Contribution of Arabic Medicine and Pharmacy to the Development of Health Care Protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina - the First Part

Abstract

The time interval from the 9th to the 13th century remained known as the “Golden period of the Arab science”, and a significant place among the taught sciences are occupied by Medicine and Pharmacy. In the history of medicine, Islamic medicine, also known as Arabic medicine, refers to the science of medicine developed in the Islamic Golden Age, and written in Arabic Arabs were able to use their cultural and natural resources and trade links to contribute to the strong development of pharmacy. After the collapse of the Arab rule, the Arab territorial expanses and cultural heritage were taken over by the Turks. Although scientific progress in the Turkish period slowed down due to numerous unfavorable political-economic and other circumstances, thanks to the Turks, Arab culture and useful Islamic principles expanded to the territory of our homeland of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Significant role in the transfer of Arabic medical and pharmaceutical knowledge was also attributed to the Sephardic Jews who, with their arrival, continued to perform their attar activities, which were largely based on Arab achievements. However, insufficiently elaborated, rich funds of oriental medical and pharmaceutical handwriting testify that Oriental science has nurtured in these areas as well, and that the Arab component in a specific way was intertwined with other cultures and traditions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Historical Contribution of Pharmaceutics to Botany and Pharmacognosy Development

“…The period from 8th to 15th century was period of “Golden age of Arabic Medicine” with a lot of discoveries and a lot of great books about medicine and pharmacy written by great Arabian scientists ( 1 , 8 , 9 , 21 - 27 ), like: Yuhann ibn Masawayh (777-857), Hunayn bin Ishaq (809-873), Sabur bin Sahl (died 869), Ali ibn Sahl at-Taberi (808-861), Muhammad ibn Zakarya al-Razi (865-925), Ali ibn Abbas al-Majusi (925-994), Abu-l-Kasim al-Zahrawi (936-1013), Abu ar-Rayhan al-Biruni (975-1048), Abu Ali ibn Hussayn ibn Abdullah ibn Sina (980-1037), Ibn Jazlah (died 1100), Ibn al-Tilmidh (1073-1165), Rabbi Moses bin Maimon (1135-1204), Ibn al-Baitar (1197-1248), Kohen al-Baitar, Alauddin ibn al-Nafis (1210-1277), etc. ( 19 - 26 ). Rhazes , the largest Arab physician, contributed to the development of Arabic medicine and pharmacy ( 16 ).…”

“…In this book, simple drugs are listed in alphabetical order, and the number of substances described is 1,400. Of this, 300 new drugs, that he mentioned for the first time ( 12 , 19 ).…”

“…They also introduced the use of tannins. Today, some medicines known to the Arabs are re-used, just in a modern manner ( 19 ).…”

“…Dioskurides is the most famous representative of the Greek tradition ( 19 ). His book “De materia medica libri quinque” is a copy of the ancient “pharmacopoeia” and is the greatest and best book of medicine of the entire old century.…”

“…From the preserved manuscripts of Dioskurides book, the most valuable are the Constantinople and Naples Codes. Both manuscripts are now in the National Library in Vienna ( 12 , 19 ).…”