BASICS OF UNANI MEDICINE
Unani medicine is based on Ibn Sina’s The Canon Medicine. You are probably wondering who that is! Well, Ibn Sina was a Persian polymath who is considered one of the most influential thinkers and writers from the Islamic Age. He wrote around 450 works, but only a few have survived. There are 40 known works of his, on medicine and they form the foundation of Unani Medicine. His famous works include — The Canon of medicine which is an encyclopedia of medicine in five books. It presents an overview of the contemporary medical knowledge, which had been largely influenced by Galen (a Greek philosopher and surgeon).
According to practitioners of Unani medicine, the overall health of the human body is maintained by the interaction of 7 basic elements — al-umoor al-tabiyah. These are also the seven basic physiological principles of the Unani doctrine. These principles include
(1) arkan (elements)
(2) mizaj (temperament)
(3) akhlat (bodily humours)
(4) aaza (organs and systems)
(5) arwah (vital spirit)
(6) quwa (powers)
(7) afaal (functions)
A misbalance in any of these components will cause sickness and sometimes even death.
Unani physicians are commonly known as hakims. Their primary method of diagnosis is taking into account, the physical appearance. Questions on dietary intake, excretions, symptoms, sleep and activity patterns help to gather more information. Treatment is decided accordingly. However the most distinctive feature of diagnosis in the Unani system is its emphasis on diagnosing the disease through Nabz (pulse), a rhythmic expansion of arteries, which is felt by fingers. Other methods of diagnosis include examination of Baul (urine) and Baraz (stool).
Mainly there are four types of unani treatments available:
- Ilaj bil tadbeer (regimental therapy): this method of detoxification aims to remove the waste substances from the body for good. Regimental therapy also protects health and enhances the defence mechanism of the body. Important techniques through which this therapy is administered include massage (dalk, malish), Turkish bath (hammam), exercise (Riyazat), leeching (Taleeq-e-Alaq) and venesection (Fasd).
2) Ilaj bil Ghiza (dietotherapy): dietotherapy focuses on the diet regime of the person by keeping close tabs on the consumption of food, its quality and quantity. Therefore you may be asked to eat certain kind of foods more and cut down on the suspected unhealthy food.
3) Ilaj bil dawa (Pharmacotherapy): drugs from plants, minerals and animal drugs are used in unani system. Each drug or herb is expected to act according to its potency and temperament .i.e. hot, cold, moist and dry. Unani medicines are available in form of tablets, decoctions, infusion, Jawarish, Majoon, Khamira, Syrup and powder.
4) Jarahat (Surgery): Ancient physicians of unani system were considered to be pioneer in the field and often devised their own instruments to carry out surgeries. They practised Ilaj-bil-Yad (Surgery) and wrote many remarkable treatises on the subject like Kitab-al-Tasreef by Abul Qasim Zohravi, ‘Kitab-al-umda fil Jarahat’ by Ibn-al-Quf, ‘Kamilus San’a’ by Ali Abbas Majoosi etc.
Unani medicine also follows the humoural theory that explains the four humors in the body:
· Blood (Dum)
· Phlegm (balgham)
· Yellow bile (safra)
· Sauda (black bile)
A patient’s pulse enables the hakim to find out the dominant humor and proceed accordingly. Depending upon the symptoms of patient urine and stool tests are also done.
