| |
Introduction
'Al Qanoon Fil Tibb' (The Encyclopaedia of Medicine),
which is in five volumes, was the part of syllabus
of their universities. Great resources in European
countries further promoted this knowledge and
remarkable change and modernisation occurred in
the field of both medicine and surgery. Surgical
knowledge was further developed. Various surgical
instruments and apparatus were further invented,
modernising the earlier machines. However, all
the developments and progress was made on the
basis of the foundation laid down by the Hakeems
(Unani Tibb Physicians) as referred above. Painstaking
efforts were made in the field of medicine. Separating
the ‘Useful Properties’ of medicines,
small doses were prescribed and the methods of
consumption were also simplified. The speed of
treatment got increased, but injection of the
separated elements of the medicine was not accepted
to the body, which severely affected other systems
of the body. Contrary to this, the old system
of treatment, though undoubtedly was often very
slow, no such side effects ever came forth in
the treatment. Hence, this system of treatment
(Unani) remained ever popular and ever successful
in almost all ages. This system took its entry
in India during the 9th century through the Arab
merchants. Since all the herbs were already available
in India and there was no scarcity of curios people
here, the system flourished, progressed and developed
in this land of Rajas and Nawabs. The expert Hakeems,
in view of the medicinal traits of the herbs,
did research work on various herbs locally available
and continued the discovery of new herbs. These
Hakeems paid special attention to decrease the
medicine of dose and to simplify the consumption
method. Their continuous efforts gave us numerous
such medicines, which are sweet and good at taste.
In the beginning of the 20th Century, Hakeem
Abdul Majeed (1883-1922), the founder of ‘Hamdard’,
resolved to make use of the vast experiences,
experiments and prescriptions of all the old Hakeems,
but he lived short to fulfil his mission. After
his death, his son Hakeem Abdul Hameed (1908-1999),
who was rightly a worthy son of a worthy father,
undertook the task and he devoted all his life
to protect, enhance and modernise this ‘system
of medicine’. Gifted with remarkable discernment
and talents at a very early age, he made full
use of experiences of the ancient Hakeems and
also centralised his best efforts and endeavours
for the discovery of new medicines. Not only this,
through the help of modern scientific machines
and apparatus, he also simplified the methods
of intake of medicines. For the preparation of
medicines, he always selected best, pure and genuine
herbs. His motto was to serve the humanity. Hakeem
Abdul Hameed undertook a noble task at a very
young age and carried it on successfully throughout
his whole life, devoting his youth and old age
in the research work of novelties in the Unani
System of Treatment. His working is both, essence
of the ancient physicians experiences and a new
epoch in the modern manufacturing system of medicines.
<< Previous
Introduction
What is Unani
System of Medicine?
Treatment
Hamdard and Unani
|
