The Crown of Thorns (aka. Corona de Cristo; Euphorbia milii) is a succulent found in many gardens throughout the world grown for its ornamental and drought tolerant nature.
Though native to Madagascar, it is thought that this plant was introduced to the Middle East in ancient times and became the crown of thorns worn by Christ. However, there are many plants that people think could have played that role.
This species has many varieties and the flowers are usually red, pink or white. One of the varieties, E. milii var. splendens, is reportedly associated to Bathouism, as the living embodiment of the supreme deity.
Besides its ornamental and spiritual value, the Crown of Thorns is also a plant with traditional medicinal applications in various regions, such as Brazil, Nepal and China! It is mostly valued for skin-health, with wound-healing properties, and also applied for anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
The Crown of Thorns has been reported to be antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and also a natural molluscicide. In an interesting new application of herbalism, nano-herbal therapy, gold nanoparticles were prepared from the methanolic extract of Crown of Thorns, and resulted in an enhanced potency extract with significant analgesic, muscle relaxant and sedative properties—a traditional medicine transcending into modern times!
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A Thorny Subject!
