Traditional Arabic Medicine: Comparing the Arabic Healing Practices in the Middle Ages and Modern Times

In the study "Traditional Arabic Medicine: Comparing the Arabic Healing Practices in the Middle Ages and Modern Times," a comparative study was conducted on the principles and methods of treating diseases using animal, plant, and mineral-based remedies in Arab societies of the 8th – 9th and 20th – 21st centuries. To achieve this goal, the following research tasks were completed: defining the concept of traditional medicine; analysing the involvement of Arab countries in the World Health Organization’s efforts to integrate traditional medicine into national health systems; characterising the tasks and methods of using aromatic substances, animal, plant, and mineral-based products in the treatment of various diseases by the Arab society of the 8th – 9th centuries; and highlighting the distinctive uses of animal, plant, and mineral-based products in traditional medicine by the Arab society of the 20th – 21st centuries. To achieve the set goal source analysis, historical analysis, content analysis, and descriptive research method were employed. Medieval treatises such as Ibn Masawayh’s "On Simple Aromatic Substances," al-Kindi’s "The medical formulary, or Aqrābādhīn," and "The Chemistry of Perfume and Distillations" were used as primary sources, along with modern medical encyclopedias such as Ahmad Qudama’s "Dictionary of Food Products and Phytotherapy" and ‘Abd al-Basit as-Sayyed’s "Main Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine and Medicinal Plants". As a result of the study, the following was determined: traditional medicinal practices that were relevant for Arab society in the Middle Ages and those that are common today differ mainly in the form of used medicinal materials. Plants have become the most universal components of traditional medicinal forms and recipes according to the analysis of selected medical encyclopedias, with minerals and animal products being used very infrequently. However, it is fair to note that a portion of the medieval scholars' legacy remains relevant for traditional Arab medicine today. This is evidenced by as-Sayyed’s use of the humoral theory developed by Galen and improved by al-Kindi in some medicinal formulations. Keywords: incense, aromatic substances, phytotherapy, zootherapy, pharmacognosy, WHO, traditional medicine, complementary medicine, alternative medicine, non-conventional medicine, T&CM.