Table 1 Vegetal species used by Sahrawi refugees as cosmetics and for skin healing

Acacia ehrenbergiana Hayne (1015)

Fabaceae

tamat

leaves

dried and powdered

antiseptic for wounds

C

badyia

resin: el elk tamat

triturated, topical application to eyes

eye infections and conjuntivitis

C

badyia

Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne subsp. raddiana (Savi) Brenan var. raddiana (1010)

Fabaceae

talha

leaves, seeds: shumban

triturated

antiseptic for infected wounds

C

badyia

resin: el elk talha

dried or roasted, triturated, topical application of a plaster obtained by mixing it with water, or alone in powder; a bandage is made and renewed for three days (‘because el elk is each day absorbed in the wound and disappears’)

snakebites, eye infection, to remove dirt from eyes, wound cicatriser, abscesses (el elk forces the abscess toward the centre and favours its maturation)

C/P

badyia, Tindouf market, refugee camp shops

bark: dbag

triturated

wound cicatriser

C

badyia

Allium cepa L.

Alliaceae

besla

bulb

triturated

antiseptic for wounds

P

Tindouf market, refugee camp shops

Allium sativum L.

Alliaceae

thoum

bulb

triturated

antiseptic for wounds

P

Tindouf market, refugee camp shops

Ammodaucus leucotrichus Coss. et Dur. (1033)

Apiaceae

kammuna, kammuna t-rag

seeds

triturated, a plaster is made with water or fat, or applied as powder

snakebites, scorpion stings, infected boils (furuncles), to prevent infections in wounds (against ntaaf)

C/P

badyia, Tindouf market

Anastatica hierochuntica L. (1027)

Brassicaceae

kamsha

aerial parts

dried, triturated, boiled in water, topical application when cooled down/dried, triturated and mixed with water to form a plaster

to treat vitiligo and other white spots on the skin/mycotic skin infections, particularly on hands and nails

C

badyia

Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels

Sapotaceae

argan

seeds: bulez

oil obtained from the seeds applied as a cream

against aging and to hair to strengthen it

P

Morocco, Algeria (Bechar)

Atriplex halimus L. (1052)

Chenopodiaceae

legtaf

leaves, aerial parts

decoction, hair washes/decoction, applied as a plaster

the decoction gives a reddish tint used like henna for feet and hands/skin oedemas

C

badyia

Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. (1086)

Balanitaceae

teichat

fruit: tug

roasted, peeled, an oily substance is extracted and applied to skin/the ashes obtained from burning the fruit are mixed with oil and applied topically/mouth washes with the infusion of fruit peels and leaves

to eliminate spots from the skin/mycosis/mouth infections

C

badyia

Beta patellaris Moq. (1075)

Chenopodiaceae

silk

seeds: habba silk

fried in oil, topical application in ears

otitis in children

C

badyia

Calotropis procera (Ait.) Ait. f. subsp. procera

Asclepiadaceae

tursha

stems

ashes from burning the stem

antiseptic and cicatriser for wounds

C

badyia, refugee camp area

leaves

powdered, mixed with henna, application to hair

to make the colour of henna darker

C

badyia, refugee camp area

Cassia italica (Mill.) Spreng. (1020)

Fabaceae

fellajit

seeds

powdered, application to eyes

cataracts

P

Tindouf market

Caylusea hexagyna (Forssk.) M.L. Green (1031, 2068)

Resedaceae

dhenban

aerial parts

fresh, pounded, the juice extracted is mixed with oil or fat and applied topically to hair

washes to perfume hair and to treat lice, and a dressing with a cloth is made and left in place for 24 hours for hair loss and to stimulate hair growth

C

badyia

Centaurea pungens Pomel (1079)

Asteraceae

zreiga

leaves

triturated, application with oil

abscesses

C

badyia, Moroccan occupied territories

Chamomilla pubescens (Desf.) Alavi (1090)

Asteraceae

lerbien, uazuaza

flowering tops

pounded, application to aching tooth

toothache

C

badyia

Cleome africana Botsch. (1026)

Capparidaceae

lemkheinza, mkheinza

leaves

fresh leaves are cooked in camel hump fat and the resulting poultice is applied topically/triturated, a poultice of the fresh leaves is applied topically

wounds/toothache

C/P

badyia, Tindouf market

Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Engl. (1017)

Burseraceae

dirs

stems, resin: umm nass

resin is triturated and applied topically/burnt in the tent

stems are used to clean teeth/as antiseptic for wounds and for skin infections/for perfuming and against evil eye

P

Tindouf market, Mauritanian markets and traders

Convolvulus trabutianos Schweinf. et Muschl.

Convolvulaceae

gandul

aerial parts

decoction

to apply to burns in order to avoid being left with a scar

C

badyia

Corrigiola telephiifolia Pourret (1089)

Caryophyllaceae

taserghinit

roots

dried and triturated/soaked in colonia

burnt in the fire in the tent to perfume the air/to prepare perfumes

P

Tindouf market, Moroccan occupied territories (El-Aaiún market)

Cuminum cyminum L. (1073)

Apiaceae

kammuna

seeds

triturated

infected wounds, skin infections

P

Tindouf market

Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng. (1087)

Poaceae

idkhir, liedjir

aerial parts

dried aerial parts are burnt, triturated, and applied

burns

C

badyia

Cyperus rotundus L. (1040)

Cyperaceae

sad

tubercules: tara, tharoub

dried and triturated

burnt in the fire in the tent to perfume the air; mixed with colonia water to make perfumes for hair and skin, and to perfume the traditional women dress (melhfa)

C/P

badyia, Tindouf market, refugee camp shops, Mauritanian traders

Euphorbia calyptrata Coss. et Dur. var. involucrata Batt. (1080, 2035)

Euphorbiaceae

rammadah

aerial parts

dried and triturated

skin infections and oedemas

C

badyia

Euphorbia granulata Forssk. (1055)

Euphorbiaceae

kbidet ed-dab

latex

topical application

snakebites

C

badyia

Euphorbia officinarum L. subsp. echinus Hook.f. & Coss. (1001)

Euphorbiaceae

daghmus, sharbout (when dry)

branches, inner part

a green branch is heated on the fire, cut open, and the inner part is applied topically

boils, abscesses, skin infections, toothache

C

badyia

Ferula asa-foetida L.

Apiaceae

antita

resin: antita

decoction, mouthwashes, or triturated and topical application/triturated in water and applied externally

toothache, protective of teeth/snakebites, to strengthen hair, to combat hair loss

P

Tindouf market

Ferula communis L.

Apiaceae

fasukh

resin

dried and triturated

burnt in the fire in the tent to perfume the air; mixed with water or colonia to perfume hair and to prepare creams for skin

P

Tindouf market, Mauritanian markets, The Middle East

Hammada scoparia (Pomel) Iljin. (1009, 1021)

Chenopodiaceae

remth

leaves

made into a poultice, mixed with water and inserted in the bite to ‘absorb’ the poison/triturated, infusion, washes/mouthwashes with the decoction

snakebites, scorpion stings/to wash hair and to combat dandruff; mixed with henna and oil and applied as a lotion to hair/’pulsant’ toothache, stomatitis, mouth infections

C

badyia

Heliotropium ramosissimum (Lehm.) DC. (2053)

Boraginaceae

lehbaliya

leaves

triturated/triturated leaves are mixed with oil to make a lotion applied to hair

burns, toothache, ntaaf/to make hair more shiny

C

badyia

Launea arborescens (Batt.) Maire (1071)

Asteraceae

umm lbena

latex

topical application

to eliminate warts

C

badyia

Lawsonia inermis L.

Lythraceae

henna

leaves

dried, triturated, mixed with warm water and applied

to dye hair, skin, and nails and perfume hair

P

Tindouf market, Mauritanian markets, refugee camp shops

stem: mesuak

chewed and used as toothbrush

to clean teeth

P

Tindouf market, Mauritanian markets, refugee camp shops

Lepidium sativum L. (1060)

Brassicaceae

reshad

seeds: habb er shed, afatash

topical application to eyes

to eliminate dirt from eyes

P

Tindouf market

Lichen***

tenquilit

aerial parts: ergheta

dried and triturated

added to mixtures to put in the fire and perfume hair/mixed with colonia and other plants to make perfumes

P

Tindouf market, Mauritanian traders, Moroccan occupied territories (El-Aaiún market)

Lycium intricatum Boiss. (1085)

Solanaceae

ghardeq

leaves

decoction is made twice, left to cool for one day and then applied in drops

cataracts and eye inflammations

C

badyia

Maerua crassifolia Forssk. (1007, 1048)

Capparidaceae

atil

stem: mesuak

chewed and used as toothbrush

to clean and strengthen teeth, for cavities

C

badyia

leaves: sadra el hadra

burnt, ashes are applied as powder or mixed with water in a poultice

cicatriser, antiseptic for wounds, boils, ntaaf, itching

C

badyia

Mesembryanthemum cryptanthum Hook. f. in Hook.

Aizoaceae

afzu

aerial parts

green aerial parts are pounded and mixed with water

used as soap for washing

C

badyia

Neurada procumbens L.

Rosaceae

saadan

leaves

dried, triturated, mixed with water, hair washes

to stimulate hair growth

C

badyia

Nucularia perrinii Batt. (1047, 2042)

Chenopodiaceae

askaf

leaves

fresh leaves are smashed and mixed with water to form a poultice

skin infections and wounds

C

badyia

Pancratium trianthum Herb.

Amaryllidaceae

amajij

flowers

as they are

women use the flowers for perfuming and adorning

C

badyia

Panicum turgidum Forssk. (1051)

Poaceae

mrokba, umm rekba

aerial parts

dried, triturated, a poultice is made with water

wound cicatriser, applied in the ear to kill insects that entered there

C

badyia

roots

pounded, mixed with milk cream and applied topically for two days

head wounds, bone fractures

C

badyia

Peganum harmala L. (1066)

Zygophyllaceae

harmel

seeds

triturated and fried

to eliminate quists

P

Tindouf market

Pergularia tomentosa L.

Asclepiadaceae

ghalqa, umm el-jlud

leaves

dried, triturated and mixed with water

snakebites, scorpion stings, boils

C

badyia, refugee camp area

latex

applied topically on a bandage

to eliminate warts and skin grains

C

badyia, refugee camp area

Pistacia spp.

Anacardiaceae

tidikt

resin

dried

added to colonia to prepare perfumes; burnt in the fire in the tent to perfume the air

P

Tindouf market, refugee camp shops, Mauritanian markets

Rhus tripartita (Ucria) Grande (1023, 1064)

Anacardiaceae

shdari

leaves, bark: dbag

dried and triturated, mixed with henna and water

to dye hair with a different tone from henna

C

badyia

Rosa damascena Miller

Rosaceae

ward

petals

dried

added to perfumed waters

P

Tindouf market

Salsola imbricata Forssk. (1054)

Chenopodiaceae

ghasal (‘the washer’)

aerial parts

crushed in the hands

used as soap to wash

C

badyia

Salsola tetrandra Forssk. (2020)

Chenopodiaceae

laarad

aerial parts

ashed and powdered

wounds, skin infections

C

badyia

Salvadora persica L. var. persica (1070)

Salvadoraceae

lerak

stem: mesuak

chewed and used as toothbrush

to clean teeth

P

Mauritanian markets and traders

Salvia aegyptiaca L. (1049)

Lamiaceae

tezouknit

fruits: afatash (‘the one that looks for something’)

applied to eye

cataracts (‘it prevents cataracts from growing’), glaucoma, to clean eyes from sand and dirt

C

badyia

Santalum spp.

Santalaceae

oud legmari

wood

cut or grated in small pieces

burnt in the fire in the tent to perfume the air, mixed with colonia to make perfumes

P

Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry

Myrtaceae

qronfel

flower buds

dried and triturated

mixed with colonia to make perfumes for hair, creams for skin, and to perfume melhfas (melhfas are soaked in water with cloves during some days); a decoction of cloves is filtered and applied to hair to strengthen and perfume it, and to treat lice

P

Tindouf market, refugee camp shops

Tamarix sp. (1059)

Tamaricaceae

ar’ar

leaves

triturated, infusion or maceration in water, applied with a cloth

burns, sunstroke, especially in children

P

Tindouf markets, other Algerian markets (Algiers)

Teucrium chardonianum Maire et Wilczeck

Lamiaceae

shendgoura

flowering tops

dried and triturated

burnt in the fire in the tent to perfume the air; mixed with water and applied to hair to perfume it and stimulate hair growth

C/P

Moroccan occupied territories

Ziziphus lotus (L.) Desf. subsp. saharae (Batt.) Maire (1002)

Rhamnaceae

sdir

root bark

decoction

snakebites, poison antidote

C

badyia

Zygophyllum gaetulum Emberger et Maire (1050)

Zygophyllaceae

aggaya, el barraya (‘the healer’)

leaves

dried, triturated, heated on the fire, a plaster is made with water and applied in frictions

varices, snakebites, scorpion stings, and all skin infections

C

badyia, refugee camp area