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| Saudi Arabia Arugula Arugula / Eruca sativa (Brassicaceae/Cruciferae) Traditional Practice: Arugula, or rocket, is called “jarjeer” in Arabic. Its leaves are similar to spinach in appearance. An Egyptian saying declares that if a woman knew what jarjeer was good for, she would grow it under her bed. Saudis also believe that jarjeer is an aid to sex life. In addition, they use it in oil form as a treatment for hair loss. As an ointment, it is used for old burns. It is known to be high in iron and, therefore, an aid for general fatigue. Jarjeer, cooked with onion and strawberry leaves, then strained with gauze, is used to treat skin infections with pus. Current Knowledge: Grieve (1971) describes jarjeer’s principal medicinal action as anti-scorbutic. Nowadays, arugula is used chiefly in the kitchen. It has a strong, slightly peppery taste and is delightful mixed with other leafy greens. Black Seed / Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae) Traditional Practice: The Prophet Mohammed is attributed as saying that black seed, which has a spicy pungent taste, is a cure for everything but death. In this research, Saudi families cited it as an aid for stomachaches, headaches, general fatigue, indigestion, heart trouble, colds, coughs, and insomnia. Black seed is used during childbirth and to strengthen a mother after childbirth. An infusion is given to babies. Black seeds are boiled to produce a vaginal douche. Combined with henna and vinegar, black seed is used externally on cuts and pus producing infections. Often black seed is mixed with honey when taken internally. For heart treatment, black seed is soaked in water and then drunk. For difficulty sleeping, a tablespoon of black seed is mixed with a cup of hot milk and sweetened with honey. Current Knowledge: Nigella sativa is a small annual and a member of the buttercup family. Although called Nigella or Black Seed in the Middle East, it is referred to as Love in a Mist or Fennel Flower in English. Sweet Sunnah, a company in upstate New York dedicated to promoting the virtues of black seed, reports that black is a source of calcium, iron, sodium, and potassium. Herbalist Dr. Michael Tierra has used black seed to treat upper respiratory conditions, allergies, coughs, colds, bronchitis, fevers, flu, asthma and emphysema. He suggests collecting the seeds from the pods and grinding them to a paste and mixing them with melted honey. With the perspective of modern herbalists and such a long list of ailments benefited by black seed, it is amazing to reflect on the insight of Mohammad’s 7th century comment that black seed is a remedy for everything but death. Coffee / Coffea Arabica (Rubiaceae) Traditional Practice: Drinking Arabic coffee, which is flavored with cardamom seed, is considered a solution for stomachache. Coffee bean peelings and Turkish coffee are used to strengthen a mother after childbirth. Arabic coffee (ground) is used to stop bleeding on external cuts or wounds. Current Knowledge: The constituents of roasted coffee include oil, aromatic oil, wax, caffeine, tannic acid, caffe-tannic acid, gum, sugar, and protein. It is a brain stimulant, producing sleeplessness. In cases of snakebite, it helps to ward off a coma. It is a powerful diuretic, but loses its effectiveness with continued use (Grieve, 1971). Dates/Phoenix dactylifera (Arecaceae) Traditional Practice: Seven out of twelve families in the South mentioned using dates to aid childbirth. One of those responses said to “eat yellow or brown dates before delivery.” A Central Area respondent said to start eating as many dates as possible upon feeling back pain in order to help ease delivery, while another said to eat 7 dates and drink hot cinnamon. In addition, dates are used to strengthen the mother following childbirth. Some additional uses of dates include wrapping date pits with a warm cloth and rubbing the baby’s navel to help the umbilical cord to drop off. The date pit is also used to massage myrrh and kohl into the navel. Dates (in date water form) are used with butter to clean a baby’s intestines. In addition, dates are considered treatments for general fatigue, indigestion, and cuts and burns (when mixed with a little salt). Current Knowledge: W.H. Barreveld, in the 1993 Bulletin of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations entitled Date Palm Products, states that when dates are mature, they contain reasonable amounts of vitamins A, B1, B2 and niacin. Although there are no significant amounts of other vitamins, dates are a good source of potassium, calcium, and iron and also contain chlorine, copper, magnesium, sulphur, and phosphorous. Instructor Gepts at the University of California, Davis, documents the following in his Crop of the Day article, The Date, Phoenix dactylifera (2002): The sugar content of ripe dates is about 80%;
the remainder consists of protein, fat and mineral products including
copper, sulphur, iron, magnesium and fluoric acid. Dates are high
in fiber and an excellent source of potassium. Reese Dubin in his book Miracle Food Cures from the Bible (1999), states that dates have a laxative effect and can also relieve heartburn and acid in the gut. Finally, medical anthropologist Dr. John Heinerman states that ten dates yield 47 mg. of calcium, 50 mg. of phosphorous, 2.4 mg. of iron, 1 mg. sodium, 518 mg. potassium, 40 I.U. vitamin A, 1.8 mg. niacin, and very little vitamin C. Heinerman states that carbohydrate-rich food, such as the date, can induce sleep when consumed just prior to bedtime. He also mentions a possible benefit of using a puree of pitted dates externally on skin eruptions since dates have high sugar content and sugar has successfully been used as a folk remedy to treat open wounds and sores in many parts of the world. (Henerman, 1994). It seems a reasonable conclusion, then, that the practice of eating nutrient-filled dates can help individuals with general fatigue and mothers striving to receive adequate vitamins and energy before, during, and after childbirth. Fenugreek / Trigonella foenum-graecum (Leguminosae) Traditional Practice: Fenugreek is called Helba in Arabic. The seeds are used to strengthen the back and return the uterus to its natural position. Fenugreek seeds are boiled and consumed to stimulate milk flow and strengthen the mother in general during and after childbirth. Fenugreek tea is given to babies. It is a treatment for headaches, stomachaches, general fatigue, and menstrual cramps. In addition, it has been used for infections on external cuts and wounds. Current Knowledge: Fenugreek is mucilaginous, emollient, febrifuge, and restorative. The seeds swell into a thick paste when soaked. A poultice of fenugreek is a treatment for wounds and inflammations. For this purpose, it is most effective when combined with charcoal (Kloss, 1981). Fenugreek tea is an effective gargle for sore throats. It helps clear mucous from bronchial passages and is good for fevers. Mrs. Grieve also notes that it has been used for diabetes (Grieve, 1971). Karima Burns, M.H., N.D., states that because fenugreek is very high in nutrients, it is often used “to lower blood cholesterol and provide strength to the body systems, particularly the heart, lungs and digestive system. (http://www.islam-online.net/English/Science/2000/3/article2.shtml). Frankincense / Boswellia carteri (Burseraceae) Traditional Practice: Saudis commonly use frankincense for coughs. The resin is soaked in water and the liquid drunk. It is also combined with a little cress and myrrh for the same purpose. Frankincense is also mentioned as an aid for diarrhea. Current Knowledge: Frankincense is high in sesquiterpenes. It is stimulating to the mind and is an aid to overcoming stress. In addition, it helps the body fight against infection by increasing the activity of leukocytes (Essential Oils Desk Reference, 2001). Mrs. Grieve (Grieve, 1971) documents the constituents of frankincense as follows: resins (65%), volatile oil (6%), water soluble gum (20%), bassorin (6-8%), and plant residue (2-4%). The resins contain boswellic acid and alibanoresin. Medicinally, it is a stimulant. Grieve mentioned its historic uses as an antidote to hemlock (Pliny) and a cure for tumors, ulcers, vomiting, dysentery and fevers (Avicenna). She also stated that it is used as a cure for leprosy in China. Henna / Lawsonia Inermis (Lythraceae) Traditional Practice: Henna, a perennial shrub with aromatic white or rose-colored flowers, is extremely popular in Arabia. Dye obtained from the leaves is widely used to decorate the hands and feet and to color the hair. Henna is put on the soft spot of a newborn’s head and is also used to treat burns, headaches and hair loss. In addition, it is used with salt and cress for cuts and combined with black seed and vinegar for pus-producing infections. Current Knowledge: Bob Lebling, in the Handbook of Arabian Medicinal Herbs (2002), states that the properties of henna are “astringent, antihemorrhagic, intestinal antineoplastic, cardio-inhibitor, hypotensive and sedative…Henna extracts show antibacterial, antifungal, and ultraviolet light screening activity.” Kloss (1981) sites its use for headaches and, in tea form, as a gargle for sore throat. Medical anthropologist John Heinerman has recommended the use of henna paste for herpetic lesions and sores afflicting AIDS patients. He reports good healing results (Heinerman, 1998). Active constituents include henna-tannic acid, mucilage, and oxynaphthoquinone. Myrrh / Commiphora myrrha (Burseraceae) Traditional Practice: Saudi families use myrrh in these ways: To treat sore throats and coughs Current Knowledge: Myrrh is an antiseptic, stimulant, tonic, expectorant, vulnerary, and emmenagogue. It is a valuable tonic for bronchial and lung diseases. Jethro Kloss (Kloss, 1981) cites it as a remedy for sores on the body and hemorrhoids as well as a treatment for coughs, asthma, tuberculosis and chest congestion. Myrrh diminishes mucus discharge. Dr. James Duke states that myrrh stimulates the
thyroid. However, he says the resins don’t extract in hot
water, so it is not useful in tea form (Foster and White, 2000).
Lisa Murray-Doran, N.D., an instructor at the Canadian College of
Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, recommends dissolving a teaspoon
of myrrh powder in a cup of water as an immediate wash for cuts
to fight infection (Harrar and O’Donnell, 1999). Overall, current medical thought seems to confirm the traditional uses of myrrh in Saudi Arabia. Pomegranate / Punica granatum (Punicaceae) Traditional Practice: Powdered pomegranate peelings are used on burns and to treat infection on external cuts and wounds. Soaked pomegranate peelings are used for sore throats, stomachaches, and indigestion. To treat indigestion, pomegranate peelings are dried, then boiled, and the water drunk. Rosewater can be added for flavor. Pomegranate soaked in boiled water is used with honey for heart trouble. Current Knowledge: One pomegranate contains 5 mg. calcium, 12 mg.
phosphorous, 0.5 mg. iron, 5 mg. sodium, 399 mg. potassium, a trace
of vitamin A, 6 mg. vitamin C and 2 mg. magnesium. Pomegranate juice
is highly astringent. It is a treatment for bad breath, rotting
teeth, hemorrhoids, and intestinal worms. Israeli physician Dr.
Ben-David has stated that a person with a weak heart and unable
to remain conscious much longer would benefit from a cup of fresh
pomegranate juice. His estimation is that it would prevent a person
from passing out (Heinerman, 1994). Dr. Vasant Lad, Director of
the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, prescribes pomegranate
juice to relieve diarrhea (Gottlieb, ed., 1995).
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