Shabbos 133 – כמון – Cumin for Milah wound healing

ונותנין עליה איספלנית וכמון. “we place on it (the milah wound) bandages and cumin.” Cumin, Cuminum cyminum, is an plant in the parsley family grown for its seedlike fruit. Cumin is often used as a spice and is an essential component in curry powder and chili powder it is also added to fragrances, and used...

Shabbos 109b – Putnak – Pennyroyal or Maiden hair fern

פותנק – Putnak is eaten to cure one of worms of the liver. The Aruch Hashalem writes that putnak is pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), a plant with a strong smell used for medicinal purposes and in perfumes. The pennyroyal should generally not be eaten as it can cause convulsions  coma, and death. Half a teaspoon of pure...

Shabbos 109a גרגירא – Rocket Plant

גרגירא- Rocket (Eruca) is an annual or biennial plant that is native to western Asia and the Mediterranean it has small and purplish-veined, creamy-yellow or whitish flowers. Garden rocket was cultivated from the time of the Roman Empire through until the 17th Century in its native habitat and until about 1800 in north-western Europe. Today it...

Shabbos 109a כוסברתא – Corriander

כוסברתא אין בה משום רפואה – “Coriander has no effect on healing.” The coriander, valued for its medicinal and culinary uses for at least 3,000 years. Coriander was burnt as incense and it was also used in the mummification process. “Today on a commercial basis coriander (primarily the essential oil) is used by the toiletry...

Brachos 51a – Ispargus

Today’s daf discusses a drink called אספרגוס, Ispargus. The gemora discusses its health benefits, it is good for the heart, eyes and intestines. Rashi says that ispargus is ‘a cup (drink) that was drunk every morning for medicinal purposes.’ The Aruch quotes Rav Hai Gaon that the ispargus is a type of כרוב, cabbage. (See...