Losing weight with herbal medicine

Paper; Egypt; 10th–13th century; Arabic

T-S Ar.41.72

Vegetable ingredients are found in most of the treatments described in the medical prescriptions from the Genizah. Roots, leaves, seeds, essential oils and flavoured waters were the main drugs of the time, together with a smaller number of substances of animal or mineral origin. This recipe is for a compound medicine to enhance the activity of the digestive system, prevent stomach pain and help patients lose weight. Its ingredients are turpeth, agaric, pepper, scammony, celery, tragacanth, jalap, salt and almond oil.

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