Neonatal care and breastfeeding in medieval Persian literature: Hakim Esmail Jorjani (1042-1137AD) and the Treasure of King Khwarazm: A Review

Abstract

Exploring the realm of sciences and challenging the ideas, traditional medicine has always been a medium for developing medical purposes, relieving illnesses and improving quality of life. Hakim Jorjani (1042-1137 AD) compiled his comprehensive 750,000-word textbook of medicine, Zakhireyei Khwarazmshahi (The Treasure of Khwarazm Shah) which is considered as the oldest medical encyclopedia written in Persian. Written in circa 1112 AD, the Treasure has been ranked along with Avicenna's the Canon of Medicine and Haly Abbas's the Liber Regalis. Six chapters of the Treasure (third book) include notes on neonatal care and breastfeeding. The present article is a review of the Jorjani's teachings on the neonatal care, breastfeeding, weaning and teething along with comparisons between the Treasure and modern medicine in this regard.