Ingredient Knowledge

Every Sulemani preparation is built from ingredients named in the classical Unani texts and prepared in our own workshops. This page sets out the principal ones, what they are, and which of our medicines they go into.

These descriptions explain each ingredient and its place in the Unani tradition. They are not medical advice, and they are not a statement of what any individual product will do. Always follow the directions supplied with the medicine, and speak to a qualified physician about your own treatment.
Ambergris

Ambergris

عنبر اشہب

A rare marine substance long regarded in Unani medicine as one of the most valuable tonics for the heart and the nerves. Used in small quantity in the jawahar compounds.

Used in: Jawahar Mohra, Khamira Abresham, Dawa-ul-Misk, Habb-e-Anbar Shahi

Pearl

Pearl

مروارید

Genuine pearl, calcined into a fine kushta. The classical source of calcium in Unani practice, used for the heart and mind and in convalescence after long illness.

Used in: Kushta Marwarid, Khamira Marwarid, Jawahar Mohra, Sail Band

Silver

Silver

چاندی

Pure silver reduced to a kushta over repeated firings, often in ginger juice or rose distillate. One of the classical metal preparations of the Unani pharmacopoeia.

Used in: Kushta Chandi, Kushta Seh Dhata, Aksir Sulemani

Musk

Musk

کستوری

A costly aromatic used sparingly in the finest compounds, valued as a stimulant for the heart and the nervous system.

Used in: Habb-e-Kasturi, Majun Mushki Zahbi, Khamira Mufarrah Mushki

Gold

Gold

سونا

Gold prepared as a kushta, described in the classical texts as the foremost of the body restoratives. Used in the premium tonic compounds.

Used in: Kushta Sona, Kushta Tila Marwaridi, Habb-e-Muqawi Zahbi

Iron

Iron

فولاد

Iron prepared through many successive firings in fruit and herb juices. The classical Unani answer to anaemia and weakness of the liver.

Used in: Kushta Folad, Sharbat Faulad, Qurs-e-Jigar

Rose

Rose

گلِ سرخ

Dried petals of the damask rose and its distillate. Cooling and refreshing, used across the sharbats and khamiras, and as the medium in which several kushtas are prepared.

Used in: Arq Gulab, Sharbat Gulab, Khamira Sandal

Borage

Borage

گاؤزبان

Gaozaban is among the most widely used herbs in the Unani tradition, appearing as a distillate, a khamira and a vehicle taken alongside other medicines.

Used in: Khamira Gaozaban, Arq Gaozaban, Baal Paal

Ruby

Ruby

یاقوت

One of the precious stones of the jawahar group, calcined and used in the cardiac compounds.

Used in: Kushta Yaqoot, Jawahar Mohra, Habb-e-Tilai

Water Lily

Water Lily

نیلوفر

The blue water lily flower, cooling in temperament and central to the summer preparations.

Used in: Sharbat Neelofar, Khamira Thandak, Atrifal Badiyan

Sandalwood

Sandalwood

صندل

White sandalwood, cooling and aromatic, used in the sharbats and khamiras taken through the hot months.

Used in: Khamira Sandal, Sharbat Sandal, Sharbat Thandak

Saffron

Saffron

زعفران

Saffron threads, used in small quantity in the premium compounds for the heart and the temperament.

Used in: Habb-e-Mumsik Zafrani, Imsakin Zafrani, Qaranfal Zafrani

Coral

Coral

مرجان

Red coral, calcined into a kushta. A classical preparation for the brain, the nerves and the heart.

Used in: Kushta Marjan, Kushta Marjan Jawahar Wala

Amla

Amla

آملہ

Indian gooseberry, one of the three fruits of triphala and a remedy in its own right for the stomach and the hair.

Used in: Jawarish Amla, the Itrifal group, Triphala Powder

Triphala

Triphala

ترپھلہ

The classical combination of amla, harar and baheda that forms the base of the entire Itrifal family.

Used in: Itrifal Ustukhuddus, Itrifal Kashniz, Qurs-e-Jigar

Cardamom

Cardamom

الائچی

Small green cardamom, aromatic and digestive, used through the khamiras and sharbats.

Used in: Khamira Thandak, Sharbat Thandak, Sharbat Dil Bahar

Liquorice

Liquorice

ملٹھی / اصل السوس

Peeled liquorice root, soothing to the chest and throat and used throughout the cough and chest preparations.

Used in: Suaali, Sharbat Rafiqi, Baal Paal, Sugrain

Honey

Honey

شہد

Pure honey, both a medicine in its own right and the vehicle in which many kushtas and powders are taken. Sourced from Sidr, acacia, wild and small-bee harvests.

Used in: Sidr Honey, Acacia Honey, Wild Honey, Small Bee Honey

Hibiscus

Hibiscus

گڑھل

Dried hibiscus flower, cooling and used to settle the heat of bile through the summer months.

Used in: Sharbat Gurhal, Khamira Thandak