Arab Medicine, alongside Chinese and Indian medicine (such as Ayurveda), is one of the prominent medical traditions globally. It inherits knowledge from various medical schools across ancient civilizations, spanning from India in the east to countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean in the west, from the Arabian Peninsula in the south to Europe in the north. This rich tradition has a documented history that extends back thousands of years, including texts like the Egyptian papyri and Babylonian tablets.
Arabic medicine has significantly influenced contemporary medicine by contributing foundational concepts, mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches. For instance: - Ibn Sina's book, The Canon of Medicine, remains a fundamental reference in general medicine.
- Even today, physicians continue to prescribe medications derived from plants used in Arab medicine, such as Colchicine (used for treating gout) extracted from the Colchicum plant.
Despite the remarkable advancements in modern medicine, it still struggles to cure many common diseases. In contrast, Arabic medicine proposes various treatments. Some require further rigorous scientific research, while others are supported by evidence and can be integrated into healthcare systems. The World Health Organization recommends paying attention to these schools of thought due to their four key attributes: affordability, safety, efficacy, and accessibility.
This page will explore studies and foundational ideas related to Arab medicine in a general context
