Salvadora persica L.

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Toothbrush tree
Mustard tree
Salt brush

Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "To make the tooth stick for which this plant is so well known throughout the Middle East, a finger-length piece of root is cut and a ring of bark at one end removed to expose the inner wood. This is then frayed out to produce a stubby brush which is chewed and rubbed vigorously over the teeth and around the mouth and gums. The brush tip can be cut down again and again and the newly exposed part once more frayed out to make a new brush. The berries [J: hfol iz eherik] are edible once they have ripened to a dark red. They are very peppery, and since they do not dry well are best eaten fresh. They are believed to be an effective stimulant for the appetite, and consequently are often given to the sickly and convalescent, both human and animal. The ... leaves provide a valuable fodder for camels, especially in those areas outside the monsoon zone which are less richly supplied with alternative browse. It is one of a group of plants considered to be beneficial to camels which are in poor condition for whatever reason, such camels being herded to browse in an area where the plants are to be found growing in profusion. This fodder causes scouring, and its initial effect is to make the camels appear even more sickly and thin. But their condition rapidly picks up, and they regain their appetite, put on flesh, and even their milk yield improves. It has been suggested that these plants might have an anthelminthic action, and that such sickly camels were in poor condition because they were suffering from a severe infestation of intestinal worms, which was reduced - if not eliminated - by a diet of the Salvadora foliage. If this is correct, it could help to explain their subsequent improvement in condition. Medicinally the leaves were important for treating parasitic infestations of the skin, especially that called locally [DA, J: jerb]. This treatment was given only to camels, being too severe for the thinner skinned goats. Dead wood was gathered and burned down to a fine ash. The ash was then put in a container with some water (and oil if available) and boiled down to a paste. The strength of the paste was repeatedly tested as it reduced down by dripping some onto a lock of hair to see whether it severed or not. Once the paste has reached the requisite strength, it was allowed to cool and was then applied to the affected areas of skin with a brush. This brush was usually fashioned from a dug up root of the same plant knocked on a rocky surface to fray it out to form a rough brush. When the paste has dried, it was scraped off with the back of a knife until the raw red flesh below was exposed. This was examined carefully, a second application sometimes being necessary. The whole process was very painful for the camel which has to be firmly tied and held down while undergoing treatment. The new skin was then painted with an application of oil and sulphur [DA, J: kibrit], and the patient tethered in shade until the new soft growth of hair has come through. From the moment the animal was covered in the paste, it was considered to be no longer infectious, and was allowed once again to be with the rest of the herd. Dried leaves of the plant were also used medicinally. They were singed at the fire and pounded to a powder which was then packed into a large ulcer which was not healing but spreading and eating more deeply into the skin. It was a very painful treatment, but was considered efficacious if the pain could be borne - any purulent matter or damaged tissue was burned out, leaving a raw but clean surface which was then treated with other medicaments. This was also the treatment for the rodent ulcers which occurred quite commonly in camels, the ulcer first being scoured with salt and water. Wood ash mixed with a little water and boiled to a paste was also used to remove the hair from fresh hides preparatory to tanning them. The leaves keep their green colour well, and so were often gathered by herders and chopped into the dried-sardine feed to make it more tempting and appetising to livestock. This was a mixture given especially to livestock in milk, as it was considered to improve the health of the animal and to increase her milk yield. Indeed, by many, the leaves of this plant were regarded as an adequate substitute for the dried sardines. In the north of Oman the leaves of this tree and the leaves of Rhazya stricta [OA: harmal] were cooked together and the strained water added to lemon juice and given to a patient suffering from paralysis [OA: rih]. (Ref. Plants of Dhofar). Ghazanfar (2007) mentioned that: "Cut branches are used as toothbrushes throughout Arabia. The leaves and fruits are edible. Used in traditional medicine to treat parasitic infections and ulcers in camel". (Ref. Flora of Oman, vol. 2).

*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. *https://en.wikipedia.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. *Pickering, H. Patzelt, A. (2008). Field Guide to the Wild Plants of Oman. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. ISBN 9781842461778.