Monday, August 8, 2011

Medicinal Properties of Dates

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaikum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.


(This is taken from the Yemen Times)

Medicinal Benefits of the Dates:

1- The great worth of dates is also indicated in the Quraan,” And shake towards you the trunk of the palm tree, it will drop on you fresh ripe dates", so eat and drink and be comforted”. (Surat Mariyam, Ayaat 25-6). According to Medical studies, the ripe date contains a substance that urges uterine spasms and increases contractions especially in the time of delivery. This substance resembles ‘oxytocin’ that is secreted by the interior lobe of pituitary gland, which encourages contractions of the uterus. Dates contain some stimulants which strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy. This helps the dilation of the uterus at the time of delivery and reduces post-natal bleeding. This was the sacred prescription, for the mother of Messiah at the time of delivery, to make the delivery trouble-free and easy.

2- It enhances the manhood; removes the weakness, if taken with milk, before sleep.

3- Dieticians consider Dates the best food for breast-feeding mothers. This is because Dates contain elements that assist in alleviating depression and enrich the breast milk with the nutrients needed to make the child healthy and resistant to disease.

4- Another factor making dates the ideal food is their digestibility. Within half an hour of eating them, the tired body regains new vigor. The reason for this is that low blood sugar is the main cause of hunger, not an empty stomach as is often assumed.

5- When the body absorbs the nutritional essence of a few dates the sensation of hunger is abated.

6- Eating dates in the morning on an empty stomach kills intestinal worms and other parasites, for dates have an antidotal potency which restrains their growth.

7- Dates contain calcium, sulphur, iron, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, copper, magnesium, volatile oils, Vitamin-B6, folic acid, Potassium, Iron and Magnesium, proteins, sugars, vitamins and are rich in natural fibers.

8- Magnesium is very important element to the pregnant women and is hard to find as natural source.

9- We shall recommend that they try dates for the new born for the relief of pain. It is important to the function of the heart and blood circulation. (1-“Clin Obstet Gynecol”:1999Dec; 42(4):802-19, 2-“Controversies in Tocolytic Therapy”. Katz VL, Farmer RM, 3-, Center for Genetics & Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Sacred Heart Medical Center, Eugene, Oregon 97401, USA).

10- Placing a sugary substance inside the mouth of a new-born baby ,it also radically reduces pain sensation and heart rate. An interesting scientific medical study proved beyond any doubt the benefit of giving a new-born child sugar, in order to reduce the feeling of any painful procedure like heel pricking for a blood sample or before circumcision, (British Medical Journal, No. 6993, 10th June 1995, 2-“The analgesic effect of sucrose in full term infants”, by Nora Haouari, Christopher Wood, Gillian Griffiths & Malcolm Levene, Leeds General Infirmary, England). Abu Buradah reported from Abu Musa, who said: "I had a new-born baby; I took him to Prophet Mohammed , who called him Ibrahim. He chewed a date then he took it and rubbed the inside of the baby’s mouth with it."

11- The date contains a very high percentage of sugar (70-80%); it has both fructose and glucose which have high calorific values, it is easily and quickly digestible, and very helpful to the brain.

12- The date contains 2.2% protein, vitamin A, vitamins B1, B2 and nicotruic acid (against Pellagra) it has traces of minerals needed for the body.

13- Potassium, of which the percentage is very high, has been found to be very effective for cases of bleeding, such as the occasions of birth or circumcision.

14- Dates are recommended for removal of dizziness. It is now well known that low blood sugar and low blood pressure are among the causes of dizziness.

15- While the level of trace elements in the body falls, the health of the blood vessels is affected, that leads to increased heart rate and a consequent inability of the heart to perform its functions with normal efficiency.

16- As dates are rich in calcium, they contribute to healthy bones. For this reason it is recommended that children and older adults, especially women, eat plenty of dates to strengthen their bones.

17- Dates are also important in maintaining good vision and are effective in guarding against night-blindness.

18- It is highly recommended for those who have any kind of hear problem. It is a sacred medicine to treat respiratory disorder, as well as a salve and a heart stimulant. In the early years of Islam, dates were served as food for Muslim soldiers. As the best stimulant of the muscles, it is a best tonic for one about to engage in battle.

19. Dates are also rich in natural fibers.

20- Modern medicine has shown that Dates are effective in preventing abdominal cancer.

21- In short words, one date satisfies the minimum requirements of a balanced and healthy diet.



Selected varieties out of uncounted range:

There are approximately 552 different varieties of dates; the best dates are very rare. Orange-brown, very transparent with a caramel taste. It is an Iraqi Date, from the oasis of Mandali, east of Baghdad. In Iraq, Dates are sometimes filled with clotted cream.” Nubut Saiyf, which is a long date, shaped like a sword (Sayf), from the Riyadh region on the Najd plateau in central Arabia; Sukkari, meaning “sweet one,” from the Qasim region north of Riyadh; the rare and very expensive Anbar or Anbara date from the Madinah region; and finally, the Khlas (quintessence), of Al Hasa. “Khalal, Busr and Saraban are different names, from different parts of the Arabia. The most popular Dates of Hijaz include Khunaizi, Bukayyirah, Gharr, Shaishi and Ruzaiz, Sufri, Barhi, Sullaj and Khudhairi. People of Madinah mainly loved Anbara, Ajwah, Rothanah, Baidh, Rabiah, Barhi, Hilwah, Hulayyah, Safawi, Shalabi, Khlas and considered them as “the perfection of the Date.”


Pressed dates( Ajwah) , the Gift of Heaven :

The word Ajwah is a noun from the verb Aja, which means to pacify an infant who is still being breastfed, but who is in the process of being weaned. “Al Dawau Bil Ajwah” is very famous phrase in Arabia, which means treat diseases through Ajwah. It was a common practice among mothers in Arabia to use dates—especially the dry, chewy types, one of which is Ajwah—to wean their infants. They would let their babies chew on the date to pacify them, strengthen their gums and overcome their teething pains. Most likely, Ajwah got its name from this use, as it has the right texture and sweetness for the purpose.” Prophet Mohammed took all varieties of dates, but preferred the Ajwah. “Ajwah date, from Madinah, was the favorite of Prophet Mohammed because of its chewy texture and flavor”. Cured dates are called Ajwah in Arabi.

1- "Ajwah date is an excellent remedy". (Bukhari & Muslim).

2- "Ajwah date is certainly an excellent and sufficient food."

3- "Ajwah is from Jannat ( heaven) and contains an antidote against poison" (Tirmizi).

4- I suffered from an illness. Prophet Mohammed visited me. He put his hands between my nipples and I felt its coolness at my heart. He said: You are a man suffering from heart disease. Go to Al Haris Ibn Kaladah, brother of Saqif. He is an expert who gives medical treatment. He should take seven Ajwah dates of Madinah and grind them with their kernels, and then put them into your mouth. (Sunan Abi Dawood, Book 28, No. 3866: Narrated Saad).