Winged prickly-ash
StarZanthoxylum armatum
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Himalayan and Nepali folk medicine the fruits, branches and thorns of Zanthoxylum armatum (Timur) are valued as a warming carminative and stomachic and as a remedy for toothache, the dried pericarp being chewed to relieve dental pain; the seeds and bark are also used for digestive complaints, fever and as a fish poison and condiment (Bhatt et al., 2018). The species is equally important in Ayurveda, where it is classed as dipana (appetizer) and carminative, and in regional Chinese practice (ask-Ayurveda; Phondani/Bhatt, Nepal review).
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Botanical Description
Zanthoxylum armatum, the winged prickly-ash (Timur, Nepal pepper), is a spiny, semi-evergreen shrub or small tree of the citrus family (Rutaceae), reaching about 3.5 m, native to the temperate and subtropical Himalaya, Kashmir, southwestern China and parts of southeast Asia, where it grows on hot, dry slopes and ravines from low to mid elevations. The stems and branches bear stout, straight prickles and corky bark. The alternate, pinnately compound leaves have a conspicuously winged rachis and three to several lanceolate, gland-dotted, aromatic leaflets with finely toothed margins. The plant is dioecious, producing small greenish-yellow flowers in axillary or terminal clusters. The fruits are small reddish, warty, gland-dotted follicles that split to release shining black seeds and emit a strong citrus-peppery aroma; the dried pericarp is the source of the pungent culinary spice. It is harvested extensively from the wild across the Himalayan region.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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