Duhamel du Monceau, H.L., Traité des arbres et arbustes, Nouvelle édition [Nouveau Duhamel], vol. 4 (1809)
Botanical name:
Phoenix dactylifera (syn. P. sylvestris)
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
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:
Vinegar
Substitutes:
1. Raisins (Unani) 2. Chinese Red or Black ‘Dates’ (Jujubes, Da Zao) can be substituted for Dates in most cases
Main Combinations:
1. Cough, Bronchitis: i. phlegm-Heat Cough, decoct Sour Dates with Figs, Jujubes, Hops, Chicory, Purslane, Violet and the Cold Seeds (as in Decoction of Fruit) ii. Dates with Figs, Raisins, Barley, Licorice, Maidenhair, Hyssop and Coltsfoot (as in Pectoral Decoction) iii. Dates with Figs, Currants, Hyssop, Mallows, Licorice, Barley, Fennel iv. chronic Cough, Dates with Fenugreek, Cinnamon, Hyssop, Licorice, Jujube, Fig, Maidenhair, Aniseed, Orris, Mint, Almond (as in Confection for Cold Cough) v. Date, Lesser Galangal, Ginger, Licorice (Siddha) 2. Asthma: i. Dates with Barley, Elecampane, Fennel root, Licorice, Raisin, Colstfoot, Hyssop, Horehound, Maidenhair, Aniseed (as in Anti-Asthmatic Syrup) ii. Dates with Fig, Raisin, Celery seed, Fennel seed, Maidenhair, Licorice, Hyssop, Horehound (as in Decoction for Asthma) iii. Dates with Pine nut, Raisin, Sweet Almond, Licorice, Ginger, Tragacanth, Frankincense, Mastic, Linseed (as in Antidotum Asthmaticus) 3. Consumption and Yin deficiency: i. Dates with Poppy seed, Raisin, Licorice, 4 Cold Seeds ii. Dates with Snail flesh, Barley, Raisin, Licorice, 4 Cold seeds, Poppy seed, Coltsfoot, Violet (as in Syrup Against Consumption) 4. Aphrodisiac, and to increase Sperm, Dates with Pistachio, Almond, Nutmeg, Clove, Cinnamon, Saffron 5. Arthritis, Dates with Guaiacum, Elecampane, Senna (as in Decoction of Guaiacum) 6. Excess Menstruation, Dates with Red Earth, Mastic, Amber, Coriander (as in Powder for Menstrual Flux) 7. Threatened Miscarriage: i. Dates with Chebulic Myrobalan, Conserve of Rose, Red Coral, Pearl (as in Electuary Against Miscarriage) ii. Dates with Water Lily, Sandalwood, Bistort, Nutmeg (as in Decoction of Water Lily) 8. To restore strength, Dates with Hydromel. (Dioscorides) 9. To promote Labor, powder of Date stones with Betony. (Natura exenterata, Philiatros, 1655) 10. After childbirth, Date stones, Cumin, Grains of Paradise, Saffron taken with wine. (Natura exenterata, Philiatros, 1655)
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491
Duhamel du Monceau, H.L., Traité des arbres et arbustes, Nouvelle édition [Nouveau Duhamel], vol. 4 (1809)