Utilizing Islamic Medicine to Ensure Quality Health Care for the Aged People among Muslims

Abstract

Abstract

The practice of Islamic medicine is becoming a household activity across the Muslim world, especially in Nigeria. Several major cities and towns in the country have both Islamic medicine stores and medical hospitals where the health and medical needs of the people are attended to by experts in the field. The practice is so prevalent that the Nigerian government has licensed it in the country as an effective alternative medicine. Aged individuals, on the other hand, are one of the important categories of people that need special attentions due to the obvious decline in their physical and mental health. The decline has accounted for the strange attitudes they exhibited because their systems are not active as they used to before they attained the age. They therefore need special care, attention and treatments to enable them to live happily. The current economic reality in Nigeria with arbitrary inflation, uncertain means of sustenance and insecurity has adversely affected their access to orthodox medical care, thereby considering alternatives which Islamic medicine is categorized as one of them. The medicines and treatments are not only affordable and easily accessible but also effective because they are largely made from local materials. The study, which will adopt descriptive methods, aims to highlight various diseases and strange displays that are associated with old age and how they can be treated with Islamic medicine and within the general Islamic guidelines for medical practice. It will also discuss the Islamic rules for interacting with old people in the society.