Page 19 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXIV No. 28 action. Islamic pharmacists devised a reliable preparation that retained its potency but tempered with the herb’s ferocity. Formulation developed into an art and it involved many steps and ingredients. Ar-Razi, Islamic medicine’s greatest clinician and most original thinker created a drug with bitter almonds and raisin pulp to treat kidney stones. In addition to compounds, early pharmacists also valued simple herbal remedies. The following are a few examples of herbs valued for their healing properties and also for aiding to make medicines more palatable. Sesame oil relieved coughs and softened raw throats. Juice from the stalks of the licorice plant was good for respiratory problems, swollen glands and clearing the throat, whereas the root helped treat foot ulcers and wounds. Cardamom was believed to cool the body and aid digestion and is still used in Arabic coffee. Cumin was, and is still used for flatulence and for stomach cramps. Fennel helped prevent obesity. Myrrh was highly valued for its medicinal properties and treated many ailments, especially gum disease. Aconite was prescribed for rheumatism, gout, whooping cough, asthma and fever. Cloves were useful for tooth ache and vomiting. The medieval Muslims were the first to use cassia for its mild laxative action that was mostly suitable for children and the elderly. Caraway oil, still a common herbal remedy, was used to aid digestion. Za’atar which was baked with bread is still a commonly used herb valued for its breath freshening qualities. Infusions of absinthe were used to treat diabetes. This Islamic legacy is reflected in every prescription filled today, every pharmacy license granted and every medicine, elixir or syrup created, used or tested. The discoveries of those early medical practitioners and pharmacists may seem all too obvious to us now, but today’s knowledge is based on the work of those early protagonists.
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