The Saltwort and Cyperus

2. Certain persons of our people have narrated from Ja‘far ibn Ibrahim al-Hadramiy from Sa‘d ibn Sa‘d who has said the following: “I once said to abu al-Hassan عليه السلام, ‘I eat saltwort.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Abu al-Hassan عليه السلام, when washing his hands and mouth (with saltwort) would keep his lips closed. There is a quality in it, which is disliked. It can cause tuberculoses, it takes away the water of the back and weakens the knees.’ I then asked about clay. He (the Imam) said, ‘Eating clay is unlawful like dead bodies, blood and pork except the clay and soil of the grave of al-Husayn عليه السلام, in which there is cure for all illnesses, however, do not be excessive, and there is immunity in it against all kinds of fear.’”