Islam and Medicine (Part 4)
TREATMENT OF FEVER:
Death occurs if the temperature of the body exceeds 106 degrees irrespective of the cause. Medically speaking the first line of treatment is to lower the temperature by cold water, ice sponging or even immersing the patient in cold water. On this Prophet said:
"The fever is related to the Hell. Application of cold water keeps it away."
CONSTIPATION:
The blessed Prophet advised that while defaecating keep pressure on the left foot (Tibrani). In squatting position this maneuvers will cause pressure on the descending colon. Medically this helps evacuation of feaces from the descending colon thus relieving constipation, particularly when muscles of the abdomen are weak.
DISEASES OF DIGESTION:
Several Hadiths pertaining to this were said:
"Whosoever eats earth aid his death."
"Use curry with food even if it is in the form of water."
"Vinegear is a very good curry."
"The best curry is common salt."
Salt depletion through perspiration during summer is increased thus it is obligatory to use common salt during this period.
Our Prophet liked pumpkin (one of the vegetables) as it is easily digested and less likely to produce flatulence.
Our Prophet said.
"It is not right to eat your food quickly, besides this one should eat from what lies nearest to one."
EPIDEMIC PREVENTION:
Hygiene is very important. Cleanliness prevent infection entering the citadel of human body and this guards us against ill health and epidemics- God ordered our Prophet in Surah Al-Muddassir:
"O, Prophet keep your apparel clean and meticulously avoid filth and rubbish." Our Prophet said, "God Almighty is himself pure and likes purity, God himself is clean and likes cleanliness."
"God Almighty dislikes dust, dirt and disheveled hair." "Avoid three things which are cursed. To urinate at the source of water, in the shade, in the pathways."
"No one should pass water in standing water."
"If any one of you yawns, cover your mouth with hands."
One should avoid coughing, sneezing, yawning or laughing with fully open mouth near other persons as the breathed out bacteria may spread in the atmosphere and be conveyed to other persons.
STREET AND ROADS:
Town planning is based on broad and airy roads so that there is no obstruction to the flow of traffic and to avoid congestion which helps in spreading diseases. Our blessed Prophet fourteen hundred years ago said "keep the breadth of the streets seven arms length".
ACUPUNCTURE:
This method was mentioned in the authenticated Hadith as an effective treatment of several disease. Research work is being carried out in China and other parts of the world to use acupuncture as a method of treatment.
There are other aspects of medicine which have been dealt with in Islam for example:
Quacks should not treat patients.
2. Treatment and prevention of diseases have been recommended and practiced by the Prophet.
3. When you visit a patient do not stay long.
There are many priceless gems of knowledge in the Qur’an and Hadith from which man can benefit immensely. These are but brief facts of medicine which have been mentioned before in Qur’an and Hadith and there is a lot more to be discovered and studied.
Source: islamic-world.net
