Medicine

Islamic Medical Text Translated from Greek
by Walters Art Museum Illuminated Manuscripts, used under

By: Chris Hauser, Erik Krol, Brandt Kolb, Sathit Arjdthanoo                   December 2013

History of Islamic Medicine

The history of medicine has been important to the Islamic civilization ever since the early seventh century. The medicine had three types of stages that the Islamic civilization went through. The first type of stage was collecting and translating the medical knowledge of the Greeks, Persians, Assyrian Syriacs, Indians and Byzantines. When the Muslim physicians collected enough knowledge, they expanded it through experience, exploration, experimentations, testing, and practice. The second type of stage started from the ninth to the thirteenth centuries. Many physicians helped medicine become popular. Two of the most well known physicians were Al-Razi, or Razes (841-926 AD) and Ibn-Sina, or Avicenna (980-1037 AD). They were considered the first two physicians in the medical fields. Their books and teachings influenced the medical study in Europe for in the future. The third type of stage was not great like the other two. It started from the fourteenth century. This stage was different than the other two. One change was a new type of medical writing was found from religious scholars. Their goal was to keep the knowledge, history and practices by Muslims because the religious scholars did not want the decline of these things before the rise of the Western society. Even though there were changes in the third stage, the country of Islam experienced a decline, which affected the stagnation and gradual deterioration. Al-Jauziyah, a Muslim scholar, influenced many early Muslim physicians by telling them to investigate all areas of their patient’s life, research the real cause behind the disease, examine the patient’s feelings, mood and life style and consider dietary options before resorting to drugs. Early Muslim physician learned so much that they thought that moral values, love, courage, patience, kindness, and altruism were prescribed as the best remedies for the inner self, and prayer was practiced for maintaining the connection with God.

 

Blood from the right ventricle of the heart is pumped through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs. Then it leaves the lungs and travels through the pulmonary veins to the left atrium of the heart. Then into the left ventricle.
by HeartBabyHome, used under

 Islamic Contributions to Modern Medicine

Muslims made many contributions to modern medicine.  Several Muslim physicians have had profound discoveries that are the basis of modern medical knowledge.  Ibn al-Nafis was one Islamic scholar from the thirteenth century that made a crucial discovery regarding the heart and blood flow.  Greek physicians had always thought that blood moved from the right ventricle of the heart to the left ventricle through invisible passages in the septum (heart wall dividing right and left ventricle) before being pumped throughout the body.  Ibn al-Nafis found, through dissection, that blood from the right ventricle was carried to the lungs first, then to the left ventricle of the heart before being pumped out to the body.  This circulation of blood from the heart to the lungs back to the heart is where blood is oxygenated and is called the pulmonary circuit (Heymeyer 2007).

Molding for surgical tools at Kom Ombo in Egypt.
by Robert Young, used under

Another great Muslim physician was Abu ‘I-Qaim al-Zahrawi.  Al-Zahrawi was from the tenth century and from Spain.  He was responsible for making surgery a scientific, medical practice carried out by professionals instead of being a practiced left to cuppers and barbers.  Al-Zahrawi accomplished this transition by writing a book that described surgical procedures and the instruments to be used in the procedures.  Detailed illustrations of the surgical tools, some Al-Zahrawi designed himself, were included in the book.  He also emphasized that a thorough knowledge of anatomy was required for good surgical practice.  Understanding anatomy meant understanding the wisdom of God’s design and the perfection of the human being, God’s supreme creation.  Muslims, like Al-Zahrawi, were open to dissection of the human body to further their understanding, which was a controversial issue in that time period (Heymeyer 2007).

The Complex of Sultan Qalawun in Cairo (1284-85): Contains a bimaristan (hospital), a madrasa, and a mausoleum for the founder.
by mitopencourseware, used under

Muslim physicians also are responsible for developing the first modern hospitals.  The first hospitals with a modern style come from ninth century Egypt and were known as Bimaristans.  Bimaristans welcomed ill patients, who were treated by a qualified staff.  This form of hospital was different from the other health centers, like ancient healing temples and asylums that were more concerned with isolating the sick and insane from the general public.  Bimaristans were also different than Christian European hospitals that centered around prayer.  Bimaristan hospitals became the first public hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and diploma-granting medical universities (Islamic Medical Association 2010).

Modern Islamic Medicine

Amoxicillin, a type of Western Medicine
by nima; hopographer, used under

There are mixed views on medicinal practices in Islamic countries today.  Some cultures prefer to stick with traditional remedies and treatments while other areas have adopted a Western-like approach to healthcare.  In most cases, rural areas that have little

The Indian subcontinent, home to Umani and Tibb medicines
by Ben Sutherland, used under

contact with modern medicinal influences are quick to this reject our style of medicine and prefer their own practices (Youssif, 2013).  An example of heavy reliance on traditional methods occurs on the Indian subcontinent.  Here the government has sanctioned medical schools to give out diplomas in regional types of medicine called Umani and Tibb medicines that translates to Natural or Greek medicine (Nagamia, 1998).  In other areas, Western practices have become more common.  Examples include the creation of a great Islamic hospital in Kuwait in the 1980s so that the citizens would have more exposure to Western medicine.  Similarly is the financial backing of groups like the Organization of Islamic Medicine, which give healthcare and medical support to poorer Arab countries like Egypt and Palestine (Adib, 2004).  The majority of Muslims’ position

Herbs and Spices, two key elements of most traditional healthcare
by Cara Kaus, used under

on healthcare is somewhere in between the two viewpoints.  The Qur’an does not question the validity of modern medicine buttypically, Muslims will use modern treatments for serious or life-threatening cases and then rely on traditional practices for less severe cases (Taheri, 2008).  Local healers will usually employ Qur’anic verses and Islamic prayers in conjunction with local ornaments, herbs, oil and honey in their attempts to heal their patients. (Youssif, 2013).

State of the Art Islamic Medical Practices 

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Stem Cell Research in Tehran is state of the art
by Bryan Jones, used under

Ancient Islamic doctors and scientists certainly contributed significantly to modern medicine, and this trend has continued into the 21st century. For example,  Iran has a therapeutic stem cell industry in addition to organ donation centers and assisted reproduction technologies. Islam encourages scientific and technological curiosity. Furthermore, Islam recognizes that the human body is a gift from God, and should therefore be cared for. This includes not only general hygiene and abstaining from harmful behaviors, but also medical treatments. Taking this into consideration, it does not come as quite a surprise that Iran’s medical technology is so advanced. Assistive reproductive technologies are particularly important in countries with primarily Muslim populations. This includes sub-Sahara Africa, Turkey, and the Middle East. The Quran specifically states that God creates infertility, and it should therefore be accepted. However, many Muslims believe that assisted reproductive technologies are a gift from God. This logic falls in line with the Islamic belief that science and technology should be pursued (Inhorn, 2011). The Royan Institute in Tehran is one of the most technologically advanced centers for stem cell research and in vitro fertilization. With the help of the Red Crescent, a new clinic was recently opened to help couples with fertility problems. The video below details this new development in Islamic medicine (Iran establishes advanced fertility clinic, 2013).

 YouTube Preview Image

Works Cited

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Islamic Medical Association (2010). The Contributions of the Islamic Empire to Medicine and Science. Retrieved 11 19, 2013,     from Wayne State University School of Medicine:                                                                                                   http://www.med.wayne.edu/imsa/Islam%20and%20Medicine.html#factscmaj.061464

HeartBabyHome. (2013).  56 Ebstein’s Anomaly with Pulmonary Stenosis.  [Digital Image].  Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/52834118@N03/8612906242/in/photolist-e86oXu-dLCihV-dQvJKZ-dQvJHp-bnkwUB-bZcUSj-fzy7A5-g7CdEN-decFQH-9YjAvA-dSPRPH-9YgG7i-bKo6jt-dshdcc-7CuRot-7CyG1q-8NCVNM-9YjABu-9YgGvV-9YjCyb-8B7hdV-7CyFWS-7CuRjx-gSxMc4-gSwVj9-e1eRj2-bBXKuM-d9ZBoi-d9VcR1-cgzypd-bbwK4B-9GcqSw-e1kwwU-e1kwvQ-gSx4aF-eFB8Qe-bVezi7-bVenC5-de4Cvh-dk3ptq-dDkefB-dyemuw-e1kwv9-ecCPbJ-9pdkfJ-dp1uST-eDkK7Z-dP3snP-eh8Aqt-eh8tSR-9RM44r/.  Available under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial.

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