What is Unani Medicine .? Their balance leads to good health whereas imbalance leads to illness. Today, the Unani system, with its recognized practitioners, research and educational institutions, and hospitals, forms an important part of the healthcare delivery system in several countries, especially in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The vast materia medica, from herbal and animal to mineral sources, as described in ancient Unani textbooks, is sometimes so vague that authenticity must be established by modern pharma-cognostic assessments (by means of a basic, descriptive pharmacology) before medicines can be put to use. By using, reading or accessing any page on this website, you agree that you have read, understood and will abide by the Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. The Unani medicine uses medicines, dietary changes, drinks, and other regimens … It involves removing the waste materials and improving the immunity or the defense mechanisms of the body to protect health. The theoretical framework of Unani Medicine was introduced by Greek physician Hippocrates (460 – 377 BC), then enriched by Galen (131 – 210 AD), Rhazes (850 – 925 AD) and Avicenna (980 – 1037 AD). Greece’s Islamic neighbors call Greece Yunanistan, or the Land of the Unanis. Unani Medicine believes four humors (four Dosha) in the body, which when are in balance, a person is healthy and which when getting imbalance, a person suffers from the disease. It considers the entire personality of the patient including his physique, structure, make-up, reaction to the environmental factors, defense mechanism, and likes and dislikes. Naum-o-yaqzah (sleep and wakefulness), in which an individual’s health and alertness are understood as being dependent on a specific amount of sound sleep in the course of a 24-hour (circadian) cycle. Apply this paste on the face for about 10 minutes and then wash it with clean lukewarm water. In addition, the use in Unani medicine of precious stones and minerals, the chief ingredients of many poly-formulations (medicines containing multiple ingredients), is expensive. The Delhi Sultanate and later the Moghul emperors were great patrons of medicine. These humors are responsible for maintaining moisture in different organs and tissues and provide nutrition to the body through 4 stages of digestion as given below: According to the Unani Medicine, any disturbance in the equilibrium of these humors results in the initiation and progress of a disease. But Unani Medicine survived, due to its popularity with the masses, and the safe, gentle yet effective nature of its treatments. Qurs is a solid form of Unani medication. Best Regards, Solomon J. Unani therapy also pose some restrictions on diet during the treatment. Find a practitioner using this modality. The loss of these components can cause disability or lead to death. Harkat-wo-sakoon-e-jismiah (bodily exercise and repose), which emphasizes the positive effects of balanced physical exercise on an individual’s internal resistance and tabiyat. The temperament of air is described as hot and moist while that of the earth is cold and dry. He wrote a five volume treatise called The Canon of Medicine, which became a standard textbook in European medical schools. Ilaj-Bi-Dawa, or pharmaco-therapy, is the use of medicines by Unani hakims. This power is located in the heart. Involving the use of herbal remedies, dietary practices, and alternative therapies, Unani medicine addresses the prevention and treatment of disease.”. Ayur Times is an initiative of his efforts to bring quality information on Indian Medicine with the highest level of relevancy and scientific evidence. 4. He was also a great advocate and champion of the indigenous systems of Ayurvedic and Unani Medicine, and pioneered scientific research into their treatments. Those therapies include dalak (massage), hammam (bath and sauna), karat (exercise), fasd (venesection, or opening a vein to let out blood), hijamat (cupping, a process of drawing blood to the surface of the body by using a glass cup or tube), and amat-e-kai (leeching, or bleeding a person by using leeches). It presupposes the presence of four humors: blood, yellow bile, phlegm, and black bile in the body. The Unani arrangement of drug; in some cases alluded to as Greeco-Arab pharmaceutical or Unani Tibb; depends on Greek rationality. Unani medicine focuses on the four humors of the human body (blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm) and the cause of diseases is caused by the inequality of all the four humors. 5. But it is not given the seriousness it deserves. Any Unani treatment prescribed by a hakim acts as an outside agent to help boost the patient’s tabiyat and thus restore good health and a sense of well-being. Ayurvedic products are made either of herbs only or a combination of herbs, metals, minerals, or other materials in an Ayurvedic practice called rasa shastra. He wrote a vast medical encyclopedia called Continens, with many excerpts from Hindu and Greek medical sources. Dr. Jagdev Singh (B.A.M.S., M. Sc. However, this is an ideal state of a human body, which does not exist. It emphasizes the need for keeping water, air, and food free from impurities or pollutants. Ministry of AYUSH while examining the inspection report of CCIM team in terms of regulation 3 and 10 of the “Indian Medicine Central Council (Requirements of Minimum Standard for under-graduate Unani Colleges and attached Hospitals) Regulations, 2016”, provisions of the IMCC Act, 1970 relevant regulations made there under and as per approved Standard Operative Procedures … Metabolism includes several processes that ensure proper nutrition and growth of the human body. In surgery, at reflex points a puncture will be made to remove some impure blood. Unani was founded in Greece between 460 and 370 BC. Surgical interventions, or ilaj-bil-yad, are a last resort. Lustre Press, 1998. 5. In the Unani system of medicine, tabiyat is an individual’s internal power or capacity to withstand or combat disease and to perform normal physiological functions. The system emphasizes the need for well-ventilated houses. Hakim Ibn Sina (recognized as Avicenna in the west) established Unani medicine as a healing system in his medical encyclopedia The Canon of Medicine. Spirit or RUH is a gaseous substance that is obtained from the air we breathe. Qurs are tablet form of Unani Medicine made of natural ingredients including herbs and Qiwam (sugar syrup). The foods are categorized as laxative, diuretic or diaphoretic and these properties are used for the treatment of diseases. The ultimate goal of this system is the creation of a healthy society through scientific prescriptions. The essential function of all those regimens is to remove impure blood or impurities from the body. Dirty water is considered a carrier of infective diseases. It obtains its nutrition from the food, which is carried to all parts of the body. Subsequent pharmacological research determined that the plant was the source of a bioactive substance known as reserpine, which found use in Western medicine as a tranquilizer and as an antihypertensive agent (lowering abnormally high blood pressure). At the Kumbh Mela this year, we organised a Unani medicine camp where people made a beeline to get treated. Unani system of medicine stresses on the importance of prevention of diseases. It was the ancient rulers in the north India who provided patronage to the experts of Unani System and enrolled some scholars as court physicians to help t… However, Muslims brought it to India. Unani supplements are prepared using medicinal herbs and minerals. The goal of Unani Medicine is to achieve the healthy state of individual by balancing these four humours in the body. This treatment method is considered by hakims to be natural, eco-friendly, and less intrusive and more effective than many other methods. It enables the organs to recognize and accept the effects of psychic power. Al-Razi, or Rhazes (865–924) was a Persian physician, chemist and alchemist. This transformation proved that Greek Medicine was flexible, resilient and adaptable enough to absorb and incorporate new developments and influences. Unani means symbol of life. What should be done to increase the acceptability of the system? The system strongly supports the need for keeping the water free from impurities. Read More. The medicines are classified into four classes based on their temperament. It is the Psychic or nervous power. Having gained recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1976, the Unani system became increasingly accepted internationally as a system of traditional medicine. The body… It proposes six essentials pre-requisites or ASBAB SITTA E ZARORIAYAH for the promotion of health and prevention of diseases, which include: It proposes that clean and good air is necessary for preventing diseases and maintaining health. Socioeconomic, geographic, and environmental factors are considered secondary factors (asbab-e-ghair-zarooriah) in the Unani system and therefore indirectly influence tabiyat. What are the popular Unani supplements? At the Kumbh Mela this year, we organised a Unani medicine camp where people made a beeline to get treated. If this proves inadequate, then other means, such as treatment with natural medicines, may be recommended. It is the vital power that is responsible for the survival of life. Believing that it is only tabiyat that is engaged in actually curing a disease, Unani hakims hold that they only assist from “outside” by prescribing therapeutic relief. What is Unani medicine made of? WHAT IS UNANI-TIBB? in Medicinal Plants) is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Herbalist. It is available in the form of tablets. The blood dominates in these humours and other humors depend on it. I made the following changes: Added archive https: ... Standardisation of single drugs of Unani medicine. According to Unani medicine, the assimilation of food and liquid facilitates the elimination from the body of excessive and noxious substances. Medicines made with those minerals, when used with caution and expertise, may be effective, but they have significant toxic side effects. It is essential for the normal functions of the organs and for performing metabolic activities in the body. Humours: (Akhlāt) The form taken up by elements in living things. The temperament is considered inequitable when there is an absence of proper distribution of the temperament according to the requirement of the human body. In the Unani system of medicine, tabiyat is an individual’s internal power or capacity to withstand or combat disease and to perform normal physiological functions. A paste is prepared from 2 tablespoons of oat meal, one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of water. 2. Many eminent physicians from Persia and Central Asia came to India not only to seek fame and fortune, but also to find a safe haven from the wars and strife devastating their homelands. The Unani  Medicine system is based on the principle of the four-humor concept of Hippocrates. These basic elements in different combinations or permutations build basic four biological constituents called AKHLAT (humours). So, acceptibility of cheap and effective Unani medicine is no problem. Hence, it is considered the source of energy and vitality for the body. Mixture of oat meal, honey and water . These six factors are believed by Unani practitioners to directly affect the harmony of the human mind and body. It believes that the human body is made of seven components including ARKAN (Elements), MIZAJ (Temperament), AKHLAT (Humors), AAZA (Organs), ARWAH (Spirits), QUWA (Faculties), and AFAAL (Functions). There are various therapeutic approaches available to the hakim. Unani-Tibb is a traditional system of medicine based on the teachings of Hippocrates (known as the Father of Western medicine), Galen (1st century prominent Greek physician and surgeon) and Ibn Sina (Avicenna – regarded as one of the most significant thinkers and writers in medicine and author of the most comprehensive medical text written – The Canon of Medicine). The system recognizes the impact of psychological factors including the positive emotions like happiness and negative emotions like anger and sorrow on the health of a person. They either fell out of balance, which might yield diseases (depending on circumstances), or were restored to balance to heal diseases. Meaning of Unani. These elements together and in different proportions are present in everything alive, or that exists. Unani medicine is quite common with the number of people who use it being just after Ayurveda. The trace of the medicine goes back to medieval history, especially during the times of the Sultanates and Mughal rulers wherein they used to have physicians who knew Unani treatment. In the 1920s Indian physician Ajmal Khan revolutionized Unani medicine by advocating that research be conducted on various natural products that were claimed by ancient physicians to effect miraculous cures. Like Ayurveda, Unani system is also based on the theory of presence of the elements in the human body. The Unani Pharmacopoeia of India, Dept. It presupposes that the natural ingredients have their own temperament and prescribing a medicine that goes well with the temperament of the person can help to accelerate the process of healing. In Unani medicine, conditions are often treated with herbal formulas containing a variety of natural substances. Within a few short centuries after its birth, the Islamic world had expanded to stretch from the Atlantic ocean in the west to the Indian ocean in the east, from Moorish Spain to the plains of Hindustan. It maintains the health of the heart and liver. Physical activities, as well as proper rest, are considered essential for maintaining the health. 1. In the words of Unani medical historians, Unani Tibb enriched itself by imbibing new medicines, techniques and treatments from the various cultures and medical systems with which it came into contact, which included Indian Ayurveda and Oriental Medicine. Unani medications are often processed by classical methods of preparation as originall described in Greco-Arabic medicine. It was introduced in this country by the Persians and Arabs around the eleventh century. According to this customary framework, the human body is made out of four essential components: earth, air, water and fire having icy, hot, wet and dry dispositions individually. This paste is a Unani medicine that helps in controlling the acne forming on the face. You can read my answer to a similar question for details: answer to What are the uses of Unani medicine? Believing that it is only tabiyat that is engaged in actually curing a disease, Unani hakims hold that they only assist from “outside” by prescribing therapeutic relief. It believes in the humoral theory which presupposes the presence of the four humors – Dam (blood), Balgham (phlegm), Safra (yellow bile) and Sauda (black bile) in the body. Unani medicine originates from Greece and it means “Greek Medicine.” Unani medicine is founded on the teachings of Hippocrates who was a Greek physician. It burns AKHLAT LATIFAH in order to produce QUWA (faculties or powers). Unani medicine is ancient Greek medicine that has evolved within the Muslim world for the past 13 centuries. “Unani medicine is a system of alternative medicine that originated in ancient Greece but is now practiced primarily in India. Their names were Latinized, and their medical treatises were imported into Europe and translated into Latin, to serve as texts and reference manuals in the medical schools that were just starting to spring up in Medieval Europe. In a healthy body, all the organs are in a proper shape or without any structural abnormality and perform their respective functions in an efficient manner. Each hospital should have a separate wing for alternative medicine. Based on the concept of balancing body humors. ISBN 81-7436-052-2. Therefore, to maintain a harmonic and synchronized tabiyat, certain beneficial end-products of kaun-o-fasad (genesis and lysis) are retained in the body while harmful ones are expelled. Unani medicines have been consistent in the treatment of chronic diseases like diabetes, asthma, arthritis etc. Unani medicines are used singly or are compounded with other substances to achieve synergistic, antagonistic, or detoxifying effects or simply as bases for effective ingestion and assimilation. While Western Europe was in the Dark Ages, Greek Medicine and other branches of classical science and learning found a safe haven in Islamic lands. Hence, according to the Unani system, health refers to the state of a human body in which all its functions are carried out in a normal way while the disease is the state in which one or more forms of the organs are abnormal or at fault. The fire has a hot and dry temperament and water has the moist and cold temperament. Unani dietary supplements are considered effective for arthritis, urinary infections, cataract, and sexual disorders. The human body is composed of four elements, which are air, earth, water and fire, each of these having its own temperament. It is an important element of traditional AYUSH medicine which is recognized and governed by Ministry of AYUSH,Government of India. Unani physiotherapy uses specific exercises to … The growth power helps in the regeneration and growth of the human body. Everywhere the Muslims went, their Unani physicians went with them, adapting themselves to the local conditions and resources. Hence, the treatment must be aimed at restoring this equilibrium. Unani Medicine is based on Hippocratic Theory of Medicine established in Greece by Hippocrates, who believes in four basic elements, also called ‘ANASIR-E-ARBA’. The Hellenistic origin of this system is visible in the fact that it’s based on the classical theory of four humors. Unani medicine recognizes six physical, or external, factors, called asbab-e-sittah-zarooriah, which are essential in establishing a synchronized biological rhythm and thus living a balanced existence. Unani Medicine: Comparisons and Contrasts with Other Health Care Systems. “Unani medicine is a system of alternative medicine that originated in ancient Greece but is now practiced primarily in India. It is the natural power that is released during the process of metabolism and reproduction. 6. The short answer is: Yes, Unani medicines are effective. The Unani system’s pharmacopoeia is vast, enriched with more than 2,000 medicines derived from various herbal, mineral, and animal sources. Siddiqui named the derived medicines, which included ajmaline and ajmalicine, for Khan as a tribute to his groundbreaking research efforts. The Unani System has an impressive and encouraging record in India. Are prepared using medicinal herbs and Qiwam ( sugar syrup ) combinations permutations... 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