From Cedar to Hyssop

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From Cedar to Hyssop

4. Of the Medicine Called "The Arba'in"

If you pay a visit to the Quarter of the 'Attarin (Perfumers) in Jerusalem you will step back into the Dark Ages. Scientists complain that relics of Galenicals still cumber our Pharmacopoeia, but here you shall find these compounds still venerated and sold, and stranger older mixtures still. "You can buy everything of the 'Attarin," says the Palestinian proverb, "except 'Love me,' " but shrouded figures perhaps sometimes whisper here a request for love philtres (Mehabbe) and are not denied, or other queer things too, half charm, half drug. But in the legitimate way of the Apothecaries' business the most important medicine sold here is a powder called the Arba'in or Shadde, both well merited names, 'Arba'in or 'Forty,' because at its full capacity it contains forty ingredients, and 'Shadde,' 'Strength,' because of its violent action. It is a panacea, a cure all, but for special purposes, a certain number only of the drugs in it will he compounded. For instance, in treating the condition known as 'Fright' 'El Khof'[1] all the pungent and carminative drugs, mostly what we should call spices, are selected. Fellahin believe that all illnesses may owe their origin to 'Fright' caused by fear or anger. After that 'boiling of the blood' so unfortunately common among the Arab population, 'Fright' may supervene. But cases of it are most common after an earthquake or an accident; they think that terror may cause the blood to stand still suddenly, "his blood is terror struck" "Niqis dammuh," they say. We think these cases correspond very nearly to what in modern parlance, we term 'Shock.'

Now see how like this mixture of many drugs, this Medicine of the Forty, is to the potions with numbers of ingredients described in the more ancient herbals. We will give examples from the Book of Syriac Medicine, translated by Dr. Budge, because that is most closely linked with this part of the world. There is found the Great Hiera-leghudaya for "all the sicknesses of the head," with 36 ingredients, the Great Antira, with 47 ingredients, for ailments of the throat, and the Metdoritos with 49 ingredients which among other uses "Abateth the affliction of the soul," "Everyone who hath tried this calleth it immortality."[2]

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An examination of the drugs composing the 'Arba'in' also shows its antiquity, so many of them are what we should regard as condiments and vegetable seeds rather than as drugs, a feature, too, of the recipes of the Middle Ages, continuing all into the 17^th century. Haggard[3] says: "The spices that were sought were used in medicine rather than as condiments, the European taste did not demand aloes, opium, pepper, sandalwood, Persian rhubarb and camphor for the table, the spice trade was in reality the drug trade... In the battle to control the drug trade 'torrents of blood were shed for the apparently inoffensive clove.' Yet none of these spices so valued in the medicine of two and three hundred years ago are used today in treating disease." Except in Jerusalem, apparently, as we shall presently see, and as a matter of fact, some of them are still classed in our Materia Medica, however little modern doctors use them.

We give here a list of the forty drugs supposed to be mixed in the 'Arba'in,' with, where found possible, a note showing something of the use of each in the past, except those plants which have been discussed in the previous section. Most of them are imported from India, Syria and elsewhere, but some are indigenous or cultivated in Palestine. The latter are discussed in the general list of Herbal Remedies; for the former, where found possible, we have given a note showing something of the use of each in the past or present.

List of Drugs Used in the 'Arba'in.'

English Name	Arabic Name	Botanical Name
1. Black Pepper.	Piper nigrum	Filfil aswad. (Piperaceae).

These little round black fruits are better known to us as a condiment than as a medicine, but they are still prescribed in our Materia Medica as Confectio Piperis, made by mixing the pepper berries ground, with caraway seeds and honey. Both uses are very ancient, the Greeks and Romans knew it medicinally and as a condiment.

2. Red Pepper.

Filfil ahmar.

Capsicum minimum (Solanaceae).

This highly pungent fruit is still listed in our Materia Medica as Tinctura Capsici. The old herbalists did not like it much and recommended it for external use only.

3. All Spice.

Ibhar helw

Eugenia pimento (Myrtaceae).

The unripe fruit, dried in the sun, has a flavour of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.

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4. Cinnamon.

Qirfeh.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Laurineae).

The under bark of the tree. It has been known from early times and is mentioned as one of the ingredients of the holy oil of anointing used by Moses in the Tabernacle (Ex. xxx. 23, 24). Medicinally it is a carminative, and there are several officinal preparations of it.

5. Cummin.

Kammun abiad.

Cumin Cyminum (Umbellif(';rae).

See General List.

6. Coriander.

Kuzbara.

Coriandrum sativum, L. (Umbelliferae)

See General List.

7. Caraway.

Karawiya.

Carum Carvi (Umbelliferae).

Another carminative. The seeds are still reckoned officinal, but they are more apppeciated in seed cakes than as medicine in England today. Gerarde says: "The seeds confected... are very good for the stomach and help digestion."[4]

8. Cloves.

Qurunful.

Eugenia caryophyllata (Myrtaceae).

Cloves are the flower buds collected before they open, and dried. They are still much used as spice and medicine, again as a carminative, and most of us have felt the comfort of oil of cloves when suffering from toothache. Gerarde says: "Cloves strengthen the stomack, liver and heart, and help digestion."[5]

9. Turmeric.

Kurkum.

Curcumis longa (Zingiberaceae).

We know of this yellow rhizome as a dye rather than a drug, it is a favourite throughout the East to flavour and colour dishes. Gerarde says: "It is used with success in the yellow jaundice."[6]

10. Ginger.

Jinzibil.

Zingiber officinale (Scitaminae).

The name Zingiber is ancient, used by the Greeks and Romans. Gerarde says: "Ginger, as Dioscorides reporteth, is right good with meat in sauces or otherwise in conditures, for it is of a heating and digesting quality." It is still used officinally and valued for its agreeable pungency as a flavouring in cakes, puddings and other dishes.[7]

11. Galingale.

Khulunjan.

Altpinia officinamm. Hanc (Zingiberaceae).

Galingale is frequently mentioned in old herbals; these roots are probably the Galanga minor of Gerarde. He says: "They strengthen the stomack and mitigate the paines thereof... The smell, especially of the lesser, comforts the cold brain, the substance thereof being chewed sweetens the breath. It is good also against the beating of the heart... To conclude, they are good against all cold diseases."[8]

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A decoction of this root is listed by the Society of Herbalists, London, as "a useful remedy for dyspepsia."

12. Gum Mastic.

Mastika.

Pistacia lentiscus, L. (Anacardiacea).

See General List.

13. Nutmeg.

Joz el Tib.

Myristica fragrans (Myristicaeea).

The kernel of the fruit from this tree is a favourite spice, and is still mentioned in our Materia Medica, but it had formerly immense reputation as a drug. The Dutch made great efforts in the 17^th century to keep the culture of nutmegs to themselves. Haggard says: "To monopolize the plant from which mace and nutmeg are obtained they immersed the kernels in milk of lime for three months to prevent their germination in case they were planted in other lands; they kept the entire nutmeg stock at Amsterdam for sixteen years. The Connecticut Yankees who were accused of manufacturing wooden nutmegs, were not sophisticating a spice, but a drug which at the time was thought to be necessary in treating disease and which brought a very high price."[9]

14. Grains of Paradise.

Tin fil (Elephant's Fig).

Amomum melegueta, Rosc. (Zingiberaceae).

These glossy brown seeds are imported from Africa, where they are highly valued; it is said that they are still used in veterinary medicine in England.

15. Long Pepper.

Dar filfil.

Piper longum (Piperaceae).

The unripe fruit spike of a climbing plant. It is not often seen or used in England nowadays as medicine as far as we know, but in olden days was much valued as both condiment and drug.

16. Flower of Cinnamon.

Zahret Qirfeh.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum. (Lauracea).

Probably the flower buds of the tree.

17. Wild Cherry Stones.

Mahlab.

Cerasus mahleb (Rosaceae).

The kernels of this cherry, probably brought in from Syria, are sold not only as a medicine but also to flavour sweet dishes.

18. Anise.

Yensun.

Pimpinella anisum (Umbelliferae).

See General List.

19. Fennel.

Shomar.

Foeniculum ofiicinale (Umbelliferae).

See General List.

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20. Hennodactyls.

Khamiret el 'attar.

Colchicum luteum, Baker. (Liliaceae).

These corms were unknown to us, so we sent them to Kew and were given the above botanical name, and told that this Colchicum is a native of Afghanistan, Baluchistan and Turkestan and is traded all over the East in the bazaars. These are, we are sure, the hermodactyls which were such a puzzle to the old herbalists. Parkinson[10] says: "Hermodactyls are to be numbered among the unknown drugs, the shame of the physicians in all ages and countries... Merchants bring many sacks but they take no further care to know what they are or where they grow." Gerarde, who gives an excellent illustration of them, thought they belonged to a crocus, and says: "To these unknown ones are the vertues set down to be referred... this strengtheneth, nourisheth... and is also good to cleanse ulcers or rotten sores."[11]

21. Safflower (seed).

Bizr Qurtum.

Carthamus tinctorius (Compositae).

See General List.

22. Syrian Rue (seed).

Harmal.

Peganum harmala, L. (Rutaceae).

See General List.

23. Celery (seed).

Krafs.

Apium sp (Umbelliferae).

There is a wild celery in Palestine, Apium graveolens, but the seed sold at the druggists is no doubt seed of some garden variety. Celery seed is esteemed for rheumatism in England, what its special virtue is here we do not know.

24. Parsley (seed).

Baqdunis.

Petroselinum sativumn Moench (Umbelliferae).

Parsley fruit or 'seeds' contain an oil called Apiol. Petraselinon (Rock Parsley) is mentioned in the Book of Syriac Medicine. Gerarde regards parsley as medicinal. He says: "The seeds are more profitable for medicine, they be good for such as have the dropsie... they be commended also against the cough; lastly they resist poisons and are therefore mixed into treacles... the seed is the strongest part of the herb."[12]

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25. Cress (seed).

Rashad.

Lepidium sativum (Cruciferae).

Water cress and other wild cresses used as salads are called Rashad also, but this seed is no doubt that of the Garden Cress.

26. Purslane (seed).

Baqleh; Irjele.

Portulaca oleracea L. (Portulacaceae).

See General List.

27. Radish (seed).

Fijl.

Raphanus sativus, L. (Cruciferae).

28. Plantain (seed).

Aqtuni.

Plantago ovata Forsk (Plantaginae).

The plant grows wild on the sandy coast, but the seed sold at the druggists is said to come from Syria. It is the Ispaghul seed of European medicine, demulcent and slightly astringent. This plantain is a relation of the Broad Leaved Plantain, the Saxon Weybread, most celebrated as charm and medicine, "a seed," as says Gerarde, "of subtill parts."[13]

29. Love in a Mist.

Qizha.

Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae).

See General List.

30. Pine (seed)

Habb Kreish.

Pinus halepensis (Coniferae).

See General List.

31. Quince (seed).

Seferjal; Saferji.

Cydonia vulgaris, Pers. (Rosaceae).

The use of Quince seeds here surprised us. Gerarde, however, also gives a use fpr it. "The seed of Quinces tempered with water, doth make a mucilage or a thing like a jelly, which on being held in the mouth, is marvellous good to take away the roughness of the tongue in hot burning fevers·"[14]

32. Musk Melon (seed).

Battikh Asfar.

Cucumis Melo. (Cucurbitaceae).

One of the Four Greater Cold Seeds of olden days; they are a vermicide. Melon seeds are sometimes seen strung in necklaces as charms round the necks of children.

33. Bamia (seed).

Bamieh, Okra.

Hibiscus esculentus, L. (Malvaceae).

The young fruits are a favourite throughout the East; the seeds, here used as medicine, are very mucilaginous. The plant had medicinal use, in olden days, under the name of Abelmoschus, in emulsion as an antispasmodic.

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34. Citron (rind).

Trunj; Trunsh. Kubbad (Dalman).

Citrus medica Risso. (Aurantiaceae).

At the present day the Bitter Orange and the Lemon are classed in our Materia Medica, but not Citrus medica, although its name shows that it was once used in medicine. This citron is much grown at Jaffa. In September the Jews first choose out those preferred for the Ethrog to be carried at the Feast of Tabernacles. These fruits should be well shaped and have a nipple at the end called Abu Noni; after they are chosen the rest of the crop is sold at a lower rate. The carrying of a citron with the palm branch certainly dates back to the time of Josephus, who mentions that in his day the Jews bore Persian apples (malum persicum) at their feasts, one of the Greek names for the citron. But the very interesting suggestion has recently been made that in ancient days, before the citron was known in Palestine, the fruit carried at the feast may have been a cedar cone.

35. Egg plant (seeds).

Bedinjan.

Solanum melongena, L. (Solanaceae).

The fruit is a well known vegetable, and this is the first time we have heard of any medical use for it.

36. Onion.

Basal.

Allium cepa, L. (Alliaceae).

One of the most anciently cultivated species of plants, and one always considered to be valuable for health.

37. Tomato (seeds),	Bandoura.	Solanum lycopersicum, L. (Solanacae).
38. Spinach (seed).	Sabanakh.	Spinacia oleracea, L. (Chenopodiaceae).

Spinach is supposed to be very valuable for health because of the iron it contains, presumably the same value may reside in the seed too.[15]

39. Spinach Beet (seed).

Selq.

Beta vulgaris. L. (Chenopodiaceae).

Grows wild in the Jordan valley, but the seed sold at the druggists is of the garden variety.

40. Lettuce (seeds).

Khass.

Lactuca scariola var sativa (Compositae).

Lettuce induces sleep and is mentioned in the old herbals.

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We give this list as it was given to us, quite conscious that the 'attarin' (perfumers or druggists) who wrote it down for us, may have left out some essential item and substituted something less potent, as cooks sometimes do when parting with a favourite recipe. Indeed, women we consulted on this point exclaimed at once that cardamoms (Habahan) should be on the list. "Always there should be cardamoms in the 'Arba'in,' " they averred. So our list may not give the contents of the powder with perfect accuracy. Nor have we verified all the seeds, etc., named, taking the well-known ones for granted, but Nos. 11, 14, 20 and 28, which we could not identify at all, were kindly named for us at Kew. On the whole, we hope we have here a fair representation of the drugs used.

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[1] Canaan, "Aberglaube," p. 35. Khof is also called ra'be, naqze and other names; the medicine for it is called Hawaij tarbe.

[2] Budge, "Syrian Anatomy Pathology and Therapeutics," pp. 47, 300. Land. 1913.

[3] H. W. Haggard, M.D., "Devils' Drugs and Doctors," p. 332.

[9] H.W. Haggard, M.D., "Devils' Drugs and Doctors," p. 332.

[10] John Parkinson, "Theatrum Botanicum." A.D. 1640. Ch. 32.

[15] The seeds of the Oraches, wild spinachs, were formerly used as a medicine for jaundice.