Toothbrush tree
| Salvadora persica | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Salvadoraceae |
| Genus: | Salvadora |
| Species: | S. persica |
| Binomial name | |
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Salvadora persica L. |
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Salvadora persica (arak, Galenia asiatica, meswak, peelu, pīlu, Salvadora indica, or toothbrush tree, mustard tree, mustard bush), is a species of Salvadora.Salvadora persica has antiurolithiatic properties. Used for centuries as a natural toothbrush, its fibrous branches have been promoted by the World Health Organization for oral hygiene use. Research suggests that it contains a number of medically beneficial properties including abrasives, antiseptics, astringent, detergents, enzyme inhibitors, and fluoride.
Salvadora persica is a small tree or shrub with a crooked trunk, seldom more than one foot in diameter. Its bark is scabrous and cracked, whitish with pendulous extremities. The root bark of the tree is similar to sand, and the inner surfaces are an even lighter shade of brown. It has a pleasant fragrance, of cress or mustard, as well as a warm and pungent taste. The leaves break with a fine crisp crackle when trodden on. The tree grows to a maximum height of three meters. In Pakistan, these ancient, majestic and sturdy trees are more closely associated with graveyards, like the cypress tree in English culture.
Native to: Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Also occurs in Namibia.
Salvadora persica is a popular teeth cleaning stick throughout the Arabian Peninsula, as well as the wider Muslim world. Also commonly referred to as miswak, it is often mentioned that the Islamic Prophet Muhammad recommended its use. He is quoted in various Hadith advising the use of the siwak. Use of the stick dates back to the Babylonians some 7000 years ago. They were also used by the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Jews.
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Wikipedia