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Most Commonly Documented
Prophetic Remedies
Henna
Henna (scientifically known as lawsonia inermis) has been well known for a long
time in the Muslim world. It is extensively grown in India and Sudan, and is
used mainly for cosmetic purposes
. The plant is sometimes called the "Magic Plant" because it has a great healing
effect, contains many healing substances like tannine and other glue-like
substances, and it has an anti-microbial and an anti-viral effect. It is
natural, inexpensive, and has no known sides effects when taken orally.
Indications for its use are as follows:
Burns: It is very effective when applied to a first or second degree burn. It:
-reduces pain.
-reduces fluid loss from the burn site, which is important if the area is large.
-has an anti-microbial effect, and so reduces the risk of infection.
-sticks on the wound site until healing is complete.
-is easy to apply either in paste or powder form.
-is inexpensive and easily available.
Healing Properties: Henna promotes wound healing, especially chronic wounds and
ulcers. The main cause of this is not known, but it may be its nourishing effect
on the wound and its anti-microbial properties.
Anti-Hemorrhage Effect: Henna has proven to be efficient in the management of
nose bleeding (epistaxis), providing a long-lasting cure. One dose is generally
sufficient. It is more successful than cauterization, which normally has to be
repeated and cannot guarantee that there will not be a recurrence of bleeding.
The only side effect of henna here is that it can cause slight sneezing. Henna
can be used at other sites like a bleeding duodenal ulcer or oesophageal
varicose veins, with no known side effects. Its anti-bleeding effect may be due
to its coagulation or local burning properties.
Anti-Viral Effect: Henna has an anti-viral effect. This is evident in its
treatment of warts (particularly those that are resistant to liquid nitrogen
treatment), Herpes Simplex (applied as a powder, it dries the vesicles at the
site, prevents ulceration and crust formation, and prevents secondary
infection). This benefit of henna is very promising, and should be explored
further. It can also be used to treat AIDS.
Onion seed or hibat al-barakah (Nigella sativa)
This plant is found throughout India in the form of bushes, with blue flowers,
that reach a height of approximately half a meter. It originally came from
Turkey and Italy, and was brought to India by physicians to be cultivated. The
seeds are black and triangular in shape, have a strong pungent smell, and
contain a considerable amount of oil.
It is incorrect that Arabs learnt about its benefits from Greeks because, before
the advent of Islam, there is no record of its use. Its therapeutic use was
initiated after Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mentioned its efficacy and its potential
to cure. Abu Hurayrah states, "I have heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) say
that there is cure for every disease in black seeds except death."
Khalid Ibn Sa`ad states that he was traveling with Ghalib Ibn Jabr when he (Ghalib)
fell ill during the journey. Ibn Abi Ateeq (nephew of Ayesha) came to meet us.
On seeing the distressed one, he took five or seven black seeds, ground them,
mixed them in olive oil and dropped them into both his (Ghalib's) nostrils.
Ghalib Ibn Jabr became healthy with this treatment.
Ayesha told us that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) stated that there is cure in
black seeds for all ailments except sam. I asked him, "What is sam?" He said,
"Death."
Chemical Composition: The seeds contain 1.5 % volatile oil and 37.5 %
non-volatile oil. In addition to this albumen, sugar, organic acids, glucoside,
melanthin, metarbin and bitter substances are also found. The glucoside is toxic
in nature; hence its in large doses and for a prolonged period may be harmful.
Its therapeutic uses are as follows:
-Zahbi stated that it removes the obstruction of any part of the body, expels
the gases and strengthens the stomach.
-It is emmenagogue, lactogogue and a diuretic.
-It is an anti-helminthic, if taken with vinegar and useful with chronic colds.
-Its inhalation is beneficial in the treatment of common colds.
-Its oil is effective with alopecia (hair loss).
-Half a teaspoon, if boiled in water, is helpful for asthma and alleviates the
toxic effects of bee and wasp stings.
-Continuous use of the seeds is effective for mad dog bites.
-Paralysis, facial palsy, migraine, amnesia and palpitations are also ailments
which benefit from it.
-It can also be used as an expectorant and antipyretic.
-It normalizes the secretions of the stomach and pancreas. This is very
effective in the treatment of Diabetes Mellitus.
-It expels stones in the kidney and bladder if taken with honey.
-It is effective in jaundice when taken with milk.
-Its powder, when taken with water, is good for hemorrhoids.
-If black seeds are boiled in vinegar and then applied to the teeth and gums, it
reduces inflammation and pain of the gums.
-It is also reported that its fine powder is effective if applied in the early
stages of cataracts.
-Black seed is also used for skin disorders.
-The oil is also effective in earache.
Olives
The olive, a sign of peace and friendship throughout the world, is described in
the Holy Qur'an in Surat At-Teen.
Found extensively in Asia minor, Palestine, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Turkey,
Italy, North Africa, Algeria, Tunisia, the state of California in America,
Mexico, Peru and southern Australia, the olive plant stretches up to three
meters in height. Its leaves are bright green and very attractive; and its
fruits are bright bluish or violet in color. Although olives consumed straight
from the plant are very nutritious, they are not usually eaten due to their
metallic taste. A pickled version is consumed largely in Europe. Olives are
preserved in vinegar and imported from Spain, Italy, France, Turkey and Greece,
and are favored in Europe and Arab countries. Olive oil is a good preservative
for other foods such as sardines and other fish.
The use of olives goes back to ancient times. Vessels full of olive oil have
been found, among other articles, during the excavation of ancient Egyptian
graves. According to the scholars of Hadith, when the Great Flood subsided, the
first thing to be seen on the earth was an olive tree.
According to Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, Sayyid Al-Ansari narrated that the Prophet
(pbuh) said, "Eat olive oil and massage it over your bodies since it is a holy
(mubarak) tree."
According to Ibn Al-Juzi, Zanbi, Alqama Ibn Amir narrated that the Prophet
(pbuh) said, "There is olive oil for you; eat it, massage it over your body,
since it is effective for hemorrhoids." Basoor reported that Aqba Ibn Amir
narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) stated, "You have the olive oil from this Holy
(mubarak) tree; treat yourself with this, since it cures the anal fissure." Abu
Na'im reported that Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) stated, "Eat
the olive oil and apply it (locally), since there is cure for seventy diseases
in it, [and] one of them is leprosy."
Composition:
Olive oil has a place in pharmacology in the U.S.A. and Britain. Both of these
countries have attributed prime importance to olive oil in the treatment of
various ailments, and have fixed standard parameters to evaluate its purity.
It contains palmatic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, steanic acid, myristic
acid and glycerides. In this case, it is not dissolved in water but in alcohol,
ether, chloroform and liquid paraffin.
The adulterant very often used in the olive oils found on the market is the
seeds of the tea plant, arachis oil. Sometimes machine gun oil and refined
machine oil are also found in it.
According to Ibn Al-Qayyim, the red colored oil is better than the blackish one.
Its therapeutic uses are:
-It gives exuberance to the facial complexion.
-Prevention against poisons.
-Regulates the digestive process.
-Expels intestinal parasites.
-A good tonic, making the hair healthy, shiny and makes it stronger. Adds
luster.
-A massage of olive oil with ordinary salt over the gums is a remedy for several
diseases of the gums and teeth.
-Local application of olive oil or the water extracted from the crushed olive
oil leaves is effective on boils, rashes and itching.
-Chronic ulcers and boils, which are difficult to heal, are healed with olive
oil when applied locally.
-According to Zahbi, it strengthens the hair and body; hence can be used as a
good tonic and for delaying the aging process.
-It helps raise a low libido.
-A combination of normal saline and olive oil is highly effective in burns.
-A soak of olive leaves in water is effective against mouth and lip ulcers, and
dermatitis due to allergies.
-The concentrated watery solution of the extract of olive leaves and fruits is
very effective against dental cavities and leukoplaquea in the mouth.
-This solution is applied along with vinegar for alopecia to enhance hair
growth.
-It is also stated that the local application of this extract removes the scars
of small pox and boils.
-Ground olive seeds mixed with butter is effective on brittle nails.
-Pickles prepared from olives are a good appetizer, and stop constipation.
-Its crushed leaves can be applied locally to check excessive perspiration.
-The water extracted from the leaves along with honey is used for ear drops and
is effective in various ear ailments. The oil procured by burning the wood of
the olive branch is effective against all fungal infections, e.g., ringworm,
tenia, versicolor in addition to eczema, psoriasis, dandruff and alopecia.
-Applying olive oil on the scalp is highly effective against dandruff.
-It causes hair growth and reduces hair loss. The application of olive oil in
the eyes relieves inflammation.
-A massage of olive oil all over the body tones up the muscles and organs, and
relieves muscular pain.
-Some physicians also advocate a massage of olive oil for epilepsy.
-It relieves the sciatica and arthritis.
Ointment prepared from olive oil has very good healing agents:
-It heals the sinuses and fistuli very quickly.
-If taken internally, 25ml of olive oil mixed with 250ml of barley water is
highly effective against chronic constipation.
-It is a good diuretic; hence is used in ascites.
-It removes kidney stones.
-In view of the research carried out in the U.S. and Britain, one concludes that
it is good nourishment, particularly for kidney ailments where an intake of
nitrogen containing protein is contraindicated.
-We mentioned already that the Prophet (pbuh) stated that it is a good remedy
for anal fissure. Hence, patients were advised to take two spoonfuls of olive
oil at bedtime and an ointment was applied on the fissure locally before
sleeping and in the morning. The ointment is prepared from eight spoonfuls of
olive oil and two spoonfuls of ground henna leaves.
-Its combination with other prescribed drugs of Prophetic Medicine is a good
remedy for psoriasis and eczema.
-The impressions of several doctors practicing in Middle East and North Africa
reveal that gastro-intestinal cancer is not detected among those who are used to
consuming olive oil. Japanese doctors also endorse this, and have the opinion
that olive oil prevents the incidence of cancer in the gastro-intestinal tract.
Siwak and Dental Hygiene
A variety of oral hygiene measures have been performed since the dawn of time.
This has been verified by various excavations throughout the world where
toothpicks, chew-sticks, twigs, linen strips, birds' feathers, animal bones and
porcupine quills were recovered.
Those that originated from plants, although primitive, represent a transitional
step towards the modern toothbrush. About 17 different plants have be used as
natural instruments of oral hygiene.
The most widely used twig since early times is the Siwak or Miswak. The stick is
obtained from a plant called salvadore persica that grows around Makkah and in
the Middle East in general. Although there is no reference to the use of the
siwak in the Qur'an, there are several hadith mentioning the benefits of siwak
in maintaining oral hygiene; hence, it has been used widely among Muslims since
the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). In this respect, our Prophet (pbuh) can be
considered among the first dental instructors of proper oral hygiene.
Composition: Salvadora persica is a small tree or shrub with a crooked trunk
that is seldom more than one foot in diameter. It has scabrous and cracked bark,
and is whitish with pendulous branches. The root bark is light brown and the
inner surfaces are white. It has an odorlike cress, and its taste is warm and
pungent.
To ascertain its chemical composition, the air-dried stem bark of salvadora
persica was extracted with 80% alcohol and then ether, and underwent exhaustive
chemical procedures which indicated that it is composed of trim ethylamine, an
alkaloid which may be salvadorine, chlorides, high amounts of fluoride and
silica, sulfur, Vitamin C and small quantities of tannins, saponins, fiavenoids
andsterols.
Repeated use of siwak during the day produces an unusually high level of oral
cleanliness. It has been proven that plaque is formed immediately after eating.
After 24 hours, it starts to act on the teeth. However, it can be eliminated
through meticulous tooth-brushing.
Proper oral hygiene should be taught by dentists, but it requires a person's
time and dexterity. Among those Muslims who ritually practice the use of siwak,
rigid oral hygiene by a dentist may not be required.
Siwak and other twigs can be effective in removing soft oral deposits. They can
even be promoted as effective instruments in oral health and dental programs for
the population at large.
There is evidence that salvadora persica contains antibacterial properties. Some
other components are astringents, detergents and abrasives. These properties
encourage some toothpaste laboratories (Beckenham, UK, Sarakan Ltd.) to
incorporate powdered stems and/or root material of salvadora persica in their
products. Although commercial powders may be highly efficient in plaque removal,
their use has been shown in a survey to cause a high incidence of gingivitis.
Plaque eradication is essential, but it should not be in a manner that creates
negative side effects for other tissues.
In conclusion, siwak and powdered siwak are excellent tools for oral
cleanliness. They are highly recommended in preventive dental health programs in
Muslim countries. Recommendations should be made to manufacturers of toothpaste
to include the powdered form of siwak in an abrasive form of toothpaste.
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