Canon of Medicine [Hardcover]

Avicenna (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

Ibn Sina s famous Canon of Medicine (Qanun fi al-tibb) comes to life in English with this translation. It is a clear and ordered Summa of all the medical knowledge of Ibn Sina s time augmented from his own observations. It is divided into five books. The first contains generalities concerning the human body, sickness, health and general treatment and therapeutics (the only volume translated here). The second contains the materia medica and the pharmacology of herbs. Three methods agreement, difference and concomitant variations are usually regarded as characteristic of modern science. The third book deals with special pathology, studied by organs, or rather by systems. The fourth book opens with the famous treatise on fevers; then follow the treatise on signs, symptoms, diagnostics and prognostics, minor surgery, tumors, wounds, fractures and bites and that on poisons. The fifth book contains the pharmacopoeia. Because the Canon constituted a monumental unity which maintained its authority until modern times it served as a basis for 700 years of medical teaching and practice and is a proven alternative medicine technique.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The traditional concept of medicine, as presented here, differs profoundly from the view held in the modern world because in the traditional view, the spacesmeridians, channelswithin the body and what flows through them are of more significance in causing illness than the shapes or organs. That is, the emphasis is on that which flows thorugh the channels as the place of the soul. -- Laleh Bakhtiar

About the Author

Avicenna (980-1037 CE) was known as the Prince of Physicians in the Persian empire of his time. In 1012 he began writing this, his great medical text. He lived for fifteen years in Isfahan and died in Hamadan.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 650 pages
• Publisher: Kazi Publications (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1871031672
• ISBN-13: 978-1871031676
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #601,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply superb & ahead of time!, March 17, 2000

By 

Mobina (U.S.A) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Canon of Medicine (Hardcover)

I was in search of this book,and i finally find it on Amazon.com.This book describes not only organs,and systems seprately in chapters but emphysis on spiritual & psycological aspect of an individual,which no doubht are equally important.Being a doctor myself i wonder how Avicemia narrates medical knowledge in detail.This is best for every doctor who is interested in the history of medicine,and the contribution of Muslim scientist in this field.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gruner's remarks worth the price of the book., April 30, 2006

By 

Perry Scott Roberts "Scott" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Canon of Medicine (Hardcover)

It is hard to believe that a book, so beautifully bound, is so poorly edited for numerous common typos.

That being said, the remarks of O. Cameron Gruner are wonderfully astute as to the history and meaning behind Avincenna's Canon. He compares traditional medicines with modern medicine and its lack of philosophy with a deftness only found in yoga sutras.

In addition, the Notes section of about 150 pages adds considerable understanding to the text of Avicenna. Notes helps the reader to experience the historical context of the Canon as well as its importance in modern medicine and philosophy.

I bought this book in order to understand alternative medicines regarding my own health and well being. I received that and much more.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Intersting, December 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Canon of Medicine (Hardcover)

This PERSIAN (Iranian) Moslem doctor contributed a lot to the medical world specially by his 5 volume text "Canon of Medicine." It's clear and well written and one with enough knowledge of human body and herbs (taxonomy + physiology of plants) can easily follow this book even at this time. It combines Persian, Greek, & Islamic science to creat the most intensive and advanced level of pre-modern medicine. Much more usefull and practical than any other alternative medicine (text.)