اللهُمّ لَكَ الحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمواتِ ومِلْءَ الأرْضِ ومِلْءَ ما بَينَهُما ومِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِن شيءٍ بَعْدُ، أهْلُ الثنَّاءِ والكِبْرياءِ والمَجْدِ أحقُّ ما قالَ العَبْدُ وكُلُّنَا لَكَ عَبْدٌ، لا مانِعَ لمَا أعْطَيْتَ ولا مُعْطيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ، ولا رادَّ لِمَا قَضَيْتَ ولا ينَفَعُ ذَا الجَدِّ مِنْكَ الجَدُّ

Hulhab (Fenugreek)

حلبة : ذكر عن النبي ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏(‏أنه عاد سعد بن أبي وقاص رضي الله عنه بمكة، فقال‏:‏ ادعوا له طبيبًا، فدعي الحارث بن كلدة، فنظر إليه، فقال‏:‏ ليس عليه بأس، فاتخذوا له فريقة، وهي الحلبة مع تمر عجوة رطب يطبخان، فيحساهما، ففعل ذلك، فبرئ‏)‏‏.‏ وقوة الحلبة من الحرارة في الدرجة الثانية، ومن اليبوسة في الأولى، وإذا طبخت بالماء، لينت الحلق والصدر والبطن، وتسكن السعال والخشونة والربو، وعسرالنفس، وتزيد في الباه، وهي جيدة للريح والبل والبواسير، محدرة الكيموسات المرتبكة في الأمعاء، وتحلل البلغم اللزج من الصدر، وتنفع من الدبيلات وأمراض الرئة، وتستعمل لهذا الأدواء في الأحشاء مع السمن والفانيذ وإذا شربت مع وزن خمسة دراهم فوة، أدرت الحيض، وإذا طبخت، وغسل بها الشعر جعدته، وأذهبت الحزاز‏.‏ ودقيقها إذا خلط بالخل، وضمد به، حلل ورم الطحال وتستعمل لهذا الأدواء في الأحشاء مع السمن والفانيذ وهي نافعة من الحصر، مطلقة للبطن، وإذا وضعت على الظفر المتشنج أصلحته، ودهنها ينفع إذا خلط بالشمع من الشقاق العارض من البرد ويذكر عن القاسم بن عبد الرحمن، أنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ‏:‏ ‏(‏استشفوا بالحلبة‏)‏‏.‏ وقال بعض الأطباء‏:‏ لو علم الناس منافعها، لاشتروها بوزنها ذهبًا‏.‏

Ibn al-Qayyim wrote : It is narrated from the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ that he visited Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqqas Radi Allaho Anh in Makkah when he was ill. The Prophet said, "Call a doctor for him," so Al-Harith ibn Kaladah was called. He examined him and said, He has no serious illness. Prepare for him a Fareeqah (a dish made of fenugreek mixed with fresh Ajwah dates, cooked together). Let him consume it." They followed this advice, and he recovered.

Fenugreek has warming properties in the second degree and dryness in the first degree. When cooked with water, it softens the throat, chest, and stomach. It alleviates cough, roughness, asthma, and difficulty in breathing. Fenugreek also enhances libido, and it is beneficial for gas, phlegm, and hemorrhoids. When fenugreek is consumed with five dirhams (a weight measure) of Fuwah (madder root), it induces menstruation. If boiled and used as a hair wash, it makes the hair curly and removes scabs. Fenugreek flour, when mixed with natron (sodium carbonate) and vinegar, and applied as a poultice, reduces swelling of the spleen. Women can also sit in water boiled with fenugreek to benefit from its effects on uterine pain caused by swelling. When applied to hard, mildly warm swellings, it provides relief and dissolves them. Drinking its water alleviates colic caused by gas and lubricates the intestines.

If eaten cooked with dates, honey, or figs on an empty stomach, it dissolves sticky phlegm in the chest and stomach. It is also beneficial for prolonged coughing caused by phlegm. Fenugreek is beneficial for relieving bladder obstruction and acts as a laxative. When applied to a contracted nail, it restores it. Its oil, when mixed with wax, is effective in treating cracks caused by cold. Its benefits far exceed what has been mentioned. It is narrated from Al-Qasim ibn Abdur-Rahman that the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said: "Seek healing through fenugreek." Some physicians have remarked: "If people knew its benefits, they would purchase it at its weight in gold."

Ibn al-Baytaar wrote : Fenugreek heats in the second degree and dries in the first degree. It stimulates inflamed swellings but dissolves and heals mildly heated or hardened swellings. When eaten with brine before meals, it softens the bowels but can cause headaches or nausea. When eaten with bread, its laxative effects are reduced, and it neither causes headaches nor nausea.

Cooked Fenugreek: When mixed with honey, it acts as a laxative, expelling harmful substances from the intestines. Its water has a viscous and warming property, soothing irritation and facilitating bowel movements without causing harm.

Fenugreek Sprouts (Used by Romans): Consumed in moderation, they benefit the stomach. Overconsumption causes heaviness, headaches, and indigestion. They should not be eaten excessively or regularly.

Fenugreek seeds flour: When mixed with water and cooked, it acts as an emollient. Useful for hot swellings, both internal and external. Mixed with Natron (sodium carbonate) and applied as a poultice, it reduces spleen swelling.

Uses for Women: Sitting in fenugreek water alleviates uterine pain and contractions. Washing the head with fenugreek water improves hair health, treats dandruff, and soothes moist ulcers. Mixed with goose fat, it softens a hardened uterus and relieves uterine contraction.

Masarjawaih: Fenugreek decoction curls hair, soothes skin irritations, cleanses the chest, and nourishes the lungs.

Ibn Masawaih: Drinking fenugreek decoction with five drachms of madder root increases menstrual flow. It improves the smell of stool but spoils the odor of sweat and urine. It is useful for fractures and bodily weakness and softens bowel movements.

Isa Ibn Masa: For softening bowel movements, consume sprouted fenugreek with brine before meals.

Al-Razi: Fenugreek softens the chest, throat, and stomach. It relieves cough, asthma, and difficulty breathing. It improves sexual vigor and benefits conditions like flatulence, phlegm, and hemorrhoids.

Al-Tabari : Applying fenugreek to contracted nails restores them.

Al-Dimashqi: Fenugreek clears sticky phlegm from the chest and increases urine flow.

Avicenna: Its heat softens tissues. Its digestive fluid is somewhat poor but not insignificant. Its mucilage mixed with rose oil helps with cold cracks and burns. It is used in treatments for freckles and enhances complexion. Its flour softens swollen glands and promotes ripening. Fenugreek decoction clears the voice and soothes inflamed eyes. Sitting in fenugreek decoction helps with uterine swelling, pain, and contractions, and facilitates childbirth.

Additional Benefits: Fresh fenugreek leaves benefit back and liver pain, as well as cold bladder conditions, by inducing urine flow and relieving uterine coldness. Fresh fenugreek increases blood production. Fenugreek is highly versatile, benefiting conditions ranging from chest and uterine issues to hair and skin health. It is warming, laxative, and restorative in many ways, though excessive use can cause heaviness and irritation.

Ibn-e-Sina wrote: Fenugreek is dry in the late first degree, with a trace of foreign moisture. It has a softening and maturing effect due to its combination of heat and viscosity. The viscosity counteracts the harm of excessive heat, while its gentle warmth exerts a mild therapeutic effect. However, its nutritional quality is poor, though not insignificant.

Skin care: Fenugreek oil, when combined with myrtle, is beneficial for hair health and healing the scars of sores. It also alleviates cold-induced chapping, especially when used with rose oil. It is included in treatments for discoloration, improving complexion, and addressing foul breath or body odor.

Swelling and Sores: Fenugreek helps dissolve phlegmatic and hardened swellings. Its powder is effective for external and internal warm swellings that are not inflamed but somewhat firm. It softens hemorrhoids and facilitates their maturation.

Wounds and Ulcers: It is beneficial for burns when used with rose oil.

Head Conditions: Fenugreek decoction cleanses scaly scalp conditions, especially when used as a wash with brine. It is less harmful to the stomach when combined with brine.

Eye Health: A decoction of fenugreek helps treat styes and can be applied as a poultice on the eyes to reduce thick, swollen discharges.

Chest and Respiratory System: Fenugreek improves voice clarity, nourishes the lungs, softens the chest and throat, and soothes coughs and asthma. It is especially effective when cooked with honey, dates, or figs. For better results, mix dates with their pulp, extract their juice, blend with a generous amount of honey, and gently warm over embers. Consume this mixture well before meals.

Digestive System: Fenugreek is beneficial as a poultice with natron for spleen ailments. Its decoction with vinegar strengthens the stomach, particularly in fresh form, and helps heal stomach ulcers. Vinegar and brine mitigate any adverse effects of consuming fenugreek.

Reproductive and Excretory Systems: Sitting in a fenugreek decoction alleviates uterine swelling, pain, and contraction. A decoction with vinegar helps treat intestinal ulcers, as does consuming fresh fenugreek dipped in vinegar. Drinking its decoction relieves dysentery and diarrhea. Fenugreek oil is effective for anal swellings and can be used in enemas for colic or dysentery, particularly when mixed with brine before meals. Its sharpness promotes bowel movements, especially when combined with a moderate amount of honey to avoid excessive irritation. Fenugreek decoction with honey expels thick phlegm from the intestines, stimulates urination and menstruation, and aids with uterine stiffness caused by dryness, facilitating childbirth. It is particularly helpful for individuals with hemorrhoids, but it causes strong-smelling urine and sweat.