Using Bach flower remedies

25-1-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

Al salamo Alikm Wa Rahmato Allahe Wa Barakatoh.
Bismillah Al Rahmaan Al Raheem.
"There is a remedy approach called Bach Flower Remedies which uses flower and plant extracts for theraputic purposes, the method of preparation involves putting flowers on top of a mixture of brandy (40%) and pure spring water (60 %)-this mixture is called mother tincture, and then two drops will be taken and mixed with another mixture of glycerine (80%) and water (20%).
To administer the remedy; two drops from the later product will be either swallowed directly or mixed with water or milk and ingested.
Although alcohol is used in the preparation of the mother tinctures, but the production company claims that the dilution process means the finished remedies can be classed as alcohol-free according to the UK food regulations.
My question is wither to consider such remedies as Halal according to Islamic standards and regulations or not?”
Jazakom allaho an el Islam wa Anna Kolla Kahir.

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

The ruling on taking the medicine that contains alcohol depends on the quality of alcohol and the method of adding it. If the alcohol causes drunkenness if one was to drink much of it then it is an intoxicant and it is impure according to the view of the majority of the scholars  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them.

On the other hand, if alcohol is added to the medicine, then it is one of the two following cases:

1-    Alcohol is transformed into another matter by it being treated before adding it to the medicine; in this case, it is permissible to use this medicine, because if an impurity is transformed (into another substance) its ruling changes, as we clarified in Fataawa 87607 and 86026.

2-    Alcohol is added – as it is – to the medicine: in this case, it is not permissible to use that medicine, because it became impure by adding alcohol to it. If an impurity falls into food, the food is ruled to be impure even if it is much food according to our view in Islamweb.

Allaah Knows best.

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