رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

Prophet's Guidance on Vomiting as a remedy

فَصْلٌ فِي هَدْيِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الِاسْتِفْرَاغِ بِالْقَيْءِ

 رَوَى الترمذي فِي «جَامِعِهِ» عَنْ معدان بن أبي طلحة، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَاءَ، فَتَوَضَّأَ فَلَقِيتُ ثَوْبَانَ فِي مَسْجِدِ دِمَشْقَ، فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ: صَدَقَ، أَنَا صَبَبْتُ لَهُ وَضُوءَهُ. قَالَ الترمذي: وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ شَيْءٍ في الباب (أخرجه الإمام أحمد والحاكم والدارقطني والبيهقي والطحاوي)

Guidance of Prophet Muhammad  صلى الله عليه وسلم Regarding Purging Through Vomiting

Ibn al-Qayyim wrote : It is narrated in Jami' al-Tirmidhi from Me’daan bin Abi Talha, from Abu al-Darda Radi Allaho Anh, that Prophet Muhammad  صلى الله عليه وسلم vomited, so he performed ablution afterwards. Me’daan said, "I later met Thawban in the Masjid of Damascus and mentioned this to him, and he said: 'You are correct; I poured water for his ablution.'” Al-Tirmidhi commented, "This is the most authentic narration on this topic."

Vomiting: One of the Five Primary Methods of Purging

Vomiting (al-Qayʾ~الْقَيْءِ) is one of the five foundational methods of purging in traditional medicine, alongside diarrhea, bloodletting, expulsion of gaseous vapors, and sweating.

Here's a breakdown of the five primary methods of purging according to traditional Islamic medicine:

Diarrhea: Referenced in the Hadith, “The best thing to use for treatment is Mashi (a laxative)” and in another Hadith that mentions Sana (Senna) as a remedy.

Vomiting: This method involves expelling harmful substances from the stomach and is often used to relieve bodily discomfort caused by unwanted or excessive food intake.

Hijamah (Cupping/Bloodletting): This process involves drawing out blood to remove toxins and reduce bodily imbalances, as practiced and recommended in various Ahadith.

Expulsion of Air (Stomach Gases): This helps release trapped vapors or gases within the digestive system, which can alleviate bloating and discomfort.

Sweating: Generally, this occurs naturally rather than being intentionally induced. The body expels sweat through open pores, which can help cool the body and remove minor impurities.

Vomiting is the form of purging that removes substances from the upper part of the stomach, whereas an enema removes from the lower part. Medications may work from either the upper or lower part of the body. Vomiting itself has two types:

Spontaneous Vomiting: Occurs naturally, due to bodily reactions or nausea.

Induced Vomiting: Occurs when it is prompted intentionally to expel harmful substances.

As for the first method (Diarrhea): It should not be suppressed or prevented unless it becomes excessive and life-threatening, in which case it can be managed with substances that retain it.

As for the second method (vomiting): It is most beneficial when done out of necessity, provided the timing and conditions are appropriate.

There are ten causes of vomiting:

(1). Excessive bile: When bile rises to the top of the stomach, causing it to seek upward release.

(2). Excess of thick phlegm: Sticky phlegm in the stomach that needs to be expelled.

(3). Weakness of the stomach: When the stomach is unable to digest food, it ejects it upward.

(4). Contamination with harmful substances: When harmful matter mixes with the stomach contents, weakening its function.

(5). Overeating or drinking: When food or drink exceeds the stomach's capacity, causing it to seek expulsion.

(6). Dislike of the ingested food or drink: When the stomach finds the food or drink disagreeable, prompting it to expel the contents.

(7). Stimulation of the stomach contents: When certain substances in the stomach stimulate food, causing it to be ejected.

(8). Nausea or disgust: This leads to a feeling of queasiness and prompts the stomach to expel its contents.

(9). Psychological Factors: Such as intense stress, sorrow, and grief. These emotions can distract the body’s natural energies from properly digesting and processing food, which can result in the stomach expelling its contents. Additionally, these emotions can disturb the balance of bodily humors, as each mind and body influence each other’s state.

(10). Imitation or Suggestion: When one sees someone else vomiting, it can cause the observer to feel the urge to vomit as well, without needing to intentionally induce it, due to the body’s tendency to mimic.

A skilled physician once told me a story: “I had a nephew who was adept in applying eye Kohl, but whenever he examined someone with eye inflammation and applied Kohl, he would develop the same inflammation himself. This happened repeatedly until he stopped practicing.” When I asked about the cause, he said, “It’s due to the body’s natural tendency to imitate.” He further mentioned knowing another person who, after seeing someone scratching a spot with an abscess, began scratching the same spot on his own body and eventually developed an abscess there too.

All these cases imply that the body must have a certain predisposition, with dormant matter that gets activated by these triggers. These causes merely stimulate the movement of matter but are not necessarily the direct cause of the symptom itself.

Vomiting is suitable as a remedy in hot weather and hot climates

Since bodily humors in hot climates and seasons tend to become thinner and rise upwards, vomiting is more beneficial in such conditions. Conversely, in cold climates and seasons, the humors thicken and become harder to expel upwards, making purging through Diarrhea more effective.

Removing harmful mixtures (humors) is achieved by either pulling them from the farthest exit or extracting them from the nearest one. For humors (bodily mixtures) that are unstable and tend to either rise or fall, if a mixture is inclined to rise, it’s preferable to remove it from below; if it tends to fall, pulling it from above is more effective. Once the humor/mixture stabilizes, it should be expelled from the nearest exit. If the humor begins to harm the upper organs, it should be drawn downward through the lower parts, and vice versa. When these mixtures settle in place, they should be expelled from the nearest point to that location.

And for this reason, Prophet Muhammad  صلى الله عليه وسلم performed Hijamah on different parts of his body; on his upper back at times, on his head at others, and on the top of his foot at other times. He would expel harmful blood from the nearest location to the affected area. And Allah knows the best.

Vomiting cleanses the stomach from harmful substances

Vomiting cleanses and strengthens the stomach, sharpens vision, relieves head’s heaviness, and is beneficial for kidney and bladder ulcers, as well as chronic illnesses such as leprosy, dropsy, paralysis, tremors, and jaundice.

It is recommended for a healthy person to induce vomiting twice a month in consecutive sessions without strict timing. The second session compensates for any impurities the first session left behind, cleansing residual matter that may have accumulated. However, excessive vomiting can harm the stomach, making it susceptible to irritants and damaging the teeth, vision, and hearing. It might even rupture a vein. Those with throat swelling, weak chests, thin necks, a tendency to cough blood, or difficulty vomiting should avoid it.

On the other hand, some misuse this practice by overeating and then vomiting intentionally. This habit has numerous adverse effects, including accelerating aging, causing various harmful diseases, and making vomiting a habitual response. Vomiting, combined with dehydration, weak intestines, and emaciated body parts—or if the person is frail—poses a serious risk.

The best seasons for vomiting are summer and spring, rather than winter and autumn. During vomiting, it is recommended to cover the eyes, bind the stomach, and wash the face with cold water afterwards. After vomiting, one should drink apple juice mixed with a small amount of mastic gum and rose water, which is highly beneficial.

Vomiting purges the contents of the upper stomach, while diarrhea works in the opposite direction. Purging in summer should focus more on expelling from above (vomiting) rather than using medication, while in winter, it should be done with laxatives.