Diet gun

The following applies to fruits:

Ripe ones are more laxative and fresh ones even more so than dry ones.

Berries are warming, moisturizing and facilitate the bowels.

Ripe pears warm, moisturize and facilitate bowel movements, while hard ones are astringent.

Ripe winter pears cause bowel movements and cleanse the bowels, while unripe ones are astringent.

Sweet apples are indigestible, but sour and ripe ones are less so.

Apple juice stops vomiting and is a diuretic.

Even the smell of apples is good for vomiting.

Wild apples are astringent, but when eaten baked they are more laxative.

Apple juice and apples themselves are beneficial for orthopnea (shortness of breath that occurs when lying down, forcing the person to sleep with their backs up in bed or sitting in a chair).

Quinces are astringent and do not facilitate bowel movements.

Medlars, dogwood (Cornus mas) and all similar fruits are astringent.

Raw cucumbers are refreshing and indigestible, while melons are diuretic and laxative, but cause gas.

Grapes are warming, moisturizing and laxative, especially white ones. Sweet ones are very warming. Unripe grapes are less warming and when drunk have a laxative effect.

Raisins are warming and facilitate the bowels.

Green figs provide moisture, are laxative and warm. They provide moisture thanks to their abundant juice, and because it is sweet, they warm and facilitate the bowels. The first figs are the worst, because they contain the most juice, the best are those that ripen last.

Dried figs are very warming and cause bowel movements.

Almonds are very warming and also nutritious. Warming thanks to their fat content and nutritious thanks to their abundant flesh.

Round walnuts have similar properties. Ripe walnuts are nutritious and laxative and cause flatulence.

The fruits of the holly tree, acorns and kumara are astringent when raw and baked, but when boiled they are less astringent.


Important Clarifications

The word “dry” according to Hippocrates refers to foods, substances or conditions that are considered to be able to collect, dry, absorb liquid or reduce moisture in the body.

Correspondingly, the word “moist” or “wet” refers to substances and diets that increase internal moisture and soften the body.

There are 4 “qualities” of foods/substances according to Hippocratic medicine

Warm: stimulate, strengthen, activate.

Cold:soothe, calm, reduce body heat.

Dry: astringent, drying, removes body fluids.

Moist or Wet: soften, relax, lubricate, increase body fluids.