We've all heard tales of kings, princes, princesses, and queens, but have you ever come across the title "Prince of Physicians"? Well, I hadn’t until I stumbled upon this book titled The Persian Kitchen Physician by Dr. Anahitta E. Jafari, Ph.D. I believe I am quite lucky to have been able to have access to the hardback version of this book because it is just so beautiful, right from the cover to the content.

The book begins with a preface wherein the author reminisces about her childhood. An insatiably curious child, she was always exploring the mysteries of the world, eager to uncover its secrets. It was during one such exploratory venture that she suffered a severe ankle injury. When her grandma was doing the healing process, she fell asleep and drifted into a dream where she encountered a tall, distinguished figure who whispered, “You are my student.” The man was none other than "Avicenna, the Prince of Physicians.” Surprisingly, when Anahitta woke up after having this dream, her ankle had magically healed. It was from here that her journey into the realm of Avicenna's teachings, particularly his profound understanding of herbal and nature-based remedies, began.

Avicenna had been the inspiration for Anahitta and her ancestral family, and thus, her job was clear in front of her eyes. It was to be a herbalist herself in order to revive the ancient wisdom of Persian herbs and natural foods and to unveil their myriad medicinal benefits to the world. The book thus introduces us to nutrition, health, and recipes from ancient Persia, which are suitable for our modern kitchen and probably required even more in today’s time compared to before.

This book not only delves into the historical roots of Persian medicine but also gives us a gist of Avicenna, his background, and the books he has written, such as “The Canon of Medicine,” which is the single most famous book in the history of medicine in the East or West.

Every chapter of the book, I believe, reflects the deep work and research the author has put in for so many years. While maintaining concise writing throughout, she has encompassed a diverse range of topics. The main purpose of this book, in my opinion, is to convey that Avicenna was a great physician and how his methods and knowledge are useful in so many ways to this date.

Moreover, this book is not only informative but equally interesting. The reason for that, I believe, is the multitude of pictures used on every single page. These vibrant and deep-colored pictures make it so easy to understand the concepts the author is conveying.

Ahead in the book, the author has wonderfully introduced us to different herbs and spices alphabetically, explained their purpose, where they can be used, and their benefits, and included detailed pictures of them, which enhance our understanding and facilitate easy identification and usage.

For instance, did you know that basil has healing properties with regard to the heart, reduces discomfort during menstruation, and gives a very pleasant flavor to the milk of lactating mothers?

Another example is that of cardamom, which has the ability to slow down the absorption of sugar in our blood, which is also the reason that many dessert shops use cardamom in their preparations. Then we also have cilantro, which has over 15 to 20 benefits, and cinnamon, which has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant properties. These are just a handful of examples; the book has many more. The author also explores which cookware to use, which of them are harmful, and why.

The latter half of the book is filled with innumerable recipes that have been thoughtfully divided as per season. These recipes are all very healthy and seem delicious. I am surely going to try some of them, especially the blueberry muffins!

Thus, as you can guess, I had a delightful time reading this book. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars because it is beautiful, informative, well-organized, and vibrant. There is not a thing I disliked about the book. The editing of the book is impressive as well, with just a few printing errors.

In conclusion, The Persian Kitchen Physician is a wonderful book that will take you through ancient Persia and its food. It is a guide to healthy living and understanding the needs of the body. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about these aspects or, in general, wants to tread on the path of healthy living.

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Jaituni Sanghavi, OnlineBookClub

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