This event brought together a doctor, a Hakim (traditional physician) and an anthropologist to discuss the renewed interest in traditional Islamic medicine. The discussion explored the differences between Islamic medical practice and western medical practice.

Highlights from the event

Aziz Sheikh and Salim Khan explain how they would treat a patient with influenza according to their different traditions. Find out how symptoms and illness are treated in Unani Tibb medicine and western medical practice.

Our panel were asked to reflect on whether dark forces affect people’s health. One member of the audience challenged the experts on raising these issues, stating that they were cultural and not religious concerns. Listen to the discussion on this topic.

An audience member asked why Islamic medicine still exists in some form today, when Islamic science is something of the past. Listen to our guests and audience tackle big questions on Islam, medicine and science.

View photos from the night.

Speakers

Aziz Sheikh, Professor of Primary Care Research and Development, University of Edinburgh

Salim Khan, Director, Mohsin Institute, Leicester

Alison Shaw, Senior Research Fellow in Social Anthropology, Ethox Centre, Oxford

Facilitator

Ehsan Masood, Journalist

Aziz Sheikh
Trained in physiology and medicine, graduating from University College London in 1990 and 1993. After completing his training in general practice, he decided to pursue an academic career specialising in the field of epidemiology. He has held his current post at the University of Edinburgh since August 2003. Aziz’s research interests are varied, including the epidemiology and primary care management of allergic disorders, medical errors and the study of the intriguing relationship between religion, culture and health. Aziz has published and presented extensively in these areas in leading peer-refereed journals and international academic conferences/ symposia.

Salim Khan
Salim has spent over 26 years practising and teaching the herbal healing arts. A founder and Fellow of the Guild of Naturopathic Iridologists, a professional member of the British Herbal Medicine Association and a member of the Eastern Medicine Practitioner's Association. Salim is also the founder and Director of the Mohsin Institute, an accredited training centre for the teaching of Yunani herbal medicine. His works have featured on BBC Television and he has been exhibited at the London Science Museum.

Alison Shaw
A Social Anthropologist, Alison’s first degree was in Human Sciences she has research interests in medical anthropology, kinship and marriage, the South Asian Diaspora and the social implications of genetics. Alison speaks Urdu, which she has taught professionally. Her recent work focuses on Pakistani marriage trends and lay and professional perceptions of consanguineous marriage and genetic risk. Alison has recently completed a Wellcome Trust-funded research project (with Dr Jane Hurst) under the Biomedical Ethics Programme, involving British Pakistani families attending a genetics clinic in England, entitled 'A study of the impact of genetic risk information on families of Pakistani origin referred for genetic counselling'.

This event was in association with