Khella plants (Ammi visnaga) are flowering herbs of the carrot family, related to Queen Anne's lace and poison hemlock. Native to parts of Eurasia, khella is introduced elsewhere.
From the ancient world to modern science, khella is known for healing medicine properties.
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Khella is also called toothpick-plant, toothpickweed or bisnaga. It grows from a taproot, a long vertical primary root. About 80 cm (31 in) tall, the plant is also an ornamental in gardens. Leaves are up to 20 centimeters (7.9 in) long, split into small linear segments.
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Khella blooms from June to August and fruits in September. The flower is a compound umbel of white blossoms which can be similar to other Apiaceae species. In autumn the flowers dry up and the ripe fruits can be gathered.
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The fruit is an achane, or dry fruit with walls distinct from the single seed it contains. It's a compressed oval-shape under 3 mm long and indehiscent, meaning it doesn't split open when ripe.
Dried ripe fruits and seeds are used medicinally. Crushed or ground fruits make a healing tea especially for urinary problems. Khella and some related plants are sources of khellin, a diuretic extract.
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Khellin is known for thousands of years in Mediterranean, Middle East and inland Egypt. It's used to treat:
kidney stones
renal (kidney) colic
heart disease
bronchial asthma
vitiligo
psoriasis
patchy hair loss
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Both khella and its close relative Ammi majus have health benefits associated with khellin. Another beneficial ingredient in these plants is visnaga, also found in khellin-producing seeds.
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In Egypt around 2000 BCE, juice of A. majus or V. daucoides is rubbed on patches of vitiligo. A medical condition causing areas of pigment loss in skin, vitiligo is thought to be caused by changes in the immune system.
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After the application, vitiligo patients lie in the sun. This ancient treatment has positive effects. Modern experiments with khellin show success in treating vitiligo within a medical setting.
Vitiligo is linked to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. These include Hashimoto's thyroiditis, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, psoriasis, Addison's disease, pernicious anemia, alopecia areata, systemic lupus erythematosus and celiac disease.
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The active ingredient(s) of khella are shown to relax and widen blood vessels and decrease heart contractions. The healing action opens up the lungs, increases high-density lipoprotein ('good' cholesterol); and fights bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
The ancient Egyptians take khella to help prevent or treat kidney stones. Although the use of khella and A. majus are not recommended by health pros, it continues in Middle East folk medicine today.
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Adverse reactions include:
dizziness
reversible cholestatic jaundice (impaired bile flow from the liver)
pseudo-allergic reaction
elevated levels of liver enzymes (inflammation or damage to liver cells)
sensitivity to UV rays
Treatment with daily doses of Ammi visnaga extract, taken as a tea or pill, is shown to help inhibit the formation of kidney stones. Kidney stones are caused by hyperoxaluria, or excess calcium oxalate excretion in the urine.
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Khellin by itself doesn't prevent or treat calcium oxalate nucleation. Ammi visnaga produces visnagin, another beneficial component of khellin containing seeds.
Extracts or plant parts are used medicinally in Turkey; also in Egypt and other Northern African countries such as Morocco. Like khellin, visnagin can be extracted directly from khella seeds.
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Khellin has been found effective for renal colic, a condition occurring most often due to schistosomiasis (parasitic) infection; and kidney stone formation. The plant relaxes the ureter and acts as a diuretic.
Khellin has been used to relieve heart pain associated with angina pectoris. The side effect is nausea. Khellin is not for everyone. Pregnant women should avoid khellin and similar plants due to possible intrauterine contractions.
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A related herb is bishop's weed (Aegopodium podagraria). Bishop's weed is also known as a medicinal herb to treat gout and arthritis. Leaves and roots are boiled together and applied in external hot wraps. Ingested, leaves have a diuretic effect and act as a mild sedative.
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