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The Importance Of The Pulse As Presented In Al-qanun F'it Tibb By Ibn Sina (avicenna): A Review
Sahar NEJAT*, Carl-Magnus STOLT**
* Medical student, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm,** MD, Professor Hedical Humanities, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, SWEDEN
Ibn Sina (Avicenna) is chiefly recognised for his contri-butions to medicine through his life-work Al-Qanun f'it Tibb. In this work, Ibn Sina dedicates a large chapter to the teaching of the pulse. According to Ibn Sina, the pulse was a major part of the clinical exam and often led the way to diagnosis.
The physicians could not assist the nature unless they heard its voice. In order to reach Sophia the western Galenic physician like the Islamic hakim had to be literally in touch with nature (1).
To Ibn Sina the system of circulation, as recognised later by William Harvey, was unknown. How then did he describe the origin of the blood and why was the pulse of such an importance for the diagnosis and the state of the patient?
The aim of this essay is to explore Ibn Sina's theories on the pulse as put forward in his chapter on the pulse in the first volume of Al Qanun f'it Tibb. An emphasis will be made on his theories about the origins of the pulse and the reason for its relative importance in the clinical examination.Keywords: Avicenna, Pulse diagnostics, Medical history, Clinical examination
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