Cicer, Chickpea

Garbanzo
Chana (Unani)
Picture Picture
Cicer
Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563

 Red and White Cicer   
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Picture Flora von Deutschland (24), Kohler, 1886

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Botanical name:


Cicer arietinum
White, Red, Grey and Black Garden varieties were used; Wild and Garden varieties were also differentiated, the Wild being far stronger.

Parts used:


Seed (grain)

Temperature & Taste:


mildly Warm, dry
emollient, cleansing, discussing, diuretic and lenifying

Classifications:


2C INCIDERS.   2F. PURIFYING.   2K. RESOLVENT.  
3E. DIURETIC.   3H. LACTAGOGUE.   3I. APHRODISIAC.   3J. INCREASE SEMEN
4g. HEPATIC.   4h. NEPHRITIC

Uses:


1. Strengthens the Kidneys, Benefits Qi:
-increases Sperm; for Impotence and Infertility
-increases strength and vigor
-“These are more nutritive and compact than broad bean” (Avicenna)

2. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Dysuria, strangury, Edema, fluid retention, obesity
-decoction is good for the Stone

3. Moves the Blood, Resolves Stasis:
-promotes Menstruation
–atherosclerosis, cardiopathy, high cholesterol
-‘useful in hot and hard swellings including glandular swellings’. (Avicenna) 

4. Benefits the Lungs, Stops Cough:
-Cough, Bronchitis
-“Clears the Voice”. (Avicenna)
-‘No other substance is considered more nourishing for the Lungs’. (Avicenna)

5. Promotes Milk:
-Nourishes and Increases Milk; prepare a soup from its flour. (Avicenna)

6. Externally:
-the Meal is used externally in Cataplasms
-‘flour is used in Malignant and Cancerous Ulcers’. (Avicenna)
-‘oil of chick pea is useful in Ringworm’. (Avicenna)
-‘Its infusion is useful in molar pain, hot and hard gum swellings and parotitis’. (Avicenna)
-‘beneficial for the moist. pustules on the head’. (Avicenna)
-the meal is mixed with Vinegar and applied to inflammations and tumors (Salmon)

Picture

Main Combinations:


1. For the Heart, make Hummus (Chickpea paste) with lots of Garlic and olive oil.
2. Decoction of Chickpeas: decoct with Barley and Marshmallow roots. Good for pains in the sides, colic, dysuria, strangury and gravel.

Major Formulas:


Syrup of Marshmallow (Fernel)
Powder to Fatten (Mesue)
Powder to Increase Milk Supply
Powder for Kidney Stones from Heat (Unani)

Cautions:


1. Windy and hard to digest if not properly cooked.

Main Preparations used: