Journal - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

Moshen NASERI
Mohammad Reza Shams ARDAKANI
able, including botanic, mineral, and animal substances
that are available in the surroundings of the
environment; and usually could be accessible with
little expenditures and is not comparable with the
excessive costs of chemical drugs.
3- Reliance on Moral Aspects
The roots of TIM could be found in Darolhekmah
and Hozehelmyeh (House of the science and scientists)
and was considered as a means for earning a
low living. A large number of scientists and thinkers,
were learning the beneficial science of medicine
along with studying different sciences to maintain
their own and other people's health; since according
to the Prophet Mohammad "The best of you are who
benefit more the people" and rendered their efforts in
its propagation to the seekers of science; and believed
that its moral reward will be their provisions for the
road to the afterlife.
4- Finding new Medicines and
Treatment Methods
Utilization of traditional experiments increases
the probability of finding of effective medicine materials
up to 40%; this range is about 1% in random
researches. Medicines such as Canabinoides,
Vincristine, Artemisinin, Opioids and Colchicine,
Pilocarpin, Cantharidin, Spinal-Z (22), or other treatment
methods such as acupuncture, general anesthesia,
application of traction instrument in replacing the
dorsal vertebra of spinal columns, and using catheters
for charging and discharging material in to the vesica,
take out the fetus by the hydrocephalus that creates
dystochia? application of gold filament for fixing
the mobile tooth and using the dental prosthesis that
has been sculptured from the tooth of the cow are
undeniable testimonies of this subject.
Reasons for the Promotion of
Traditional Medicine
WHO believes (10) there are three points that
have resulted in the development and promotion of
traditional medicine:
A- Intrinsic qualities: Traditional medicine is
already the people's own health care system and well
accepted by them. It has certain advantages over
THE SCHOOL OF TRADITIONAL IRANIAN MEDICINE
THE DEFINITON, ORIGIN AND ADVANTAGES
imported systems of medicine in any setting because,
as an integral part of the people's culture, it is particularly
effective in solving certain cultural health
problems. It can and does freely contribute to scientific
and universal medicine. It's recognition, promotion
and development would secure for a people's
culture and heritage (10).
B- Approach-unique and holistic: Traditional
medicine has a holistic approach, viewing man in his
totality within a wide ecological spectrum, and of
emphasizing the viewpoint that ill health or disease is
brought about by an imbalance, or disequilibrium, of
man in his total ecological system and not only by the
causative agent and pathogenic evolution. (10).
C- Operational factor: There are some of the
main reasons why traditional medicine needs to be
promoted and developed. Perhaps, from the operational
point of view, the most cogent reason for the
radical development and promotion of traditional
medicine is that it is one of the surest means to
achieve total health care coverage of the world population,
using acceptable, safe and economically feasible
methods, by year 2000. (10).
REFERENCES
1. Mosaddegh M., Naghibi F. TIM, past and present,
Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica. Volume 1.
Tehran, Iran: TMRC, 2002: 2-20.
2. Naseri, Mohsen, Nezam Ahsan, Tahgigh. Better System and
Research. Razi monthly magazine, February 1991: 47-50.
3. Elgood C. Iran Medical History and the Regions of Eastern
Caliphate, translated by Baher F. Tehran: Amir Kabir
Publications, 1992: 19.
4. Defa Ali Abdollah. Luminaries of Physics in Islamic
Civilization, p 10, quoted from Ibn Khaldoon, Darolfekr
Publications, p 479.
5. Kahsani M, Pakdaman SJ, Abolghassem. Comparison of
Iran Old Medicine with the Modern Medicine. Tehran
University Publications, 1978: 8-11.
6. Najmabadi M. Introduction to the Translation of Stories and
Narratives of Almarza Razi, Tehran University Publications,
1977: 14.
7. Nayyar W. Traditional Medicine, A collection of articles
about TIM, Cultural Studies and Research Organization's
Publications, 1983:130.
8. Rahman SZ. The Role of Iranian Scholars in the Development
of Islamic Medicine in India, The International Congress of
History of Medicine in Islam and Iran, Tehran, Iran, 1992.
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