"Optimizing Health and Well-Being: Balancing Life's Four Pillars"

 Chapter on "Factors Affecting Health"

Four Factors that Impact Health:

Excessive Talking: 

Speaking excessively can strain the brain, weaken it, and accelerate the graying of hair.

Excessive Sleep: 

Oversleeping can lead to a sallow complexion, heart strain, eye irritation, increased laziness, and the buildup of dampness in the body.

Excessive Eating: 

Overeating can disrupt the stomach's balance, weaken the body, and lead to digestive issues and discomfort.

Excessive Intercourse: 

Engaging in frequent intercourse can weaken the body, sap strength, deplete bodily moisture, relax the nerves, cause blockages, and create overall chaos in the body. It has a particularly pronounced effect on the brain due to the high amount of psychological energy it absorbs, leading to a greater impact than any of the other senses. This activity drains the essence of the soul.

The most beneficial approach is to engage in a moderate and permissible level of intercourse in one's youth, when passion is high and the mind is clear of psychological concerns. However, it should not be overindulged in and should be balanced with other aspects of life. Pay attention to ten factors, as overindulgence or neglect in any of these areas can lead to harm.

Chapter on "Excessive Diet"

Excessive eating is detrimental to one's health. During illness, it can lead to confusion, while a moderate diet is beneficial.

Galen advised his followers to avoid three things and do four things without the need for a doctor's intervention:

Avoid: Dust, smoke, and foul odors.

Do: Use perfumes, enjoy sweets, eat in moderation (without overeating), and avoid seeds and basil.

Additionally, certain precautions should be taken to safeguard one's health:

- Avoid eating sour foods when you have a cold.

- Don't walk quickly when infected with a fever, as it can be life-threatening.

- Refrain from eating excessive meat during the summer.

- Avoid sleeping in the cold if you have a fever.

- Steer clear of old, overripe eggplants.

- Drinking a cup of hot water daily in winter can prevent illness.

- Rubbing pomegranate peels in the bath can relieve scabies and itching.

- Consuming five irises with Roman mastic, raw oud, and musk can improve one's well-being.

- Eating watermelon seeds with sugar can help remove stomach stones and alleviate burning during urination.

Chapter on "Harmful and Beneficial Factors for the Body"

Four Things that Harm the Body:

• Worry

• Sadness

• Hunger

• Staying Up Late

Four Things that Bring Joy:

• Greenery

• Flowing Water

• Being Loved

• Fruits

Four Things that Impair Vision:

• Walking Barefoot

• Morning Gaze at an Unpleasant Face

Enemies

• Excessive Crying and Focusing on Fine Lines

Four Things that Strengthen the Body:

• Wearing Soft Clothing

• Taking Moderate Baths

• Eating Sweet, Fatty Foods

• Enjoying Pleasant Scents

Four Things that Dull the Face:

• Lying

• Impudence

• Excessive Questioning

Immorality

Four Things that Enhance One's Appearance:

• Chivalry

• Loyalty

• Generosity

• Piety

Four Things that Foster Hatred:

• Arrogance

• Envy

• Lying

• Slander

Four Things that Attract Sustenance:

• Night Prayers

• Seeking Forgiveness in the Early Morning

Charity

• Morning and Evening Remembrance

Four Things that Hinder Sustenance:

• Morning Sleep

• Neglecting Prayer

• Laziness

• Betrayal

Four Things that Impair Reason:

• Overindulgence in Acidic and Fruity Foods

• Sleeping on One's Back

• Worry

• Sadness

Four Things that Enhance Understanding:

• An Empty Heart

• Moderation in Food and Drink

• Managing Food Wisely with Lawful Ingredients

• Eliminating Waste from the Body

Factors that Harm the Mind

• Overindulgence in Onions, Green Beans,       Olives, and Eggplant

• Frequent Intercourse

• Isolation and Excessive Thinking

• Alcohol Consumption

• Excessive Laughter

• Sorrow

Some scholars mentioned being affected negatively after consuming certain foods, such as eggplant, olives, and legumes.