An Arab Medical Expert

R. Joshua b. Levi said: We [are permitted to] lift up the unklai on the Sabbath. What is the unklai? R. Abba said: [The unklai is] the cartilage around the heart [i.e., the stomach, perhaps]. What is its remedy? Abaye said: Take cumin, caraway, ammi copticum, asafoetida, satureia, and hyssop. For the heart, [the above combination] in wine. And your mnemonic¹ is: Wine gladdens the heart of man (Psalm 104:15). For [problems with] breathing [ruḥa], [mix these ingredients] with water, and your mnemonic is: The breath [ruaḥ] of God fluttered over the face of the water (Genesis 1:2). For suffering in childbirth [khuda], [mix these ingredients] with beer, and your mnemonic is: Her jar [khada] upon her shoulder (Genesis 24:15). But do not include thyme for hemorrhage in childbirth, because it [will cause] inflammation.

R. Aḥa son of Rava ground all of these [ingredients] together and took five fingers-full of it and drank it. R. Ashi ground each separately and took from it what filled his fingers from his big finger to the small one.

R. Papa said: I did all of these, and I was not cured until a certain Tayaya said to me, “Take a new pitcher, fill it with water, place a spoonful of honey into it, and place it under the stars [overnight], and the next day, drink it.” I did so and I was cured.