Medical Prescription: Electuary

Unknown

11th Century

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

Endive seeds and crushed licorice stems, of each three dirhams. Barberry seeds, tamarisk, and pistachio shells, of each two [dirhams], rose, one mithqāl. Boil it all with one hundred dirhams of hot water until reduced to a third [of that amount]. Strain it over two ūqiyyas of quince jam and one…

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This brief Judeo-Arabic recipe, preserved in the Cairo Geniza, lists the ingredients for the treatment of an unidentified illness. An electuary is a medicinal paste mixed with honey or another sweet component. This recipe reflects a common formula. Both the opening invocation, known in Arabic as the basmala, and the closing lines are in Arabic script.

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Related Guide

Intellectual Culture in the Early Medieval World

6th to 12th Century

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