IBN SINA AND THE REVOLUTION OF FOLK MEDICINE

Аннотация

Thisarticle analyzes the connection between the legacy of the famous scholar Abu Ali Ibn Sina and folk medicine. It explores how Ibn Sina’s medical views—on nature, proper nutrition, psychological health—and widely used folk remedies are harmonized from a scientific perspective. Furthermore, the article compares the scientific basis of herbs and natural remedies used in folk medicinewith themethods recorded in Ibn Sina’s works. Keywords: Ibn Sina, folk medicine, scientific heritage, natural healing, medical science, phytotherapy, ancient medicine. Throughout the history of the Uzbek people, the field of medicine has always held a special place. Folk medicine—consisting of treatments used in natural conditions among ordinary people—has developed over centuries, passed down both orally and in written form. In this regard, one of the greatest scholars, the “Sultan of Eastern Medicine,” Abu Ali Ibn Sina, scientifically advanced medical concepts. His book The Canon of Medicine (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb) served not only scientific circles but also formed the theoretical basis for folk medicine. This articleevaluates the interrelation, similarities, and differences between Ibn Sina’s legacy and folk medicinefrom amodern point ofview. Ibn Sina (980–1037) was one of the greatest physicians, philosophers, and encyclopedists of the medieval East. Although he worked in many scientific fields, he is particularly renowned for his contributions to medicine. His most famous work, The Canon of Medicine, consists of five volumes and was used as a main textbook in European medical universities for over 600 years. This work provides detailed analysis on healthcare, disease diagnosis and treatment, diet, hygiene, and more. Notably, Ibn Sina systematized the scientific foundations of medicinal products derived from plants, animals, and minerals. Folk medicineis a system oftreatments formed mainly onpractical experience and includes: • Herbalmedicine (phytotherapy) • Useofanimal products (honey, oil,milk,snake fat, etc.) • Heat and cold therapies (steaming, compresses, friction) • Healthy diets andproper nutrition • Spiritualtreatments (prayers, incantations, counseling) https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi volume 4,issue5,2025 755 Thesemethods evolved overthousands of years and are widely used among people. Similarities between Ibn Sina’s medicineand folk healing include: 1. Phytotherapy Ibn Sina’s works mention over 800 medicinal plants. These same herbs—such as ginger, cumin, licorice, wormwood—are commonly used in folk medicine. Ibn Sina, however, provided scientificdetails regarding theirphysiological effects, dosages, and impact onhormonal balance. 2. ProperNutrition Folk medicine considers dietary habits closely tied to health. Ibn Sina held profound scientific views on this topic, explaining the relationship between nutrition and diseases, as well as the digestive system’s roleindisease prevention. 3. Psychotherapy In folk practice, emotional states like sadness and fear are treated through prayer, wisdom, and music. Ibn Sina scientifically explained the influence of such methods, asserting that “mental illnessesare closely linkedwith physical diseases.” IV. Differences and Modern Interpretation In some cases, folk medicine includes unscientific or even harmful treatments. Ibn Sina, on the other hand, validated each method through observation, experimentation, and logical analysis. Therefore, modern medicine aims to evaluate folk remedies through scientific criteria— preservingeffective methods and discarding harmful ones. During Ibn Sina’s time—the 10th to 11th centuries—medicine lacked modern labs and technologies, yet significant achievements were made through practical experience and logical reasoning. Especially during the Islamic Golden Age, science, including medicine, greatly progressed. In cities like Baghdad, Bukhara, Ray, and Isfahan, pharmacies, hospitals, and madrasas were established, shaping a scholarly environment that nurtured Ibn Sina. He scientifically analyzed some common folk practices and criticized others. For instance, harmful treatments likeexcessivebloodletting orbranding were strongly criticized byIbn Sina. Today’s concept of “integrative medicine” reflects Ibn Sina’s approach: he considered not just the illness but the patient’s overall condition—including mood, season, climate, age, diet, and mental state. Folk medicine was also historically based onthisprinciple. Ibn Sinawrites: “Every illness stems from cold, heat, moisture, or dryness. The cure must also correspond to thesequalities.” Thisview aligns withthe folkmedicine concept of“imbalance in thebody.” Examples ofscientifically supported medicinal plants: • Licorice (Glycyrrhizaglabra): Used in folk medicine to treat coughs and colds. Ibn Sina recommended it not only for respiratory issuesbut also as ablood purifier and diuretic. • Spinach and Parsley: Folk medicine uses these to increase blood iron levels. Ibn Sina described them as easily https:/