Daphne (plant) - Uses

Uses

One species, Daphne papyracea, the Lokta plant, is sustainably harvested in Nepal for paper production.

Many species are cultivated as ornamental shrubs in gardens. The smaller species are used as rock garden plants or, in the case of those more difficult to grow, as plants for the alpine house.

Medical Use For the medicinal purposes mainly the cortex and the fruit is used. The cortex is stored in early spring or in winter. The fruit is stored immediately after completely ripe. The cortex is cut into pieces and dried in a dark, windy place. The fruit is dried directly in the sun. Both are stored in boxes. They are best before 2 years.

The medicinal use of the plant has long history. It was widely used in folk medicine and homeopathy. The cortex is officinal in only a few countries. The alcohol extract from cortex and fruits is used against rheumatism, podagra, neuralgia, paralysis, different types of diathesis, some skin diseases, etc. In some countries the fruit is used against trombophlebitis. In this case it is used as anti-coagulable. It is discovered that this feature is common for daphne. To use the fruit for this purpose, the irritating and poisonous part from the fruit should be taken out in a special way. The cortex is soaked in water or vinegar and put on inflamed joint or nerve like mustard plasters. The cortex is also used as ointment for the same purpose. The fruits were used as laxative, the cortex as local irritant in Greece. In Armenian folk medicinal practice the plant is used against colitis and some stomach diseases, as well as against joint rheumatic inflammations as ointment.

Amirdovlat mentions some exciting information on daphne. According to him, the plant leaves used with wine or grape juice cures plague or prevents it. Daphne is also mentioned as cure against toothache and headache; it is also good for intestine. According to K. Babikyan, the plant leaves provide good results when used with honey; the plant was also used to cure the wounds on horse skin.