The Use of Plants in Medicine by Avicenna

Importance of Ib'n Sina and His Contribution to the Medicinal World

Jul 13, 2009

Avicenna, also know as Ib'n Sina, was an Arab physician who contributed greatly to the medicinal world; his published works included the use of plants in medicine.

Avicenna (980 A.D.-1037 A.D.) was born in Persia; he became a well known physician, highly advanced in many 'modern' methods of medicine which are used today and was celebrated throughout the Arab world. His contributions and published works included The Book of Healing and the Canon of Medicine. He is also accredited with writings on the use of over 800 medicinal plants.

Early History of Avicenna

Avicenna's real name was Abu Ali al-Husayn ibn Abd Allah ibn Sina, shortened to Ib'n Sina or westernized to Avicenna; he was a quick learner and by the age of 21 had already been appointed as physician-in-chief to a hospital in Baghdad. From this position, Avicenna advanced quickly, but spent some time in prison for his success, the target of jealous or misunderstood peers.

The Influences for Avicenna's Medicine

The principles of Avicenna's medicine are still taught today; Avicenna drew a lot of his medicinal knowledge from Greek, Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine. He studied a lot of the medicinal work carried out by Hippocrates ( 460 B.C.-377 B.C.). Furthermore, Avicenna's own medicinal work influenced much of European medicine from the 12th to 17th centuries; the Canon of Medicine was one of the most popular medicinal texts of medicine students in medieval Europe.

Avicenna and the Use of Medicinal Plants

Avicenna recorded the descriptions and use of hundreds of plants which were used for medicinal purposes; his writings were so detailed that they are still relevant in use today. However, although Avicenna is known to have recorded the use of many medicinal plants, some plants have been difficult to identify due to the use of various regionalized Middle Eastern, Indian and Chinese names in the texts.

Avicenna and the Use of Rose

Popular plants such as lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) are mentioned in Avicenna's texts but it is perhaps the rose (Rosa damascena) for which Avicenna is remembered the most. The rose is one of the most revered plants in the Islamic culture and Avicenna wrote a complete book on the rose; rose is said to be one of the first plants which Avicenna successfully distilled.

The Invention of the Refrigerated Coil in Distillation by Avicenna

Avicenna was accredited with introducing the use of a refrigerated coil in the distillation process of plants, an improvement on the basic stills which were in use prior to Avicenna's invention. It was possible to produce aromatic flower waters and essential oils with the new distillation process; although archaeological evidence shows that plants were certainly distilled before this time in history, there is no doubt that the invention of the refrigerated coil improved the distillation process greatly.

Avicenna's Place in Medicinal History

Avicenna contributed many other medicinal findings and works to the world of medicine; in addition to his use of plants in medicine, some of Avicenna's other writings included psychology, astronomy, natural diets, music, natural sciences, massage techniques and the use of plant oils. Avicenna, in many ways, was 'ahead of his time' and it is perhaps for this reason that many of Avicenna's texts are still referred to by modern medicine today.

References:

Lawless, Julia 1995 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils UK:Thorsons

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