The Secret of Secrets and Other Philosophical Treatises

...appetite and lighter movement. This is clearly evident in Arabia and its six cities, throughout the deserts and long journeys. This is, therefore, a clear argument that abstaining from excessive eating and purging oneself of superfluity superfluity: an excess of bodily fluids or "waste" produced by improper digestion is the highest form of health.

In how many ways health is preserved; and concerning the most useful letter and the rule of living.

22.

O Alexander, in medicine original: "mediana," likely referring to the medical arts or a specific medical treatise is contained the most recent and most precious instruction: that the preservation of health consists primarily of two things. The first is that a man should use foods suitable for his age and the season in which he lives, as well as for his habits and his nature—namely, that he uses the foods and drinks he is accustomed to being nourished by and which have strengthened his nature. The second is that he should purge himself of that which has been corrupted by excess. It must be known, therefore, that human bodies—which become vessels for food and drink—are dissolved and diminished. It is said they are dissolved first by natural heat, which dries the body's moisture and nourishes and feeds itself on that same moisture as it is released. Similarly, they are dissolved by the heat of the sun and wind, which dry the moisture of all bodies and feed upon the humidity of both bodies and rivers. Therefore, when a body is hot and prone to vapors, coarse foods are good for it, because that which is dissolved from such a

body and worn away original: "cauatur" will be of great quantity and coarse substance, due to the excessive heat and vapor of the body. However, when the body is thin and dry, subtle and moist foods are beneficial, because that which is dissolved from such a body is of small quantity due to its narrow passages passages: "meatus," referring to the pores or internal channels through which humors and vapors move through the body. Therefore, it is a certain instruction for preserving health that a man should use foods suitable to his constitution constitution: "complexio," the unique balance of the four humors (blood, phlegm, bile) in an individual while in good health. For example: if someone is of a hot nature, a temperate hot nature suits him. But if he is of a cold nature, temperate cold things suit his constitution. Now first I speak of the moist and dry body. If, therefore, an intemperate heat is inflamed with excessive burning—either because of hot foods or because of an external heat that overcomes and dominates—then opposites and contraries are helpful; namely, cold things. And when the stomach is hot, strong, and smooth, then coarse and heavy foods are better for that stomach, because such a stomach is like a powerful fire capable of burning many logs. These, then, are the signs of a good stomach. However, when the stomach is cold and weak, subtle and light foods are better for such a stomach, because it is compared to a fire burning reeds and thin wood. These are the signs of a good stomach...