Plastic bottle of Labube Kabeer by Darulshafa Shirqai, Bradford, 1970-1981

Prepared by a British Hakim (physician), the Arabic name of this Unani Tibb treatment is Labube Kabeer. It contains ingredients such as asparagus, wintercherry, gold and silver leaf, sugar and honey. Unani medicines often taste sweet.

Unani Tibb is an Islamic medical tradition. Health and personality are influenced by a person’s unique combination of humours, or elements, and their relationship with the environment. Illness occurs when the humours become unbalanced. Treatment is tailored to suit the individual’s specific mix of humours.