Introduction of Kitab Al-Abnija al haqaiq al-Adwiya a book written by Heravi

Abstract

The "Kitab al-abniya an haqa iq al-adwiya" (Book of the Foundations of Pharmacognosy) also Known as "Rozat ol-ons wa manfa 'ar on-nafs" is the most ancient medical book in Persian (Farsi), which was written by Abu Mansur Movaffaq ibn Ali Heravi during the period of Mansur ibn Noh Samani between the years 350 to 366 lunar hegira. The book deals with 584 mineral, herbal and animal-based drugs. The book is arranged in alphabetical order. Each monograph includes name of drug and the bumorous quality therapeutic effects, methods of countering the side effects, and dosage of the drug. The manuscript of the book written in Shawwal of the year 447 lunar hegira by the famous poet and lexicographer, Ali ibn Ahmad Asadi Tusi, the outhors Garshasb Nameh and Farhang Asadi, is in fact the most ancient Farsi version that bears a date. This copy was printed photographically by the orientalist, F.R. Zeligmann, in 1859, which was later by the Association of National Works. Later, the late Master Ahmad Bahmanyar prepared the book with marginal notes and detailed annotations annotations. Unfortunately, the typewritten copy containing the annotations was lost, and the original copy excluding the annoationsurvived and was later published by the University Press by the efforts of the defunct Dr. Hossein Mahboubi Ardekani. The late Dr. Mahbubi prepared lists of the entries consisting of the list of categories, ingredients, place names, geographical index, diseases, limbs, applications and effects, bibliographical index, names of animals, tools and artifacts, foods, weights and quantities, and finally the words and terminology of the book as well as a list of the duplicate copies and their differences. He appended these lists to the book, and also provided brief useful and concise explanation on the monograph concerned.