Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Unani System of Medicine?
2. What are the fundamentals of Unani medicine?
6. What are Asbāb Sitta Zarooria?
7. What are modes of treatment in Unani?
8. What does Sanguine Temperament mean?
9. What does Phlegmatic Temperament mean?
10. What does Choleric Temperament mean?
11. What does Melancholic Temperament mean?
13. What is meant by ‘Ilāj bil-Dawa?
14.What are the methods of diagnosis in Unani medicine?
1. What is the Unani System of Medicine?
The Unani system of Medicine is a science, which discusses the health and diseased condition of the human body in all preventive, promotive and curative aspects. The basic concepts of this system were presented by Hippocrates, in 460 BC. It is based on the main concept that homeostasis of the human body is maintained by--
1. Akhlāt (Humours) & body fluids,
2. Proportionate equilibrium of three matter in the body,
3. Natural factors (Umūr-e-Ṭabī‘iyya) and six essential causes of health& diseases.
These are governed by physis/ nature of the body (Tabiyat). The tabiyat not only maintains the temperament (Mizāj) of the body but also combats the disease and brings back the body to its natural state. This theory spread in the entire world by a Roman physician Galen (Jaalinoos) in 201 AD and an Arabic physician Avicenna (Ibn-e-Sina) 10th century pick-up the Unani medicine and provided much scientific basis. It is being practiced in India since the 13th century.
2. What are the fundamentals of Unani medicine?
The fundamentals of Unani medicine are:
1. Basic elements of life (Umūr-e-Ṭabī‘iyya) - These are elements (Arkān), temperament (Mizāj), humours (Akhlāt), organ (A’za), Pneuma (Arwāḥ), faculties (Quwa) and actions (Af’al). The human body is supported by these factors, any alteration in these may alter the functioning of the body.
2. Tri-matter theory: As per this theory, the entire universe is made up of 3 types of matter: (i) solid, (ii) liquid and (iii) gaseous. Similarly, the human body is also formed of six essential factors (Asbāb-e-Sitta Zarooria).
These six essential causes are responsible for the health as well as disease of the body and include:
2. Food & drink (Maakool wa mashroob)
3. Physical movement & repose (Harkat wa Sokoon-e-Badani),
4. Mental movement & repose (Harkat wa Sokoon-e-Nafsani),
5. Sleeping habits (Naum wa Yaqza),
6. Retention & evacuation (Ihtebas wa Istifragh)
3.What is Tabiyat?
Unani medicine describes the concept of tabiyat (Medicatrix naturae) as something which is responsible for all physiological functioning of the body in healthy conditions, prevents the body from diseases and cures diseases by eradicating the substances that cause diseases. If tabiyat is strong then a person does not suffer from disease easily, but if it weakens a person can suffer from disease easily.
4. What is Mizāj?
Unani Medicine is based on the Greece philosophy according to which, the human body is made up of the four categories of elements i.e. Earth (Arz), Water (Ma`), Air (Hawa), and Fire (Nār) which have a particular temperaments (Kaifiyat) i.e. ‘cold’ and ‘hot’ 'as active qualities and ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ as passive qualities. After mixing and interaction among the four categories of elements, a new composition of the above said four qualities come in existence. This new quality is known as temperament (Kaifiyat). All matter related to human health and disease, has been classified accordingly.
5.What is theory of Akhlāt?
The humoural theory (Akhlāt) is the other distinguishing feature of Unani medicine as conceived by Hippocrates. According to this theory, the human body consists of three types of materials: Solids which are named as organs (A’zaa), Liquids which are named Humours (Akhlāt) and gaseous matter named Arwāh (pneuma). Akhlāt is divided into four groups namely (i) blood (Dam), (ii) Phlegm (Balgham), (iii) Yellow Bile (Ṣafrā’) and (iv) Black Bile (Sawdā’). These humours are responsible for nourishment and overall body activities for which optimum qualitative and quantitative balance is necessary. Therefore, Hippocrates defined health and disease as follows: ‘optimum balance in quality and quantity of humors is health’ and ‘disease is nothing but vitiation of these humors either in quality or in quantity or both’. The humors also assigned a particular temperament as Dam is hot and wet, Balgham is cold and wet, Ṣafrā’ is hot and dry and Sawdā’ is cold and dry.
6.What are Asbāb-e- Sitta Zarooria ?
Six essential factors have been described in Unani Medicine as Asbāb-e- Sitta Zarooria, which play key role in maintenance and promotion of health. When these factors are followed as per instructions, health is maintained otherwise health problems may appear. These six essential factors are as follows:
2. Food & drink (Maakool wa mashroob)
3. Physical movement & repose (Harkat wa Sokoon-e-Badani),
4. Mental movement & repose (Harkat wa Sokoon-e-Nafsani),
5. Sleeping habits (Naum wa Yaqza),
6. Retention & evacuation (Ihtebas wa Istifragh)
7. What are the modes of treatment in Unani?
As for as treatment is concerned, these are divided into four classes:
1. Diet therapy (‘Ilāj bi’l Ghidhā’)
2. Regimental Therapy (‘Ilāj bi’l Tadbīr)
3. Pharmacotherapy (‘Ilāj bil-Dawa)
4. Surgery (‘Ilāj bi’l -Yad)
It is recommended to treat diseases first with the help of diet and regimental therapies and if there is no response, it may be treated by next line. But in experience, more than one therapy may be applied simultaneously depending on the nature and severity of the disease.
8.What does Sanguine Temperament mean?
This belongs to the ‘Air’ element. A fair with muddy complexion, full muscular development, large full veins and a large pulse typifies it. These are confident, positive people who are rarely anxious. They are very prone to involve themselves with physical excesses and as a result they often suffer from injuries and their consequences. This type has also been called the 'muscular' temperament.
9.What does Phlegmatic Temperament mean?
This belongs to the ‘water’ element and displays a fair complexion, light hair, general softness and laxity of tissues and a pulse that is soft and wide. Because of the excessive metabolic activity of the immune system, heat tends to be drawn inwards and the exterior is cold. Hence, people of this type tend to feel the cold acutely. The phlegmatic type is slow and sluggish, apathetic and not readily excited, and easily becomes flabby and overweight. This type has also been called the 'lymphatic' temperament
10.What does Choleric Temperament mean?
This belongs to the ‘fire’ element and is characterized by a slim build and by much nervous activity. These are passionate people, quick to become excited or angry and just as quick to forget their excitement. They live on their nerves and because of this, they are susceptible to the brain and nervous disorders. Their pulse tends to be sharp and quick. The skin in this type appears yellowish, and this temperament occurs often in those with brown hair. This type has also been referred to as the 'nervous' temperament.
11.What does Melancholic Temperament mean?
This belongs to the ‘earth’ element and usually is manifested as darkish complexion and appearance of emaciation. Their tissues are hard and dry and their pulse is narrow and thready. This temperament is prone to frequent spells of pessimism, a gloomy state of mind with much depression.
12.What is Su- e- Mizāj?
Su- e- Mizāj is a deviation from the normal physiological response, metabolic balance or temperament of an organ, body part or of the body as a whole, due to an adverse effect from an abnormally warm, dry, moist or cold quality, which has disrupted the functions of the humours and produced an abnormal response of thymus. There are four Su e Mizāj:
1. Su- e- Mizāj hār
2. Su- e- Mizāj Bārid
3. Su- e- Mizāj ratab
4. Su- e- Mizāj Yabis
13.What is meant by ‘Ilāj bil-Dawa?
‘Ilāj bil-Dawa or pharmacotherapy, deals with drugs used to cure diseases. The Unani Materia Medica includes more than 2700 single or natural drugs most of which are of plant origin, in the form of seeds, roots, flowers, fruits, leaves, barks, galls, latex, exudates and sometimes the plant as a whole. The second group consists of drugs of the animal kingdom like hoofs and nails, hairs, flesh, certain organs, fats, milk, etc. The third group is of mineral origin consisting of ores, metals and precious stones. These are called Nabāti (plant origin), Ḥaywāni (animal origin) and Ma’dini Advia (mineral origin), respectively.
14.What are the methods of diagnosis in Unani medicine?
Diagnosis in Unani system of medicine is done through three methods.
1. Inspections (Imtehan- bil- Nazar)
2. Palpations (Imtehan- bil- Lams)
3. Percussions (Imtehan- bil-Qara)
Imtehan- bil- Nazar: Here, the patients are examined by visual method on their features from head to toe.
Imtehan- bil- Lams: This method is used to feel the type of Malmas (feeling on touch by the hand). This was the main technique to diagnose the diseases.