There are essentially two types of Qust, Indian (Qust al Hindi) and
Marine/Sea (Qust al Bahri). Both come in
the form of a dried root and Qust has a praised high status in the aHadith
which is on par with Hijama cupping.
Imam Ibn Qayyim Al Jawziyyah (rahimullah) said that both
types of Qust provide considerable medicinal benefits. Qust is one of the
remedies to always have at home which I must recommend to all my brothers and
sisters who are serious about using Tibb an Nabawi to treat themselves and
their loved ones.
Qust is hot and dry in the third degree and helps to dry
out excess phlegm, help to remedy colds and influenza and nasal congestion. Imam Ibn
Al Qayyim said that drinking an infusion of Qust helps strengthen the liver and
helps to remedy weakness of digestion, slackness of the stomach, and if used as
an ointment, it helps backache or rheumatic pain in the lumbar region.
Sea/Marine
Qust is a little paler in colour and also milder in taste and more suitable for administering to children.
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| Qust al Bahri root before it is powdered for use. This photo is owned by our brothers at tibbenabawi.org |
Imam Ibn Al Qayyim said that Qust is also very beneficial
for illnesses relating to breathing and the chest - pleurisy (a type of painful
infection of the lining of the lungs), asthma, heaviness in the chest
(breathing difficulties) and it helps to reduce thirst. It also helps remove
freckles, fade scars and helps to control skin discolouration on the face and
the chest which results from pregnancy or malnutrition.
Galen noted that Qust can also help kill ringworm
(intestinal parasites) and if applied as an ointment can remove dry scales
which are shed by the skin, including dandruff.
In the Sunan, the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi
wassallam) praises the excellence of Qust as a general remedy and he is also
reported mentioning it as a remedy for inflammation/infection of the throat as
well as in another Hadith mentioning it with Hijama. Qust contains helicene and
benzoic acid, both of which are substances that kill germs, hence the benefit
in the treatment of infections and inflammations.
Reference to Hadith regarding the general excellence of Qust, and partnering it with Hijama in the same sentence.
Anas (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that he was asked about
the wages of the one who cups others. He said, "Allah's Messenger
(sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) was cupped by `Abd Taiba, to whom he gave two Sa
of food and interceded for him with his masters who consequently reduced what
they used to charge him daily. Then the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam)
said, "The best medicines you may
treat yourselves with are cupping and sea incense.' He added, "You
should not torture your children by treating tonsillitis by pressing the
tonsils or the palate with the finger, but use incense."
Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 599.
Qust will be used in Jannah.
It was narrated by Abu Huraira (radhi Allahu anhu) that Allah's
Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said, "The first group of people
who will enter Paradise, will be glittering like the full moon and those who
will follow them, will glitter like the most brilliant star in the sky. They
will not urinate, relieve nature, spit, or have any nasal secretions. Their
combs will be of gold, and their sweat will smell like musk. The aloes-wood will be used in their
centers [as a fuel]. Their wives will be Houris. All of them will look
alike and will resemble their father Adam (in statute), sixty cubits
tall."
Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 544
In respect of treating children for inflammation of the Uvula and its use in the treatment Pleurisy (a type of chest infection).
Umm Qasis (radhi Allahu anha) , the daughter of Mihsan
said; "I brought my son to the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam)
while I had compressed his uvula for its swelling. He (sallAllahu alayhi
wassallam) said, "Why do you afflict your children [hurt them] by squeezing
for a swelling in the Uvula? Apply this Indian aloes wood, for it contains
seven types of remedies, among them being a remedy for pleurisy. It is applied
through the nose for a swelling of the uvula poured into the side of the mouth
for pleurisy."
Sunan Abi Dawood in Kitaab At Tibb Book 28, Hadith 3868.
Classed as Sahih by Sh. Al Albani (rahimullah)
Abu Dawood (may Allah be pleased with him) added "By Aloeswood he meant Costus."
Ibn Hajar Al Asqalani said concerning pleurisy that
"it is a hot swelling that appears in the membrane covering the
ribs."
Modern medical description of pleurisy - http://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/pleurisy-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment
Administration.
Qust is usually used on its own or partnered with water, honey
or olive oil.
For tonsillitis.
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| Qust al Bahri powder. |
Qust al Hindi powder should be inhaled through the nose
as per the previously quoted Hadith.
The benefits behind administering medicine by snuffing (Sa'oot)
- http://tibbenabawi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63:tonsillitis-a-saoot&Itemid=94
For fading Freckles and spots, skin discolouration, scars, burns.
According to Ibn Al Qayyim's work 'At Tibb an Nabawwi',
the ointment is made by mixing Qust al Hindi powder in equal parts with good
quality raw honey and add a very small amount of clean water. The paste should
not be runny so that it runs off the skin but should stick to the area where it
is applied. I would personally advise to apply to the area once per day for
30 minutes, then wash it off.
This ointment is also recommended to be applied to help aid
the healing of incisions of Hijama to help minimize scarring in those patients
who have thin skin, are diabetic or elderly or are generally prone to scarring
or where they have had cupping applied to the face.
It can also be used as a compress to dress the hijama incisions of patients who are hemophilic or taking blood thinning medications. Smear the mixture onto a sterile lint gauze or cotton fabric and apply to the skin, holding the gauze in place with medical adhesive tape. Once you are sure the wound has stopped bleeding, remove the dressing so as to encourage airflow and the formation of the hemostatic plug.
It can also be used as a compress to dress the hijama incisions of patients who are hemophilic or taking blood thinning medications. Smear the mixture onto a sterile lint gauze or cotton fabric and apply to the skin, holding the gauze in place with medical adhesive tape. Once you are sure the wound has stopped bleeding, remove the dressing so as to encourage airflow and the formation of the hemostatic plug.
As an external application for rheumatic pain and as a hair oil.
Qust should be mixed in Olive oil as it was none other than Rasool'Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) himself who instructed His Ummah to use olive oil for eating and for massage. Qust infused olive oil should be massaged on the points of pain/joints in the evening before bed.
To make the massage oil, take 50g each of dried whole
henna leaves and Qust whole root pieces (or its powder) and fry them on a very
very low heat in around 250ml of good quality olive oil for 1 hour with
continuous stirring. Make sure the heat is kept very low or the ingredients
will burn. The oil will turn dark but it should not smell burnt. Once the oil
has cooled down, filter it through muslin cloth, add 10 drops of the essential
oil of Spikenard (Jatamansi) and then transfer it to a container bottle. Insha'Allah, it will over time should help to
strengthen the bones and joints as well as have a rapid effect on the pain.
Jatamansi is not essential so you can omit it if you
cannot find it.
This same blend can be used twice a week as a conditioner
for the hair which will also help relieve dandruff insha'Allah.
For runny nose, colds and flu.
Qust should be ground
to a powder and gently snuffed in the nose. The patient should be lying down with their head and shoulders slightly elevated and their head tilted back.
For chest infections, pleurisy and asthma.
The Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu alayhi wassallam)
said it should be administered from the side of the mouth, and the right side is better than the left. Because it is
bitter-tasting, there is less risk in coughing or nausea when it is
administered from the side of the mouth but this is a general observation
rather than recorded in the teachings of the pious predecessors and Allah knows
best.
Qust al Hindi can be mixed with an equal quantity of honey and then smeared on the inside of the cheek. This should be administered three times daily, after meals.
Qust al Hindi can be mixed with an equal quantity of honey and then smeared on the inside of the cheek. This should be administered three times daily, after meals.
For stomach, liver, digestion problems, IBS, Crohn's or intestinal parasites.
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| Honey paste with Qust al Bahri and crushed Black seeds. |
Mix 50g Qust al Bahri powder with 50g dry roasted ground
black seeds (nigella sativa) in a jar of raw honey. You can optionally add 10 edible
silver leaves if you wish.
Because the Qust infusion needs to be drunk, take 1/2 teaspoon of this mixture twice each day dissolved
in a hot cup of green tea. The seeds will settle at the bottom of the cup so
make sure you stir and agitate it so that you drink the crushed seeds too. In two
weeks insha'Allah you will notice a considerable difference and have much more
energy.
Black seeds can easily be dry roasted in a frying pan at
home and ground in your spice grinder. Raw honey, depending where it is sourced
from, is sometimes set hard in texture, you can gently warm it in the microwave
to make stirring in the Qust powder and blackseeds easier. Keep the mixture
stored in a cool dark place.
Pregnant ladies must always check with their doctor
before taking any herbs, supplements or medicines.
Buy Qust in the UK from here - http://www.healthmeanswealth.co.uk/Qist_Shop.php
