Witnessed by: Western · Unani
Early purple orchid (Orchis mascula), of the Orchidaceae family. Spring-flowering tuberous orchid with spotted leaves; native range: Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, in woods and meadows. Globally recognized as salab misri in Hindi, khusyat al-thalab in Arabic, and early purple orchid, salep, satyrion in English. The part used is tuber (dried as salep). Firm pale twin tubers that, dried and powdered, swell in water to a bland, sweetish, mucilaginous jelly with a faint earthy smell.
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.
EARLY PURPLE ORCHID
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Early purple orchid
- Scientific name
- Orchis mascula (L.) L.
- Family
- Orchidaceae
Form
- Part used
- tuber (dried as salep)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- sweet · mucilaginous
- Unani
- sweet and bland
Temperature
Western: warm
Unani: hot & moist (1st degree)
convergence: both {witness_count} witnesses reckon it a gently warming, moistening restorative
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- digestion · lungs · nerves
- Unani
- stomach · lungs · kidneys · brain
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- demulcent, nutritive, restorative, mildly aphrodisiac
- Unani
- muqawwi-e-badan (general tonic), muqawwi-e-bah (aphrodisiac), mughalliz-e-mani (thickens semen), muskin (demulcent)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- sluggish digestion with heavy phlegm, where its richness may cloy
- Toxicity
- a bland food-like remedy with no notable toxicity
- Sourcing status
- cites-ii
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