Unani may have disappeared from the country of its origin, but has a long and impressive record in India. It came to the subcontinent with the Muslim invasions, in about 1100 AD, and is still largely practiced in Muslim communities. Historical evidences speak that this medicine was used by the Delhi Sultan, the Khiljis, the Tughlaqs and the Mughal Emperors.
What is Unani Medicine?
Unani medicine has a fascinating history, with its origins in ancient Greece. Unani medicine, owes its origination to Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) and his numerous followers. It is a system based on the ancient Greek theory of four basic elements: mainly air, earth, fire, and water and four bodily fluids (humors) mainly blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile (choler). The goal of unani is to balance the humors. This alternative system of medicine utilizes a holistic set of principles, which help a practitioner to turn a diagnosis into a treatment process.
Unani system of medicine forms an integral part of the Indian healthcare system with its own recognized practitioners, hospitals and educational and research institutions. Unani medicine is similar in nature to Ayurvedic medicine and is well recognized as an alternative therapy across the globe.
How does it work?
The fundamental theory of the Unani System of medicine is based upon:
- The four elements: earth, air, water, and fire.
- The four natures: cold, hot, wet, and dry.
- The four humors: blood (which is hot/wet), phlegm (cold/wet), yellow bile (hot/dry), and black bile (cold/dry).
Each person's unique mixture of these humours determines his temperament (mizaj): a predominance of blood gives a sanguine (confidently optimistic and cheerful) temperament; a predominance of phlegm makes one phlegmatic (showing little emotion); a predominance of phlegm yellow bile gives a bilious or choleric (quickly aroused to anger and irritable) temperament; and black bile gives a melancholic (sadness) temperament.
When the balance of the four humours is disturbed, it can result in diseases. Every individual has inherent powers of self-preservation, called quwat-e-modabira. In the Unani system, the physician's job is to aid these natural forces of the body in combating a disease. In short, Unanipathy aims at maintaining proper health by conserving symmetry in the different spheres of a man's life.
How is a disease diagnosed and treated?
The unani Physician-called Hakim diagnoses a disease by feeling the Nabz(pulse) and rhythmic expansion of arteries by fingers. Temperament of the patient, different complaints, signs and symptoms of the body, stool and urine examination also help in diagnosis. He also takes into consideration the influence of surroundings and ecological conditions such as air, food, drinks, body movement and repose, psychic movement and repose, sleep and wakefulness, and excretion and retention on the state of health. Once the disease is identified, it is treated using the following methods:
- Ilajbil Tadbeer (Regimenal Therapy: It includes venesection, cupping, diaphoresis, diuresis, turkish bath, massage, cauterisation, purging, emesis, exercise and leeching.)
- Ilajbil Ghiza (Dietotherapy: It deals with certain ailments by administration of specific diets or by regulating the quantity and quality of food.)
- Ilajbil Dava (Pharmacotherapy: It deals with the use of naturally occurring drugs mostly herbal drugs of animal and mineral origin.)
- Ilajbil Yad (Surgery).
Are Unani drugs safe?
All the drugs used in compound formulations are made of Herbal, Mineral & Animal origin. These drugs are prepared according to the specific process & methods and hence are safe & non-toxic. There are no known side effects of this form of treatment. The medicines administered go well with the temperament of the patient, thus accelerating the process of recovery and also eliminating the risk of drug reaction.
What can Unani cure?
Unani is found very effective in treating chronic diseases like Diabetes, arthritis, asthma, mental, cardiac disorders, urinal infections, and sexual diseases. It is also found effective in Indigestion, Acidity, Flatulence, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Bronchitis, Coryza, Cattarrh, Abdominal pain and other ailments.
Unani medicine has that broad perspective. Its approach to the problems of patients is individualistic and the therapy encompasses all aspects of a patient's life.
