How Did the Rambam Know What Science Discovered Only Recently? An Intriguing Interview

When we hear the term Rambam medicine, we often think of herbal concoctions and potions, entirely unrelated to Western medicine.

Dr. Gil Yosef Shahar (M.D.), head of the Rambam Medical Center, argues that Rambam medicine is much more than just ancient mixtures and potions. We met with him to learn whether the 800-year-old medical teachings of the Rambam are relevant today.

Let's start with a tantalizing question: How does a Technion-trained physician end up dealing with ancient medical texts?

"During my medical studies, I realized that Western medicine offers excellent solutions for medical emergencies, but does not always provide answers for chronic diseases.

"I understood that our lifestyle habits and diet greatly impact both the prevention and healing of chronic illnesses.

"Unfortunately, nutritional medicine is rarely taught during medical studies, so I began independently studying it alongside my courses, reading numerous books and thousands of scientific articles on the topic.

"At that time, I stumbled upon a series of books titled 'The Rambam—Medical Writings' at a religious bookstore. As a medical student, I was curious to see what medicine looked like 800 years ago and what insights the Rambam might offer our modern age.

"I bought the series and began reading intensively. I was amazed to discover that many guidelines the Rambam wrote, for which scientific explanations were only found in recent decades, completely align with modern findings," Dr. Shahar explains.

How did the Rambam's writings influence your further medical studies?

"As a result of reading the Rambam's medical writings, I requested that my final thesis for my medical degree be a comparison between Rambam medicine and modern science. The Technion approved this. The work compared the Rambam's medical teachings to over 100 scientific studies and was recognized as an outstanding thesis," Dr. Gil Yosef Shahar states.

So, what did you find in the Rambam's writings that impressed you so much?

"I was first struck by the holistic approach to medicine, one that considers all aspects of a person's life, including nutrition, movement, breathing, sleeping, sun exposure, relationships, bathing, and especially the mental-emotional state of the patient," Dr. Shahar shares enthusiastically.

"It was emotional for me to see that in our own backyard lies a beautiful medical doctrine, one that doesn’t neglect any aspect of human life, belonging to one of the greatest leaders of the Jewish people in history—Rambam.

But I was particularly impressed by the Rambam's dietary recommendations.

"I was deeply immersed in the world of nutritional medicine and was astounded to find that his nutritional guidelines were precise and matched current research findings.

Dr. Shahar shares an example of the Rambam's advice on eating fish. "The Rambam writes that most fish are, in his words, bad food, and one should eat only sea fish (not freshwater fish) and even then only the smaller ones.

"Today, with all the laboratory analysis tools, we've discovered that Omega-3, an important fatty acid, is primarily found in sea fish and almost absent in freshwater fish.

"But I was especially amazed by the Rambam's insight to advise against large fish and prefer smaller ones. Today, we know that the larger the fish, the higher the concentration of mercury and other heavy metals, like PCB.

"But in the Rambam's era, the world was clean! Everything was organic. There were no pesticides or industrial waste polluting the seas. There were no coal power plants emitting mercury vapors into the atmosphere (which later settle with the rain into oceans). So what toxins was the Rambam worried about? Mercury is a byproduct of the Industrial Revolution, 600 years after the Rambam's time," Dr. Shahar says.

Interesting. If toxins weren't prevalent then, why did he caution against large fish?

"The Rambam did not explain his guideline," Dr. Shahar responds and adds that he encountered another fascinating scientific article by chance. "I came across a fascinating scientific article that examined ice core samples extracted from deep within a glacier in Wyoming, USA. Scientists extracted ice samples from various layers of the glacier. It turns out that when a glacier forms, air bubbles get trapped inside. By carbon-14 testing, one can determine the age of the air bubble. When you perform an analysis of the air composition in the bubble, you get the atmospheric composition at the time that glacier layer was formed.

"Essentially, a glacier is like a memory chip for the atmospheric composition of ancient times. We have no other way to know what the atmosphere was composed of without those air bubbles trapped during the glacier's formation.

"When scientists examined the mercury levels in the atmosphere in those air bubbles, they noticed an interesting phenomenon. Prior to the arrival of coal power plants, there was indeed mercury in the atmosphere, but it was very low compared to today's levels.

"But something strange was also observed: occasionally, there was a sharp peak in mercury levels, followed by a decrease.

"The researchers found a precise match between these peaks and documented volcanic eruptions worldwide. It turns out that when a volcano erupts, among other things, large quantities of mercury vapors are released into the atmosphere.

"I can't say if this is what the Rambam meant, but there's no doubt he knew there were toxins in the sea and that larger fish contained more toxins than smaller ones. This is just one example; there are many others of the accuracy of his recommendations," explains Dr. Shahar with admiration.

How did the Rambam know these things?

"That's a good question. I don't have a definitive answer," replies Dr. Shahar. "There are things that truly aren't clear how he knew. Beyond being a tremendous genius, evident in all his writings—both legal (Mishneh Torah), philosophical (Guide for the Perplexed), and medical—he likely had a rare observational talent and an incredible ability to draw conclusions.

"The Rambam treated thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of patients during his life. That's what he did most of his days. He gained extensive experience and learned from the field. Some might claim it was divine inspiration, especially given that he was a righteous person and the spiritual leader of his generation.

"I think it's a combination of substantial experience, acute intellect, observational skill, depth, and remarkable deduction ability. And perhaps, who knows, with a touch of divine spirit, that helped him arrive at the insights he left for us in his writings.

Can his recommendations help us today, in the 21st century, to heal from diseases?

"Absolutely," Dr. Shahar answers firmly. "His recommendations are not only scientifically correct but also very relevant for our times. I would even say that they are more relevant today than in the Rambam's own time.

Today we live in a much more polluted world, constantly stressed, exposed to processed foods, and much less active compared to past eras without cars.

"Our body today faces burdens it never dealt with before. We are exposed to toxins in our food (pesticides, preservatives), air pollution, and electromagnetic radiation.

"The rise in diseases such as heart ailments, strokes, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, intestinal issues, autoimmune diseases underscores how far we've strayed from nature.

"Those who live by the Rambam’s guidelines significantly reduce their risk for such diseases and can accelerate their healing.

"We see in our clinic daily that people recover from diabetes, cleanse their arteries, lower blood pressure, get off medications, and improve their digestive health," Dr. Shahar states.

Do you think the Rambam's recommendations are sufficient, or should we also rely on recent scientific discoveries?

"Rigid thinking is never good," Dr. Shahar answers. "The Rambam himself learned from the science of his time—both from the Greek physicians before him and from Muslim physicians. He learned from everyone and judged based on field experience what was relevant and what wasn't. He also spoke highly of learning from others (including non-Jews) and enhancing human knowledge.

"Certainly, in many cases, the Rambam's recommendations are not enough, and other measures should be considered. I believe in utilizing everything the world has to offer to advance health and healing. This includes nutritional means unknown in the Rambam's time, Ayurvedic herbs (from traditional Indian medicine), Chinese medicine, Western herbal remedies, quality nutritional supplements with concentrated extracts produced using modern methods, and many other means beyond nutrition.

"I believe living as the Rambam suggests is essential. In the past, it may have been enough, but especially in our generation, it is not always sufficient, particularly when health has deteriorated.

"There's no logic in ignoring recent scientific discoveries, as they often save lives. I apply this belief in our curriculum. The merger of ancient wisdom and current science is holistic and correct. I'm certain if the Rambam were alive today, he would fully support this approach.

What is your view on Western medicine? Is it part of the solution?

"Absolutely," Dr. Shahar responds. "It still holds an important place. It's vital to acknowledge that it saves lives daily. I don't dismiss the use of drugs. There are situations where there is no choice.

"My criticism of Western medicine isn't in its use of medications or surgeries but in the almost automatic, immediate use of drugs for various medical conditions. Western medicine doesn't aim to heal diseases through natural nutrition or lifestyle changes.

"By the way, doctors shouldn't be blamed for this. They lack knowledge of natural nutritional medicine. It's not taught in medical schools.

"I believe medications should be the last line of treatment, after all natural approaches have failed to produce the desired results, not the first line.

"Every drug has side effects, and using medications doesn’t solve the root problem and hence doesn’t truly heal. Natural nutrition and lifestyle changes can often genuinely heal individuals, and even if a full recovery isn’t always achieved, significant improvements in quality of life are often possible.

In closing, can you share one of the Rambam's tips for a healthy life with our readers?

"Choosing just one tip is very difficult as there are many important ones," Dr. Shahar replies. "But if I had to pick one, it would surely be investing in our psyche and soul by reading books that promote healthy thought patterns about life and contribute to our internal peace.

"The Rambam emphasized the importance of reading books that guide us on how to relate to life, ourselves, the world, and the Creator, as our emotional well-being is crucial for both preventing and healing diseases.

"If I must choose one practical tip, it’s this: before each meal, before the first forkful enters your mouth, pause for 20 seconds. Close your eyes and reflect on all the good in your life, contemplate it, and simply say thank you.

True gratitude from the heart is one of the quickest and most powerful tools to achieve happiness. And happiness, as the Rambam wrote, is an incredibly powerful healing tool. He recorded in his writings that many healed against all odds just because they were joyful," Dr. Shahar concludes his enlightening remarks.

"The Rambam's Advice Amazed Me": Dr. Gil Yosef Shahar on Medicine, Nutrition, and More

Dr. Gil Yosef Shahar (M.D.) is an expert in nutritional medicine and head of the Rambam Medical Center