FIFTH CHAPTER · THIRD SECTION · Eighth Article
Eighth Article
It reports the most commonly used simple medicines and foods in the order of the letters (kelemen da‘fes).
O dear one! It should be known that the experts of medicine have said:
Kaf
Kāfūr (camphor): It is cold and dry in the third degree. It is health-giving and removes hot tumors and hot headaches. It strengthens the senses of those with a hot temperament. It also has effects such as awakening those who are asleep, being effective even when smelled, and reducing sexual desires.
Kehribā (amber): It is hot in the first degree, dry in the second degree. It prevents spitting blood and excessive blood flow from the veins. It is beneficial for distress, palpitations (ḥafaqān), and ẓahīr’ [68]. It stops diarrhea.
Kammūn (cumin): It is hot in the second degree, dry in the third degree. It disperses and expels (gastric) gases. It is drying, constipating, and astringent. It is also good for difficulty in urination. It heals wounds and expels stones.
Kem’e (poisonous mushroom): Its effect is severe and harsh, and its nourishment is poor. However, its juice is good and gives brightness to the eyes.
Kerfes (celery): There are varieties that grow in different places. It is hot in the first degree, dry in the second degree. It is a carminative. It makes the body sweat and opens the mouths of the veins. It relieves pain. Its scent is pleasant. It stimulates sexual desires. It causes epilepsy. It is harmful to pregnant women. It is beneficial for the liver, cough, kidneys and spleen, in the treatment of edema in any part of the body, and for the bladder.
Kilye (kidney): It is balanced in heat and cold, and somewhat dry. It is difficult to digest, easy to mix, and unrestrained. The tastiest is the kidney of a kid or lamb.
Kabed (liver): It is hot and better than the kidney. The best liver is that of a goose or a well-fed chicken.
Kalb (dog): The liver of a dog is health-giving for the body of the one it has bitten.
Küzbere (coriander): It is dry in the first degree, constipating in the second degree. It is pain-relieving, removes hot tumors, and strengthens a hot stomach. It relieves the heat of distress and palpitations (ḥafaqān) and the acidity of foods. It prevents epilepsy, dizziness, and dryness of the eyes. However, it dries up semen and cuts off sexual desires. If eaten in excess, it causes dimness of vision.
Kirā’ (trotter): Its nature is softening. It is easy to digest. It relieves cough and reduces excesses.
Lām
Lūbiyā (a type of bean): It is dry, but it has a considerable amount of moisture, which is of the phlegmatic type. Its own tufāḥd (related to wind) is the cause of bad dreams. It softens the chest and induces menstrual blood. It is also good for the lungs. Its correction is with black pepper, salt, and vinegar.
Lawz (almond): The sweet variety is balanced in terms of moisture, while the bitter is hot in the second degree. When drunk or applied, it induces menstrual blood. The nourishment of bitter almond is little, but its opening and cleansing properties are great. The effects of sweet almond are weaker and less, but it fattens the body and relieves cough. It opens obstructions in the liver and spleen.
Leben (milk): The milk of women is more beneficial than that of animals, because the human temperament is more balanced than anything else. The best breast milk is that which is suckled directly from the breast. Milk that has been left standing for a long time after being milked is not desirable. The milk of animals whose gestation period is much longer than that of humans is bad, heavy, and harsh. The milk of animals whose gestation period is similar to that of humans, such as the cow, is good. [163/b] The liquid part of milk is hot, subtle, and cleansing. It never sours. It is like a medicine without a compound. Its special property is that it removes burning bile. With eftīmon, it also expels burning melancholy.
Sour milk is cold and dry. Freshly milked milk is moist and hot. All types of milk are strength for the body, for all are potentially blood. With honey, it cleanses internal (stomach and intestinal) wounds. It strengthens the brain and increases sperm. Again, all types of milk stimulate sexual desires. The mixture of dry and hot is beneficial for little bile. It relieves cough. However, it is harmful and unsuitable for those with phlegm, because their heat cannot digest it and convert it into the quality of blood.
It is beneficial and suitable for the elderly as it provides moisture. They should also aid their digestion with honey. Often, milk first empties the stomach, expelling excesses from the intestines. After that, it spreads in the body, constipates the nature, and proceeds in balance. Milk produces worms and roundworms; if cooked, it is easier to digest.
Lūbā (colostrum): It is slow to digest and poorly blended. Its correction is honey. Every milk clogs the cavity of the liver, except camel’s milk, which does not. Drinking and eating a lot of milk is a remedy for anxiety and forgetfulness. However, it is harmful to the teeth and gums. It is also harmful to those with headaches and dizziness. It causes lice to breed and dimness of vision. Its correction is sugar. Sugared milk beautifies the face and fattens the body. The composition of milk is watery, cheesy, and fatty. Most cow’s milk is fatty. Camel’s milk is mostly watery because it is fluid and thin.
Laḥm (meat): The most beneficial is that of a young, tender sheep. The edible part of a calf or kid is little. The male, the fatty, and the black of every animal are tastier, lighter, and better. Beef is drier than goat meat. Goat meat is drier, harder to digest, and more constipating than mutton. Camel meat is heavy in nourishment and hard to digest. Rabbit meat is hot and dry, so it has much melancholy. Therefore, it is heating, moist, and easy to digest.
The nourishment of meat strengthens the body. It quickly turns into blood. The nourishment of grilled meat leads to dryness, while that of boiled meat leads to moisture. The fat of meat is not favored. Internal fat is harmful, for it softens the belly (intestines), but its nourishment is little. In spring and at the beginning of summer, it is a mistake and dangerous for those with heat to eat beef, for it is known to cause scabies, leprosy, and spleen disorders. Likewise, all kinds of tough meat are harmful to the body throughout spring and the first half of summer. However, although camel meat is tough, it transforms quickly. Goose meat is tough and very nourishing. Chicken meat is lighter, subtler, and tastier than that.
Lādan: It is dry in the first degree, hot in the second degree. It is subtle, with separating and maturing properties. It is good for uterine diseases. It prevents hair loss. It closes wounds that are difficult to heal.
Mīm
Mastakī (mastic): It is hot and dry in the second degree. It is very subtle, separating, and constipating. It removes thin phlegm. When chewed in the mouth, it draws and cleanses phlegm. It is beneficial for cough. It stops spitting blood. It is beneficial for the stomach. It cleanses and strengthens the stomach.
Milḥ (salt): It is dry in the first degree, hot in the third degree. It has great dissolving, drying, and polishing properties. It removes various odors and heats and melts congealed mixtures. Half a dirham is sufficient to drink. With burning salt, the dirt of (decayed) teeth is removed. Using salt in moderation beautifies the complexion, improves foods, and expels waste and excesses. It helps with medicines for diarrhea. [164/a] White crystal salt strongly removes raw phlegm, black salt strongly removes phlegm and melancholy.
Muluḥiyya (mallow): It is cold in the first degree, moist in the second. It opens obstructions in the liver.
Mishmish (apricot): It is moist and cold in the second degree. The oil of its kernel is hot and dry in the second degree. It is good for hemorrhoids. The mixture of apricot spoils quickly. Its dried form quenches heat. It is better for the stomach than peach. It quickly causes feverish illnesses.
Nun
Nīl (indigo): It is hot in the first degree, dry in the second, and constipating in the third degree. It stops bleeding, removes freckles and blemishes on the face. It is beneficial for newly formed wounds. Dye is made from its leaves.
Naʿnāʿ (mint): It is dry and hot. It also has considerable (active) moisture. Due to its contents, it is the lightest of vegetables. It quickly heats and strengthens the stomach. It relieves hiccups and facilitates digestion. It prevents phlegm and bloody vomiting. It increases sexual desires, increases and gathers semen. If five or ten leaves are put in milk, it prevents it from curdling.
Nekhāle-i daqīq (fine bran): It is hot and dry in the first degree. It has properties of brightness, softness, and cleanliness. Drinking it with almond and sugar is beneficial for the throat and cough.
Nīshādur (sal ammoniac): It is cold and dry in the first degree. It is softening and very strong. Its paste and application with saffron removes freckles on the face. It prevents hay fever, and if drunk with milk, it softens the chest.
Sin
Sumāq (sumac): It is cold in the second degree, dry in the third degree. It is constipating, strengthening, binding, and astringent. It constipates the belly and stops bleeding. It draws bile to the abdominal organs. [69] It removes swelling and tumors. It is a cure for toothaches. It quenches thirst, coats and corrects the stomach, and increases appetite. It stops menstrual blood. It blackens the hair and prevents fainting.
Sukkar (sugar): It is moist and hot in the first degree. Its old cane is calm in its own nature. It is very soft. It softens the chest and throat and removes their hardness. It opens obstructions. Its thirst-inducing effect is good for a stomach that is not bilious. It softens the belly and removes phlegm. Red sugar is the most softening.
Saman (internal fat): It is moist and hot in the first degree. It acts as an antidote to poisonous drinks. It softens and separates the throat and chest. It cooks, matures, and reduces excesses. It is especially effective with honey and almond.
Safarjal (quince): It is cold and dry in the second degree. Both itself and its flower are constipating. The sour variety is more constipating than the sweet. All types quench thirst, promote urination, and strengthen sexual feelings. Especially with honey, it strengthens the stomach. The water of its seed softens the nature and then relieves constipation. It softens the lungs and is good for cough. When quince is eaten in excess, it causes pleurisy.
Samak (fish): It is moist and cold. The best is the small one. Its blood is little and tasty and does not spoil quickly. Good fish is that which grows in strong-flowing fresh water and has few bones. Or, good fish is that which, coming from salty seas, enters the river mouth and stays there, moving against the flow of water. The best salted fish is that which is not stale. The one in which salt predominates and which is not hot and dry. Fresh fish produces phlegmatic fluid. Since it spoils quickly, it is not suitable for anyone except those with a hot stomach. Cold drinks and milk spoil fish meat. Sweets correct it.
Ayn
ʿAnbar (ambergris): It is hot in the second degree, dry in the first degree. It strengthens the stomach, liver, heart, senses, and faculties. [164/b] ʿAnbar is more balanced than musk and is a remedy for brain diseases.
ʿUd (aloeswood): It is dry and hot in the second degree. It is beneficial for the stomach, liver, heart, and senses. It opens obstructions. It is very beneficial for the brain. Chewing it gives a pleasant scent and removes gas.
ʿAsal (honey): It is hot and dry in the second degree. It gives brightness, opens, and has an attracting effect. It prevents inflammation and lice. Even its wash kills lice. It cleanses purulent and dirty wounds, removes dimness of vision, brightens the eyes, strengthens the stomach, increases appetite, and causes diarrhea in the abdomen. Even beeswax is hot; if applied as a dressing to wounds and scabies, it matures and draws out what is inside. Especially with tar, it is very effective and drawing.
ʿInab (grape): Its skin is cold and dry. Its flesh is moist and hot. Its seed is both cold and dry. It is the best of foods. It strengthens the stomach and sexual desires. The best is the black grape dried on the vine. The grape fruit (fresh grape) is beneficial for the stomach and harmful for the bladder. The harm of grape is corrected by sweet pomegranate.
Fe
Fuḍḍa (silver): It is cold and dry. It prevents inner distress and palpitations. It is beneficial for gastric juice and the heart. It removes scabies and itching.
Fıstık (pistachio): It is dry and hot in the second degree. It also has considerable moisture. It strengthens the heart and opens obstructions in the liver. It is a beneficial medicine.
Fujl (radish): Its nourishment is little, its phlegm is much. It opens obstructions in the liver. It produces lice and separates the body's odor. It kills worms. It greatly aids the digestion of foods, but is hard to digest.
Fulful (pepper): It is dry and hot in the fourth degree. The white variety is hotter than the black. Dār-i fulful’s [70] dryness is less than both. All three disperse and break up the hard gases in the stomach and intestines. They cut the phlegmatic fluid that extends without breaking and heat the nerves and muscles.
Sad
Sandal (sandalwood): [71] It is cold and dry in the second degree. Its application as an ointment and its drinking are beneficial for hot swellings, hot headaches, and hot palpitations. It is suitable for stomach weakness caused by heat and pain.
Saʿtar (thyme): It is hot and dry in the second degree. It is pleasant, separating, and beneficial. Its drinking and ointment remove odor and gas, dry the stomach, and promote urination and menstruation. It increases eyesight. It relieves pain in the coccyx.
Samg (gum): Its altering and drying properties are strong. The best is Arabian gum, for it softens the hardness in the chest, constipates the belly, and strengthens the intestines. It beautifies book writings with colored ink.