Ibn sina, known as avicenna in the west, was a contributor to many fields, including geology, philosophy, law, theology and astronomy, but his greatest legacy lies in the field of medicine. Avicenna s canon of medicine was long ago translated into latin, persian, and urdu, yet many of the inaccuracies from those first translations linger in current english translations. Avicennas most influential works were kitab alshifa. An edition of iranian physician avicenna s the canon of medicine al. Law of medicine by avicenna is one of the most famous books in the history of medicine. Professor urquhart has kindly provided the following details. Abu ali alhusayn ibn sina is better known in europe by the latinized name avicenna. Ibn sinas canon book, a medical reference in europe for.
The book i have is entitled the canon of medicine by avicenna abu ali alhusayn ibn abd allah ibn sina, adapted by laleh bakhtiar. Cameron gruner and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. His philosophical views have engaged the attention of western thinkers over several centuries, and his books have been among the most important sources in philosophy. In medicine, his encyclpedic book, alqanun the canon al qanun fi altibb the canon of medicine was translated into latin towards the end of the twelfth century ce, and became a reference source for medical studies in the universities of europe until the end of the seventeenth century. After a long period of wandering through persia, he became the court physician of shams aldawlah in hamadan and composed the kitab ashshifa the book of healing, a vast philosophical and scientific encyclopedia, and the canon of medicine, among the most famous books in the history of medicine. His book, the canon surveyed the entire medical knowledge available from ancient and muslim sources, of the time, in a clear and organized summary. A work that once translated, would be used by western medical universities until the 17th century. More than 200 extant works have been attributed to him. The fourth book opens with the famous treatise on fevers.
A millennium after his life, avicenna remains one of the most highly regarded physicians of all time. The sufi tradition in persian architecture and author of sufi. The canon of medicine was used as a text book in the universities of montpellier and leuven as late as 1650. In addition to the canon, other medical works of avicenna were received by translators and physicians of the west. The book explains the causes of health and disease. It presents an overview of the contemporary medical knowledge of the islamic world, which had been influenced by earlier traditions. It is one in a series of great books of the islamic world, 1999 to laleh bahktiar.
In medicine, his encyclpedic book, alqanun the canon al qanun fi. Buy canon of medicine by avicenna ibn sina, laleh bakhtiar isbn. For centuries, avicenna s canon was a standard textbook in many european medical schools. Le miniature del manoscritto 2197 della biblioteca universitaria di bologna. Ali ibn sina, in latin he is know as avicenna and his most famous. Inside image of the canon of medicine book image source figure 14. The book of simple medicine and plants from the canon. Staying faithful to context of the book, submitting this. It focused not simply on the treatment of symptoms, but on finding the cause of illness through humoral diagnosisa method still used in. Avicenna s books are preceded by a list of synony ms. The present translation, avicennas medicine, is welcome not only because it makes many of the ideas of the canon accessible in english but also because. The sheikh alrais sharaf almulk abu ali alhusayn b. Ibn sina wrote and published the final volume in 1025. Inside image of the canon of medicine book image source.
It is due to its importance that this encyclopedic book has had many editions and translations into. Ibn sinas famous canon of medicine qanun fi altibb comes to life in english with. Canon of medicine complete 5 volume set kazi publications. Book ii of the canon is a materia medica, book iii covers headtotoe diseases, book iv examines diseases that are not specific to certain organs fevers. The author of more than 200 books on medicine and philosophy, avicenna followed and further expanded on the tradition of western philosophy and medicine. The book of simple medicine and plants from the canon of medicine description abu ali al. Ibn sinas fame in europe rests principally on this work, alqanun fi. Ibn sina created an extensive corpus of works during what is commonly known as the islamic golden age, in which the translations of grecoroman, persian, and indian. Book 2 is entitled aladwiya almufrada materia medica and lists approximately 800 individual drugs of vegetable and mineral origin. In medicine, his encyclpedic book, alqanun the canon al qanun fi altibb the canon of medicine was translated into latin towards the end of. Ibn sinas the canon of medicine muslim heritagemuslim heritage. Avicenna canon of medicine complete five volume set.
Avicenna s canon is not only the most important and influential single text in the history of medicine, it is also the main work of reference for a major traditional school of medicine that is still alive and has much to teach us today. His canon of medicine, also known as the qanun, is one of the most famous and influential books in the history of medicine, forming the basis for our modern understanding of human health and disease. Avicenna s most known body of work is the canon of medicine a 5 volume medical encyclopedia that was used as a medical guideline in europe and the islamic world until the 18th century. Edited by two of the bestknown contributors to the growing canon of information about immigrant medicine, and written by a geographically diverse collection. In medicine, his encyclpedic book, alqanun the canon al qanun fi altibb the canon of medicine was translated into latin towards the end of the twelfth century ce, and became a reference source for medical studies in the universities of europe until. This book is a fivevolume medical encyclopedia that was completed in 1025. Book of the cure, or the cure, an encyclopaedic exposition of logic, physics, mathematics, and metaphysics, and alqanun fi al. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. His most famous works are the book of healing, a vast philosophical and scientific encyclopaedia, and the canon of medicine, which was a standard medical text at many medieval universities. The poem on medicine alurj za fi altibb, now available in english translation, is the summary of avicenna medicine in poetry form including 26 couplets. Avicennas most famous writings include the book of healing and the canon of medicine two transcendental books that revolutionized how medicine was practiced in universities across the middle ages, both in islam and the western world.
Avicenna 9801037 the prince of physicians abu ali sina, known as avicenna in the west wrote on numerous subjects, everything from philosophy to law, but his most famous book easily was, alqanun filtibb the canon of medicine. Ali ibn sina, in latin he is know as avicenna and his most famous works are those on philosophy and medicine. Avicenna s most influential works were kitab alshifa. Ali ibn sina, in latin he is known as avicenna and his most famous works are those on philosophy and medicine his philosophical views have engaged the attention of western thinkers over several centuries, and his books have been among the most. Avicennas medicine book by mones abuasab, hakima amri. The arabic text of the canon was translated into latin by gerard of. It is a clear and ordered summa of all the medical knowledge of ibn sinas time augmented from his own observations. Avicenna is best known as a physician whose major work, the canon alqanun filtibb, continued to be taught as a medical textbook in europe and in the islamic. Avicenna is best known as a physician whose major work, the canon alqanun filtibb, continued to be taught as a medical textbook in europe for 600 years and is still used in the middle east and south asia under the name of unani medicine. The canon of medicine was used as a textbook in the universities of montpellier and louvain as late as 1650.
The five volumes, spanning a total of 532 numbered parchment folios, contain the most prominent hebrew translation of avicennas canon of medicine, which has been penned in over one hundred copies. Laleh is the adaptercompilereditor of the five volumes of avicennas worldrenowned canon of medicine, coauthor of a sense of unity. Ibn sinas famous canon of medicine qanun fi altibb comes to life in english with this translation. Made in northern italy during the first half of the 15th century, avicennas canon of medicine counts as one of the most exhaustive medical encyclopedias of its age. The hebrew translation of the canon was published in napoli in 1941. Canon of medicine by avicenna meet your next favorite book. A treatise on the canon of medicine of avicenna, book. Avicenna introduces the tables for each entry where applicable that describes the individual, specific qualities of simple drugs.
His book, the canon surveyed the entire medical knowledge available from ancient and muslim sources, of the time, in a. The compiler has included the latin, persian and arabic names of the drugs along with artistic renderings of the drugs as illustrations. Original cloth, a bit worn, but with three autograph inscriptions by the author. It focused not simply on the treatment of symptoms, but on finding the cause of illness through humoral. Avicenna canon of medicine alqanun filtibb, great books. This volume, newly translated directly from the original arabic, includes detailed commentary to explain current biomedical interpretations of avicenna s theories and ways to apply his treatments today. A treatise on the canon of medicine of avicenna, incorporating a translation of the first book, by o.
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