Hindaba (Chicory)

Hindaba temperament changes according to the season. It is cold and wet in winter, hot and dry in summer and mild in spring and autumn. In general, Hindaba is cold and dry. Hindaba is beneficial and cools the stomach and causes constipation. When Hindaba, especially wild Hindaba, is cooked and eaten with vinegar, it constipates even more and is more favorable for the stomach and invigorating.

When Hindaba is used as a bandage, it will relieve gastric inflammations, gout and hot ocular inflammations. In cases of scorpion stings, Hindaba helpswhen its leaves and stems are used as a bandage.

Hindaba also strengthens the stomach and opens the clogs in the kidneys, spleen, veins and intestines. It also clears and purifies the kidneys and helps them against the various hot and cold aches.

The sour Hindaba is the best for the liver, while its extract helps against icter (jaundice), especially when mixed with wet fennel extract. When Hindaba leaves are bruised and places on hot swellings, it will cool and dissipate them. Hindaba also cleanses and clears the chest and dissipates the heat of irritated blood and bile.

The best way to eat Hindaba is without washing it so as to preserve its effective ingredients. Hindaba works as an effective antidote against most poisons.

When Hindaba extract is used as eyeliner, it will clear and cleanse the eyes. Hindaba leaves are used in antidotes against scorpion stings, and against most poisons as we have stated. When the Hindaba is squeezed and its water is mixed with oil, it will help against all toxic subatances in general. When Hindaba stems are squeezed and their water drunk, it will help against scorpion and hornet stings and against snakebite. Finally, the sap of its stems whitens the white area in the eye.

Taken From: Healing With The Medicine Of The Prophet (peace be upon him), By Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah

Warss (Ceylon Cornel Tree)

Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated, "The woman who has just delivered would remain for forty days afterwards [without praying or fasting]. One of us would then overlay Warss on her face to help against spots." Abu Hanifah, a linguist, said, "Warss does not grow in the wild. Rather, it is cultivated. I think that it is only grown in the Arab lands, especially in Yemen."

Warss is dry and hot in the second degree. The best type of Warss is the red Warss, which is soft in the hand and does not have much bran. Warss is used as an ointment to treat spots, rashes, and pimples that appear on the surface of the skin. Warss constipates, has a dyeing quality and helps against leprosy when taken as a drink.

Warss has similar benefits to sea Qust, and if it is used as an ointment it relieves vitiligo (skin condition of unkown cause, characterized by patchy loss of pigment), rashes, pimples and ulcers.

Taken From: Healing With The Medicine Of The Prophet (peace be upon him), By Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah

Milh (Salt)

Al-Bzzar narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "You will soon be to the people what the salt represents to food, and the food's flavor dosen't become favorable unless there is salt in it."

Al-Baghawi said in his commentary on the Qur'an that Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) related from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: "There are four blessings that Allah has sent down to the earth from the heavens: iron, fire, water and salt." This Hadith should only be rlated from Ibn Umar (RA).

Salt is favorable for people's bodies and food. Further, salt is favorable and beneficial when blended with any substance, including gold and silver, as it makes gold more yellowish and whitens silver. Salt decomposes, cleanses, dries the thick humidity, strenghtens and purifies the body and helps against open mangy sores.

When used as eyeliner salt, especially gem salt, will remove the excess fat or flesh and the yellowish color from the eye. Salt also prevents malignant infections from spreading, works as a laxative and helps against pleurisy when the stomach is anointed with it. Salt cleanses the teeth, prevents them from decaying, and strenthens the gums and makes them firm. There are many other benefits for the salt.

Taken From: Healing With The Medicine Of The Prophet (peace be upon him), by Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah

Curing Fear and Insomnia

At-Tirmidhi narrated in his Sunan that Khalid once complained to the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he does not sleep well at night. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When you go to bed say, 'O Allah! The Lord of the seven heavens and what is under them, the Lord of the earths and what they carry, and the Lord of the devils and whoever they misguide! Be my supporter against the evil of all Your creation, preventing any of them to cause me any harm or injustice. Mighty indeed are those whom You support, honorable indeed is Your praise, and there is no deity worthy of worship except You.'"

Also, At-Tirmidhi narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to teach his companions these words when they face any fear, "I seek refuge with Allah's perfect Words from His anger and torment, and from the evil of His slaves and the whisperings of the devils. I seek refuge with You, my Lord from their precense.'"

Taken From: Healing With The Medicine Of The Prophet (peace be upon him), By Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah

Nabq or Nabiq

It has several names: Nabq, Christ's thorn, lotus jujube, or rhamnus. Abu Nu'aym mentioned these in his book on Prophetic medicine, when he mentioned the Hadith, " When Adam was sent down to earth, the first of its fruits he ate was Nabiq."

Also, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) mentioned the Nabq in a hadith narrated by the Two Muhaddithain, "On the night that I was taken on the Night Journey, I was shown Sidrat Al-Muntada (a tree in the seventh heaven) and I saw its Nabq fruits which resembled the clay jugs of Hajr (a town in Arabia)."

Nabq is the fruit produced by the lote-tree. Nabq soothes the natural digestive process, helps against diarrhea, coats the stomach, relieves bile, provides nutrition fo the body, taste to the food and causes phlegm. It also helps against inflammation caused by bile. Nabq is slowly digested while its flour strengthens the bowls and is favorite for bilious temperaments. The harm of the Nabq will be neutralized when eating honeycomb with it.

There is a conflict of opinion concerning if Nabq is wet or dry. The correct opinion is that wet Nabq is cold and wet while dry Nabq is cold and dry.

Taken From: Healing With The Medicine Of The Prophet (peace be upon him) By Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah

Karfas (Celery)

Karfas has a good aroma and when it is hung under the neck, it relieves toothache.

Karfas is hot and dry, and it opens the clogs of the liver and the spleen. Wet celery leaves helps the stomach and the cold liver, causes urine as a diuretic, menstrual flow, and dissolves stones. Celery grains are more effective in this regard. Karfas also stimulates semen production and relieves offensive breath. Ar-Razi said, "One should avoid eating it if he fears he might suffer a scorpion sting."

Taken From: Healing with the Medicine of The Prophet (peace be upon him) By Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah

Narjis (Narcissus)

The Narjis is hot and dry int he second degree and its stems are used to relieve deep cankers that reach the nerves. Also, Narjis cleanses and extracts septic substances. If the Narjis is cooked and one drinks its water, or boils it and eats it, it will cause vomiting and will extract the moistures that reside in the bottom of the stomach. When the Narjis is cooked with lentil plant and honey, it will cleanse the cankers from septic excretions and will cause the gastric ulcers to rupture.

Narjis blossoms are mild and beneficial against colds. They have a strong power of decomposition, open the nose and cerebral clogs, and help against headaches and black bile. Those who repeatedly smell Narjis during winter will have immunity from pleurisy during summer. Also, Narjis helps relieve headaches caused by phlegm and black bile. Narjis aroma sharpens the mind and the heart and helps relieve many of their ailments. The author of 'At-Taysur' once said, "Inhaling Narjis aroma heals against epilepsy that attacks boys."

Taken From: Healing With The Medicine Of The Prophet (peace be upon him) By Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah

Watermelon

Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi narrated that 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)."

There are several Ahadith regarding watermelon none of them are authentic, except the Hadith that we mentioned above.

Green watermelon is cold and wet and is sweet. it also 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."

Taken From: Healing With The Medicine Of The Prophet (peace be upon him) By Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah

Misk (Musk)

Muslim narrated that Abu Sai'd Al-Khudri said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The best type of perfume is Musk."

In the Sahihain it is also narrated that Aishsh (RA) said: "I used to anoint the Prophet (peace be upon him) with perfumed Musk before assuming Ihram, on the Day of the Sacrifice and before performing Tawaf around the (Sacred) House."

Musk is the king of all perfumes, it has the best aroma. Other types of perfumes are usually compared to Musk, but Musk is never compared to them. Also, the hills and sands of Paradise are made of Musk.

Musk is a hot, dry substance of the second degree, and it brings comfort and joy to the hearts and strengthens the inner organs when it is drunk or smelled. Musk also brings strength and comfort to the external organs when anointed with it. Musk is profitable for old people and those who have excessive skin moistures, especially during winter, and also helps against fainting, shaking and the general weakness in the body as it excites the instinctive heat. Musk clears the white part in the eye and dries excess moisture in it, and also dissipates swelling in various organs. Musk also works as an antidote for some poisons, and helps against snakebite. It has many other benefits.

Taken From: Healing with the medicine of the Prophet (peace be upon him), by Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah

Zamzam Water

Zamzam Water is the best, freshest, most beneficial, most beloved and most precious water there is. Further, Zamzam water was dug up by Jibril and the source that Prophet Isma'il(AS) drank from.

In the Sahihain it is narrated that the Prophet(SAWS) said to Abu Tharr, who remained at the Ka'bah for 40 days without food (or drink) living on Zamzam water: "It is a nutritious food." Muslim added that the Prophet(SAWS) said: "And a cure from ailment."

Furthermore, Ibn Majah narrated that Jabir bin 'Abdullah related from the Prophet(SAWS) that he said: "Zamzam water is for whatever was intended behind drinking it."

We were told that 'Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak once said. "O Allah Ibn Al-Mu'ammil told us that Muhammad bin Al-Munkar related from Jabir(RA) that your Prophet(SAWS) said: "The water of Zamzam is for the purpose it is drank for, and I drink it to relieve my thirst on the Day of Ressurection." This Hadith is of the Hasan (Sound) type.

Many other people and I have tried drinking Zamzam water for the purpose of being cured from various illnesses, and by the will of Allah, I was indeed cured from several illnesses. I also saw some people who lived on Zamzam water for a long time, fifteen days or a little longer without complaining from hunger. Such people would perform Tawaf with other people at a normal pace. Someone even told me that Zamzam water was his only food and drink for forty days and that he still had enough strength to fast and perform Tawaf many times.

Taken From: Healing with the Medicine of The Prophet(SAWS) by Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah