Herbal medicine and Prophetic Medicine

There is a relationship between herbal medicine and Prophetic Medicine.

Herbal medicine refers to the treatment of illnesses using plants in various forms, at measured doses. The practicing physician may recommend the intake of edible plants, as we see in Ibn al-Qayyim's book, where eggplant, garlic, celery, and others are mentioned; but he may also recommend medicinal plants, such as ginger root or costus (qust) extracts.

The active compounds of plants are used to make herbal medicines, and the doses are increased to enhance the effect of the original plant. Preparations can be classified in ascending order of concentration.

Herbal medicine can treat many mild health conditions such as diabetes, biliary insufficiency, or rhinitis. It acts on the underlying terrain and treats the symptoms. Indeed, it allows the release of toxic substances from the organs through drainage. Moreover, herbal medicine proves to be an excellent complement in the treatment of more severe conditions and during difficult treatments.

Furthermore, herbal medicine, being a comprehensive discipline, requires thorough botanical knowledge, so that the herbalist can act on different aspects of the illness. Additionally, on the same prescription, he may prescribe herbal medicines such as black seed (Nigella sativa) in capsules, essential oils, macerations, buds, or herbal teas.

Among the most widely used medicinal plants are black seeds, which have been used for over 2,000 years. And in Sahih al-Bukhari we find a hadith telling us that it heals every ailment except death. Botanically speaking, black seed belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and to angiosperms. The one that concerns us is "Nigella Sativa".

The Old Testament contains the first reference to black seed. The phytochemical composition of black seed consists of 33% carbohydrates, 30% lipids, 20% protein, and 5% mineral salts. It also contains essential amino acids such as leucine, valine, and histidine. In terms of vitamins, it contains vitamin B1, B2, B6, and E, which give it its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. But it also contains folic acid, and trace elements such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, or magnesium, which is useful for fighting stress.

Black seed is used together with honey to treat asthma, in syrup form to treat bronchitis, in gel or cream form for rheumatism, for inflammation, or to increase milk production in women.

The seed can be used ground into powder for local application or by inhalation for respiratory infections, and in oil form for both internal and external use. In addition, black seed's aqueous extract can be used as an herbal tea. Chinese medicine, for its part, uses black seed for its natural antibiotic properties.

Today we find black seed capsules for immunity, black seed coffees and teas, syrups for digestion, cosmetic creams, shampoos, and even soaps for acne.