Cuty,
I asked about this a while back as I have some alcohol intolerant patients (recovering alcoholics) and for general interest.

I GOT SOME EDUCATION IN AN ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY AT EGYPT. TO MY KNOWLEDGE,
ISLAM STRICTLY BANNED THE USES OF ALCOHOL IN ANY FORM. IT IS NOT
PERMISSIBALE EVEN IN MEDICATION FORM. OUR MOST OF THE MEDICINES PREPARE IN
ALCOHOL. AFTER READING THIS TITLE I SEARCH AT LEAST 20 SITES ON ISLAM
REGARDING THE USES OF ALCOHOL [/QUOTE]
Are the sites in English? Can I find out more? If homeopathic remedies prepared with alcohol are not permissable, can you access remedies prepared another way or can you seek special permission to take them if required?

Yes Sarina (Cuty), you are right that Alchohl is banned in Islam. According to my knowledge, it permissible if you want to save life and the 'haraam' thing must be in an amount that is necessary to save life.
We actually take/give medicine like Bryonia, Rhustox, Sulpher etc. not Alchohl. It is a problem that they are preserved and marketed in Alchohl.
Ozzie raised a vaid point that where you can find medicines with out alchohl.
Distilled water might be another 'vehicle', but that is not used for higher potencies, i am not sure what are all the reasons for that.
Of course there are more than one 'vehicles' used in homeopathy and alchohl is one of them.

__________________
Nadeem

As far as the point that how much is the contribution of other medicine systems in cure, is concerned, I believe that every system has its value. Alopathy does have an edge in the field of surgery, the problem occurs when they do it quite often with out need of it. Excessive use of antibiotics is an other problem. Ayways it does have its value.
Unani, is the most ancient way of cure, and it covers many portions of diseases. This system have paved they ways for other systems. It tells us about the characteristics of the natural things in natural form. It does have value especially, regarding heart, stomach, Liver, Kidney and Sexual problems.
And Shaitsu or Yoga like exercising treatments are basic part of all the medicine systems. Cure is Follower of Care!

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Nadeem

Islam prohibits intoxication and alcohol is banned for its intoxicating property. In homeopathic usage, the quantity of alcohol is too small to cause any intoxication. Secondly, Islam lays great importance on the motive behind any act; one takes homoeopathic medicine to get rid of sickness, not for profligacy.

__________________
Best regards<br />Ghazi<br /><a href="http://www.sph.homeoweb.net" target="_blank">www.sph.homeoweb.net</a>

Nadeem & Ghazi,
It is a very sensitive issue. We cannot discuss Islamic or religious issue on this forum. For the reason that, these issues are very thin-skinned to talk about. But these issues are very important ones. Hence, My own experience in India and later in many countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, has amply convinced me that alcohol has a different meaning in different countries and also within different communities in the same country. The three major religions with which
I have some familiarity, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism, seem to have
differing views on the subject. While excessive indulgence in alcohol is condemned by all religions, Christianity seems to be more liberal in accepting its use for social purposes while Islam totally rejects it any form. The Hindu position lies somewhat in between. Their scriptures generally disapprove of alcohol consumption but seem to condone its occasional use by certain classes of people such as kings, nobles, warriors and manual workers but prohibits its use for priests, students and those seriously following a religious way of life. I spent almost eight years in AbuDhabi. In almost all Islamic countries Alcohol is
banned due to its intoxication. Taking of Alcohol in any form, can result in serious ailments and possibly shorten the life span. Alcoholism is a slow, progressive illness. If not treated, alcoholism ends, with few exceptions, in permanent brain damage, physical damage or physiological incapacity, or early death. Knowing the uses and abuses is just as important as reading the instructions on a bottle of pills. You should know how does your body handles alcohol, how much is safe to consume, and how your body gets rid of it. When you take 30 to 40 drops of Avena Sativa or Salix Nigra in mother tincture
form, small amount of alcohol enters directly into your bloodstream through he lining of the mouth and throat. The remaining amount of alcohol is absorbed by the stomach or intestine. Alcohol is then dispersed uniformly throughout the body. Affecting all parts of the body controlled by the brain. Alcohol must be broken down in order to leave the system. More than 90 percent of the alcohol is oxidized in the liver and the remainder is discharged through the lungs and kidneys. Alcohol interferes with appropriate action of nearly every class of prescription and over-the-counter drugs used. Every homeopath are using mother tinctures, in their daily practice. Maximum are prescribing 20 to 30 drops for Damiana, Avena Sativa, Salix Niagra (40 drops to one teaspoonful) and Berberis etc three times a day. I have been prescribed Berberis Vulg in mother tincture form for one month for the expulsion of stone. So your saying is not correct. It is mal arguing of proving wrong act to true act. Islam prohibited this act. Yes! In potency form it is negligible. But again Islam prohibited this act and said “No healing power in any prohibited (HARAM) things (A saying of last prophet Muhammad. “. To me Muhammad is the last authority. He was a great Spiritual Leader, Great General, Great Medical doctor,
Last Representative from God and Great Teacher, there is no absolutely no concession what so ever in this ruling. Muslims cannot use any HARAM
(Prohibited) items even in medication. Yes! I agree with Ghazi and nadeem on their saying one takes homoeopathic medicine to get rid of sickness, not for profligacy (Ghazi) & Alcohol is permissible if you want to save life. (Nadeem) but extremely necessary when all other systems have no answer for that specific complain and all the medical professional will agree that there is absolutely no choice what so ever for any specific ailment for any specific patient for limited period only. This should be kept in mind that it will apply only when medical professionals will consider the patient’s life in great great danger and they don’t find any substitute in any other system. (This is very important) But homeopaths are using Alcohol without care. They are prescribing for every disease and complain. To me every disease is fretful but over 90 percent of the disease, which we are treating or
not life threatening e.g. Coryza, Cattarah, Baldness and impotence etc.
At the moment, every homeopath clinic is occupied with thousands of bottles filled with Pure drinkable Alcohol. Some of them have pure alcohol, which they commonly prescribe for taking placebo effects. They are using and prescribing for every disease and symptoms. Whether they are life threatening or not. So one should not find mal functioning support for their incorrect act of using Alcohol. When the last prophet give his clear-cut verdict on use of Alcohol. When there are so many other way of using homeopathic medicines. Homeopath can use distilled water for making potency. But the problem is that it will get expire after one or two year. But it does not mean that you should start using
alcohol. You can mix already prepared alcohol potencies in sugar of milk or in globules and put them under open air for few hours for the evaporation of Alcohol. Certainly you will not like to take bother about this hard work. Some of the homeopaths are using this procedure in Sarina. They are using dried globules of every homeopathic potency. Which are more effective then dilution.

You must prepare your own potency in distilled water for your clinical purpose. If you don’t have time you can purchase alcoholic potencies but use them in globule form after getting them dry. One of the top most method is to preserve them in Glycerin. It is very popular in Islamic countries and have the same result. But will expire after three to five years. So, there are so many methods you can adopt if you don’t want to use alcohol in any form but it will depend upon your love and devotion with Muhammad’s sayings. If you will present argue then you will never find the substitute of alcohol.

Nadeem said,
No Mr. certainly not. In bryonia 30, rhustox 30 and sulphur 30. There is no medicine except alcohol. I have mentioned about other sources of preservative. Read them. Or search for some other best preservative rather alcohol. It is a myth. No reality in it. Then what is reason of giving privilege and concession of using Alcohol when it is banned in Islam.

Ghazi said
Please quote the reference. I believe that it is your understanding and not said any where in Islam. What Islam said I quoted above. “Khumar Haaraam Phil Islam".

THE MOST SENSIBLE THING IS NOT TO TAKE HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE IN DILUTION FORM. Read the translation from Surah Albaqra and Surah Almaida part 90, 91 and 92.

Ozzie,
You can soaked the globule in appropriate potency and then allow them to get dry for some time and then give your patient. It is the least method you can apply for Muslims patient or you can ask about their willingness about the use of alcoholic potency. If they are agreed to take medication in the form of dilution then it is not your fault. Write Popular Islamic Sites under any web search engine and find the list for reading. thanks

www.islam-online.net
www.islam.com
www.allah.com
www.islamtoday.com

__________________
<b>With warmest regards<br />Q.T</b>

Not with any intention to offend, but this talk of religious restrictions has the potential to have no peaceful end. The gut produces alcohol in the digestive process, and likely more in the eating of one ripe banana than in several doses of a remedy.

Peace,
Kathy

WELL CUTY, YOU ARE RIGHT VERY MUCH RIGHT.
WE NEVER PROMOTE THE USE OF ALCOHOL. YOU HAVE REPLIED FOR YOUR SELF
, NOW IF YOU READ AGAIN YOUR MESSAGE ALONG WITH OURS (MINE AND GHAZI'S)
YOU FIND NOT MUCH DIFFIRENCES. THE WORDS ARE DIFFERENT BUT THE MESSAGE
AND THE INTENTIONS ARE SAME!
AND IN FACT WE DO GIVE PRIORITY TO USE GLOBULES AND DISTILLED WATER, BUT CANT DENY THAT
ALCOHOL IS ALSO USED BUT INTENTIONS ARE NOT BAD OR NOT TO NEGLEGT ISLAM.

GOD BLESS ALL!

__________________
Nadeem

I am impressed with the robust explanation given by QT. Although my knowledge is not superior over islam. But I like Islam a religion to adopt because its all laws and principles are based on common sense. These can easily be adopted in our life without any difficulty. Islam wants to give easiness to their followers in all our domestic and other affairs. But at the same moment it is strict in some of its affairs, which are harmful for the society. For instance, look at the decision taken by God against RAPE, RABA and KILLINGS. Islam dislikes all these things.
QT is very right in its explanation over the uses of Alcohol. It is a sin and we must not use it in any form. QT given some alternatives and I agree with her.
Our clinics look like BARs. I am using alcohol. We have no justification, except that we should accept certain things which we can not avoid but the things are incorrect. The wise thing will be not to use in any form.

__________________
<b>All the best<br />Khokhar<br />(CAM Expert)</b>

Kathy Nielsen, Alcohol has PROFIT. This was told to us at 14 hundred years back by our Holy AL-QURAN. By saying it has profit for men but its sin (harmful effect) is greater.
Science is proving all principles and laws now. But the knowledge were given at 14 hundred years ago through Quran via the last prophet Muhammad (Salal Laho Elia Walayhi Waslam). I admit that we are ourselves, not acting upon our own rules and informations. It is our weakness but it does not meant that informations or rules are incorrect. Not a single information has been disapproved by modern science given by Al-Quran. If the Quran said use of alcohol is curse then there must be some reality. which we are not understanding now. The reason is that we don't want to put ourselves in adopting hardwork procedure given by QT.

__________________
<b>All the best<br />Khokhar<br />(CAM Expert)</b>

Ghazi,

We are not the authority to announce that if an intoxicant material is not causing intoxication due to its small quantity then intoxicant will be considered as Halal. If we will follow this rule in all other affairs and rules announced by Al-Quran then the whole panorama will change. Raba is Haram in all its form. If Raba is in too small quantity then it does not meant that it is permiseable.

[ 17 May 2002, 09:49: Message edited by: Khokhar ]

__________________
<b>All the best<br />Khokhar<br />(CAM Expert)</b>