- Botanical Name
- Anacyclus pyrethrum
Pellitory
Details
Pellitory, also called Spanish chamomile or Mount Atlas daisy, is a perennial of the daisy family native to Mediterranean Europe and North Africa, resembling chamomile in habit, with one large white-rayed flower on each stem. Wikipedia says it does not contain pyrethrins, despite its species name, and that both pyrethrum and pellitory come from the ancient Greek for fire. It adds that it is used in Ayurveda and Unani medicine in India under names such as Akarkara. Grieve gives the pungent root as the medicinal part, chiefly for toothache and for promoting saliva, and says it was long exported from Algeria and Spain to India.
Caution
Grieve says the root is a rubefacient and local irritant, which on sliced application to the skin induces heat, tingling and redness.
Correspondences
- Elements
- No elements recorded.
- Celestial Bodies
- No celestial bodies recorded.
- Zodiac Signs
- No zodiac signs recorded.
- Colours
- No colours recorded.
- Deities
- No deities recorded.
Folk Names
- Akarkara
- Bertram
- Mount Atlas Daisy
- Pellitory of Spain
- Pyrethre
- Roman Pellitory
- Spanish Chamomile
Categories
No categories recorded.
Substitutes
No substitutes recorded.
Forms
Root
Grieve gives the root as the part used, pungent and almost cylindrical, brown and wrinkled outside. She says it relieves toothache and promotes a flow of saliva, is chewed or made into a tincture or gargle, and that the powdered root makes a snuff for chronic catarrh.
Caution
Grieve says the root is a rubefacient and local irritant.
References
References
Bibliography
- Grieve, M. "Pellitory." A Modern Herbal. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/pellit19.html. Open the Source (opens in a new tab)
1 3 - Wikipedia, under "Anacyclus pyrethrum." Accessed October 29, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anacyclus_pyrethrum&oldid=1350327458. Open the Source (opens in a new tab)
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