Senna - Sana

Senna – Sana – Fan Xie Ye – Folium Senna

Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, "Senna is hot and dry in the first degree and it is a good, mild medication that does not cause any side effects.”

Ibn Qayyim relates the hadith, “"How do you deal with constipation?" She said, "By using Shubrum (euphorbia piteous)." The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, it is hot and too strong a laxative." She then said. "In addition, use Senna," and the Prophet replied, "If there is a cure that prevents death, it would be Senna." Further, Ibn Majah narrated that Abudllah ibn Umm Haram said that he heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, saying: "Use Senno and Sanoot (cumin), because they cure every disease, except Saam." He was asked, "What is Saam?" He said, 'Death'. "”

Watermelon - Bittikh - Batikh

In Tibb (Islamic Medicine), watermelon is classified as cold and moist: food qualities.

Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, "The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to eat watermelon with ripe dates, saying: "The hotness of this substance [dates] neutralizes the coolness of that [watermelon]."

Ibn Qayyim noted that, “There are several Ahadeeth regarding watermelon none of them are authentic, except the Hadith that we mentioned above.” And, “Green watermelon is cold and wet and is sweet. It works as a cleanser (for the stomach and the intestines). Watermelon departs the stomach more quickly than cucumber and quickly blends with whatever substances are present in the stomach. It is beneficial to eat watermelon when it is warm, but when it is cold it is better to have it with some ginger to offset its harm. Watermelon should be eaten before the meals. Otherwise, it will cause nausea. Some doctors said that when watermelon is, "Eaten before the meal, it cleanses the stomach and removes ailments."

Ibn Qayyim said, “Eating watermelon seeds with sugar will cleanse the stomach from stones and will prevent burning sensation while urinating."

As-Suyuti in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, "The green variety is cold and moist: the yellow is inclined to be hot. The greater the sweetness of a melon the greater the heat. It is also a diuretic.

As-Suyuti said that watermelon, “cleanses the belly, augments the spinal fluid, aids sexual intercourse, purifies vision, and cuts a cold. But the probability is that these properties reside only in the yellow melon. It is essential that melon be not eaten in times of dire hunger.”

Marjoram - Murdiqush – Marzanjosh - Mo Jiao Lan

Sweet marjoram is distinguished from Oregano which sometimes referred to as wild marjoram. 

Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, "When its aroma is smelled, it relieves cold  headache caused by phlegm, colds, black bile and thick flatulence pressure. It relieves congestion, and clogs in the nose and head and dissipates most cold, wet swellings … Marjoram ointment helps relieve backache, knee pain and fatigue.”

Listed in food qualities as hot and dry.

In TCM Marjoram is called Mo Jiao Lan and is considered sweet, cool, pungent and slightly bitter.

Cucumber

Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, of cucumber that, "The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to eat cucumber with ripe dates. Cucumber is cool and wet in the second degree [see: food qualities] and it cools the hotness in the stomach, it does not spoil quickly and helps relieve prostate pain. [It] helps relieve nausea while its seeds are a diuretic … [it] does not digest easily and its coolness sometimes hurts some parts of the stomach. Hence, one should eat cucumber with what would make its coolness and wetness milder, just as the Prophet did by eating ripe dates with it. In addition, eating it with raisins or honey makes it milder on the stomach.”

Grapes

Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, "Grapes are among the best and most beneficial fruits, and they are eaten fresh, dried, green and ripe. Further, grapes are a type of fruit and nutritious food, along with their benefits as a remedy and a drink. Wetness and hotness are among the characteristics of grapes just as other grains. The best type of grapes is the big grapes that are full of juice, while white grapes are better than the black grapes when both are equal in sweetness. In addition, eating fresh grapes two or three days after harvest is better than eating them immediately otherwise they cause diarrhoea and flatulence.” 

He also said, “They are a source of good nutrition, just like raisins and figs, and In addition strengthen the body. When the seeds of the grapes are removed, the grapes become a more effective laxative. Eating grapes excessively causes headache, unless one, in addition, eats sour pomegranate … The best types of fruits are three: grapes, dates and figs.”

Grapes are hot and dry: food qualities

Cranberries and a healthy urinary tract

An October 2017 review concluded that cranberry products should be taken, “as a first step in reducing recurrent UTIs.” The researchers said, "Our investigation supports that cranberry products can be a powerful tool to fight off frequent UTIs," [Source: EurekAlert!, the online, global news service operated by AAAS, the science society.]

In Tibb (Islamic Medicine) cranberries are considered to have cooling and moistening properties: food qualities

Skipping breakfast impact on the arteries

An October 2017 study found that, “Skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, or the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to a build-up of plaque."

Source: EurekAlert!, the online, global news service operated by AAAS, the science society.

Vitamin K and the heart

An October 2017 study found that, “those who consumed the least vitamin K1- found in spinach, cabbage, iceberg lettuce and olive oil - were at 3.3 times greater risk for an unhealthy enlargement of the major pumping chamber of their heart”Source: EurekAlert!, the online, global news service operated by AAAS, the science society.

For the Tibb (Islamic Medicine) food qualities of the foods mentioned see:food qualities

Black Tea and Green Tea, Weight Loss

An October 2017 study by UCLA concluded that, “black and green tea changed the ratio of intestinal bacteria in the animals: The percentage of bacteria associated with obesity decreased, while bacteria associated with lean body mass increased.”

Dr. Zhaoping Li, chief of the UCLA Division of Clinical Nutrition said that, “the findings suggest that the health benefits of both green tea and black tea go beyond their antioxidant benefits, and that both teas have a strong impact on the gut microbiome.”  Source: EurekAlert!, the online, global news service operated by AAAS, the science society.

For the Tibb (Islamic Medicine) food qualities of black and green tea see: food qualities

A few bites

Imam Ahmad narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "The son of Adam never fills a vessel worse than his stomach. The son of Adam only needs a few bites that would sustain him, but if he insists, one third should be reserved for his food, another third for his drink and the last third for his breathing."

Ginger

As-Suyuti in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, " Zanjabil — Ginger is mentioned in the Quran.  Ginger is hot and dry in the third degree and dry in the second. It contains excess of damp. It is an aid to digestion, strengthens sexual intercourse, and dissolves wind. … A confection of ginger soothes the stomach. It is a help in old age.”

Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, "In sum, it is good for the liver and stomach, when these are cold in temperament.”

Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber" cites it for external use for rheumatic conditions, arthritic pain and sprains and says it’s safe to use in pregnancy.

David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal” says it can be used for bad circulation, chilblains, cramp, fever, flatulence, dyspepsia, colic, sore throats, fibrositis and muscle sprain.

In Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) ginger is called Xi Xin and is considered spicy and warm. It is used in TCM to prevent pain arising from cold wind that causes body aches, headache, and toothache. It also warms the Lungs and is used for nasal congestion and phlegm.

Ginger biscuits are a personal favourite.

Dates

Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" said that there is difference of opinion whether dates are hot and moist or hot and dry.

As-Suyuti in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, "Dates are hot and dry. They increase sexual power, especially if combined with kernels of pine seeds. But if a man eats them while suffering from ophthalmia, he will suffer from headache and other harm. The Prophet forbade ‘Ali to eat dates when he was suffering from ophthalmia”.

As-Suyuti also said

• “Fresh Dates are hot and moist. They generate wind. They rectify a hot constitution when combined with an oxymel or with bitter pomegranates.
• Al-Bukhari has classified Ajwa dates as a wonder drug.
• There is universal agreement that the use of medicine is lawful. Some are of the opinion that it is desirable to make use of drugs because of the well-known saying of the Prophet: Use medicine. And also because he himself used to take medicine both in health and in sickness. When in good health he used to use dates, pumpkins and water melons.
• Said Ja‘far bin Mohamed, having heard the story from his father: Someone presented the Prophet with a packet of dates at a time when someone had had fever. The Prophet gave him one date, then another and another until he had allowed him to eat seven. Then he said: That is enough for you. This he did because there is in dates a something which harms people with fever and brings upon them headaches and thirst. But if they take only a few, this harm does not come upon them.
• If one of your women has given birth to a child, see that the first thing that she eats be fresh and moist dates, for verily there is no food better. For Mary ate these when she brought forth Jesus.
• The Prophet said: Let your women-folk eat dates, for whoever makes dates their food will produce sons with ease.”

Mint

As-Suyuti in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, " Mint is hot and dry. It is the subtlest of all pot herbs. It strengthens the stomach, soothes hiccup, aids sexual intercourse, and if placed in milk prevents it turning into cheese … An infusion of unripe grapes with mint is used to check nausea.”

In Chinese Traditional Medicine, mint is called Bo He and is used, amongst other things, for a runny nose.  headache, cough, sore throat, and red eyes.

The Coffee Bean

As-Suyuti in "Medicine of the Prophet" indicated that coffee is cold and wet, is good for dysentery and enteritis, relieves thirst and softens the constitution.  He advised that it produces wisdom. And that it should be used carefully.

Vermicelli

As-Suyuti in "Medicine of the Prophet" advised that vermicelli (atriyya) is hot and moist, is beneficial for sore throats and diarrhoea, is slowly digested and gives good nourishment.

Image: By [puamelia] (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ykjc9/2770450268) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Salt

In terms of food qualities in Tibb Medicine, salt is classified as hot and moist.

Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, "Ibn Maja relates that … Your chief seasoning is salt … salt preserves man’s food, guards his body and improves everything it is mixed with, even gold and silver, for it contains a power which increases the yellowness of gold and the whiteness of silver. It contains powers to cleanse and dissolve, and expel the thick moistures and dry them up, to strengthen bodies and prevent their putrefaction and corruption; it is beneficial for ulcerated scab.”

As-Suyuti in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, "Salt food dries up and emaciates the body … whoever of you being of moderate stature eats salt, he will be afflicted with vitiligo and scabies. And for this blame no one but yourself.”

As-Suyuti refers to “massalah milah” (rectified salt) and said, “rectified salt is hot and dry in the third degree. Moderate use of it beautifies the colour of the skin. It sets up a flow, excites to vomiting, and stimulates the appetite. Immoderate use of it generates itch.”

As-Suyuti also said:

• There is a tradition that the Prophet said: The Lord of your dish is salt. This saying is reported by Ibn Maja.
• In the Ma'alim-ul-Tazayyal occurs the following tradition, quoting Umar: Verily God sent down four blessings from Heaven -iron, fire, water and salt.
• From the man who first eats salt Almighty God wards off three hundred and thirty kinds of disaster, the smallest of these being leprosy.
• Begin with salt, for verily it is remedy for seventy diseases.

Chishti in "The Traditional Healers Handbook" recommends, “sun-dried, unprocessed sea salt.” And warns against most processed salt because it has an abrasive action internally.

In a western medicine study in August 2017, high salt intake has been associated with a doubled risk of heart failure. (EurekAlert!, the online, global news service operated by AAAS, the science society.)

Dark Chocolate with Olive Oil for Heart Health

An August 2017 study at the University of Pisa found that, “Dark chocolate enriched with extra virgin olive oil is associated with an improved cardiovascular risk profile.”

Dr Di Stefano, the lead researcher said, "Fruits and vegetables exert their protective effects through plant polyphenols, which are found in cocoa, olive oil, and apples …Olive oil-enriched chocolate was associated with significantly increased high-density lipoprotein ("good") cholesterol and decreased blood pressure compared to baseline.”

(EurekAlert!, the online, global news service operated by AAAS, the science society.)

In terms of food qualities, Tibb medicine considers chocolate to be warm and moist. Olive oil from fully mature olives is hot and moist and olive oil from fresh olives is cold and dry.

Bananas

As-Suyuti in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, " Mawz — Bananas are hot and damp in the first degree. Their value as a food is small. People with a cold temperament eat them with honey. Some people say that the word ‘talah’ also means ‘banana’, but more correctly it means the fruit of the palm tree.”

In another entry, as-Suyuti says, “Talh — Banana. This fruit is also called Mawz under which name it will be discussed.  Almighty God has made mention of it.”

Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" Allah said: “And (among) talh trees (with fruits) ranged one above another.” (56:29). Most of the commentators say: It is the mawz (banana): and ‘ranged’ (manduud) means ranged one opposite another, like a comb. It is said that talh is a tree with thorns, and ranged in the place of every thorn is fruit. Its fruit has been ranged, some upon others, and it is like the banana. This explanation is more correct. Maybe those ancestors who mentioned the banana meant it by way of comparision, not as identification. And Allah knows best.   It is hot and moist. It is best when ripe and sweet. It is beneficial for roughness of the throat and lung, and for cough, and ulcers of kidneys and bladder. It is a diuretic, aphrodisiac and increases semen. It loosens the belly. If eaten before food it hurts the stomach and increases yellow bile [as-safra] and phlegm [al-balgham]. It’s harmful effect is remedied by sugar or honey.”

In Chinese Traditional Medicine, it is called Xiang Jiao and is used to clear heat, moisten the intestines, remove toxicity.

Bananas mashed into a bowl and mixed with honey is very palatable.

Rabbit Meat

Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" said

• Rabbit meat was mentioned in the Sahihayn, as Anas said, "We hunted a rabbit after pursuing it for a while. Afterwards, Abu Talhah sent its hip to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, who accepted it.
• Rabbit meat is mildly hot and dry, and the best part of it is the hip.
• The best way to eat rabbit meat is by roasting it.
• Rabbit meat constipates, produces urine, as a diuretic, and dissolves stones.

As-Suyuti in "Medicine of the Prophet" said

• The flesh of the rabbit generates spleen.
• The best meat is that of the back and hind leg.

Camel Meat

Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" said

• Young camel meat is one of the tastiest and most nutritious types of foods, and those who are used to eating it find it as light and beneficial as sheep meat.
• Some doctors did not like eating camel meat for residents of the cities because they are not used to it.
• Camel meat is hot and dry, difficult to digest and begets black bile.
• Camel meat has an especially strong effect on the body and this is why the Prophet, peace be upon him, ordered the Muslims to perform ablution after eating it.

As-Suyuti in "Medicine of the Prophet" said

• Camel meat is hot and dry and generates spleen.
• That of the young camel is the best.
• Camel meat is fatty, greasy and stinking.