Today, garlic is universally celebrated as a “superfood” known for boosting the immune system and fighting off colds. But long before modern science isolated its active compounds, classical Islamic Medicine (Tibb-e-Nabawi) detailed exactly how garlic affects the human body, who should eat it, and how to neutralize its famous side effects.
In the classical texts, Garlic (Thoum) is recognized as a potent, intense medicine. Letās explore the Prophetic guidance on how to safely harness its incredible healing power.
The Etiquette of Garlic: Angels and Odor
Garlic has a notoriously strong odor, and the Prophet Muhammad (ļ·ŗ) was highly sensitive to cleanliness, pleasant scents, and consideration for others.
There is a famous incident where a dish containing garlic was presented to the Prophet (ļ·ŗ) while he was a guest at the home of Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Ansari (R.A). The Prophet (ļ·ŗ) politely sent the food back without eating it. When Abu Ayyub (R.A) worriedly asked if the food was forbidden, the Prophet (ļ·ŗ) clarified that it was not, but explained: “I converse with those (angels) with whom you do not converse.” (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Because the angels dislike foul odors just as humans do, the Prophet (ļ·ŗ) avoided raw garlic. However, he gave a brilliant piece of culinary and medical advice to his followers: “Whoever eats these two things (garlic and onion) should kill them by cooking.” Cooking “kills” the pungent odor while preserving many of the vegetable’s warming benefits!
The Medical Power of Garlic
In classical humoral medicine, garlic is classified as hot and dry in the fourth degree. This means it is incredibly potentāacting more like a strong drug than a simple vegetable.
Because of this intense heat, classical physicians noted that garlic is the ultimate medicine for people with cold, sluggish, or “phlegmatic” temperaments. Its benefits include:
- The Ultimate Antidote: Historically, a paste of pounded raw garlic was used as an emergency antidote to draw out the poison from snake or scorpion bites.
- Respiratory & Gut Health: It aggressively cuts through thick phlegm, cures chronic coughs, clears flatulence, and expels stomach worms (especially when consumed with honey water).
- Emergency Pain Relief: Classical physicians would apply ground garlic directly to an aching molar to numb and relieve severe toothaches.
- Skin Healing: When mixed with vinegar, it was used topically as a highly effective treatment for fungal infections like ringworm and alopecia (bald spots).
The Side Effects (And How to Hack Them)
Because garlic is in the “fourth degree” of heat, eating too much raw garlic can overheat the body. Classical texts warn that excessive raw garlic can cause severe headaches, trigger extreme thirst, stimulate excess yellow bile, and even weaken the eyesight over time.
The Classical Solutions: Classical Islamic physicians were masters of balancing out the side effects of powerful foods. Here is how they “hacked” garlic:
- Cook It: As the Prophet (ļ·ŗ) advised, cooking or roasting garlic tames its aggressive heat and removes the bad breath.
- Chew Rue Leaves: If you do eat it raw, classical physicians recommended chewing on Rue leaves (Sadaab) immediately afterward to completely neutralize the foul breath.
- Pickle It: Modern commentators of Tibb-e-Nabawi note that consuming garlic in the form of a traditional, moderated pickle (Achaar) is one of the most effective, balanced ways to manage high cholesterol!
A Balanced Approach
Garlic perfectly encapsulates the philosophy of Tibb-e-Nabawi: every food has a specific temperament, and true health comes from balance. While it is a miraculous cure for cold-related illnesses, it must be used with wisdom, moderation, and courtesy to the people (and angels!) around us.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes based on classical Islamic texts (Tibb-e-Nabawi). It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a doctor before using garlic as a treatment for high cholesterol, severe infections, or animal bites.