Therapeutic Efficacy of Chicken Soup
1980; Elsevier BV; Volume: 78; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1378/chest.78.4.672
ISSN1931-3543
Autores Tópico(s)Botanical Research and Chemistry
ResumoTo the Editor: In a much earlier era, the therapeutic efficacy of chicken, chicken soup and other fowl is extensively described in the medical writings of Moses Maimonides.1Rosner F The medical writings of Moses Maimonides.New York State J Med. 1973; 73: 2185-2190Google Scholar In his book On the Causes of Symptoms,2Leibowitz JO Marcus S Moses Maimonides on the causes of symptoms. University of California Press, Berkeley1974: 113-114Google Scholar also known as Medical Response,3Rosner F Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Vol III: Treatise on hemorrhoids and medical answers (Responsa). Lippincott, Philadelphia1969: 60-62Google Scholar he recommends the meat of hens or roosters (or chickens or pullets) and their broth because this type of fowl has the property of rectifying corrupted humors, especially the black humor (ie, black bile, an excess of which was thought to cause melancholy), so much so that physicians mention that chicken broth is beneficial in leprosy. The type of chicken to be used is described by Maimonides:3Rosner F Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Vol III: Treatise on hemorrhoids and medical answers (Responsa). Lippincott, Philadelphia1969: 60-62Google Scholar One should not use the too large, that is of more than two years of age; nor the too small, that is those in whom the mucus still prevails; neither the too lean, nor those who through feeding become obese; but those that are fat by nature, without being stuffed. The chicken or pullet can be boiled or stewed or steamed or boiled with fresh coriander, or with some green fennel added to the soup. This dish is especially suitable in winter. The soup, however, where lemon juice or citron juice or lemon slices are added to the broth, is better suited for summertime. The method of breeding and feeding the chickens is also discussed in some detail. Maimonides' conclusion is that “these procedures have been verified and their usefulness is clear.”3Rosner F Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Vol III: Treatise on hemorrhoids and medical answers (Responsa). Lippincott, Philadelphia1969: 60-62Google Scholar He does not state, however, whether or not he conducted a double-blind randomized study. The most voluminous of Maimonides' medical writings is his Medical Aphorisms of Moses4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google Scholar which is comprised of 1,500 aphorisms based mainly on Greek medical writers. There are 25 chapters, each dealing with a different area of medicine including anatomy, physiology, pathology, symptomatology and diagnosis, etiology of disease and therapeutics, fevers, blood-letting or phlebotomy, laxatives and emetics, surgery, gynecology, hygiene, exercise, bathing, diet, drugs and medical curiosities. In the chapter on diet, Maimonides states that boiled chicken soup neutralizes body constitution. Chicken soup is both an excellent food, as well as a medication for the beginning of leprosy, and fattens the body substance of the emaciated and those convalescing from illness. Turtle doves increase memory, improve intellect and sharpen the senses. The consumption of fowl, continues Maimonides, is beneficial for feebleness, hemiplegia, facial paresis and the pain of edema. It also increases sexual potential. House pigeons that graze in the streets increase natural body heat. Soup made from the bird called kanaber loosens cramps of colic. The quail helps the healthy, as well as those convalescing from illness; its flesh is fine, it dissolves a kidney stone and it stimulates urine flow. Maimonides further states that chicken testicles provide excellent nourishment. They are especially useful to nourish a weakened or convalescent individual. Testicles of all living creatures are warming and moistening in their action and aid the libido in a strongly perceptible manner. Pigeon eggs are good aphrodisiacs. Similarly, all eggs help the libido, especially if they are cooked with onion or turnip. Finally, baby chicks that are separated from their mother alleviate heat that occurs in the stomach. Soup made from an old chicken is of benefit against chronic fevers that develop from white bile and also aids the cough which is called asthma.4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google Scholar In his Treatise on Asthma,5Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Treatise on asthma. Lippincott, Philadelphia1963: 18-20Google Scholar Maimonides advises the consumption of chicken meat that is not fat for sufferers of asthma. Other small fowl, such as the turtle dove, are also useful. The soup of chickens or fat hens is said to be an effective remedy for asthma. The method of preparation of the chicken soup and the ingredients are also described. An enema with sap of linseed and fenugreek or both, with oil and chicken fat, with an admixture of beet juice, is strongly endorsed for the treatment of asthma.5Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Treatise on asthma. Lippincott, Philadelphia1963: 18-20Google Scholar The various reported therapeutic efficacies of chicken, chicken soup and other fowl6Saketkhoo K Januszkiewicz A Sackner MA Effects of drinking hot water, cold water, and chicken soup on nasal mucus velocity and nasal airflow resistance.Chest. 1978; 74: 408-410Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (61) Google Scholar, 7Caroline NL Schwartz H Chicken soup rebound and relapse of pneumonia: report of a case.Chest. 1975; 67: 215-216Crossref PubMed Scopus (23) Google Scholar, 8Duma RJ, Markowitz SM, Tipple MA. The chicken soup controversy. Chest 1975 (letter); 68:s604Google Scholar, 9Greene LF. The chicken soup controversy. Chest 1975 (letter); 68:605Google Scholar, 10Chutkow JG. The chicken soup controversy. Chest 1975 (letter); 68:605Google Scholar, 11Lawrence DS. The chicken soup controversy. Chest 1975 (letter) 68:606Google Scholar, 12Rosner F Julius Preuss’ Biblical and Talmudic medicine. Sanhedrin Press, New York1978: 198Google Scholar are summarized in Table 1. With the recent demonstration that chicken soup mobilizes nasal mucus better than other hot liquids,6Saketkhoo K Januszkiewicz A Sackner MA Effects of drinking hot water, cold water, and chicken soup on nasal mucus velocity and nasal airflow resistance.Chest. 1978; 74: 408-410Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (61) Google Scholar scientific respectability has now been obtained to prove what the proverbial Jewish mother has always known,–that chicken soup can help cure an upper respiratory infection.Table 1Therapeutic Efficacy of Chicken and Other FowlConditionBeneficial EffectsType of FowlReferenceCorrupted humorsrectifieschicken soup2Leibowitz JO Marcus S Moses Maimonides on the causes of symptoms. University of California Press, Berkeley1974: 113-114Google Scholar, 3Rosner F Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Vol III: Treatise on hemorrhoids and medical answers (Responsa). Lippincott, Philadelphia1969: 60-62Google ScholarLeprosybeneficialchicken soup2Leibowitz JO Marcus S Moses Maimonides on the causes of symptoms. University of California Press, Berkeley1974: 113-114Google Scholar, 3Rosner F Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Vol III: Treatise on hemorrhoids and medical answers (Responsa). Lippincott, Philadelphia1969: 60-62Google ScholarSpiritual facultieskindlesturtle dove2Leibowitz JO Marcus S Moses Maimonides on the causes of symptoms. University of California Press, Berkeley1974: 113-114Google Scholar, 3Rosner F Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Vol III: Treatise on hemorrhoids and medical answers (Responsa). Lippincott, Philadelphia1969: 60-62Google ScholarBody constitutionexcellent foodchicken soup4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarBody constitutionmedicationchicken soup4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarBody constitutionneutralizeschicken soup4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarEmaciationfattens the bodychicken soup4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarConvalescence from illnessstrengthensquail and chicken soup4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarMemoryincreasesturtle doves4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarIntellectimprovesturtle doves4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarSensessharpensturtle doves4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarConstipationloosens the stoolpartridge4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarColic (or convulsions)loosens the crampskanaber soup4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarFeeblenessbeneficialfowl4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarHemiplegiabeneficialfowl4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarFacial paresisbeneficialfowl4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarPain of edemabeneficialfowl4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarSexual potentialincreasespigeon eggs4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarNatural body heatincreaseshouse pigeons4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarKidney stonedissolvesquail4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarUrine flowstimulatesquail4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarWeakness or convalescence from illnessexcellent nournishmentchicken testicles4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarHeat in the stomachalleviateschicken sucklings4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarChronic fevers from white bilebeneficialsoup from an old chicken4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarCough called asthmaaidssoup from an old chicken4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarAsthmausefulchicken soup and roasted small fowl5Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Treatise on asthma. Lippincott, Philadelphia1963: 18-20Google ScholarNasal mucusincreases velocitychicken soup6Saketkhoo K Januszkiewicz A Sackner MA Effects of drinking hot water, cold water, and chicken soup on nasal mucus velocity and nasal airflow resistance.Chest. 1978; 74: 408-410Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (61) Google ScholarAsthmaeffective remedysoup of fat hens and enema5Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Treatise on asthma. Lippincott, Philadelphia1963: 18-20Google Scholarcontaining duck or chicken fat5Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Treatise on asthma. Lippincott, Philadelphia1963: 18-20Google ScholarPneumoniaefficaciouschicken soup7Caroline NL Schwartz H Chicken soup rebound and relapse of pneumonia: report of a case.Chest. 1975; 67: 215-216Crossref PubMed Scopus (23) Google ScholarIn vitro pneumococciinhibits growthchicken soup8Duma RJ, Markowitz SM, Tipple MA. The chicken soup controversy. Chest 1975 (letter); 68:s604Google ScholarMale impotencecureschicken fat9Greene LF. The chicken soup controversy. Chest 1975 (letter); 68:605Google ScholarFrustration and anxietyrelieveschicken fat10Chutkow JG. The chicken soup controversy. Chest 1975 (letter); 68:605Google ScholarAircraft fuel shortagepotentially usefulchicken soup11Lawrence DS. The chicken soup controversy. Chest 1975 (letter) 68:606Google ScholarSnake biteantidotechicken12Rosner F Julius Preuss’ Biblical and Talmudic medicine. Sanhedrin Press, New York1978: 198Google Scholar Open table in a new tab As with all medicinal agents, however, the consumption of fowl is not without occasional side effects (Table 2). The physician is thus cautioned against the indiscriminate application of chicken and chicken soup for the therapy of all ailments, abiding by the dictum primum non nocere. However, the judicious use of chicken soup as an important element of the therapeutic approach to upper and lower respiratory tract infections seems to be fully justified.Table 2Harmful Effects of Chicken and Other FowlHarmful EffectType of FowlReferenceProduces migraine headachespigeon sucklings4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarCauses constipationpartridge4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarObstructs the bowelsquail2Leibowitz JO Marcus S Moses Maimonides on the causes of symptoms. University of California Press, Berkeley1974: 113-114Google Scholar, 3Rosner F Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Vol III: Treatise on hemorrhoids and medical answers (Responsa). Lippincott, Philadelphia1969: 60-62Google ScholarPowerful stool loosenerhen and rooster4Rosner F Muntner S The medical aphorisms of Moses Maimonides. Vols 1 and II. Vol, II. Bloch Publishing for Yeshiva University Press, New York1973: 77-81Google ScholarContains harmful, thick, juices and are hard on digestiongoose and duck5Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Treatise on asthma. Lippincott, Philadelphia1963: 18-20Google ScholarProduces many juiceshens' egg yolks5Muntner S The medical writings of Moses Maimonides. Treatise on asthma. Lippincott, Philadelphia1963: 18-20Google Scholar Open table in a new tab
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