Ahmad b. al-‘Abbas b. al-Mufaddal narrated from his brother ‘Abd Allah b. al-‘Abbas b. al-Mufaddal that he said: A scorpion stung me and when it struck me its pincers nearly entered my belly from the severity of its sting. Abu al-Hasan al-‘Askari, peace be upon him, was our neighbour, so I went to him. He [my father] said: “My son ‘Abd Allah has been stung by a scorpion and there is fear for him.” He [al-Askari] said: “Give him ‘the comprehensive medication’ (al-dawa’ al-jami’) to drink, for it is the medicine of Al-Ridha’, peace be upon him.” I said: “What is it?” He replied: “It is a well known medicine.” I said: “My lord, I do not know it.”

He said: “Take Indian nard, saffron, cardamom, pyrethrum, white hellebore, henbane, and white pepper, all in equal measures, and two parts of abarfiyun. Grind them finely and sieve in a piece of silk. Mix with honey which has had its froth removed. Give one grain of it to drink with asafetida (al-hiltit) water for the bite (al-lasa’) of the snake and scorpion, and he will be cured immediately.” He said: We treated him with it and gave it to him to drink, and he was restored to health at once. We use it and give it to people until this day.