Introduction of Unani Medical Science

To keep body & mind healthy Medical science is improving day by day. One of the treatment methods is Unani medical science. It is a traditional method of treatment. It is mainly enhanced by great philosopher Ibn Sina. In this treatment process one can get remedy from his surrounding world. But this method of treatment is being extinct as we don’t know about it. Now we will know about it.

Unani Medical science is known as herbal method of treatment. It is also called as “Islamic Treatment Method” & “Hekimi Shastra”. From where the name ‘Unani’ has come? ‘Unani’ has come from word ‘Unan’. From ancient historical scripts & Bible we learned that, three sons of Hadhrat Noah (A) was alive (Ham, Sham & Yafas) after flood. From old history books we also know that, in ancient time the nomenclature of places was based on the name of the sons of Hadhrat Noah (A). Like that, Yafas’s (Japheth’s) son’s name was Unan & he went to ancient Greece for living. And by his name ancient Greece named ‘Unan’. The ancient Greece or Unan is the place of origin of Medical science. A great physician of ancient Greece was Asclepius. He was honored as deity in ancient Greece. The sick patient was kept in a house where his (Asclepius) idol was placed. When the patient dreamt Asclepius, he seeks remedy to him & he abide by those rules that Asclepius instructed him through dream. The 19th descent of Asclepius was Hippocrates who is consider as ‘Father of Medical Science’. He brought out the Medical science from darkness & broad it for all. He established an oath which is known as ‘Hippocratic oath’ & he also declared it ‘who will maintain the oath he will teach him Medical science’. At the time of ‘Khulafa-e-Rashidin’ [Caliphate after death of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)] when Islam spread in Syria, Persia etc; many physicians converted to Islam & Unani Medicine became familiar among Muslims. And that time many Unani books were translated into Arabic, Persian etc. language & the great physician Zakaria Al Razi, Ibn Sina, Abul Qaseem Zahravi were advent. From that time Unani medical science get acquainted into ‘Islamic medicine’. The person who acquired knowledge in Unani medicine is known as ‘Hakeem’. So, it is also known as ‘Hakeemi Shastra’. But who thought that it is a part of Ayurveda, their concept is wrong. Because the origin of Ayurveda took place in India, on the other hand Unani medicine has come from Unan or ancient Greece. 

Now I will discuss about the principle of Unani Medicine. 

In Unani Medical science it is thought that human body is consist of 7 matters.

*** 1st mater is ‘Arkan’ or basic elements. Unani medical science said that, human body is consist of 4 basic elements, fire, air, water & earth. Here fire means fire like elements such as Phosphorus, Florin, Chlorin, Oxygen; water means water like elements such as Hydrogen; air means air like elements such as Nitrogen, earth means earth like elements such as Carbon, Sulphur, Sodium, Potassium etc. Basically, human body is consist of on the ratio of this 4 basic elements. 

*** 2nd matter is ‘Mijaz’ or temperament. In human body when these 4 basic elements stay in a specific ratio then there produce a specific Mijaz or temperament. Each basic element has a specific ‘Mijaz’ or temperament e.g. the temperament of fire is hot & dry, the temperament of water is cold & moist, the temperament of earth is cold & dry, the temperament of air is hot & moist. When these 4 basic elements stay in equal ratio, human body remains static condition; but when there occurs a change in ratio of these 4 basic elements, human body become sick. 

*** 3rd matter is ‘Akhlat’ or humors. In Unani, it is believed that there are four types of humors in human body: - ‘Dam’ or blood, ‘Balgham’ or phlegm, ‘Safra’ or yellow bile, ‘Sauda’ or black bile. According to Unani medical science, when there occurs imbalance among the humors of body, the body become vulnerable to attack with disease.

*** 4th is ‘Aza’ or organs (e.g. internal organs & external organs). 

*** 5th is ‘Arwah’ or vital force. Ruhe Haywani (vital pneuma), Ruhe Nafsani (Psychic pneuma), Ruhe Tabayyi (Natural pneuma). 

*** 6th is ‘Quwa’ or power. Quwat-e-Haywaniah (Vital power), Quwat-e-Nafsaniyah (Psychic power) & Quwat-e-Tabiyyah (natural power). 

*** 7th ‘Af’al’ or action. 

Basically, in Unani medical science it is said that when the equilibrium of humors change, human body attacked with disease & to overcome this condition treatment process is done with 3 steps. 

1. 1st the cause of disease is find out & remove it.

2. Then bring back the equilibrium of humors. 

3. Finally improve the condition of diseased organ by giving tonic medicines.

Now I will discuss about the steps of Unani treatment. Unani treatment has 3 steps.

1. ‘Ilaz bil Giza’ or treatment by food. In this process patient is advised which food is required & which food should avoid. As an example, the patient who attacked with headache forbidden to eat food that produce gas. It is said that the gas ascends to brain & create pressure on the veins of brain, thus oxygen supplies hampers & causes headache. Same as, it is advised to the patient of fever to eat light food. 

2. ‘Ilaz bil Dawa or treatment by medicine. In Unani there is two types medicine. Mufrad dawa (single remedy) & Murakkab dawa (compound remedy). In single remedy, patient is advised to take single herbs (e.g. take only amla). In compound remedy, patient is advised to take compound medicines (tablet, syrup, powder, semi-solid mixture etc.). 

3. ‘Ilaz bil Tadbeer’ or regimental therapy. In this method no food or no medicine is given to patient, but the equilibrium of body is maintained by another process. There are various methods of regimental therapy: -

*** ‘Taleeq’ or leech therapy. In this method medicinal leech is attached to diseased part for a certain time, then the leech detached automatically or detached by applying salt. Modern science said that, in the saliva of leech there is pain killers, anti-clotting factors Hirudin, different chemical mediators, anti-inflammatory mediators, anticancer factors etc. Leech therapy usually used in arthritis, gout, hypertension, heart disease, skin disease, diabetic foot ulcer, meningitis, alopecia, varicose vein, elephantiasis, cancer etc. 

*** Another process is ‘fasd’ or venesection. It was mostly used in ancient Greece. In this method a certain vein is cut down & a specific amount of blood is withdrawn. Then the veins are reconstructed to stop bleeding. This method is used in Hypertension, poison of blood, skin disease, piles etc. 

*** Another process is ‘Hijama’ or cupping. This method has described is Hadith. In this method different types of cups are attached to patient body. Hijama is three types; 

(i) Dry hijama (here skin is not incised & no blood is withdrawn). 

(ii) Wet hijama (here skin is incised & blood is withdrawn). 

(iii) Dry massage hijama (here oil is applied on skin, so that cups can moves smoothly). 

Hijama is used in arthritis, gout, joint pain, backpain, skin disease, hypertension, varicose vein, migraine, infertility, gynecological problems etc. 

*** Another process is ‘Ilaj bil Abar’ or acupuncture. Though its origin was in China but it was used in ancient Greece. In this method, thin flexible needles are inserted in human body & kept it for a fix duration of time. The objective of acupuncture is to activate the vital organ though nervous system & cure the disease. Acupuncture can used in various diseases, but mostly used in nervous disorder such as Bell’s palsy, Carpal tunnel syndrome, hemiplegia, paralysis, myopathy, Frozen shoulder etc. 

*** Another process is ‘Riyazat’ or exercise. Patient who has obesity, diabetes, anxiety, depression, joint pain etc. are advised to do different types of exercise regularly. 

*** Another process is ‘Dalak’ or massage therapy. Here different types of massage are applied according to the condition of disease. Massage is used in neuropathic disorder such as epilepsy, arthritis, paralysis, hemiplegia, carpal tunnel syndrome, frozen shoulder, tremor, convulsion etc. 

*** Another process is ‘Hammam’ or bathing. Here the patient is advised to bath either in warm water or in cool water according to types of disease. Basically, it is usable for mentally disordered patient. 

*** Another process is ‘Abzan’ or hip bath. It is used to treat fistula, hemorrhoids, rectal ulcer, sciatica, dysmenorrhea etc. 

*** Another process is ‘Shamoom’ or aroma therapy. Here patient is advised to inhaled the fragrance of essential oil or apply on body by mixing in water. It is also used in mentally ill patient such as insomnia, headache, migraine, sinusitis, anxiety, depression etc.

*** Another process is ‘Nutool’ or irrigation. Here medicinal water is poured on the forehead from a certain distance. It is used in headache, insomnia, migraine, sinusitis, anxiety etc. 

*** Another process is ‘Taqmeed’ or fomentation. Here steam of hot cloths is applied on body. It is mainly used in pain. 

Besides, there are also other methods such as ‘Tareeq’ or sweating, ‘Pashwa’ or footbath, ‘Amole kay’ or cauterization, ‘Hukna’ or douche, ‘Qai’ or emesis, ‘Idrare boul’ or diuresis, ‘Ishal’ or purgation, ‘Tanfees’ or expectoration etc.

Basically, one or more regimental therapies are advised to patient besides giving medicine. And it results quick & best. 

This is the brief discussion on Unani Medical system. In my new article, I will discuss about usefulness of different herbs & treatment of different disease (In Sha Allah).