• DOI:10.1007/s00415-011-6219-2
• Corpus ID: 27037669

Avicenna (980–1037 AD)

@article{Zargaran2011AvicennaA,
  title={Avicenna (980–1037 AD)},
  author={Arman Zargaran and Alireza Mehdizadeh and Mohamad M. Zarshenas and Abdolali Mohagheghzadeh},
  journal={Journal of Neurology},
  year={2011},
  volume={259},
  pages={389-390}
}

• A. Zargaran, A. Mehdizadeh, +1 author A. Mohagheghzadeh
• Published 1 February 2012
• Medicine
• Journal of Neurology

Avicenna (Ibn-e-Sı̄nā), a Persian physician, was arguably one of the most outstanding medical scientists and practitioners ever, and had a deep influence on medical science in the golden ages of Islamic medicine (9–12th century AD) and in Europe as well. He contributed to various aspects of medicine including neurology, a discipline that was very well known and widely accepted in that period [5, 8]. Avicenna was born in Afshaneh, near the city of Bokhara (in old Persia) in 980 AD. His father, Abdollah, was a local governor and his mother’s name was Setareh. His cleverness was obvious since his childhood. He finished learning the Quran and important Persian writings when he was only 10 years old, started to learn philosophy and medicine, and became a famous physician when he was just 18. When the prince of the Samanid dynasty (Nuh) had been treated by him, he gave Avicenna permission to use the royal library as a reward. It was a great chance for him to get access to many important and unique books and complete his knowledge. After the Samanid dynasty was defeated by the Turkish leader (Mahmood Ghaznavi), Avicenna went to Jorjan, in the north of Iran. He also lived in other parts of Iran such as Ray (near Tehran), Hamedan (west of Iran), and Isfahan (central Iran). After he became involved in politics he had a tough life, becoming a prisoner as well as prime minister. He wrote more than 450 treatises on medicine, philosophy, logic, and astronomy, many of these manuscripts were created in prison [3]. His great medical manuscript, Al-Qanun-fi-al-Tibb (The Canon of Medicine) was translated in Latin by Gerard of Cremona in the 12th century AD [9]. Avicenna’s The Canon of Medicine became a main reference work for medicine in the Western countries until the 16th century [1]. The book in divided into five volumes on medical science, neuroscience being described in the third volume [4]. The chapter begins by explaining the structure and function of the nervous system, viz. parts of the brain, the spinal cord, ventricles, meninges, nerves and roots, followed by a description of neurological and neuropsychological disorders, including signs and symptoms and treatment strategies. Among the specific conditions in the field of neurology and neuropsychiatry, he mentions epilepsy in children and adults (Omo-al-sabian and sare’), apoplexy and stroke (sakteh), paralysis (falej), vertigo (davar), spasm (tashanoj), wry mouth (laghve), tremor (ra’she), meningitis (lisarghos, gharanits, sarsaam), amnesia and dementia (nosyan and fesad-al-zekr), head injuries and traumas (shekastegi-e-sar), hysteria and conversion disorder (ekhtenagh-e-rahem), fainting and stupor (ghash), nervous tic (ekhtelaj), sexual disorders (jemae), love sickness (eshgh), delusion and hallucination (vahm), insomnia (sahr), sopor (sobat), nightmare (kabus or bakhtak), mania and psychosis (mania and dae’-al-kalb or Jonoun), melancholia (malikhulia), paranoia (ghotrab), asthenia (kheder), hydrocephalus (mae’-fi-al-ra’s) and sciatica (ergh-al-nesa). All his descriptions are precise and detailed [4]. To arrive at a diagnosis, Avicenna applied–– apart from the history––simple methods such as observation of eyes, tongue, nails, skin color conditions, and feeling the pulse [4]. Recent publications have highlighted Avicenna’s views on the treatment of impotence [7], management of spinal disorders and trauma [2], vasovagal syncope [9], and on A. Zargaran A. Mehdizadeh A. Mohagheghzadeh Research Office for the History of Persian Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran