The Traditional Healer's Handbook: A Classic Guide to the Medicine of Avicenna

Hakim G. M. Chishtis' book on traditional Greek-Arabic medicine is excellent. Other reviews have underscored its merits. This reviewer has already benefitted from applying e.g. the detoxication diet and some of the other dietetic information.Hakim Chishti is remarkably broad-minded and conciliatory in his approach. Even his detoxication diet is quite broad compared to several other like-named regimes. He acknowledges the usefulness of allopathic medicine in several areas.Of particular benefit to this reviewer are the clear presentations of the basic vocabulary and underlying principles of the Greek-Arabic medicine that was practised in Europe until into the 20th century and was the leading school until the 19th.Although Hakim Chishti does not stress this, it is clear from his text that the fundamental ideas of Unani-Tibb, e.g. the four elements, the four qualities and the four humours, are pure archetypes, not specific physical substances. The latter merely reflect and manifest the former.Perhaps an editor's error, Table 5, mentioned at the bottom of page 80, to provide the Tibb and Chinese terminologies for pulse diagnosis, is missing from the book. The Table 5 on page 40, Breath and Emotions, has a different subject.In this reviewer's humble opinion, Hakim Chishti glosses over some basic issues pertaining to the export of Unani-Tibb to northern climatic zones in which, for example, many of the food and medicinal plants used in Indian Unani-Tibb simply do not grow north of about 45 degrees, e.g. rice. The applicability of substantial parts of the practice to northern or comparable cool climatic zones in the southern hemisphere are thus subject to some reservation.For example, Hakim Chishti highly recommends basmati rice produced in the Indian subcontinent. He glosses over both the climate compatibility and the ecological (petroleum consumption for heavy weight food staples) issues.Although highly critical of the suboptimal warmth balance of northern European diets compared to classical Asian ones, Hakim Chishti fails to suggest how a better balance could be achieved using plants and animals native to central and northern Europe.Adaptation of its methods to cool and cold climates is thus an important area where Unani-Tibb research and creativity could be put to excellent use!

I have purchased The Traditional Healer's Handbook at least 3 times, since the late 90's! The information contained in it, makes absolute common sense! I grew up in the times that people used food for health.There are delicious recipes in the handbook. When I look at them, I start to drool and know that I have to pick one to prepare! (LOL) To me, that reaction, means good, healthy, healing food!

I absolutely love the thoroughness of this book and how well it goes over the systems of the greco-arab medicine model. After understanding the model one can apply the knowledge of the body/foods/herbs to help understand how to obtain the results desired. I was able to resolve some digestive issues by limiting hot vegetables in my diet and increasing the cooling vegetables. This provided help that I was unable to obtain from general practitioners in my area because it clued me on on things to look for and ideas for balancing.

some interesting information. Again more pratcial items out on the market which are doable for a nroth american culture. Many of the recommended ingredients are very speacialty or unavailable to the north american consumer. Some information is interesting but for the most part if you want to really use this as a basis for clinical work-its not going to do it for you.

excellent presentations of this book..the contents were comprehensive yet easily understood even for non-medical person..all you need is an open mind to venture back to the old age of Avicenna and realized how much had been forgotten in the current medical practice..i would highly recommend for medical and healthcare providers be them Muslim or Non-Muslim...after all, knowledge comes from God Almighty .

Great information

This is an excellent reference written in a very good and easy to understand language. It provides basic concepts of Unani Tibb/Islamic Medicine. I have not completely read the book yet, but whatever I have read so far, I like it.

Excellent book

I have many books on the medicinal practices of various peoples, and I thought that this one would be an interesting addition to my library. It doesn't disappoint. If you like reading about traditional medicinal practices from around the world, this book would make a unique and valuable addition to you library.

If you search about the Hippocratic medicine, this book could be useful.

Tolle Transaktion, vielen Dank!Ganz tolles Buch, von Iranian Personalities: Abu Ali Sina[...]- Diese Seite übersetzenAbu Ali al-Hussain Ibn Abdallah Ibn Sina was a Persian physician and philosopher. ... On his father's death, Bu Ali left Bokhara and travelled to Jurjan where ...

Very deep in many areas of eastern medicine. Easy to follow at the same time.

Ein wunderbares Buch mit vielen praktischen Anregungen. Wenn man nicht meint, alles zugleich anwenden zu wollen, dann bekommt man auf jeden Fall viele Ideen, geistige Anregungen und Tips, die zur Verbesserung der eigenen Gesundheit beitragen können.