Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

There are several references to its use in the treatment of chilblains (traditional medicine). Patients would be whipped with a sprig of holly, and as they bled, it was believed their circulation would improve. A less painful treatment for chilblains involved mixing powdered holly berries with lard and applying directly to the skin. In Hampshire, it was believed that milk drunk from a bowl carved from the wood of a variegated holly would cure a child of whooping cough.
Allen, David E., Hatfield, Gabrielle. (2004). Medicinal Plants in Folk Tradition. Timber Press p168

Geographical distribution

  • Africa, Northern Africa, Algeria
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Morocco
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Tunisia
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Iran
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Lebanon-Syria
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Ilex aquifolium L.

Family: AQUIFOLIACEAE
Genus: Ilex
Species: aquifolium L.
Common names: Common Holly
Distribution summary: Eurasia
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Deciduous forests, damp, shady spots
Garden status: Not currently grown
Reason for growing: Medicinal, toxic


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