By Hakim Shaikh Muinuddin Chishti

And when I am sick it is You that heals me.

Al Qur’an Majid

Disclaimer: All material provided herein is from the Unani Herbal Healing site and is provided for educational purposes only. Consult your own physician regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your symptoms or medical condition.

Excerpt #1

O mankind! There hath come to you a direction from your Lord

And a healing for the diseases in your hearts–

And for those who believe, a Guidance, and a Mercy.

Qur’an 10:57

It is the custom of the Shaykhs to first of all resort to some form of dietary advice to affect the cure of simple imbalances. This dietary reform may include adjusting the use of various herbs and spices in cooking.

The herbal formulas given here are usually easy to obtain and require very little effort to prepare. These remedies are formulated according to the qualities of heat and coldness (garmi and sardi) of each substance and work primarily by rebalancing the temperament of one or more of the four essences of the body. Despite their simplicity, these herbal formulas are quite effective.

Preparation of Remedies

1. Formulas should be prepared according to instructions.

2. When a formula calls for powdered herbs, they should be ground to a fine powder and sieved through a muslin cloth or a sieve of 100 mesh (unless formula says a coarse powder may be used).

3. When herbs are to be made into a decoction (boiled in water), as soon as the water starts to boil, the vessel should be removed from the fire and allowed to sit {:or five minutes; then the liquid should be strained and drunk warm.

4. When a formula calls for a liquid to be reduced to half, the vessel should be kept on a medium fire until about half the water has evaporated by boiling.

5. Sugar, if it is to be added to a formula, should be a fine powder of pure, raw, unrefined sugar, such as that from Mexico. If unavailable, use honey in its place.

6. In some cases, the instructions say to soak an herb overnight. If this cannot be done, the herbs may be soaked for three to four hours, and then simmered five to six hours before using. This method would also be used in winter.

7. When instructed to make a “water” (e.g., ginger water, lime water), soak one to two ounces of the herb or other substance in one pint of pure water for four to six hours. Strain before using.

8. Formulas that are to be preserved and used for more than one day may also be prepared in reduced or lesser quantities than called for. The ratios of each ingredient must be carefully adjusted in such cases.

9. When equal parts of herbs are to be used, each herb should be equal by weight or volume. The quantity to be taken should be decided in light of the dose recommended and the number of days for which the formula is to be prepared at one time.

Storage

1. Decoctions are to be prepared fresh for single doses. Doses should not be made in the morning for evening consumption, or vice versa.

2. Do not expose remedies to direct sunlight, unless that is part of the method of preparation.

3. Containers should be cleaned and dried completely in the sun before formulas are stored in them. Never store herbal formulas in open containers.

4. If a formula is to be kept for more than one day, store it in a well-sealed glass bottle.

5. Label all formulas, especially those that are for external use only. Keep all herbal formulas out of the reach of children. Safety caps are advised for all bottles.

Dosage

Adults (above age fifteen) should be given a full dose. Children may be given the following amounts according to age:

Up to one year = Consult physician

1-2 years = 1/6 of adult dose (consult physician before administering remedies)

3-4 years = 1/4 of adult dose (consult physician before administering remedies)

5-6 years = 1/3 of adult dose (consult physician before administering remedies)

7-9 years = 1/2 of adult dose (consult physician before administering remedies)

10-15 years = 3/4 of adult dose (consult physician before administering remedies)

Weights And Measures

1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons

1 cup = 8 fluid ounces

1 pint = 2 cups

1 quart = 2 pints

1 gallon = 4 quarts

1 centiliter = 0.34 fluid ounce

1 deciliter = 3.38 fluid ounces

1 liter = 1.06 quarts

1 decaliter = 2.64 gallons

Less than

a teaspoon = a few grains

1 teaspoon = 1 dram

1 tablespoon = 4 drams

1 teacup = 7 ounces

Administration

1. Remedies are usually taken twice daily, unless otherwise stated. Morning dose should be taken after a light breakfast, and evening dose between 4:00 and 6:00 P.M.

2. Remedies to be taken in the morning should be taken on an empty stomach, immediately after rising and performing toilet and cleansing.

3. Herb preparations to be taken after meals should be consumed five to fifteen minutes after eating a main meal.

4. Formulas to be taken at bedtime should be taken two hours after the evening meal.

5. The quantity indicated to be “taken as such” is meant to be a single dose.

6. Vehicles such as milk, water, soda water, and tea have been mentioned for some formulas. In such cases, the vehicle usually is one cup, unless stated otherwise.

7. Where no vehicles are mentioned, the remedy should be taken with water (in winter, with lukewarm water).

Caution: Some of the formulas use rose petals. Almost all commercially grown roses are treated with toxic chemicals. Use only organically grown roses in these formulas. If in doubt, use another formula.

The Formulas

Anemia

Paleness of whole body, eyes, and fingernail beds. Swelling of face and feet, especially in the morning. General weakness, giddiness, loss of appetite, and sometimes diarrhea.

Instructions: Light diet, with fresh fruits and foods such as chicken soup, liver extract, beets, carrots, spinach, and fenugreek, is advised. Avoid fatty foods.

FORMULA 1

6 teaspoons fennel seeds, crushed

6 teaspoons red rose petals

Preparation: Boil in 1 1/2 cups water and strain.

Dosage: Twice daily.

Please look forward to future excerpts in our series on Unani Tibb based on the Prophetic Medical Science