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MOHAMMEDAN MEDICINE |
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It would be all but impossible to list every major Mohammedan physician, chemist and book writer who would eventually have an influence on how Western medicine viewed Medical Cannabis. Additionally, for reasons unknown, few of these early Mohammedan medical textbooks have ever been translated into English (Latin yes, English no), thus putting roadblocks as to what we can present about them.
Al Razi, also known in the west as “Al Rhazes,” serves as a good example of this problem. Examine the following quotation:
“Another physician, the Persian born Al-Rhazes, counseled against over-prescribing cannabis” --- Gabriel G. Nahas, Bull. N.Y. Acad. of Med. Dec 1982 p.814Note two things:
- First, although here it is being presented in a negative light, that Razi, DID indeed prescribe Medical Cannabis.
- Next, that the quotation is being made by Dr. Gabriel Nahas, himself. For those of you unfamiliar with the name, he has written extensively against he use of Medical Cannabis and believes that its use leads to insanity etc., and is a well-known name in the field.
Off the internet, we have been able to ascertain the following:
Al-Razi (known in Europe as Rhazes) 864-930 A.D. (real name was something like - Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariya’ al-Razi). Was a physician and wrote numerous books (over 1,000) on various subjects including medicine. Among his most famous works are: al- Hawi -- The Comprehensive Book on Medicine (Kitab al-Hawi fi al-tibb) or al-Hawi, al-Hawi al-Kabir. Also known as The Virtuous Life, Continens Liber. The large medical Encyclopedia containing mostly recipes and Razi's notebooks.
And many, many more.
However, like so many other Mohammedan physicians of the time, very, very few of his works have ever been translated into the English Language. (Latin YES, English NO). Again, off the web, only the following of his more than a thousand works have translated into English:
Not a whole lot, which brings us back to our original question; “Did Razi make use of Medical Cannabis?” The Answer is probably YES, this museum is over 98% sure that he did (even Dr. Gabriel Nahas agrees with us), but do does anyone out their have any actual proof that Razi did? Answer; we have been able to locate a lot of hear say (someone quoting what someone else wrote on the subject), but we (after extensive research) have not been able to locate any actual direct quotes, or English translation of his works which mention of Cannabis.
Once more, we are 98% sure that he did, but so few of his works have been translated, that it may be all but impossible to actual prove it. And unfortunately the same can be said of almost ALL Mohammedan physicians from the golden age. While these works were readily translated into Latin, few if any were ever translated into English. This was due to a number of reasons:
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Remembering that Gutenberg did not invent the printing press until 1450, which meant that Western Medicine was already on an equal terms with and in fact making leaps and bounds over Mohammedan science. So why bother.
And even as historical texts, more the most part, the original authors (even Persians, Afghans, et al) wrote in old Arabic or the same language as the Koran, which even very few Arabic speakers can speak today. Making it all but impossible to ever obtain translations of the originals.
OTHER MOHAMMEDAN PHYSICIANS It would be all but impossible to list every major Mohammedan physician, chemist and book writer who would eventually have an influence on how Western medicine viewed Medical Cannabis. Additionally, for numerous reasons, few of these early Mohammedan medical textbooks have ever been translated into English (Latin yes, English no), thus putting roadblocks as to what we can present about them.
However, like Al Razi, in all likelihood they ALL made use of medical cannabis. Given the era, and geography, it would be all but impossible to believe otherwise.
[NOTE: -- The museum needs help. If you know of any (first hand) references to historical Mohammedan physicians and their use of Cannabis, please do contact as]
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