Editing Privet (section)

==Uses and cultivation==
In addition to being cultivated to create ornamental hedges and [[leaf|foliage]], privet is also widely used in horticulture and flower arrangements.<ref name="Urbatch">{{cite web |author=Urbatch, L. |title=Chinese Privet: Plant Guide. |publisher=USDA and NRCS |url=http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_lisi.pdf |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> The oval leaf privet ''[[Ligustrum ovalifolium]]'' is used for hedges, while its flexible twigs are sometimes used as cords for [[Lashing (ropework)|lashing]].<ref name="Urbatch" /> The tree species, especially [[Ligustrum lucidum|Chinese privet]] is frequently used as a street tree in Europe, while other species including ''[[Ligustrum japonicum]]'' and ''[[Ligustrum quihoui]]'' are among the others also sometimes used as [[ornamental plant]]s in gardens.<ref name="EGF">{{cite book|title=European Garden Flora |edition=2 |volume=4}}</ref>
Privet became very popular in Britain as a replacement for ornamental railings around properties, which had been lost to the 1941 Government compulsorily requisitioning of all post-1850 iron gates and railings for the war effort<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londongardenstrust.org/features/railings.htm|title=Railings|website=www.londongardenstrust.org}}</ref> the idea being that the donated metal would be melted down for use in the manufacture of armaments in WWII, although this ultimately did not happen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londongardenstrust.org/features/railings3.htm|title=So What Really Happened to our Railings?|website=www.londongardenstrust.org}}</ref> The remaining stubs of sawn-off railings can still be seen on many garden walls in the UK, often partly obscured by privet bushes.

Chinese privet is used in traditional herbal medicine.<ref name="Nature’s Medicine 2006">{{cite book |title=National Geographic Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine |isbn = 9781426202933|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mE0z2MnIsloC&q=privet+leaves+or+bark+is+helpful+for+treating+diarrhoea,+stomach+ulcers,+chronic+bowel+problems,+chapped+lips,+sore+mouths+and+throats,+and+a+wash+for+skin+problems.&pg=PA116 |access-date=15 March 2013|last1 = Foster|first1 = Steven|last2 = Johnson|first2 = Rebecca L.|year = 2008| publisher=National Geographic Books }}</ref> The decoction of privet leaves or bark helps to treat diarrhea, stomach ulcers, chronic bowel problems, chapped lips, sore mouths and throats, and a wash for skin problems.<ref name="Nature’s Medicine 2006" /> Privet leaves and bark have bitter properties that make a useful tea for improving appetite and digestion in chemotherapy patients.<ref name="Nature’s Medicine 2006" />  [[Kuding]] is a Chinese tea made from either a ''Ligustrum'' or ''Ilex'' species.

Some species produce a fruit, which is mildly toxic to humans.<ref name="Urbatch" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Plants for a Future |url=http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ligustrum+japonicum}}</ref> Symptoms from eating privet fruit include nausea, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, low blood pressure, and low body temperature.<ref name="Urbatch" /> At least some privet species are known to be toxic to horses.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nine poisonous plants horses should avoid |url=https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/nine-poisonous-plants-horses-should-avoid|website=bluecross.org.uk}}</ref>