Table 1

Plant remedies of the folk pharmacopoeias of the Istro-Romanians of Žejane in Croatia

Botanical taxon (and voucher specimen code) Botanical family Istro-Romanian name(s) recorded in Žejane

Status

 Quotation frequency Part(s) used Preparation Administration Claimed medical use
Abies alba Mill. (ZEJABI) Pinaceae ielva

W

 ♣ resin (şmólę) - topical application antiseptic (also in veterinary)
Achillea millefolium L.
(ZEJACH) 		Compositae odulina

W

 ♣♣ flowering tops decoction drunk anti-obesity and digestive
Allium sativum L. Liliaceae ai

C

 ♣♣ bulbs (şcopì) oleolite drunk vermifuge
Artemisia absinthium L. (ZEJARTl) Compositae pèlen; pelin

W

 ♣♣♣ aerial parts decoction drunk digestive
Artemisia vulgaris L. (ZEJART2) Compositae  

W

 ♣ aerial parts decoction drunk digestive
Beta vulgaris L. Chenopodiaceae blitva

C

 ♣♣ leaves - cooked depurative
Betula pendula Roth (ZEJBET) Betulaceae vrba

W

 ♣♣ young leaves decoction drunk anti-arthritis
Brassica oleracea L. Cruciferae capùz

C

 ♣♣ leaves - topical application (back side of the leaf in contact with the skin) cicatrising
     

 

 ♣♣♣ aerial parts liquid remaining from the fermentation process for producing Sauerkraut (vęrze) drunk to heal haemorrhoids (taboo: women in childbirth should avoid its use otherwise the baby could get an intestinal colic)
    coruta

 

 ♣♣♣ leaves - fodder veterinary; nutraceautical for swine
Carum carvi L. (ZEJCAR) Umbelliferae kimel

W

 ♣♣♣ fruits decoction; macerate in raki drunk digestive
Centaurium erytrhaea Rafn. (ZEJCEN) Gentianaceae tåvžântróže

W

 ♣ aerial parts decoction drunk digestive
Chelidonium majus L.
(ZEJCHE)		 Papaveraceae snoìniţa

W

 ♣ latex - topical application anti-warts
Cornus mas L. (ZEJCOR) Cornaceae corn

W

 ♣♣♣ fruits fermented to produce vinegar (oţet) see Malus sylvestris see Malus sylvestris
     

 

 ♣ fruits syrup drunk nutraceutical

Cucurbita pepo L.

 Cucurbitaceae tìcvę

C

 ♣♣♣ fruits - fodder veterinary; nutraceutical for swine
Euphorbia sp. Euphorbiaceae iårba de şerpe

W

 ♣♣ latex - topical application consumed anti-warts nutraceutical
Fragaria vesca L. (ZEJFRA) Rosaceae fråžica W ♣ fruits - consumed nutraceutical
Juniperus communis
(ZEJJUN)		 Cupressaceae smríca

W

 ♣* galbules (briń) distilled oil external application anti-rheumatic
Malus sylvestris MILL. (ZEJMAL) Rosaceae lìsnic

W

 ♣♣* fruits fermented to produce vinegar (oţet) drunk anti-obesity
        ♣♣♣*     heated and topically applied anti-bruises (also in veterinary)
        ♣♣♣*     heated and topically applied by a cloth on feet or hands anti-fever
        ♣♣*     fodder veterinary: nutraceutical for swine
        ♣♣        
Matricaria recutita L. (ZEJMAT) Compositae camomila

W

 ♣♣ flowering tops decoction drunk digestive; tranquiliser; vermifuge (children)
Medicago saliva L. (ZEJMED) Leguminosae iårba şpågňa

W

 ♣♣ aerial parts - fodder veterinary; nutraceutical for rabbits
Plantago lanceolata L.
(ZEJPLA)		 Plantaginaceae bucviţa

W

 ♣♣ leaves - topical application cicatrising
Prunus domestica L.

Rosaceae

čeşpa; sliva

C

 ♣♣ fruits distillate topical application cicatrising
Rosa canina L. (ZEJROS) Rosaceae şípâc

W

 ♣♣ pseudofruits decoction drunk depurative
Rubus idaeus L. (ZEJRUB 1) Rosaceae måliniţa

W

 ♣♣ fruits - consumed nutraceutical
        ♣   syrup drunk nutraceutical
Rubus ulmifolius SCHOTT. (ZEJRUB2) Rosaceae mùrgvâ

W

 ♣♣♣ fruits - consumed nutraceutical
        ♣   syrup drunk nutraceutical
Rumex acetosella L. (ZEJRUM) Polygonaceae kiseliţa W ♣♣ whole aerial parts with seeds dried fodder, mixed with wheat bran veterinary: anti'diarrhoeic for cattle
Sambucus nigra L. Caprifoliaceae bsga W ♣♣ fruits decoction drunk anti-fever
        ♣♣♣ flower syrup drunk nutraceutical
Secale cereale L. Graminae secåra C ♣♣♣* seeds → flour (farìrę de secåra) cooked with water and potatoes consumed roborant
Sempervivum tectorum L:
 (ZEJSEM)		 Crassulaceae pičór de galirę W ♣ leaf juice - instilled in the ear to heal pains of the ears
Solanum tuberosum L. SoIanaceae cumpìr C ♣♣ tubers cut in slices topical application anti-headache
        ♣♣♣   cooked with rye flour and water consumed roborant
Taraxacum officinale Weber (ZEJTAR) Compositae divlia radice; maslačac W ♣♣ flowers 'honey' (obtained cooking the flowers with sugar) consumed antitussive
        ♣♣♣ whorls - consumed nutraceutical
Tilia cordata
MlLL. (ZEJTIL)		 Tiliaceae lìpa W ♣♣♣ flowers decoction drunk non specified
Trifolium sp. pl. Leguminosae trefoi; dìtel'à W ♣♣ aerial parts - fodder veterinary: nutraceutical for rabbits, cattle, swine
Triticum aestivum L. Graminae grâv C ♣♣ seeds → flour (farìrę de fârmenta) food preparation made by cooking together flour, butter, sugar, eggs and water consumed galactagogue
      C ♣ seeds → flour food preparation made by boiling wheat flour and milk consumed roborant (children)
Urtica dioica L. (ZEJURT) Urticaceae copriva; urzica W ♣ leaves boiled consumed nutraceutical
Vaccinium myrtillus L.
(ZEJVAC)		 Ericaceae iåvorica W ♣♣ fruits - food nutraceutical
Viscum album L. (ZEJVIS) Loranthaceae bìsk W ♣* aerial parts before fructification macerate in raki with honey drunk digestive
Zea mais L. Graminae grìs C ♣♣♣ seeds → flour (farìrę de griz) cooked with water and potatoes consumed roborant
Status: C: cultivated; W: wild.
Quotation frequency (both tables): ♣: quoted by less than 10% of the informants; ♣♣: quoted by more than 10% and less than 40% of the informations; ♣♣♣: quoted by more than 40% of the infromants; *: disappeared use.

Table 2

Animal, mineral, and other remedies used in folk medical practices among the Istro-Romanians of Žejane

Ingredient Quotation frequency Preparation Administration Claimed medical use
black ribbon ♣♣ - knot on the skin anti-warts
cattle faeces ♣* - topical application to heal burns
coal ♣♣♣* putting water on hot coal, and playing a special formula (while making three time the Holy Cross) washes against the evil eye (uróki)**
grape distillate (raki) ♣♣ - topical application cicatrising
grape vinegar (olet) ♣ - see Malus sylvestris see Malus sylvestris
milk cream ♣ - topically applied to heal psoriasis
ritual ♣♣* - one has to ask the ill person: 'What are you doing?';
he / she has to answer:
'I cut barley', and simulating this action; all that has to be repeated for three times 		to heal sty (orz, same name used for barley)
salt ♣♣ mixed with water and straw fodder veterinary: roborant for cattle
snake skin ♣* roasted on the pot, then an infusion is prepared drunk against high fever
  ♣* - consumed to heal lunge diseases
soil ♣* - leg kept into the soil against viper bite in the leg
sugar ♣ heated in a pot (sometimes with a few drops of olive oil), often adding milk consumed / drunk antitussive
wine ♣♣♣ boiled wine with bread and sugar consumed galactagogue
** This belief is very common in Romania, so is the remedy.

Source:

  • Ethnobotanica, Elsevier / Fototerapia - Fitoterapia 74 (2003),ISSN: 0367-326x, 74, 7/8, p 710-719. https://www.mynetcologne.de/~nc-pieronan2/FITOTE2003b.pdf. © All rights reserved.

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