Acupuncture Points in the Book of ŞErefeddin SabuncuoğLu, a 15Th Century Turkish Physician

Abstract

Şerefeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385–1468?), the author of Cerrahiyetü'l-Haniyye (Imperial Surgery), was a distinguished Ottoman Turkish surgeon. The first illustrated Turkish surgical textbook, Cerrahiyetü'l-Haniyye consisted of three chapters (ie, cauterisation treatments, surgical procedures and fractures and dislocations). Although the main source of the book was Al-Tasrif (Textbook of Surgery) by Albucasis (Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi; 936–1013 AD), Sabuncuoğlu added much new information, his clinical experiences and suggestions. The original illustrations and human figures made Cerrahiyetü'l-Haniyye the first illustrated medical textbook in Turkish and Islamic medicine literature. Cerrahiyetü'l-Haniyye was also a valuable source for acupuncturists. Some new sections and additions revealed that Sabuncuoğlu had knowledge of Chinese medicine. In four sections of Cerrahiyetü'l-Haniyye (ie, toothache, haemorrhoids, eczema and dermatophytosis) Sabuncuoğlu described acupuncture techniques and point locations. It is likely that the Chinese medicine content of Cerrahiyetü'l-Haniyye was derived from Central Asian roots of Anatolian Turkish people.

Serefeddin Sabuncuoglu: A pioneer surgeon of the Ottoman Era

“…Even during Europe's "Dark Ages" between the 7 th and 13 th centuries, and thereafter, the Arabs and the Turks continued to practice medicine and surgery with numerous innovations and improvements (1,2). One of the best examples raised from Anatolia (Asia Minor) at this period was Sharaf al-Dīn Sabuncuoğlu (Tr: Şerefeddin Sabuncuoğlu), an innovative surgeon and a great illustrator who lived in the Ottoman Empire during the 15 th century (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17).…”

“…The book is remarkable for its three topics related to oncology and its sections about mental illnesses, circumcision, and hermaphroditism (Fig. 1)(2,5,9,10,(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)20).…”