Anatolian Medicine History Acta Medica Anatolia Volume 2 Issue 4 2014
Muslim Genius; Ibn Sina’s Effects on Cardiology
Sabri Onur Caglar, Fatma Erdem, Alim Erdem Departmentof Cardiology, Abant Izzet Baysal Training and Research Hospital, Bolu, Turkey
Abstract
Ibn Sina (980-1037) was born in the village of Afshana, near Bukhara. Ibn Sina received his early education in his town and by the age of 10 he became a Quran Hafiz. He had exceptional intellectual skills. In some of his teenage years he lived in Anatolia. At the age of sixteen he dedicated all his efforts to learn medicine and when he was eighteen, he gained the status of a reputed physician. His synthesis of Islamic medicine, al Qanun reputed physician fi’l tibb (The Canon of Medicine), was the final authority on medical problems in the world for several centuries. His most significant medical works are the Qanun (Canon) and a thesis on cardiac drugs”. The Canon of Medicine (Qanun: Law of Medicine) is one of the most famous books in the history of medicine. This book is a five volume medical encyclopedia that was completed in 1025. The eleventh section of the third book primarily deals with different kinds of heart diseases, their effects, and treatment. It should be remembered that the Canon of Avicenna was written in early 11th century and it should be reviewed in the light of the state of knowledge concerning heart diseases and their treatment attained at that time. Researchers today have the advantage of highly advanced instruments which were not available to Ibn Sina 1000 years ago. That he wrote this section of the Canon in such detail and compiled a separate thesis on heart drugs are enough to prove that he had a clear understanding of the fatal character of heart diseases. He was a really scientific genius and medical practitioner. About 1000 years ago, he created many medical hypotheses and tried to discover unknown things related with humanity. Especially anatolian muslim researchers have to follow this way if they want to be succeeded or add some fantastic discoveries on science.
Keywords: Ibn Sina, Avicenna, The Canon of Medicine.
Received: 15.12.2014 Accepted: 30.12.2014 doi: 10.15824/actamedica.69153 Acta Medica Anatolia Introduction
Anatolia has hosted many civilizations. When Physical examination carefully examined, it is observed that many successful scientists had lived in Anatolia. That means Ibn Sina was also the pioneer of the modern Anatolia has a mysterious sources of inspiration approach of examining the pulse, using with wrist. It which induce scientific developments. So, one of is still practiced in the daily practice (5). He talked them is Ibn Sina (980-1037). He was born in the about that palpitation is a physiological trouble of the village of Afshana, near Bukhara. Ibn Sina received his heart caused by injuries to the heart. All kinds of early education in his town and by the age of 10 he weaknesses of the heart result in palpitation on became a Quran Hafiz. He had exceptional account of disharmony in its temperament. Avicenna intellectual skills. In some of his teenage years he repeats the statement that when palpitation lived in Anatolia. At the age of sixteen he dedicated becomes acute it may lead to fainting and when the all his efforts to learn medicine and when he was latter becomes acute and constant it may cause eighteen, he gained the status of a reputed physician death (6). (1). His synthesis of Islamic medicine, al Qanun reputed physician fi’l tibb (The Canon of Medicine), Pericardial disease was the final authority on medical problems in the world for several centuries. His most significant medical works are the Qanun (Canon) and a thesis on Ibn Sina states that the heart may be affected by an cardiac drugs” (2). The Canon of Medicine (Qanun: inflammation of its outer covering or any other organ Law of Medicine) is one of the most famous books in close to it. Moreover, this inflammation is the cause the history of medicine. This book is a five volume of palpitation and fainting and may lead to instant medical encyclopedia that was completed in 1025 (3). death” (7). He clearly described pericardial effusion The eleventh section of the third book primarily deals when he says: “In the case of the accumulation of with different kinds of heart diseases, their effects, toxic matter, the matter may be deposited in the and treatment (4). space between the cardiac muscle and the membrane that covers it” (8).
Correspondence: Sabri Onur Caglar MD, Departmentof Cardiology, Bolu, Turkey. 143 [email protected]
Anatolian Medicine History Caglar SO et al.
Prevention of cardiac diseases activity (12). However, it is difficult to find out in which cardiac disturbance related with using this One of the most important factors to achieve this plant. goal is “Exercise’’. According to his viewpoint, if exercise is used correctly, intermediately and in an Conclusion appropriate time, it can prevent physical illnesses as well as diseases (9). He was also particular about the It is correct that Ibn Sina hasn’t known about heart healthy diet of patients with heart disease. He surgery and percutan coronary intervention. But, it emphasizes that the preservation of our health is by should be remembered that the Canon of Avicenna proper diet that is moderate in quantity and quality. was written in early 11th century and it should be Residual amount from every digestion is left over in reviewed in the light of the state of knowledge the body. By repetition of this cycle, there is an concerning heart diseases and their treatment accumulation of waste that is harmful to the body attained at that time. Researchers today have the from several aspects (10). advantage of highly advanced instruments which were not available to Ibn Sina 1000 years ago. That he wrote The book on drugs for cardiac diseases this section of the Canon in such detail and compiled a separate thesis on heart drugs are enough to prove that he had a clear understanding of the fatal “Kitab al Adviyt al Qalbiye” that means “The book on character of heart diseases. He was a really scientific drugs for cardiac diseases”. This book is a separate genius and medical practitioner. About 1000 years and independent work which is medicophilosophical ago, he created many medical hypotheses and tried to in character. He described simple and compound discover unknown things related with humanity. drug remedies of heart diseases, but before that, he Especially anatolian muslim researchers have to follow divided the drugs into several categories. These this way if they want to be succeed or add some categories consist of stimulants, diuretics, and cooling fantastic discoveries on science. agents. In this book, drugs are discussed explaining how they act on the heart. Furthermore, he described the dosage and strength of each drug and application techniques (11). One of the drugs mentioned in this book is zarnab. He wrote that zarnab (Taxus baccata L.) sets the heart at ease. It is recently demonstrated that this drug possessed calcium channel blocking
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