Tibb (Medicine)

 

Tibb (Medicine)

Tibb is the science that deals with the state of health and disease of the human body. When a body is in health then it should be preserved or if health is lost, then should be restored. Tibb is an Arabic word literally meaning the art of healing. In English, the meaning of Tibb is medicine. This definition divides Tibb into two parts –

1.      Ilm hifze sehat (Preventive)

2.      Ilmul ilaj (Therapeutics)

Some scholars divide the Tibb into a speculative (theoretical) and a practical (applied) part. Ibn Sina has mentioned it is wholly speculative because it is pure science. But truly every science has both a speculative and a practical aspect. We mean that these two aspects belong together-one deals with the basic principles of knowledge, the other with the mode of operation of these principles.  Once the purpose of each aspect of medicine is understood you can become skilled in both, even though there should never come a call for you to exercise your knowledge. There are several branches of medical science, Like, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Cardiology, etc.

The subject matter of Medicine: The subject matter of medicine is the human body because it deals with the condition of health and disease. Health and sickness and their causes are sometimes evident to the senses and sometimes only perceived through the evidence afforded by the various symptoms. Hence, knowledge of the symptoms of health and sickness is important. According to Galen, there are three states of the body – Health, Disease, and Intermediate state. But Ibn Sina denies the intermediate state, according to him, there are only two states – Health or Disease.

Cause (Sabab): The factor which occurs first and is responsible for the maintenance of a previous condition or origin of a new condition of any particular state of health or disease of the human body. The plural of Sabab is Asbab. There are four kinds of causes of health and sickness –

1.      Material causes (Asbab Maddiyya): It provides the locale for health or sickness.  In the body, the arkan (elements), Akhlat (humours), Ada (organs), and Arwah (Pnuma) are the material causes. Among these, the immediate subject is Ada (organs), and Arwah (Pnuma) because health or disease locate in them. Whereas the remote subject is Akhlat (humours) and Arkan (elements).

2.      Efficient Causes (Asbab Fa‘ila):  These are responsible for the maintenance or change of a particular condition of health and disease. There are two kinds of efficient causes –

A.    Asbab Sitta Zaruriyya (six essentials factor for life)

a.  Hawa'al-Muhit. (Atmospheric air)

b.  Makul Wa'l - Mashrub. (Foods & drinks)

c. Harkat Wa'l Sukun al- Badaniyah. (Physical or bodily movement and repose)

d. Harkat Wa'l Sukun al - Nafsaniyah. (Mental or psychic movement and repose)

e.  Naum wa yaqza (sleep and wakefulness)

f. Istifragh wa'l Ihtibas (Evacuation and retention).

          B.  Asbabe Ghair Zaruriyya (non-essential causes): These are non-essential to maintaining life but imparts their effects on health. These are Geographical area, occupation, addiction, habits, Age, sex, etc.

3.      Formal Causes (Asbab Suriyya): These are three in number - Temperament (Mizaj), Faculties (Quwa), and Composition/structure (Tarakeeb). For good health all these three should be normal, abnormality in any of these may reflect in disease.  

4.      Final Causes (Asbab Tamamiyya): These are actions or functions. A knowledge of these presupposes a knowledge of the faculties (quwa) and the pneuma (rooh).

The subject that deals with the knowledge of Arkan, Mizaj, Akhlat, Ada, Arwah, Quwa, and Afa’al are called Kulliyat-e-Umur-Tabi’yya.