Natural Therapeutics of Medicine In Islam (1/4)

I. Introduction

Medicine is both an art and a science. It encompasses prophylaxis or prevention, diagnosis, and finally treatment (both curative and palliative).

Preventive medicine is especially important and has been neglected as a major factor in health care. In fact, it is well documented but little known that most of the health gains (expressed as life expectancy, morbidity, and mortality) attributed to modem medicine are principally due to advancements in diet and sanitation, rather than to the more complex technologies. Preventive medicine as a natural measure of therapeutic stresses the involvement of the individual in his own health care. This is accomplished by educating the patient as to proper nutrition, hygiene and physical activities. Equally important are the psychologic and spiritual factors as these can greatly influence the disease.

Curative medicine is as important as the preventive one. In the process of healing, natural approaches have been used. The natural art of therapeutics is not a new approach in the field of medicine; rather it is as old as people have been the inhabitants of this planet.

Man has done his best in protecting himself from diseases and in preventing himself from sickness.

Preventive and curative approaches have been used by man to keep himself healthy, happy and strong. Some of these so-called "primitive" measures have been shown to be scientifically sound and have this been added to the "modern" therapeutic regimens. Some approaches were considered to be natural (e.g. herbs, natural foods, etc.) while others were oriented towards the use of drugs and synthetic remedies.

Anyone studying or practicing medicine realizes that be is at best providing therapy to impede the disease process so that the body can take over and affect a cure with the mercy of Allah. In an Islamic sense, the health care practitioner must be viewed as an agent through which Allah acts. He must not delude himself into a position of exaggerated self-importance.

In this paper the authors wish to approach the subject of natural therapeutics in medicine vis-a-vis the Islamic approach of good and sound health. The paper will also include some aspects of the following: types of natural therapeutics, diet as an approach to natural healing and colleges that deal with natural therapeutics. The paper does include some recommendations related to natural approaches in medicine for the Muslim world.

Such a paper is helpful to all those concerned about sound health of the individuals including those, groups dealing with the allopathic and the natural medicine. This research is of great help to all those colleges teaching medicine and especially those colleges teaching natural therapeutics. It is a source of help to the physicians, patients, hospitals, grocery stores, health food stores and the like. This paper is of great assistance to the Third World, i.e. the emerging nations whose technological resources are meager, and whose health delivery approaches are more or less still oriented towards the natural therapeutic methods.

It is the hope of the authors that an eclectic approach be adopted by the Third World, i.e. to pick up the best of every discipline. It is hoped that the Third World nations will establish an INSTITUTE OF HEALTH CARE DELIVERY which will catalogue the entire spectrum of medical approaches including the "natural" methods. If the Third World nations establish such a health institute based on the natural approaches, they will undoubtedly help save themselves money, time, effort and the more expensive technology. This will lead to better healing and finally faster and better results.

II. Islamic Views on Therapeutics

Islam is a way of life to live, a system to be followed, a code of ethics and a constitution to be applied in the daily life of every person. As such, Islam has many constructive ideas to offer in the fields of health and medicine. In order to find out what Islam teaches, one has to read the Qur'an and the Hadith. Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah the poets (Ash-Shu'ara') about healing from diseases: "..... and when I sicken, then He (Allah) heals me" (Surah Ash-Shu'ara', 26:80).

As far as the Prophet is concerned, related to the healing of diseases, it was reported by Jabir bin Abdullah that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:

"For any disease there is a cure, and when the cure matches the disease, the person recovers by the will of Allah ....."

The prophet also said about the healing of diseases: It was reported by Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

"Allah never inflicts a disease unless he makes a cure for it. ..."

As far as the treatment of diseases it was reported by Usamah bin Shareek saying:

"I was with the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and Arabs came to him asking: 'O messenger of Allah: Do we take medicine for treatment?' He said: "Yes, Oh you the servants of Allah, take medicine, as Allah Almighty has not created a disease without having created a cure for it except one disease." They asked, 'What it is?' He said: "Old age." In another saying: "Allah never inflicts a disease without providing a cure; only those who were aware of it knew it, whereas those who were not aware, were ignorant of it."

As far as the preventive approach in health, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:

"An ounce of prevention is better than a ton of treatment."

Hence, healing medicine is an art and a science. It is done through prevention (prophylaxis), diagnosis, treatment, and cure. In so doing, the individual may prolong his happy life and reduce the degree and the rate of occurrence of illness. Islam encompasses all these approaches so that a person may stay healthy, happy and strong.

III. Limitations of Drug Therapy

Drug therapy has become the concern of many people. The reasons are obvious, among which are the following:

A. Most drug therapy must be closely monitored and carefully dosed. This dose may have to be altered frequently due to the nature of the particular disease process or other concomitant ones the patient may have.

B. Even so, toxic effects may occur. Often one has to weigh the advantages of drug use against the side effects. The choice is not always clear.

C. Therapeutic drugs are usually much more expensive than preventative measures. D. The choice whether or not to use drug prescriptions depends greatly on the disease process. Acute, life-threatening diseases usually require such intervention. However, for chronic, non-curable diseases (such as arthritis) the rationale for drug prescriptions is much more subjective. The psychological makeup of the patient is likely to play a large role in the decision to use a drug.

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