Costus: Indian Aloe Wood

Anas, Allah be pleased with him, narrated that Allah's Messenger, may the peace and the blessings of Allah be upon him, said: " Some of the best treatments lie in cupping and Kistroot." 
Reported in Sahih Muslim and Sahih Al Bukhaaree, Cf. Cauterization and Cupping, VI; Venesection and Cauterization , VII

Narrated Umm Qais, Allah be pleased with her: 

I went to Allah's Apostle along with a a son of mine whose palate and tonsils I had pressed with my finger as a treatment for a (throat and tonsil) disease. The Prophet said, "Why do you pain your children by pressing their throats! Use Oud Al-Hindi ( Indian aloe wood) for it cures seven diseases, one of which is pleurisy. It is used as a snuff for treating throat and tonsil disease and it is inserted into one side of the mouth of one suffering from pleurisy." 
Sahih Al Bukhaaree, Book of Medicine  no. 5343

There are two kinds of Qust-roots ( Arb. Qust/Kist): 1. the white root of medicinal plant known as the common inula, Arb. Raasin Tibbi; and 2. the aromatic root of Indian aloe tree ( Arb. 'Oud Hindi), commonly known as aloe. 

Qust/'Oud al Hindi/Indian Aloe Wood

 Pictures courtesy of

Yunus Bin Shaddaad Al-Azdi

Inula/Rasin Tibbi/Qust

Kust-roots or costus, commonly known as Indian aloe have hot and dry temperaments in the third degree and provide extra heat. While the white variety, known as the common inula is balmier. Both provide considerable medicinal effects.

•  Both roots dry out excess phlegm, and help remedy head cold, or acute nasal congestion (catarrh; Arb. zukaam). 
• Drinking an infusion of costus helps weakness of the liver, weakness of digestion, slackness of the stomach, stomach flu, diarrhea of the liver; and helps as an antipyretic to abate febris recurrence, quells quartan phlegmonous fever.
• An ointment of it helps backache, or rheumatic pain in the lumbar region (lumbago); also kills ringworm, and to remove dry scales shed by the skin, including dandruff.
• Costus also can help spasmodic contractions and rigidity of voluntary muscles (tetanus).
• Costus is used in the treatment of pleurisy.  
• Costus roots also help asthmatic symptoms and heaviness of the chest. 
• An inunction of costus mixed with water and honey helps to control skin discoloration on the face and the chest resulting from pregnancy or malnutrition. Also helps the removal of scars, surgical or otherwise. 
• Be sure to look for costus in shops which sell Indian foods and spices. Some herbal shops might carry this medicinal plant  as well. If not available in your area, search the internet for more information as to how you can obtain it. 

May the Creator give you the best of health and well-being. 

The Benefits of Fenugreek (Methi / Hulbah).

Fenugreek is a green herb with a pungent flavour which is traditionally used in South Asian cooking. It is easy to grow, even in the Western climate. It has a pleasing flavour when cooked and is my favourite herb :)

It is praised highly in Ayurvedic Medicine and is particularly beneficial for women and for cold, wet illnesses like common colds, flu and bronchitis as it can help clear congested phlegm and soothe a sore throat. Some herbal therapists (Hakeems) have said, “If people knew the benefits of fenugreek, they would pay its weight in gold.”

There is no reference to Methi in the Sahih Sunnah.

A number of sites around the net have reported that Rasool'Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) encouraged the use of Fenugreek as a treatment for the sick, but I have not been able to confirm that from any source of Sahih Hadith.

However, there is no doubt that Ibn Al Qayyim (rahimullah) did mention it in his works and that it is one of the oldest and most beneficial natural medicines and should therefore not be ignored.

Ibn Al Qayyim's commentary on Hulbah [Fenugreek].

Ibn Al Qayyim (rahimullah) said that the health benefits of this plant could be gained from drinking a concoction of Fenugreek seeds, which could help to sooth a sore throat, clear the respiratory tract,  help conditions like asthma, bronchitis, colic and breathing difficulties, ease hemorrhoids and constipation, relieve an upset stomach and strengthen the heart.

He suggested applying a hot cooked fenugreek concoction to skin eruptions and cold sores to sooth and soften them, and using it for washing hair. He also recommended cooking fenugreek with dates, honey or figs and eating this on an empty stomach to dissolve phlegm and relieve a persistent cough.

A teaspoon of fenugreek seeds can be soaked in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes and then this mixture can be drunk to gain the above benefits insha’Allah. Fenugreek can also be used to relieve an upset stomach, it can be used as an aphrodisiac and it also helps constipation, helps reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, lowers blood sugar levels, relieves water/urine retention and it also is particularly beneficial for women as it stimulates menstrual flow and balances female hormones, assists in childbirth by stimulating uterine contractions during labour and increases breast milk for breastfeeding women. Pregnant women should always consult their doctor before self-medicating with fenugreek or other herbal remedies.

Benefits for women.

Fenugreek ranks high among the ‘must haves’ for nursing mothers. This is due to the presence of diosgenin in the seeds and leaves which increases milk production in lactating mothers. Fenugreek has been known to be helpful in inducing childbirth by stimulating uterine contractions. It is also known to reduce labour pains. But here’s a word of caution. Excess intake of fenugreek seeds during pregnancy could put you in risk of miscarriage or premature childbirth. As well as Diosgenin, fenugreek contains isoflavones with oestrogen-like properties which help reduce symptoms like discomfort and menstrual cramps associated with PMS. These compounds also ease menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood fluctuations. 

Women who are in child-bearing age are more prone to iron deficiency due to the monthly loss of blood, also during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Including green leafy veggies like fenugreek in your diet can supply a good amount of iron. But make sure to add tomatoes to the dish when cooking it to enhance the iron absorption.

Fenugreek for medicinal use can come in a number of different forms, young fresh leaves, dried leaves, seeds, essential oil or powdered in capsule form. All of these are available in Indian/Pakistani grocery stores or on the Internet.

Fenugreek can be grown for its mildly spicy leaves and shoots by soaking the seed in water for about 30 minutes and then planting it into the ground or into a window box in a bright sunny spot on the windowsill. Young leaves can be cut and used as a garnish, in fenugreek tea, pakoras, curries, in breads or in stews and casseroles.

References - 


http://www.aidanbrooksspices.blogspot.com/2007/10/fenugreek.html

http://www.homeremediesweb.com/fenugreek_health_benefits.php


http://www.aidanbrooksspices.blogspot.com/2007/10/fenugreek.html


http://www.homeremediesweb.com/fenugreek_health_benefits.php

http://www.tibbenabawi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=120:--hulbah--
fenugreek&Itemid=151

http://health.india.com/diseases-conditions/15-health-benefits-of-methi/

Honey is from both the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

Honey is ma sha'Allah the most pleasing sweetener created and Allah the Most Exalted praises the Bee in the Qu'ran and mentions honey's healing quality;

"There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colours, in which is a healing for people. Indeed, in that is a sign for people who give thought."

[16:69]

Allah uncovers the hidden beauty of honey by mentioning that it varies in colours. The same bee can produce different colours of honey at different times of the year depending on which wild flowers it has visited.

Ibn al Qayyim (rahimullah) mentions that natural [organic] honey is the best of all nutritive sweeteners. Light-coloured honey which has had the minimum of processing and comes from mountainous or wooded areas is better than other types of honey. Honey contains detergent and tonic properties. Taking a spoonful of honey in the mornings helps dissolve phlegm, gently warms and strengthens the stomach and increases a person’s appetite. Drinks sweetened with sugar rather than with honey yield more harm than benefit. A cold drink of honey and water insha’Allah strengthens the body,preserves its youth, as well as refreshing the heart.

The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam's) fondness for Honey;

It has been narrated by A'ishah (radhi Allahu anha) that "Allah's Apostle was fond of honey and sweet edible things and (it was his habit) that after finishing the 'Asr prayer he would visit his wives and stay with one of them at that time. Once he went to Hafsa, the daughter of 'Umar and stayed with her more than usual. I got jealous and asked the reason for that. I was told that a lady of her folk had given her a skin filled with honey as a present, and that she made a syrup from it and gave it to the Prophet to drink (and that was the reason for the delay). I said, "By Allah we will play a trick on him (to prevent him from doing so)." So I said to Sada bint Zam'a "The Prophet will approach you, and when he comes near you, say: 'Have you taken Maghafir (a bad-smelling gum)?' He will say, 'No.' Then say to him: 'Then what is this bad smell which i smell from you?' He will say to you, 'Hafsa made me drink honey syrup.' Then say: Perhaps the bees of that honey had sucked the juice of the tree of Al-'Urfut.' I shall also say the same. O you, Safiyya, say the same." Later Sada said, "By Allah, as soon as he (the Prophet) stood at the door, I was about to say to him what you had ordered me to say because I was afraid of you." So when the Prophet came near Sada, she said to him, "O Allah's Apostle! Have you taken Maghafir?" He said, "No." She said. "Then what is this bad smell which I detect on you?" He said, "Hafsa made me drink honey syrup." She said, "Perhaps its bees had sucked the juice of Al-'Urfut tree." When he came to me, I also said the same, and when he went to Safiyya, she also said the same. And when the Prophet again went to Hafsa, she said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Shall I give you more of that drink?" He said, "I am not in need of it." Sada said, "By Allah, we deprived him (of it)." I said to her, "Keep quiet." '

Sahih al Bukhari Volume 7, Book 63, Number 193

Honey as a medicine.

The use of honey as a medicine is directly traced to the Sahih Sunnah and therefore should be strongly promoted;

It was narrated by Ibn Abbas (radhi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, "Healing is in three things: cupping, a gulp of honey or cauterization, (branding with fire) but I forbid my followers to use cauterization (branding with fire)."

Sahih al Bukhari Volume 7, Book 71, Number 585

And also;

It was narrated by Sa'id Al Khudri (radhi Allahu anhu) that a man came to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and said, "My brother has some abdominal trouble." The Prophet said to him "Let him drink honey." The man came for the second time and the Prophet said to him, 'Let him drink honey." He came for the third time and the Prophet said, "Let him drink honey." He returned again and said, "I have done that ' The Prophet then said, "Allah has said the truth, but your brother's abdomen has told a lie. Let him drink honey." So he made him drink honey and he was cured.

Sahih al Bukhari Volume 7, Book 71, Number 588

The most anti-bacterial honey is ‘Manuka’, which is produced in New Zealand. It is renowned as the ultimate healing honey and comes in three main strengths, Active 5+, Active 10+ and Active 15+; the higher the numeric factor, the higher the anti-bacterial and antiseptic powers of the honey. Active 5+ or similar should be adequate to help treat digestive disorders, sore throats, acne, eczema and sunburn, and it can also help in the fight against gum disease.

I have personally found that the best honey for general consumption is that which is produced locally to where the patient lives and is unfiltered and organic. Local honey mixed with bee pollen is also an excellent treatment for the patient's summertime allergies like hayfever as it slowly build's up the patient's resistance to allergens.

Honey can also be used to treat wounds due to its anti-bacterial properties and it can also be used in skin treatments since it has the ability to soften, absorb and retain moisture. A very effective face pack can be made with one tablespoon each of besan (gram flour), honey, lemon juice and milk, mixed together and applied for 30 mins before washing off. This in sha’Allah helps soften skin and even out brown spots.

Honey should be excluded from the diets of infants under 12 months of age.