Cupressus sempervirens
Botanical Nomenclature | Cupressus sempervirens |
Common Name | Graveyard Cypress, Italian Cypress, Mediterranean Cypress, Pencil Pine, Tuscan Cypress |
Taxonomy- Family | Coniferae |
Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Cupressus sempervirens is a resinous tree growing from 15 to 30m, with dark green, needle-like leaves, brown fruits and small, yellow flowers. The flowering lasts from January to April, the fruiting happens in autumn and the harvesting takes place all year round. |
Region Found | Epirus |
Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Leaves, fruits |
Active Substances | Essential oil (which contains alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, carene, cedrol), tannins, flavonoids, resins, glyceric acid, glycolic acid, terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes. |
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The plant has diuretic, astringent, hemostatic, sedative, antispasmodic and antirheumatic properties. It is administered in the form of herbal tea for the treatment of hemorrhoids, metrorrhagia, premenstrual syndrome and in order to reduce joint pain as well as for improving blood microcirculation. Also, it is administered in the form of tincture or by inhaling the vapors of the essential oil against bronchitis, cough, asthma, pharyngitis and common cold. It is applied externally in the form of compresses from the herbal tea against varicose veins, eczema (as antiperspirant), rheumatism and edema. |
Method of Administration | The plant is administered for the treatment of respiratory diseases in the form of tincture (10g of dried herb in 100mL of alcohol 60%, 20 drops 3-4 times a day), as well by inhaling the vapors of the essential oil. Also, it is administered as hemostatic and to improve blood circulation in the form of herbal tea (150g of dried herb in 700-800mL of boiled water, 2-3 times a day) either orally or in the form of compresses. Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
Toxicity- Adverse Effects | Plant's consumption may cause allergic reactions (skin irritation and itching) |
References | 1) Bιβλίο: Τα φαρμακευτικά βότανα και οι θεραπευτικές τους ιδιότητες, Λάμπρου Π. Σπύρου, Αγροτικός εκδοτικός οίκος, Αθήνα 1981, Β' τόμος, σελίδες: 321-322 2)http://botanakaiygeia.blogspot.com/2013/11/cupressus-semprevirens.html 3)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23167275 4)http://www.botanical-online.com/english/cypress.htm 5)http://herbika.com/essential-oils/cypress-essential-oil-cupressus.html 6)http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail21.php |