Witnessed by: Western · Unani
Euphorbium (Euphorbia resinifera), of the Euphorbiaceae family. Leafless cactus-like succulent of four-angled spiny stems exuding a milky latex; native range: Atlas Mountains of Morocco, on arid rocky slopes. Globally recognized as farfiyun (فرفيون) in Arabic, and gum euphorbium, resin spurge in English. The part used is dried gum-resin (concreted latex). Pale yellow friable tears with little smell but a fearfully acrid, burning taste that grips the throat; the dust makes the eyes and nose stream.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
EUPHORBIUM
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Euphorbium
- Scientific name
- Euphorbia resinifera O.Berg
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
Form
- Part used
- dried gum-resin (concreted latex)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- acrid, intensely burning
- Unani
- acrid, biting and hot on the tongue
Temperature
Western: hot (in the extreme)
Unani: hot & dry (4th degree)
convergence: both {witness_count} witnesses set it at the very summit of heat — a caustic, blistering drug
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- skin · nerves · joints
- Unani
- nerves · joints · skin
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- rubefacient, vesicant, errhine, drastic cathartic, counter-irritant
- Unani
- muharrik (stimulant), mohallil (resolvent), jali (detergent), mus-hil (purgative); a caustic for cold palsies
Cautions
- Contraindications
- never given internally in modern practice; pregnancy, inflamed skin and mucous membranes; the powder must be kept from the eyes and airways
- Toxicity
- a powerful irritant poison — blisters the skin, and internally causes violent purging, gastro-enteritis and collapse
- Sourcing status
- cites-ii
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