OPIJUM S MEDICINSKOG GLEDIŠTA KAKO JE PRIKAZAN U AVICENINU KANONU MEDICINE

Throughout history, opium has been used as a base for the opioid class of drugs used to suppress the central nervous system. Opium is a substance extracted from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.). Its consumption and medicinal application date back to antiquity. In the medieval period, Avicenna, a famous Persian scholar (980-1037 AD) described poppy under the entry Afion of his medical encyclopedia Canon of Medicine. Various effects of opium consumption, both wanted and unwanted are discussed in the encyclopedia. The text mentions the effects of opioids such as analgesic, hypnotic, antitussive, gastrointestinal, cognitive, respiratory depression, neuromuscular disturbance, and sexual dysfunction. It also refers to its potential as a poison. Avicenna describes several methods of delivery and recommendations for doses of the drug. Most of opioid effects described by Avicenna have subsequently been confirmed by modern research, and other references to opium use in medieval texts call for further investigation. This article highlights an important aspect of the medieval history of medicine.Opijum se kroz povijest rabio kao temelj za opioide koji suprimiraju na središnji živčani sustav. To je tvar koja se ekstrakcijom dobiva iz makovih glavica (Papaver somniferum L.). Uporaba opijuma i njegova medicinska primjena bili su poznati još u antičko doba. U srednjem je vijeku poznati perzijski učenjak Avicena (980. –1037.) spominjao mak u svojoj medicinskoj enciklopediji Medicinski kanon pod natuknicom afion. U enciklopediji se raspravlja o različitom djelovanju opijuma, povoljnom i štetnom. Spominje se da opioidi ublažavaju bol, djeluju poput hipnoze, protiv kašlja, na probavu, na um, na oslabljene funkcije disanja, poremećaj živčano-mišićnog sustava tespolne funkcije, a govori se i o trovanju opioidima. Avicena je opisao nekoliko načina primjene i dao preporuke vezane uz doze lijeka. Većina učinaka na koje se Avicena osvrće, kasnija su istraživanja potvrdila, a drugi srednjovjekovni izvori koji govore o uporabi opijuma zanimljivi su za buduća istraživanja. U ovome se članku ističe jedan važan aspekt povijesti medicine srednjega vijeka

IZVORIŠTE POJMA NEUROGENE BOLI U RANOSREDNJEVJEKOVNOJ PERZIJI (9.-12. STOLJEĆE)

Neuropathic pain is supposed to be a post-renaissance described medical entity. Although it is often believed that John Fothergill (1712-1780) provided the first description of this condition in 1773, a review of the medieval Persian medical writings will show the fact that neuropathic pain was a medieval-originated concept. “Auojae Asab” [Nerve-originated Pain]was used as a medical term in medieval Persian medical literature for pain syndromes which etiologically originated from nerves. Physicians like Rhazes (d. 925 CE), Haly Abbas (d. 982 CE), Avicenna (d. 1037 CE), and Jorjani (d. 1137 CE) have discussed multiple aspects of nerve-originated pain including its classification, etiology, differentiating characteristics, different qualities, and pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments. Recognizing medieval scholars’ views on nerve-originated pain can lighten old historical origins of this concept.Smatra se kako je neurogena bol medicinski entitet opisan u postrenesansnom dobu. Mada se često vjeruje kako je ovo stanje prvi opisao John Fothergill (1712.–1780.) 1773. godine, prikaz perzijskih srednjovjekovnih medicinskih zapisa pokazat će da je neurogena bol pojam koji potječe iz srednjeg vijeka. Termin Auojae Asab [Bol koja potječe iz živca] bio je korišten u perzijskoj srednjovjekovnoj medicinskoj literaturi za sindrome boli koji su etiološki potjecali od živaca. Liječnici poput Rhazesa (u. 925.), Halyja Abbasa (u. 982.), Avicenne (u. 1037.) i Jorjanija (u. 1137.) razmatrali su više aspekata boli koja potječe od živaca, uključujući njezinu klasifikaciju, etiologiju, diferencirajuća obilježja, različita svojstva, farmakološki i ne-farmakološki tretman. Uvažavanje stajališta srednjovjekovnih znanstvenika može rasvijetliti staro povijesno izvorište ovog pojma

A Historical Perspective on Diagnosing Death in Persian Medicine

This paper offers a historical exploration of how death was diagnosed in Persian medicine, highlighting the evolution of diagnostic criteria and the contributions of key scholars. In the post-medieval era, defining death and establishing diagnostic criteria underwent significant development, albeit with ongoing debates. Notably, medieval Persian scholars, such as Qutb al-Din al-Shirazi, played a crucial role in this discourse. Qutb al-Din al-Shirazi, a prominent Persian polymath, synthesized earlier knowledge to provide a comprehensive set of diagnostic criteria for death in traditional Persian medicine. These criteria encompassed physical examinations like assessing nail shininess, feeling pulsatile vessels in specific areas, observing pupillary reactions to light, and even monitoring the movement of a thread near the mouth and nose. His mention of the pupillary light reflex is one of the earliest known references to this phenomenon in medical history. Medieval Persian practices also involved placing a water container on the chest of the individual to detect the absence of chest wall motion associated with respiration as a sign of death. Furthermore, scholars like Ibn-e Sina (Avicenna) stressed the importance of monitoring pulse and respiration as vital signs, especially when administering potentially lethal drugs. In cases of uncertain diagnosis, such as stroke, medieval Persians postponed burials for up to three days. These historical insights provide a fascinating glimpse into the evolving understanding of death in Persian medicine and the intricate methods used for its diagnosis

ANORECTAL DISEASES IN AVICENNA’S “CANON OF MEDICINE”

Although the development of modern medicine has helped us detect and treat diseases better than in the past, especially in the field of surgery; the history of medicine may be a trigger that can help us use neglected aspects of prior knowledge for the advancement of modern-day science. Since historical papers that have specifically focused on anorectal diseases are rare, but those that exist contain brief discussions in this field, the current study aims to present a detailed review of Avicenna’s approach to anorectal diseases. Therefore, we reviewed On the Diseases of the Anus, the 17th chapter of the third volume of the Canon of Medicine written by Avicenna, and compared his views on the classification and diagnosis of, and the approach to anorectal diseases with that of modern proctology. Avicenna discussed in detail about anorectal diseases such as hemorrhoid, fissure, perianal abscess and fistula, rectal prolapse, fecal incontinence, and pruritus ani. In addition, we introduce herbs which Avicenna used to treat these diseases. Our findings show that Avicenna’s views on the classification and diagnosis of, and the approach to anorectal diseases have few fundamental differences with modern medicine. In addition, the pharmacological effects of some of the herbs that were recommended by Avicenna, and are used in current medicine are proven. Thus the Medieval knowledge can be further scientifically investigated to develop new therapeutic options for anorectal diseases.Premda nam je razvoj moderne medicine pomogao bolje negoli je to bilo u prošlosti detektirati i tretirati bolesti, napose u polju kirurgije, povijest bi medicine mogao biti okidač koji nam može pomoći u korištenju zanemarenih aspekata prijašnjeg znanja, a za unapređenje suvremene znanosti. Budući da su povijesni tekstovi koji se usko fokusiraju na anorektalne bolesti rijetki, ali oni koji postoje sadrže kratku diskusiju u polju, ova studija nastoji detaljno prikazati Avicenin pristup anorektalnim bolestima. Zbog toga smo prikazali 17. poglavlje trećeg sveska Avicenina Kanona medicine, „O bolestima anusa“, i usporedili njegove poglede na klasifikaciju i dijagnozu te pristup anorektalnim bolestima s onima moderne proktologije. Avicena je detaljno raspravljao o anorektalnim bolestima kao što su hemoroidi, rascjep (fisura), perianalni apsces i kanal (fistula), rektalni prolaps, fekalna inkontinencija i analni svrbež. U nastavku predstavljamo trave koje je Avicena koristio za tretiranje spomenutih bolesti. Naše istraživanje pokazuje da Avicenini pogledi na klasifikaciju i dijagnozu te pristup anorektalnim bolestima imaju malo fundamentalnih razlika s modernom medicinom. Zatim su dokazani farmakološki efekti nekih trava koje je preporučivao Avicena i koji se koriste u sadašnjoj medicini. Dakle srednjovjekovno znanje može biti dalje znanstveno proučavano za razvijanje novih terapijskih mogućnosti za anorektalne bolest

IZVORIŠTE POJMA NEUROGENE BOLI U RANOSREDNJEVJEKOVNOJ PERZIJI (9.-12. STOLJEĆE)

Neuropathic pain is supposed to be a post-renaissance described medical entity. Although it is often believed that John Fothergill (1712-1780) provided the first description of this condition in 1773, a review of the medieval Persian medical writings will show the fact that neuropathic pain was a medieval-originated concept. “Auojae Asab” [Nerve-originated Pain]was used as a medical term in medieval Persian medical literature for pain syndromes which etiologically originated from nerves. Physicians like Rhazes (d. 925 CE), Haly Abbas (d. 982 CE), Avicenna (d. 1037 CE), and Jorjani (d. 1137 CE) have discussed multiple aspects of nerve-originated pain including its classification, etiology, differentiating characteristics, different qualities, and pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments. Recognizing medieval scholars’ views on nerve-originated pain can lighten old historical origins of this concept.Smatra se kako je neurogena bol medicinski entitet opisan u postrenesansnom dobu. Mada se često vjeruje kako je ovo stanje prvi opisao John Fothergill (1712.–1780.) 1773. godine, prikaz perzijskih srednjovjekovnih medicinskih zapisa pokazat će da je neurogena bol pojam koji potječe iz srednjeg vijeka. Termin Auojae Asab [Bol koja potječe iz živca] bio je korišten u perzijskoj srednjovjekovnoj medicinskoj literaturi za sindrome boli koji su etiološki potjecali od živaca. Liječnici poput Rhazesa (u. 925.), Halyja Abbasa (u. 982.), Avicenne (u. 1037.) i Jorjanija (u. 1137.) razmatrali su više aspekata boli koja potječe od živaca, uključujući njezinu klasifikaciju, etiologiju, diferencirajuća obilježja, različita svojstva, farmakološki i ne-farmakološki tretman. Uvažavanje stajališta srednjovjekovnih znanstvenika može rasvijetliti staro povijesno izvorište ovog pojma

A comparative study of ranitidine and quince (Cydonia oblonga mill) sauce on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in pregnancy: a randomised, open-label, active-controlled clinical trial

Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill) is a popular medicinal herb in different traditional medicines. Concentrated quince fruit extract, also known as quince sauce (QS), is traditionally used for the treatment of a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of QS versus ranitidine on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in pregnant women. We compared the efficacy of 4 weeks of ranitidine (150 mg, twice daily) with the efficacy of QS (10 mg, after meals) on 137 pregnant women with GERD. Their General Symptom Score (GSS) and Major Symptom Score (MSS) were compared at the baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after intervention. After 2 weeks of the study, the mean GSS score of the QS group was significantly lower compared with the ranitidine group (p = .036). Although, the GSS value at the end of the study had no difference between groups (p = .074). However, the MSS of the different symptoms of the two groups at 2 weeks and 4 weeks had no significant differences. It seems that the efficacy of QS for the management of pregnancy-related GERD is similar to ranitidine.Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Quince is a traditional gastric tonic, an appetiser, and a remedy for nausea/vomiting and epigastric pain. Also, there are several previous positive experiences about quince products for GERD treatment. What do the results of this study add? It seems that the efficacy of QS for the management of pregnancy-related GERD is similar to ranitidine. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? QS can be suggested as an alternative medicine for pregnant patients with GERD

The Use of Chinese Herbal Drugs in Islamic Medicine

This paper investigates some of the ways that Chinese medicine has been transferred to the Western world and to Islamic territories. During the Golden Age of Islam (8th to 13th century CE), the herbal drug trade promoted significant commercial and scientific exchange between China and the Muslim world. Chinese herbal drugs have been described by medieval Muslim medical scholars such as Tabari (870 CE), Rhazes (925 CE), Haly Abbas (982 CE), Avicenna (1037 CE) and Jurjani (1137 CE). The term al-sin (the Arabic word for China) is used 46 times in Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine in reference to herbal drugs imported from China. Cinnamon (dar sini; “Chinese herb”), wild ginger (asaron), rhubarb (rivand-e sini), nutmeg (basbasa), incense tree wood (ood), cubeb (kababe) and sandalwood (sandal) were the most frequently mentioned Chinese herbs in Islamic medical books. There are also multiple similarities between the clinical uses of these herbs in both medical systems. It appears that Chinese herbal drugs were a major component of the exchange of goods and knowledge between China and the Islamic and later to the Western world amid this era