Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine, a Re-emerging Health Aid
Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine,
a Re-emerging Health Aid
Source
The Galilee Society R&D
Center, P.O. Box 437, Shefa-Amr 20200, Qasemi Research Center, Al-Qasemi
Academic College, Baga Algharbiya, Israel, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences,
Arab American University Jenin, P.O. Box 240, Jenin, Palestine, Laboratory of
Comparative Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of
Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA and
Antaki Center for Herbal Medicine Ltd, Kufur Kanna (Cana of Galilee), Israel.
Abstract
Complementary medicine is a formal method of health care
in most countries of the ancient world. It is expected to become more widely
integrated into the modern medical system, including the medical curriculum.
Despite the perception of modern medicine as more efficacious, traditional
medicine continues
to be practiced. More than 70% of the developing world's population still
depends primarily on the complementary and alternative systems of medicine (CAM). In rural areas, cultural
beliefs and practices often lead to self-care, home remedies or consultation
with traditional healers. Herbal medicine can be broadly classified into four
basic systems as follows: Traditional Chinese Herbalism, Ayurvedic Herbalism,
Western Herbalism-which originally came from Greece and Rome to Europe and then
spread to North and South America and Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM). There is no doubt that
today the concept of Arabic traditional herbal medicine is a part of modern life in the Middle East,
and it is acquiring worldwide respect, with growing interest among traditional herbalists and the scientific
community. TAIM therapies have shown remarkable success in healing acute as
well as chronic diseases and have been utilized by people in most countries of
the Mediterranean who have faith in spiritual healers. TAIM is the first choice
for many in dealing with ailments such as infertility, epilepsy, psychosomatic
troubles and depression. In parallel, issues of efficacy and safety of
complementary medicine have become increasingly important
and supervision of the techniques and procedures used is required for
commercial as well as traditional uses. More research is therefore needed to
understand this type of medicine and ensure its safe usage. The present review
will discuss the status of traditional Arab medicine (particularly herbal medicine), including the efficacy and
toxicity of specific medicinal preparations, with an emphasis on the modern in
vitro and in vivo techniques.
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