Ṭibb regards the air we breathe as our closest and most vital contact with the environment. It sees it as being supremely important to our overall health. Problems of quality and composition, and also the way we breathe, are known to underlie a number of chronic disorders. Furthermore, it is the source of our primary nutrition, and justly regarded as the first of the lifestyle factors.

“Air is the fount of life, and also provides the source for the activation of energies to form body fluids and maintain life.” Ibn Sina.

Breathing is fundamental to survival and health. We can survive for many days without solid food, few days without water, even fewer days without sleep, but only minutes without air. Without air, and the oxygen it carries, the person will be dead in minutes.

The air we breathe is itself not constant. It changes according to the time of day, the season of the year, and in different regions and climates. It also varies according to the person’s habitat – agricultural or industrial, rural or urban, inland or coastal. The temperature, moisture and electrical nature of the air we breathe has a major influence on our state of health and risk of developing diseases.

The oxygen contained in air confers life to the whole body. It exerts its influence on the respiratory and blood circulation systems, and physis through the immune system. It also affects our humoural balance; thus poor quality air can lead to an imbalance which may progress to illness.

The brain in particular is a big consumer of oxygen. If its supply of these is compromised by polluted air, the brain will suffer greatly, and mental clarity and thinking will be impaired.

In the practice of Ṭibb, the nature of the person’s environment is always a concern. Although air is generally taken for granted, poor quality air can have a significant deleterious effect on health, especially regarding respiratory and metabolic disorders.

Air pollution – the threat to health

In the time of the Prophet ﷺ, the air breathed was a great deal different from what it is now. There are a number of reasons for this. First, the population density was much lower, especially in the arid, desert regions, and so the degree of pollution was a lot lower. Second, the extent of urbanisation was also lower, so the airborne pollutants commonly encountered these days in towns and cities were very rare. Third, over the last 250 years, industrialisation, coupled with systematic habitat destruction in many parts of the world has led to the release of a myriad of toxic particles and new-tonature chemicals into the atmosphere. Fourth, the increased globalisation in general, and spread of plant species in particular, means that modern people are more exposed to exotic air-borne allergens than in the time of the Prophet ﷺ. Generally, people at that time were not exposed to anything like the present-day toxic environment.

Common ailments like headaches, tiredness and irritability are often the result of insufficient oxygen intake. This in turn will have a negative effect on physis. All bodily functions will be compromised to a greater or lesser degree. The risk of heart disease and stroke, for example, increases from regular exposure to air pollution.

The impact of air pollution on health is well documented. Air polluted by chemical pollutants, combustion and other toxins irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. The person’s eyes burn and form tears, the nose becomes stuffy and congested, the throat becomes constricted, and the lungs become ‘twitchy’, often with difficult and laboured breathing. The risk of stroke is known to be higher in air polluted areas.

In pregnant women, air pollution has been shown to have a serious, deleterious effect on their unborn children, with more premature deliveries and lower birth weight reported. Both mothers and children suffer. Older people are particularly affected. Hospitalisation for heart problems, respiratory distress and even complications of diabetes increases significantly in older people in air polluted regions.

Domestic air and breathing

Ideally, the home should be well ventilated, free from fire smoke and cooking odours, and not exposed to wind or drafts. It should also receive a reasonable amount of sunshine, direct but not harsh, which helps maintain good air quality. A person’s home should be kept free of foul, noxious vapours, as this badly affects air quality.

The home’s temperature should be maintained during the cold months, and protected from chills. If too hot, fresh breezes should be encouraged.