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NEWSLETTER
MASJID
AL- ITTEHAD, VISTA, CA.
Dear
brothers and sisters in Islam,
Assalam
Alaikum
Since
ages, we know that Islam has the cure for all ailments and
diseases. Practicing Islam in its wholeness guarantee the
complete emotional, physical, spiritual health and a life full
of contentment here and hereafter insha-Allah. When we delve
into the life of antiquities, we witness that people were living
healthfully and without the ills and bruises of modern age
crisis. The reason is evident; our total reliance on the system
and deviation from the law of nature. We the Muslim should stick
with the nature and should seek refuge into the will of Allah.
The present article is an insight into the world of natural
remedy available to us; the same has been prescribed by our
prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and sahabih. May Allah give us the
hedayah to stick ourselves with the nature and to keep ourselves
hale and hearty Insha-Allah. Jazakallah Khaira
Syed
Ashraf Imam, Editor
Prophetic
Medicine: An Old Prescription for a New Era
Dr.
Hossam Arafa
A
genre of medical writing intended as an alternative to the
exclusively Greek-based medical systems derived from Galen was
that called at-tibb an-nabawi or "Prophetic
Medicine." The authors were clerics, rather than
physicians, who advocated traditional medicine as mentioned in
the Qur'an and as practiced during the life of Prophet
Muhammad (SAW)
On the other hand, the popular treatise by the religious scholar
Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti, who died in 1505 (911 H), was based
almost exclusively upon what was known of medical practices
during the time of the Prophet. It was derived from the Qur'an,
traditions of the Prophet known as Hadith, and the practices of
the early Muslim community.
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
side 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.
3.
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.
Onion
seed/Qalaunji 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
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. Olive
oil is a good preservative for other foods such as sardines and
other fish.
The use of olives goes back to ancient times. 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
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 fistulae 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/
Miswaak 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, bird’s 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 been 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.
Composition:
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 and
fiavenoids. It has an odor like cress, and its taste is warm and
pungent.
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. 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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