The Saltwort and Cyperus

“Abu al-Hassan al-Awwal (a.s.), has said, ’Eating saltwort disinfects the mouth.”’

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘I eat saltwort.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), when washing his hands and mouth (with saltwort) would keep his lips closed. There is a quality in it, which is disliked. It can cause tuberculoses, it takes away the water of the back and weakens the knees.’ I then asked about clay. He (the Imam) said, ‘Eating clay is unlawful like dead bodies, blood and pork except the clay and soil of the grave of al-Husayn (a.s.), in which there is cure for all illnesses, however, do not be excessive, and there is immunity in it against all kinds of fear.’”

“If one washes the outlet of his feces and his mouth after food with cyperus no illness will occur in his mouth and hewill have no fear of gases or hemorrhoid.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Keep cyperus in your teeth; it gives the mouth pleasant smell and increases one’s ability to go to bed with his wife.’”

“Al-‘ Abbas ibn Musa took me and commanded to hit my mouth, so my teeth became shaky and I could not chew food. I then saw my father in my dream. There was an old man with him whom I could not recognize. My father, may Allah grant him mercy, said to me to offer greeting of peace to him.’ I then asked, ‘Father, who is he?’ He replied, ‘He is abu Shaybah al-Khurasaniy (of companions of abu Ja‘far (a.s.)).’ I offered him greeting of peace and he asked, ‘Why do I see you in this condition?’ I replied, ‘Sinful al-‘Abbas ibn Musa commanded to hit on my mouth and my teeth have become shaky.’ He said, ‘Tie them down with cyperus.’ In the morning I rinsed my teeth with al-Sa‘d and my teeth calmed down.’”

“I once saw abu al-Hassan sitting in al-Hijr (near al-Ka‘bah) along with a group of his family members and I heard him saying, ‘I had a toothache so I took cyperus and rubbed with it my teeth, it benefited me and the pain calmed down.’” End of the Book of Foods followed by the Book of Drinks, by the will of Allah, and all praise belongs to Allah alone, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause."