Regimen of Health, Maimonides
Introduction
Moses ben Maimon ha–Sefardi (Maimonides, 1138–1204) was a Jewish physician who came from Maghrib to Egypt. He was a well versed physician and philosopher who had studied medicine with various masters (some claim he was a student of Avenzoar in Spain, other of Averroes in Cordova), and had significant influence from both Greek and Arabs writers. He wrote The Regimen of Health for the King al-Afdal, son of Saladin.
He wrote numerous works apart from the Regimen of Health including A Discourse of Asthma, On Coitus, and A Book on Poisons and the Protection Against Lethal Drugs.
Moses ben Maimon ha–Sefardi (Maimonides, 1138–1204) was a Jewish physician who came from Maghrib to Egypt. He was a well versed physician and philosopher who had studied medicine with various masters (some claim he was a student of Avenzoar in Spain, other of Averroes in Cordova), and had significant influence from both Greek and Arabs writers. He wrote The Regimen of Health for the King al-Afdal, son of Saladin.
He wrote numerous works apart from the Regimen of Health including A Discourse of Asthma, On Coitus, and A Book on Poisons and the Protection Against Lethal Drugs.
Fi Tadbir al–Sihhah
The Treatise Sent to the King al-Afdal, son of Saladin, concerning
THE REGIMEN OF HEALTH
The Treatise Sent to the King al-Afdal, son of Saladin, concerning
THE REGIMEN OF HEALTH
In the Name of God, Merciful and Compassionate!
The high command of the royal al-Afdal, may God elevate and sustain him, has reached this minor Servant Musa [Maimonides] ibn ‘Ubayd Allah’ [servant of God] the Israelite of Cordova. Sent by the hand of a messenger, it requests of him a regimen to be relied upon in curing the ailments that occur in our Master, may God keep ailments afar from his high abode, and may health and peace accompany him forever. The messenger bringing this exalted command relates that our Master complains of the dryness of his stools which are often so hard that they cannot be moved except with effort. He also mentions the occasional occurrence of melancholy, evil thoughts, desire for solitude, and foreboding of death. In addition, he has had much indigestion and most of the time his digestion is feeble. This is what he mentions.
This Servant has thus seen fit to include in this discourse four chapters:
The first chapter is on the regimen of health in general, applicable to all men, in a few words.
The second chapter is on the regimen of the sick in general, when a physician cannot be found, or when the physician available is deficient and his knowledge is not to be trusted.
The third chapter is on the Regimen of our Master in particular, according to the symptoms of which he complains.
The fourth chapter consists of sections in the form of advice that is beneficial in general and in particular, for the healthy and for the sick, and in all places at all times.
Let whoever examines this treatise and all that we have composed, not censure us because we have already mentioned some of the topics of this discourse in other treatises which we have composed earlier, for each treatise was written to comply with the request of an individual, not as a composition intended to teach the Art of Healing to all men.
'God is implored for success in what is right!'
First Chapter - The Regimen of Health in General
Second Chapter - The Regimen for the Sick
Third Chapter - The Regimen for the King in particular
Fourth Chapter - General Health advice