Academic Articles
The Institute has gained acclaim for its contribution to the philosophy and theoretical principles of Unani Medicine. In his lifetime, Prof. Bhikha presented and wrote numerous articles on Unani-Tibb. These are amongst the most commonly cited in Unani texts. Whilst many of his papers were based on critical analysis of concept, most were supported by research and data of patients at the Tibb Clinics and Tibb-supported government organisations. A number of projects included research into the basic principles of Tibb, the function of Tibb within the South African medical system and the role of Tibb in common chronic illnesses such as HIV and Aids, Diabetes and hypertension. In later years, Prof. Bhikha also focused on Islamic medicine and the role of Greek Philosophers in Tibb.
Below are some of the papers and articles written over the years:
Prof Rashid Bhikha – October 2023
The genetic wisdom of Physis was recognised by traditional systems of medicine for more than a few thousand years and was also hypothesised by Hippocrates, the father of medicine as Vis Medicatrix Naturae. Physis also highlights the perfection of creation in the maintenance and restoration of health between the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of every individual, at a cellular/sub-cellular level, between all the organs and systems of the body, by constantly monitoring and adjusting the millions of biochemical and physiological pathways that are genetically designed. Physis within the context of the Qur'an and Sunnah comes into effect from the moment the sperm and egg cells unite, whereas the soul is divinely brought into the foetus, only after approximately four months. The paper elaborates on the secular, materialistic, and anti-religious values of the current Western system has resulted in Western medicine being unaffordable and ineffective, and also the training of Western doctors does not include the role of physis. Of greater concern is prescribing, or taking Western medication, results not only harming ourselves, but also going against the blessing of Physis that Allah (SWT) has bestowed us with.
Prof Rashid Bhikha – May 2023
In recognition of his contribution to the medical field, Hippocrates is
universally known as the “Father of Medicine”. The Medicine of
Hippocrates has been practised for more than 2500 years under various
names across the world. Hippocrates conceptualised philosophical
principles of medicine including Vis Medicatrix Naturae (healing
power of nature), Humours, Temperament and Lifestyle Factors. More
significantly, he is known for transforming the practice of medicine that
included superstition and magic, to a scientific system based on the
principle of cause and effect, with holism, professionalism, and medical
ethics with respect to bedside manner, benevolence, and conduct. This
led to the Medicine of Hippocrates being known as A Science of
Medicine and the Art of Care. Whilst the technological advancements
of Western medicine have made excellent progress in diagnostics, with
pathological and imaging technology and also in surgical procedures,
the side-effects associated with Western medication, is a major concern
within the context of the Medicine of Hippocrates.
Prof Rashid Bhikha – March 2023
The training of doctors in Tibb, was introduced in South Africa by the Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb after obtaining academic support from universities in India and Pakistan, where this system is taught and practiced under the name of Unani Medicine. Within the context of the South African Western environment, and the medical approaches in the country, the Institute identified concerns with respect to the training of Unani Medicine. In this paper, an overview is provided on the Institutes contribution with regards to addressing some of the concerns as well as the extensive research projects conducted between 2003 and 2020 that contributed positively to the philosophical principles of physis, temperament, humours, and lifestyle factors, in the training of Tibb doctors. This paper further details a sequence of events for the training of Tibb doctors at the University of the Western Cape that commenced in 2003, after having obtained formal recognition of Tibb (Unani-Tibb) with the Allied ...
Prof Rashid Bhikha – January 2023
The training of doctors in Unani Medicine in South Africa, was introduced by the Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb under the name of Unani-Tibb, after obtaining academic support from universities in India and Pakistan. The Institute identified concerns with respect to the terminology of humours/akhlat, the limited information on identifying temperament/mizaj with respect to predisposition to illness conditions as well as the lack of relationship between the principles of physis/tabiat, temperament/mizaj, humours/akhlat, and lifestyle factors/sittah zarooriah. This paper highlights the contribution of the Institute, based on various research projects conducted between 2003 and 2020. The results of the research projects contributed positively to the humoral and temperamental theory as well as the relationship between an individual and the environment within the context of Lifestyle Factors/Sittah Zarooriah. More significantly the relationship between the principles of physis/tabiat, humours/akhlat, temperament/mizaj, and lifestyle factors/sittah zarooriah within the context of aetiology, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment have also been clarified.
Prof Rashid Bhikha – January 2023
The training of doctors in this system of medicine in South Africa, was introduced by the Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb under the name of Tibb (Arabic word for Medicine), after obtaining academic support from universities in India and Pakistan, where this system is trained and practiced under the name of Unani Medicine. The Institute identified concerns with respect to the terminology of humours, the limited information on identifying temperament with respect to predisposition to illness conditions as well as the lack of relationship between the principles of physis, temperament, humours, and lifestyle factors. This paper highlights the contribution of the Institute, based on various research projects conducted between 2003 and 2020. The results of the research projects contributed positively to the humoral and temperamental theories as well as the relationship between an individual and the environment within the context of Lifestyle Factors. More significantly the relationship between the principles of physis, humours, temperament, and lifestyle factors within the context of aetiology, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment have also been clarified. The Institute"s contribution to this system of medicine has facilitated the development of the training material at both a 5-year Undergraduate Degree and a 1-year Postgraduate Diploma (for diagnostic healthcare professionals) to be trained as doctors of the Medicine of Hippocrates, Galen, and Ibn Sinaalso known as Tibb.
Prof Rashid Bhikha – November 2022
In recognition of his contribution to the medical field, Hippocrates is universally known as the "Father of Medicine". He transformed medicine from superstition and magic to a scientific and evidencebased system. The core focus of Hippocratic medicine is an individualistic approach based on "Vis Medicatrix Naturae"the healing power of nature, which acknowledges the uniqueness of each individual, as well as the effects of lifestyle in health and disease. More significantly, Hippocrates hypothesised thehumoral theory. Furthermore, he advised on the importance of professionalism and medical ethics with respect to bedside manner, benevolence, and conduct. This led to the origin of the Hippocratic oath as we know it today. Ultimately, there is no era of medicine which is unmarked by Hippocrates. He laid the foundation of what is the essence of medical science today, including rationalism, ethics, patient care, observation skills and clinical experience. This paper focuses on the acknowledgement of Hippocrates, highlighting his contributions in medicine to this day.
Prof Rashid Bhikha – March 2022
Tibb also known as Unani-Tibb, Greco-Arab, Western Holistic, Unani and Persian medicine, is an ancient holistic medical system that originated approximately 10 000 years ago, based on the humoral and temperamental theories that was hypothesised by Hippocrates and Galen. The "completeness" of this medical discipline as "A Science of Medicine-the Art of Care" was greatly influenced by renowned scholars including Ibn Sina during the 9 th and 13 th century, who refined the philosophical principles of; Physis, Temperament, Humours, and the Six Lifestyle Factors, of which physis, the body's natural ability to heal itself, is a primary principle in the maintenance and restoration of health. Tibb as "A Science of Medicine" is detailed within the context of Ibn Sina's principle of cause and effect and the "Art of Care" is highlighted in the holistic and fully integrative approach of Tibb, based on its philosophical principles. The paper concludes with a brief comparison between Tibb and Western medicine.
Prof Rashid Bhikha – December 2021
The use of plants to prevent and treat illnesses has been known since time immemorial. Blackseed has been used in different civilizations around the world for centuries. The curative properties of blackseed were mentioned in the Bible and further elaborated on by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) as “Hold on to the use of blackseed, as it has a remedy for every illness except death”. Extensive research conducted over the past century into the phytochemistry of blackseed has identified many active ingredients and confirmed its pharmacological action in the treatment of a vast range of illness conditions across the different systems of the body, including the prevention and treatment of cancer, and optimum functioning of the immune system. Furthermore, the Tibb philosophical principles highlight the ability of the body’s inherent self-healing capacity, known as Physis, and the intricate functioning of the human body, based on the temperamental and humoral theory. This paper emphasizes the impor...
Dr Pedzisai Mazengenya and Prof Rashid Bhikha – January 2020
Avicenna (also known as Ibn Sina 980-1037 AD) was the most influential Persian physician and scholar in the medieval times (9-12th century AD). Avicenna contributed to various fields of medicine, astronomy and metaphysics during his time. In the field of basic medical sciences, Avicenna systematically described the anatomy and pathology of various organs of the human body and devised surgical interventions towards the treatment of disorders associated with them. Avicenna compiled his famous book the Canon of Medicine which went on to become a reference textbook of medicine in the region and the West. Although neither formal human cadaveric dissection nor surgical training was recorded during his time, the anatomical and surgical information presented in the Canon of Medicine is comparable to modern literature. In the current vignette, we present an analysis of the basic structural anatomy and functional aspects of the genitourinary and reproductive systems and some reproductive concepts presented in the Canon of Medicine textbook and compare their relevance in modern medical literature. We found Avicenna's information on these systems to be congruent to modern anatomy and physiology literature. The only differences are attributed to the differences in the experimental approaches with Avicenna's information being derived in an era with less technological advances especially on the histology of organs. However, Avicenna's information in this treaty can be regarded as pioneering in the fields of urology and gynaecology.
Dr. John Glynn and Prof Rashid Bhikha – May 2019
Pharmacotherapy is a traditional healing paradigm based mainly on herbs, with numerous pharmacopeia being compiled over the centuries. It was the dominant therapeutic option until superseded by modern chemical-based conventional drug therapy. As it is now experiencing a revival for reasons, such as better patient tolerance, more information is required on the mode of action and clinical efficacy of herbal remedies. In his Canon of Medicine, Ibn Sina details Tibb pharmacotherapy, allocating specific therapeutic herbs to different categories, or orders, of clinical efficacy and patient safety, based on the temperamental and humoral theories. Western drugs act on specific tissue receptors, whereas herbal remedies exert their action by restoring homeostasis via qualitative and humoral changes. Furthermore, herbal remedies support inner healing, or physis, so differ from Western drugs, which tend to oppose it. They also contain a wide range of active ingredients, which allow for a wide spectrum in pharmacotherapy effect. Consequently, Tibb pharmacotherapy is better tolerated, and less prone to adverse drug reactions.
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Herbal Products and Conventional Drugs – and Uneasy Alliance: Published in the International Journal of Human and Health Sciences, Vol. 02, No. 04, pp. 193-198, October 2018
Dr. John Glynn and Prof Rashid Bhikha – Oct 2018 -
The Pharmacological Action of Common Herbal Remedies: Published in the American Journal of Internal Medicine, Vol. 6, No. 5, pp. 99-107, August 2018
Dr. John Glynn and Prof Rashid Bhikha – Aug 2018 -
Revisiting Avicenna’s (980-1037 AD) anatomy of the abdominal viscera from the Canon of Medicine: Published in Elsevier History of Morphology, (2018) 102, 225-230, May 2018
Dr Pedzisai Mazengenya and Prof Rashid Bhikha – May 2018 -
The Pharmacology of Western Drugs: Published in the Asian Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 08, Issue 07, pp. 5100-5106, July 2017
Dr. John Glynn and Prof Rashid Bhikha – Aug 2017 -
The Theory of Humours Revisited: Published in the International Journal of Development Research, Vol. 07, Issue 09, pp. 15029-15034, September 2017
Prof Rashid Bhikha and Dr John Glynn – March 2017 -
An Analysis of Historical Vignettes by Ibn Sina in the Canon of Medicine on the Structure and Function of the Cardiorespiratory Apparatus: Published in the Archives of Iranian Medicine, Vol. 20, Number 6, pp. 386-388, June 2017
Dr Pedzisai Mazengenya and Prof Rashid Bhikha – June 2017 -
The Role of Tibb in Integrative Medicine for Disease of Lifestyle” published in the Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 16, No. 01, January 2017, ISSN: 2223-4721
Dr. John Glynn and Prof Rashid Bhikha – January 2017 -
The structure and Function of the Central Nervous System and Sense Organs in the Canon of Medicine by Avicenna: Published in Archives of Iranian Medicine, (2017); 20 (1): 67-70, January 2017
Dr Pedzisai Mazengenya and Prof Rashid Bhikha – July 2016 - Module 5: Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Herbal Medicine Prof Rashid Bhikha – Aug 2010
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Validating the link between Aetiology, Pathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment in relation to the Philosophical Principles: Published in the International Journal of Advanced Research, 9 (08), pp. 1486-1497, April 2023
Prof Rashid Bhikha and Institute Dr’s – April 2023 -
African Renaissance in Health Education : Developing an Intergrated Programme of Unani-Tibb Training for Health Care Professionals in Southern Africa
Prof Rashid Bhikha – 2004 -
Review of the relationship between Temperament and Qualities in the predisposition to Illness Conditions: Published in International Journal of Innovative Studies in Medical Sciences Vol. 4 Issue 05, ISSN 2457-063X (Online), 2020
Prof Rashid Bhikha and Dr Yumna Abrahams – 2020 - Is Excess/Abnormal Melancholic Humour the cause of Chronic Conditions? Published in the International Journal of Recent Scientific Research, Vol. 10, Issue 08 (C), pp. 34170-34174, August 2019 Prof Rashid Bhikha* and Yumna Abrahams – August 2019
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Research affirms the impact of Tibb Lifestyle in Health Promotion and Illness Management
Prof Rashid Bhikha and Mr Alcon Dube – June 2018 -
Impact of Tibb Lifestyle Factors in Health Promotion and Illness Management: Published in the International Journal of Recent Scientific Research, Vol. 9, Issue 7 (C), pp. 27914-27918, July 2018
Prof Rashid Bhikha – June 2018 -
Treatment of Humoral Imbalances at a Cellular/Sub-cellular level: Published in International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Vol. 8 Issue 08, Page. 19321-19323 August 2017
Prof Rashid Bhikha and Dr John Glynn – August 2017 -
Evaluating the impact of eliminating humoral imbalances – Summary Report
Prof Rashid Bhikha and Dr John Glynn – Dec 2016 -
Comparison of lifestyle changes to clinical disorders as advised in orthodox medicine & Unani-Tibb
Prof Rashid Bhikha – March 2008 -
Therapeutic cupping as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of Diabetes, Hypertension and Osteoarthiritis
Prof Rashid Bhikha – April 2008 -
Correspondence of Qualities & Temperament in groups of patients suffering from Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes, Bronchial Asthma, HIV & AIDS
Prof Rashid Bhikha – February 2007 -
Role of Lifestyle Factors in the Management of Patients with HIV and AIDS, Type 2 Diabetes, and Hypertension
Dr Rashid Bhikha & Dr John Glynn – March 2006 -
Temperament: An important Indicator of Susceptibility to Infection in HIV & AIDS Patients –
Dr Rashid Bhikha & Dr John Glynn – February 2005