ABSTRACT
The caper contains some of the same isothiocyanates found in the mustard family and may serve a similar role medicinally. Root and root bark of the Biblical caper, prepared variously (malagmas, cataplasms, drunk with wine or vinegar, etc.), are folk remedies for indurations (of the bladder, kidney, liver, spleen, and uterus), tumors in general, and warts (JLH). The root bark is viewed as alterative, analgesic, aperient, aphrodisiac, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, tonic, and vermifue, and is used in rheumatism, scurvy, enlarged spleen, sclerosis (spleen), tubercular glands, and toothache. Unani use the juice to kill worms; they also consider the root bark aperient, analgesic, emmenagogue, expectorant, and vermifuge, and use it in adenopathy, paralysis, rheumatism, splenomegaly, and toothache. Broken leaves are used as a poultice in gout. Tender stems are used for dysentery. According to Biblical scholars Moldenke and Moldenke (1952), the caper is a stimulant, exciting both hunger and thirst and thus strengthening the appetite when it becomes a bit sluggish. Bedouins are said to use caper with
Teucrium pilosum
as an inhalant for colds. Bedouins boil the chopped or powdered leaves in water and inhale the vapors for headache. For arthritic-like pains of the back, joints and limbs, they boil the ground leaves and poultice them, wrapped in thin cloth, to the ache, even as they sleep. Barren women are covered with a mixture of ground leaves of
Capparis
and
Tamarix
to inhale the vapors and sweat to correct their barrenness. Lebanese boil the root and plant for dengue, malaria, and Malta fever. Lebanese regard the roots as specific for malaria or splenomegaly following malaria. Iranians use it for intermittent fever and rheumatism. Algerians boil the whole plant in oil as a puerperal hydragogue. Crushed seeds have been suggested for dysmenorrhea, female sterility, ganglions,
scrofula, and ulcers. The capers themselves have been suggested for atherosclerosis, chills, ophthalmia, and sciatica, especially in North Africa. Fruits, considered antiscorbutic, are used for colds, dropsy, and sciatica (BIB). Capers are eaten as food farmacy, for dry skin.
