MEDICINE SECTION · 13 – RAISING THE PALATE
3877 – It is narrated from Umm Qays bint Mihsan (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: I entered upon the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) with my son. I had burst the tonsil in my son’s throat with my finger. He said: “Why do you hurt your children by squeezing the tonsils in their throats with your fingers? You should use this ‘ūd-i Hindī (Indian costus root, a medicinal plant). For in it there are seven cures. Pleurisy (dhāt al-janb) is among them. For tonsillitis, it is administered through the nose. For pleurisy, it is administered from the side of the mouth.” Abū Dāwūd said: By ‘ūd is meant the plant known as topalak otu (costus root). [487]
EXPLANATION
‘Ūd: It is of two types.
1- ‘Ūd-i Hindī (Indian costus root, a medicinal plant), which is darker and more active.
2- ‘Ūd-i Bahrī (marine costus root) is white. ‘Ūd-i Hindī is inhaled like snuff for the treatment of swollen tonsils, and is taken orally after being soaked in water for pneumonia. In Turkish, it is the root of the plant known as topalak otu.