Management of stroke as described by Ibn Sina (Avicenna) in the Canon of Medicine.
Stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is caused by a disturbance of the blood supply to the brain and an accruing loss of brain function. The first recorded observations were in 2455 BC and it has been studied intensely by ancient physicians throughout history. In the early medieval period, Ibn Sina (980-1025 AD) called stroke sekteh and described it extensively. Some of Ibn Sina's definitions and his etiology of stroke are based on humoral theories and cannot be compared with medical current concepts, but most of his descriptions concur with current definitions. This review examines the definition and etiology, clinical manifestations, prognosis, differential diagnosis, and interventions for stroke based on Ibn Sina's epic work, Canon of Medicine. The pharmacological effects of medicinal herbs suggested by Ibn Sina for stroke are examined in light of current knowledge.
Student Research Committee, Department of History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: zargarana@sums.ac.ir.
Arman
A
Zargaran
Mohammad M
MM
Zarshenas
Aliasghar
A
Karimi
Hassan
H
Yarmohammadi
Afshin
A
Borhani-Haghighi
D019468:Disease Management; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008514:Medicine, Arabic / Q000266:history*; D012014:Reference Books, Medical; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy
Avicenna; Cardiology; History of medicine; Ibn Sina; Medieval period; Stroke