Witnessed by: Western · Unani
Terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus), of the Anacardiaceae family. Deciduous shrub or small tree with pinnate leaves, often bearing horn-like galls; native range: the Mediterranean basin and western Asia on dry rocky ground. Globally recognized as habb-ul-khizra; butm (بطم) in Arabic, and terebinth, turpentine tree, Cyprus turpentine in English. The part used is the oleoresin (Chian turpentine), galls and fruit. Fragrant sticky resin with a clean turpentine scent; the small galls and berries hard, resinous and pungent.
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.
TEREBINTH
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Terebinth
- Scientific name
- Pistacia terebinthus L.
- Family
- Anacardiaceae
Form
- Part used
- the oleoresin (Chian turpentine), galls and fruit
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- acrid · bitter
- Unani
- pungent · bitter
Temperature
- Western
- hot
- Unani
- hot & dry (2nd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- kidneys · lungs · joints
- Unani
- liver · spleen · joints
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- stimulant, diuretic, rubefacient, expectorant, anthelmintic and vulnerary (the resin and turpentine)
- Unani
- muhallil (resolvent), mufatteh-e-sudad (deobstruent), jali (detergent), muharrik (stimulant), mundamil-e-qurooh (wound healer)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- acute nephritis and inflamed conditions; internal resin only in small guarded doses
- Toxicity
- turpentine oil irritates the kidneys and gut in excess and is nephrotoxic
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