Zaitoon (olive) is a Cure for Seventy Diseases
taken from Al-Jamiat, Vol. 4 No.4 - June 2000, Rabi-ul-Awwal 1421
Published by: Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)
Zaitoon (olive) is the sign of peace and friendship in this world, and is described in the Noble Qur’aan. Allah Ta’ala says, "By the Fig and the Olive, and the mount of Sinai, and the city of security. We have indeed created man in the best of moulds. Then do We abase him (to be) the lowest of low. Except such as believe and do righteous deeds for they shall have a reward unfailing. Then what can, after this, make you deny the last judgment. Is not Allah the wisest of Judges?" (The Fig, Surah 95)
The plant of olive grows to the height of 3 metres; the leaves are bright green and very attractive and the fruits are of bright bluish or violet colour, possessing a metallic taste. It is known from ancient times. During the excavation of ancient Egyptian graves, vessels full of olive were found with other articles. According to the scholars of Hadith, on subsidence of Toofan-e-Nooh, when the water level came down, the first thing on the earth that was seen, was the olive plant.
The plant is extensively found in Asia Minor, Palestine, Roman Territory, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Italy, North Africa, Algeria, Tunisia, California in America, Mexico, Peru and south zone of Australia. Usually, it is imported from Spain, Italy, France, Turkey and Greece. Though olive fruits are very nutritious, it is not usually eaten due to its metallic taste. Rather, pickles of its fruits are largely consumed in Europe. The fruit preserved in vinegar is imported from Greece and liked very much in Europe and in Arabian countries.
Olive oil is a good preservative for other foods too. Sardine and other fish are tinned and preserved in olive oil. The smokeless burning of olive oil is a peculiar feature, which produces a bright light. Holy Qur’aan stresses the importance of Zaitoon on several occasions: (141-M-alInaam,6), (99-K-alInaam,6), (11-K-alNahl,16), (alNoor-35), (Mu’minoon).
Hadhrat Sayyid al-Ansaari narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, "Eat the olive oil and massage it over your bodies since it is a holy (mubaarak) tree." (Tirmidhi, ibn Maja)
Hadhrat Alqama bin Amir narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, "There is olive oil for you, eat it, massage over your body, since it is effective for haemorrhoids (Piles)." (ibn Jawzi, Zanbi)
Hadhrat Aqba ibn Amir narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, "You have the olive oil from this Holy (mubaarak) tree, treat yourself with this, since it cures the Anal fissure (Basoor)." Khalid ibn Saad narrates, "I came to Madinah with Ghalib ibn al-Jabr. Ghalib became ill during the journey. Ibn Abi Ateeq came to see him and told a narration from Hadhrat Aaisha that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) told about the cure of Kulunji. We crushed a few seeds of Kulunji and mixed it with olive oil and dropped in both nostrils, after which Ghalib became healthy." (ibn Majah, Bukhari)
Hadhrat Abu Hurayra narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) stated, "Eat the olive oil and apply it (locally), since there is cure for seventy diseases in it, one of them is Leprosy." (Abu Naim)
Hadhrat Zaid bin Arqam narrates, "We have been directed by the Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) that we should treat Pleurisy with Qust-e-Behri (Qust Sheerin) and olive oil." (Tirmidhi, Ahmad and ibn Majah)
Olive oil has a place in the Pharmacopoeia of USA and Britain (British Pharmacopoeia). Both of these countries have given importance to olive oil for the treatment of various ailments and have fixed standard parameters to evaluate its purity.
It contains Palmatic Acid, Steanic Acid, Myristic Acid and Glycerides. It is not dissolved in water but in Alcohol, Ether, Chloroform and Liquid Paraffin.
The adulterant very often used in the olive are of the seeds of Tea Plant, and Arachis oil in the market samples of olive oil. Sometimes Machine Gun oil and refined Mobile oil are also found.
Olive oil is extracted from the ripened fruits. The unripe and over ripe fruits contain less amount of the oil. The fruits are processed three times. Successively, the first round oil is the best in quality, golden in colour, with a light fragrance and known as virgin oil. Some varieties of olive oil remain unchanged in its effectiveness for years. It contains therapeutic potential even if it a thousand years old.
Despite the prime importance and holiness given by Qur’aan and Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) no work has been done to find out its efficacy for the ailments other than haemorrhoids, anal fissure, skin diseases, pleurisy and leprosy, which are already described by the Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) himself who says that it contains cure for seventy diseases.
According to ibn al-Qayyim the red coloured oil is better than the blackish one. It is an exhilarant, glows up the facial complexion, provides antidote against poisons, regulates the digestive process, expels the intestinal parasites, makes the hair lustrous and minimises the ageing problems. The rubbing of olive oil with common salt over the gums is a remedy for several diseases of gums and teeth. The local application of olive oil or the water extracted from the crushed olive oil leaves is effective on boils, rashes and itching. The chronic ulcers and boils, which show difficult healing condition are healed up with the use of olive oil locally.
According to Zahbi it strengthens the hairs and body, hence, could be used as a good tonic in old age problems and to delay the aging process. It is also useful in sexual weakness. Combination of normal saline with olive oil is highly effective in cases of burns.
The decoction of olive leaves in water is effective against mouth and lips ulcers and allergic dermatitis also. The concentrated aqueous extract of olive leaves and fruits is very effective against dental cavities and application of this solution shows very good effects on Leukoplaque in the mouth. This solution, applied with vinegar on Alopecia (baldness), grows the hair and removes the Alopecia. It is also stated that the local application of this extract removes the scars of smallpox and boils. The powder of seeds mixed with butter is effective in brittle nails. The pickles prepared from olive fruits is a good appetiser and prevents constipation. The smashed leaves are applied locally to check excessive perspiration. The water extracted from the leaves mixed with honey is used as ear drops and effective in various ear ailments. The oil produced by burning of olive wood is effective against all fungal infection, viz. Ringworm, T.versicolor, etc. in addition to Eczema, Psoriasis, Dandruff and Alopecia. The local application of olive oil on the scalp is highly effective against dandruff. It grows the hairs and checks the loss of hair. The application of olive oil in the eyes relieves inflammation.
Massaging olive oil over the body tones up the muscles and organs, and relieves muscular pains. Some physicians also advocate the massage of olive oil for epilepsy. It relieves sciatica and arthritis. The ointments prepared from olive oil are very good healing agents. It heals the sinus and fistula very quickly. 25ml of olive oil mixed with 250ml of barley water, if taken internally, is highly effective against chronic constipation. It is good Diuretic, hence, is used in Ascites. It also removes kidney stones.
A conventional regimen is also available comprising of olive oil and other herbal drugs having potential against gallstones. It is stated that this regimen dissolves and expels the gallstone.
In view of the research carried out in USA and England, it is concluded that it is a good nourishing diet during the ailments of kidney, where nitrogen containing food/proteins intake is contra-indicated. Since the Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) stated that it is a good remedy for anal fissure, hence, for the same complaint patients were advised to take two spoons of olive oil at bedtime and an ointment was applied on fissure locally at retiring and in morning, prepared from 8 spoonfuls of olive oil and 2 spoonfuls of ground henna leaves. This showed very good effects against the problem. It is a good tonic for hair and maintains the lustre. Its combination with other prescribed drugs of Tibb-al-Nabawiy is a good remedy for Psoriasis and Eczema. The impressions of several doctors practising in Middle East and North Africa reveal that no case was detected of Gastro Intestinal Carcinoma, among those who were used to consuming olive oil. Japanese doctors also endorse this fact and have the opinion that olive oil prevents the incidence of Carcinoma in GIT.
The Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) stated that it is a good remedy for intestinal inflammations. Therefore, it was used in the cases of G.I.T. ulcers and found very effective. It is also observed that no remedy equates the benefits of olive oil in hyper acidity and gas troubles.
The Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) recommended the use of olive oil in Pleurisy. Keeping this in view olive oil was administered in various diseases of respiratory tract and it was observed that the regular users of olive oil were least affected with common cold and pneumonia.
The clinical experiences of well-qualified and highly established doctors in the profession who take a keen interest in the Prophet’s medicine reveal olive oil is a good supportive treatment in Tuberculosis infection of either sites. According to a narrative of Khalid ibn Saad in ibn Maajah, one spoonful of Kulunji was pulverised and mixed with 12 spoonful of olive oil. This mixture was dropped into the nostrils morning and evening for the cases of chronic cold and epistaxis. The results were found highly positive.