Xkattapietra
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Xkattapietra
From my father-in-law I've heard a story, that plant named xkattapietra helped him to cure nephrolithiasis (stones in kidneys). Now my friend's mother (from Russia) suffers from the same cause and asks maybe this plant can relieve her pains.
My problem is that I know only Maltese name for it. When I tried to find out assotiative Russian common name for it (камнеломка???), web search told me it's Saxifraceae. Weber's book says it is Micromeria microphylla (saturea microphylla) and English common name for it is Maltese savory. Where is the truth? And how does xkattapietra looks like. My father-in-law says that he has collected it in Wied Babu.
If anyone knows any medical advice/suggestions regarding [kattapietra vs nephrolithiasis and can share them with me my friend and I would greatly appreciate it.
My problem is that I know only Maltese name for it. When I tried to find out assotiative Russian common name for it (камнеломка???), web search told me it's Saxifraceae. Weber's book says it is Micromeria microphylla (saturea microphylla) and English common name for it is Maltese savory. Where is the truth? And how does xkattapietra looks like. My father-in-law says that he has collected it in Wied Babu.
If anyone knows any medical advice/suggestions regarding [kattapietra vs nephrolithiasis and can share them with me my friend and I would greatly appreciate it.
Respectfully yours,
Svetlana Vella A.
Svetlana Vella A.
Latin name: Micromeria microphylla (try some google image search)
Maltese name: Xpakkapjetra (=Stone breaker when translated directly to english)
Italian Name: Spacca Pietra
English Name: Maltese Savory
Habitat: Garigue, common to be found growing from bare rocks, not very high, and sometimes found crawling on the ground
Hope you are not more confused with the names now!
Some of my own images included.
Yes, it is a well known tradition to use this plant against kidney stones. Lanfranco suggested that this property is probably attributed to the fact that the plant has strong diuretic properties (promote urination).
As the MaltaWildPlants administrator, I suggest that you buy refined drugs from the pharmacy to treat kidney stones since they are more effective and made from similar herbs rather then collecting numerous plants.
As a friend, I tell you can try it
Maltese name: Xpakkapjetra (=Stone breaker when translated directly to english)
Italian Name: Spacca Pietra
English Name: Maltese Savory
Habitat: Garigue, common to be found growing from bare rocks, not very high, and sometimes found crawling on the ground
Hope you are not more confused with the names now!
Some of my own images included.
Yes, it is a well known tradition to use this plant against kidney stones. Lanfranco suggested that this property is probably attributed to the fact that the plant has strong diuretic properties (promote urination).
As the MaltaWildPlants administrator, I suggest that you buy refined drugs from the pharmacy to treat kidney stones since they are more effective and made from similar herbs rather then collecting numerous plants.

As a friend, I tell you can try it

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- Plant
- Satureja1.jpg (276.29 KiB) Viewed 53920 times
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- Branch
- Satureja3.jpg (135.76 KiB) Viewed 53919 times
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- Close Up of Flower
- Satureja2.jpg (140.32 KiB) Viewed 53919 times
Last edited by MWP admin on Thu Oct 05, 2006 11:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
Very interesting Stephen, it is good to know that this information will not be lost forever.
One small thing is that I suppose Xkattapietra could well be a valid Maltese name also, since (maybe not everywhere) xkatta is used to mean nearly the same thing as xpakka, nearest I as understand it to mean, in English, "breaks by expanding", "rupture" but "xkatta" tends to imply breaking into many pieces whereas "xpakka" a simple rupture.
RB
One small thing is that I suppose Xkattapietra could well be a valid Maltese name also, since (maybe not everywhere) xkatta is used to mean nearly the same thing as xpakka, nearest I as understand it to mean, in English, "breaks by expanding", "rupture" but "xkatta" tends to imply breaking into many pieces whereas "xpakka" a simple rupture.
RB
Thanks a lot for the answers and pics. From my own surway I got to know that my father-in-law collected it somewhere behind commercial hamlet Wied iz-Zurrieq many years ago. He put collected plants in bowl of water, boiled them and drank this broth. After taking it 3 times he cured his condition.
The thing is, Stephen, about the blessed medicines in the pharmacies is that we, Russians, do believe in herbs more. In our pharmacies one can always find a wide range of different dried herbs - by themselves and in mixtures. Not herbal teas, but dried herbs, flowers, barks etc. Actually it is the one thing which I really miss here as Maltese seem to cure even simple seasonal cold with antibiotics
The thing is, Stephen, about the blessed medicines in the pharmacies is that we, Russians, do believe in herbs more. In our pharmacies one can always find a wide range of different dried herbs - by themselves and in mixtures. Not herbal teas, but dried herbs, flowers, barks etc. Actually it is the one thing which I really miss here as Maltese seem to cure even simple seasonal cold with antibiotics
Respectfully yours,
Svetlana Vella A.
Svetlana Vella A.
Minor follow-up:
An uncle was watching me sort out seeds collected for sowing, and we spoke about Fejgel (Rue) and the fact that in old times, it was used for some herbal properties apparently (dont ask me).
Without any prompting, he then commented (in Maltese) that "..there used to be a lot of xkattapietra, too, in Selmun".
It seems that many people know this as "xkatta-p". Just a detail for reference.
RB
An uncle was watching me sort out seeds collected for sowing, and we spoke about Fejgel (Rue) and the fact that in old times, it was used for some herbal properties apparently (dont ask me).
Without any prompting, he then commented (in Maltese) that "..there used to be a lot of xkattapietra, too, in Selmun".
It seems that many people know this as "xkatta-p". Just a detail for reference.
RB