According to a hadith of the Prophet ﷺ: "Take camels as charity and drink their urine and their milk."
Camel milk, intended for personal consumption, is an anti-infective, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-diabetic. It contains milk proteins called "casein," as well as lactoferrin, which is able to inhibit cancerous cells. Indeed, camel milk has produced extraordinary results in the fight against breast cancer. But it is also an immune stimulant, as it is a helpful aid in diseases like lupus, Crohn's disease, or multiple sclerosis.
Camel milk is also a source of minerals such as zinc, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus, which stimulate the hormones. It is likewise rich in vitamins, notably vitamin C, which gives it its antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties. Vitamin C also resists viral and bacterial infection, producing what is known as interferon. Camel milk also contains vitamin E, which enhances selenium, itself a good means of fighting cancer.
What sets it apart from cow's milk
| Per 100 ml | Camel milk | Cow's milk | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat | 2 to 3 g, rich in unsaturated fatty acids | 3.5 to 4 g | Lighter, better digested |
| Beta-lactoglobulin | Absent | Present: the main allergen | Often tolerated by children allergic to cow's milk |
| Vitamin C | 3 to 5 times more | Trace amounts | The vitamin C the professor mentions; useful in the desert where fruit is scarce |
| Iron, zinc | Higher | Low | Of interest in cases of deficiency |
| Active proteins | Lactoferrin, small immunoglobulins, insulin-like proteins | Lactoferrin in smaller amounts | Explains the studied effects on immunity and blood sugar |
| Lactose | Present, slightly less | Present | Not a solution for lactose intolerance |
The taste is slightly salty, thinner than cow's milk. In the Arabian Peninsula it's drunk fresh, warm, often in the morning; elsewhere it's found pasteurized, powdered, or frozen.
Diabetes: the best-established result
- In 54 young type 1 diabetics, half a liter of camel milk per day for 16 weeks, in addition to insulin, lowered blood sugar, HbA1c, and the required insulin doses (J Med Food, 2009). A two-year randomized follow-up confirmed a lasting reduction in insulin needs (Eur J Clin Nutr, 2011).
- A meta-analysis of randomized trials across both types of diabetes found a decrease in fasting blood sugar and insulin doses, with a more pronounced effect in type 1 (Nutrients, 2022); another shows improved cholesterol and triglycerides in diabetics (BMC Complement Med Ther, 2023).
This is what the professor calls its "anti-diabetic" effect, and it's real. It does not replace insulin: it allows, under medical supervision, a reduction in the doses needed. See also our recommended remedies for diabetes.
Allergy, autism, immunity: what we know
- Cow's milk allergy. In a cohort of allergic children followed in Qatar, the vast majority tolerated camel milk, with a skin test used to identify the rare children who react to it as well (Allergy Asthma Proc, 2011). It is introduced under the supervision of an allergist, never alone in a child who has had a severe reaction.
- Autism. Five combined randomized trials show an improvement in behavior scores in children who drink it daily; details in our guide on autism.
- Immunity, autoimmune diseases, cancer. The lactoferrin and immunoglobulins in camel milk are being studied: lactoferrin peptides act on breast cancer cells in culture (Front Pharmacol, 2024). These are laboratory results, not trials on patients: when the professor speaks of "extraordinary results against breast cancer," this should be understood as results on cells. For lupus, Crohn's disease, or multiple sclerosis, there is no clinical trial. Camel milk is a good food for these patients, not a treatment for their disease.
How to drink it
The professor gives the dosage in a dedicated article, the dosage of camel milk. In summary: one glass (200 to 250 ml) in the morning on an empty stomach for maintenance; half a liter per day, as in the trials, for diabetes, as a three-month course then adjusted according to results. Fresh and pasteurized if possible; reconstituted powder keeps most of the protein content; frozen, it loses a bit of vitamin C. In children, start with small amounts. It pairs well with dates, as the Prophet ﷺ used to take it.
Contraindications and precautions: never raw
Camel milk is often drunk raw by tradition, whereas cow's milk is boiled. This is a real risk: a 2025 study shows that raw camel milk is an overlooked source of brucellosis in rural Arab communities (Nat Commun, 2025), and the dromedary is the reservoir of the MERS coronavirus, for which raw milk is a suspected transmission route. It should therefore be drunk pasteurized or boiled, especially for children, pregnant women, the elderly, or the immunocompromised. Diabetics taking half a liter per day should monitor their blood sugar and inform their doctor: insulin doses may need to be lowered. It is not a substitute for breast milk in infants.
Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of camel milk according to Islam?
The Prophet ﷺ prescribed it to sick people along with camel urine (al-Bukhari, Muslim), and Ibn al-Qayyim describes it as a light, nourishing milk, good for the liver and dropsy (edema). The professor adds what nutrition science has confirmed: low fat, high vitamin C, active proteins.
Does camel milk cure diabetes?
It does not cure it, but it is the natural remedy with the best evidence: half a liter per day lowers blood sugar and, under medical supervision, allows insulin doses to be reduced, especially in type 1.
Can it be given to a child allergic to cow's milk?
In most cases yes, because it does not contain the protein responsible for the allergy. But it is introduced with an allergist, after a test, never alone in a child who has already had a severe reaction.
Can it be drunk raw?
No: raw camel milk transmits brucellosis and can transmit the MERS coronavirus. Pasteurized or boiled, it keeps most of its qualities.
Where can it be found in France?
Pasteurized or frozen in Middle Eastern grocery stores and some organic shops, powdered online; there are also a few dromedary farms in France. Check for the "pasteurized" label.
