Hurf (Cress)

Abu Hanifah Ad Daynoory said, “Cress seeds are used in remedies and are In addition called Ath Thuffa, which the Prophet mentioned. Its plant is called Al Hurf while Rashad seeds is its popular name. “In addition, Abu Ubayd said that Ath Thuffaa is the Hurf.

The Hadith that Abu Hanifah referred to is what Abu Ubayd and other scholars have related from Ibn Ab’ass that the Prophet was reported to have said:

“What a cure do the two bitter remedies carry: the Thuffaa and aloe.”

Cress is hot and dry in the third degree, and it heats and relaxes the stomach, removes different types of worms, decomposes the spleen tumors, excites the sexual drive and heals the ulcers of mange and herpes.

When the cress is used as a bandage along with honey, it will decompose spleen tumors. When it is cooked with henna, it will extract harmful accumulations in the chest, while taking it as a drink helps against venomous bites and stings.

When it is burned, its smoke repulses venomous beasts and prevents the hair from falling. In addition, when it is mixed with barley floue and vinegar and used as a bandage it helps against decomposes hot tumors.

Further, when it is used as a bandage with water, it brings the pustules to maturity and helps against flabbiness in various organs, strengthens the sexual drive and works as an appetite stimulant. It In addition helps against asthma, hard breathing, relieves the thickness in the spleen, purifies the chest and increases the menstrual flow. It In addition helps against sciatic nerve and the cavity of the hip, due to the extraction power of the cress when one drinks it or is injected with it. It in addition purifies the chest and the lungs from phlegm.

When cress is crushed and taken in a drink with warm water, it will work as a laxative, decomposes flatulence and helps against the pain caused by constipation. Further, cress in addition helps against leprosy when it is crushed and used in a drink.

In addition, when the cress is blended with vinegar and used as an ointment on leprous skin and on white pigmentation disorder, it helps relieve these conditions. It a so relieves headaches that are caused by colds and by phlegm accumulation. When it is fried and drunk (with water), it constipates, especially when it is not crushed, as its consistency will be softened when it is fried.

Galinus said that the strength of the cress, “Is similar to the effectiveness of mustard grains. Hence it could be used to heat the pain in the hip, which is known as Noso and headaches, as each of these symptoms requires heat, similar to mustard seed. Sometimes, cress is mixed with other remedies and used to treat asthma, as it is known that it dissolves thick mixtures, again just as mustard seed does. It is similar to mustard seed in every respect.”