In Dagestan, popularity of Islamic medicine grows amid coronavirus epidemic

In Dagestan, the coronavirus made residents pay attention to treatment under Islam traditions, doctors note. Many methods of the Islamic medicine have been known since ancient times and have been proven by the modern science, experts say.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in December 2020, a study was released about the Islamic medicine clinics in Dagestan and Chechnya, where exorcists expelled genies from people. Such clinics work with the support of local authorities, and residents often prefer to turn to healers and ignore the official medicine.

"Islam teaches people the right way of life from the very birth. It is prescribed for a Muslim how to eat right and what regime to follow," said doctor Mukhammad-Khadji Abdurakhmanov.

According to him, the medicine in Islam means, first of all, reading of the Koran and prayers. Some food products, for example, black cumin oil and olive oil, are also considered healing. Bloodletting is also recognized as a type of medical treatment.

The pandemic has severely affected suspicious people who have got arising panic attacks and fear of an unknown disease, says doctor Akhmad, who has been practicing curing the evil eye and exorcising genies for 23 years already.

Some of the methods of treatment in Islam coincide with the methods of treatment in other nations, for example, reflexology in China, the professor emphasizes. Besides, according to him, "the daily rituals of Muslims are beneficial to health."

For a Muslim, the Islamic medicine is not an alternative, but a fundamental treatment, states Roza Ganieva, the head of the Centre for Psychological Assistance and Psychological Post-Crisis Rehabilitation.