diseases. The are used to treat mastitis and painful swellings, fever, or rubbed over chest to relieve breathing difficulties. Seeds when crushed give out a pleasant fragrance, and are used as a deodorant, rubbed over hands, legs and arms". (Ref. Flora of Oman, vol. 2).

*POWO (2022). ""Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org *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 *https://nameberry.com *https://www.etymonline.com *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.