Corylus, Hazel-tree

Also called Filbert
Maghz e Funduq (Unani)

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563

Flora von Deutschland (10), Kohler, 1886

Botanical name:

Corylus avellana

Parts used:

Fruit (Nut); less commonly the Green shell or Wood

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, moist, Sweet.
“Hot in the Second and Moist in the First degree”. (Avicenna)
“more earthy cold matter than Walnuts” (Schroder)

Uses:

NUTS:
1. Warms and Strengthens the Kidneys:
-Aphrodisiac, nourishes Semen
-tonic to the Brain

2. Clears Phlegm, Stop Cough:
-good for old Coughs; Cough from Cold phlegm
-Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma, Catarrh

3. Resists Poison:
-Poison and Venom (like Walnut, which are stronger)
-heat of the Urine

EXPRESSED OIL:
-anointed on for pains of the Joints

GREEN SHELL:
-powdered and bound on to stop Leukorrhea;
-some used it for Pleurisy;
-the membrane around the nut are used the same as the green shell and are stronger.

WOOD:
-A Spirit and Oil was prepared from the Wood; both heat, cut, are Anodyne and anti-Epileptic; mostly used for Toothache.

Dose:

6–9 grams

Corrective:

Sugar

Substitute:

Walnut, Pine nut

Main Combinations:

1. As an aphrodisiac with Pine Nut, Walnut, Orchis, Cinnamon, Long Pepper
2. Cough from Cold Phlegm, with Black Pepper (Unani)
3. ‘resists Poison, and stingings of venomous Beasts, laid on with Rue and Figs’. (Schroder)

Cautions:

Large doses or long-term use can cause obstruction and headache.