TITLE:
Ethno-Botanic Treatments for Paralysis (Falij) in the Middle East
AUTHORS:
Aref Abu-Rabia
KEYWORDS:
Paralysis; Ethno Botanic Medicine; Middle East
JOURNAL NAME:
Chinese Medicine,
Vol.3 No.4,
December
28,
2012
ABSTRACT: The goal of this paper is to describe beliefs and treatments for specific forms of Paralysis (falij) and other nervous disorders in the Middle East. Themes to be investigated include, the traditional medicinal practices used to treat Paralysis, as well as their curative methods using traditional herbal medicine. This paper is based on first and secondary sources; interviews with traditional healers, as well as patients who suffered from these disorders. The author found 152 plants species belonging to 58 families (see Appendix) that treat paralysis and other nervous disorders. The most significant plants species are found in the six families of herbs: Labiatae, Compositae, Umbelliferae, Papilionaceae, Liliaceae, and Solanaceae.