Phoenix, Date palm

Kharjura (Ayurveda)
Khurma (Unani)
Tamar, Balha (Arabic)
‘Bra go  འབྲ་གོ  (Tibetan)
Picture Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

Picture Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640

Picture Duhamel du Monceau, H.L., Traité des arbres et arbustes, Nouvelle édition [Nouveau Duhamel], vol. 4 (1809)

Picture Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSION

Botanical name:


Phoenix dactylifera

Parts used:


Dried Fruit; Black, Yellow, Red, as well as Sweet and Sour varieties are known. The Egyptian is regarded as best.
Date Kernels are occasionally used, primarily in Diacameron Minus and Diacameron Majus

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, dry. Sweet

Classifications:


2S. STRENGTHENING.    2U. SUPPURATIVE
3I. APHRODISIAC.    3K. EXPECTORANT.    3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE
4d. PECTORAL.    4e. STOMACHIC.    4j. NERVINE

Uses:


1. Nourishes Qi and Blood:
-nutritive tonic; Arabs regard it as the ‘King of Fruit’.
-Theban Dates restore strength, either eaten, or taken with aged Hydromel. (Dioscorides)
-restorative, tonic; good for Debility, Fatigue
-Debility, Anemia, and to promote Longevity.
-Especially useful in convalescence after Fever, Chronic Illness, and in Consumption.

2. Warms and Strengthens the Kidneys:
-nourishes Semen; Aphrodisiac
-Impotence and Sterility
-strengthens in Threatened Miscarriage

3. Benefits the Lungs, Clears Cold-Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-chronic Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma, Tuberculosis etc.
-best suited to cold-type Cough and Cough from Lung weakness

4. Gentle Laxative:
-basis for Purgative compounds; Chronic Constipation, particularly in the old or weak.

5. Resists Poison:
-Dysentery, Infections and for Candida.
-infusion of fresh Dates relieves drunkenness (India)
-adjunct in Cancers of the Abdomen, Colon, Liver, Mouth, Spleen, Stomach, Testes, Vagina, Throat, Uterus, and Vagina (Duke)

6. Externally:
-a paste of the seeds is applied to Corneal opacity.
-fumes from the burning seed are applied to Piles; the fruit plastered on was applied to hemorrhoids (Dioscorides)
-powder or ash of the seeds are applied as a Hemostatic to wounds and are antiseptic.
-Seed powder is used to clean the Teeth.


Comment:
1. Fresh Dates are more astringent and were used for Diarrhea, Leukorrhea etc. (Dioscorides)
2. Date stones were also carbonised and used as an astringent, and to stop sweating. (Dioscorides)
3. Date stones were also used to promote Labor.

Dose:


3–5 fruits, decocted or eaten

Correctives:


 … available in PRO version

Substitutes:


 … available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


1. Cough:
i. phlegm-Heat Cough, decoct Sour Dates with  … available in PRO version
ii. Dates with Figs,  … available in PRO version
iii. Dates with Figs,  … available in PRO version
iv. chronic Cough, Dates with  … available in PRO version
2. Asthma:
i. Dates with  … available in PRO version
ii. Dates with  … available in PRO version
iii. Dates with  … available in PRO version
3. Consumption and Yin deficiency:
i. Dates with  … available in PRO version
ii. Dates with  … available in PRO version
4. Aphrodisiac, and to increase Sperm, Dates with  … available in PRO version
5. Arthritis, Dates with  … available in PRO version
6. Excess Menstruation, Dates with  … available in PRO version
7. Threatened Miscarriage:
i. Dates with  … available in PRO version
ii. Dates with  … available in PRO version

Major Formulas:


Decoction of Fruit
Pectoral Decoction (London, 1650)
Decoction for Asthma (Zacharia)
Syrup of Hyssop Compound (Mesue)
Syrup of Hyssop of Amaran
Electuary of Dates (Diaphoenicum) (Mesue)
Electuary of Hyssop (Diahyssopus) (Nicholas)
Electuary of Pine Nuts (Looch de Pino) (Mesue)
A Sound and Experienced Electuary (Mesue)
Antidotum Asthmaticus (Nicholas)
Diacameron Magna (Diathamaron) (Nicholas)

Cautions:


They are rich and heavy, and can be hard to digest if taken in excess.

Main Preparations used:


Electuary of Dates