Unani at Glance
The word 'Unani' is derived from a Greek word 'Ionian'. 'Tibb' means the knowledge of the state of the human body in health and illness. Unani medicine strives to find the best possible ways for a person to lead a healthy life. The Unani system of medicine is one of the oldest systems of medicine, practised in India and many parts of the world.
Unani Medicine incorporates a significant influence from ancient Egyptian medicine as well as important components of the ancient Mesopotamian traditions. Thus, many aspects of Graeco-Arabic medicine are over 6,000 years old. Graeco-Arabic medicine is practiced as a traditional medicine in Europe, the Middle East and the Asian subcontinent. In these regions, it continues to serve millions of people as a form of traditional medicine. Further, as modern medicine also originated from the ancient Graeco-Arabic medicine, hence new scientific concepts can readily be integrated into its practices. Thus, Graeco-Arabic Medicine holds great potential for future health care.
The first physician of the system was Asclepedeus who established a few principles of medicine. Hippocrates put forward the Humoural theory, which formed the basic framework of Unani medicine. His era marked the beginning of the Golden Period of the Unani system of medicine. He also initiated the concept of hospitals and built the world's first hospital in Heliopolis, Egypt after traveling around the globe to find a suitable place.
Another renowned physician was Galen, who played a major role in the propagation of the system far and wide. A few important texts of the system include Kitab-ul-Hashaish (1st Century B.C), Kamil-Us-Sana (10th century A.D.), The Canon of Medicine (11th century A.D).
The Unani Pharmacopoeia Committee in India was constituted in 1964, consisting of Unani experts and scientists with a view to maintaining uniformity in the standards of drugs and to prescribe standards for compound formulations and for identity, purity, efficacy and quality of the drugs. The Pharmacopoeial Laboratory of Indian Medicine at Ghaziabad was established by the Government of India to develop standards and conduct drug testing for Indian System of Medicine at the national level. The Central Council of Indian Medicine, a statutory body was established for laying down standards and for maintaining uniform standards of education in the Indian System of Medicine including Unani and to regulate the practices in Indian System of Medicine.
In order to develop high standards of education and research in Unani Medicine at national level a National Institute of Unani Medicine has been established at Bangalore in 1983 in collaboration with the Govt. of Karnataka. In addition to these developments, Central Council for Research in Indian Medicine was established in 1969. In 1978 these councils were bifurcated into separate Central Councils viz Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine which was established in 1979, with a view to initiate, guide, aid, develop, and coordinate scientific research in different aspects of fundamental and applied Unani System of Medicine.
Unani Concepts
Basic Components of Life (Umoor-e-Tabiyyah )
The human body is a complex structure comprising of seven Umūr-e-Ṭabī‘iyya) - These are elements (Arkān), temperament (Mizāj), humours (Akhlāt), organ (A’za), Pneuma (Arwāḥ), faculties (Quwa) and actions (Af’al). For the proper functioning of the body, all the above-mentioned components should be present and work in coordination with each other.
Ideology
The Unani System of medicine is based on the Humoural Theory. According to it, there are four humours in the body: (i) Blood (Dam), (ii) Phlegm (Balgham), (iii) Yellow Bile (Ṣafrā’) and (iv) Black Bile (Sawdā’). The biles are generated in the liver by the nutrient components of the ingested food and liquids. There is a strong relationship between body fluid and its associated humour, so any imbalance in a humour will also cause changes in the composition and properties of its associated body fluid. Health is a state of body in which all the humors are in equilibrium both in quantity and quality, any alteration in the equilibrium leads to disease. Unani medicine describes the concept of Tabiyat (Medicatrix naturae), which is a supreme planner of the body, to create a healthy environment within the body and prepare to fight against the disease. If tabiyat is strong, then a man does not suffer from a disease easily, if it weakens, a man becomes prone to disease easily.
Essentials of Health
Unani medicine has also given great importance to the prevention of the disease and promotion of health than cure. There is an influence of surroundings and ecological conditions on the health of human beings. There are six factors, which are essential for the maintenance of good health called Asbab-e- Sittah Zarooria. These essentials 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)
Diagnosis
Firstly, the practitioner takes a full case history. This has many aspects, but generally includes observation of the patient under 10 physical parameters to determine the temperament (Mizāj) of an individual. The physician also observes, the pulse (Nabz), which often takes a little time, as the physician does not just take the pulse rate, but also looks for subtle changes in the pulse that may indicate present or threatening health conditions. In addition, the practitioner may press reflexes and examine the urine (Baul) and stool (Baraz) of the patient.
Principles of Treatment
In Unani system of medicine, treatment is based on temperament and humours. In diseased conditions, there is an imbalance in body temperament and humors. Therefore, Unani physicians strive to correct the temperament and balance in humours. Each humour has a specific temperament e.g., hot, wet, cold, or dry. So, the drug used for the treatment should possess an opposite temperament than that of diseased humour, and restore the balance to the humours . A disease, which is cold in nature, can be cured by a drug, which has a hot temperament.
Methods of Treatment
Treatment is divided into four parts:
1. Dietotherapy (‘Ilāj bi’l Ghidhā’)-Treatment through diet
2. Regimental therapy (‘Ilāj bi’l Tadbīr)- Treatment through certain procedures, tools and equipment
3. Pharmacotherapy (‘Ilāj bil-Dawa)- Treatment through drugs/medicines, which are of plant, mineral or animal origin
4. Surgery (‘Ilāj bi’l -Yad)- Treatment through minor /major operative procedures.
Treatment depends on the degree of variation from the normal healthy condition. Dietotherapy is recommended if the variation is minor, but if the variation is such that Dietotherapy alone cannot correct it, then Regimental therapy is advised and in Pharmacotherapy, drugs are used according to the stage of the disease. Additionally, Dietotherapy is often prescribed alongside Pharmacotherapy, tailored to the temperament of the disease, to expedite recovery. Regimental therapy and Surgery are also advised when Dietotherapy and Pharmacotherapy fail to restore the health of a patient.