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 by which a person can lead a healthy life. The Unani system of medicine is one of the oldest and most acceptable systems of medicine practiced in India and in many parts of the world.Hippocrates practiced it over 2500 years ago.
Unani Medicine includes a great deal of ancient Egyptian medicine as well as important components of the ancient Mesopotamian traditions. Thus, it can be said that many aspects of Graeco-Arabic Medicine are even more than 6000 years old.Graeco-Arabic Medicine is being practiced as a traditional medicine in Europe,the Middle East and the Asian subcontinent. In the Middle East and in the Asian Subcontinent, Graeco-Arabic Medicine continues to serve millions of people as 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 has great potentials for the future health care.
The first physician of the system was Asclepedeus who established few principles of medicine.Hippocrates put forward the Humoral 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 hospital and built the first hospital of the world in Hamas (Egypt) after travelling around the globe to find a suitable place.
Another renowned physician was Galen who played a major role in 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.), Canon of Medicine (11th century A.D).
The Unani pharmacopoeia Committee was constituted in 1964,consisting of Unani experts and scientist with a view to maintain uniformity in the standards of drugs and to prescribe standards for compound formulations and for identity, purity, efficacy and quality of the drugs. Pharmacopoeial Laboratory of Indian Medicine at Ghaziabad was established under Government of India to workout standards and drug testing for Indian System of Medicine at national level.Central Council of Indian Medicine, a statutory body was established for laying down standards and for maintaining uniform standard 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.During 1978 these Council 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, coordinate scientific research in different aspects of fundamental and applied Unani System of Medicine.
There are 11 Regional Research Institutes, 7 Clinical Research Units,1 Literary Research Units,2 Survey and Cultivation of Medicinal Plants Unit,7 Drug Standardisation Research Unit.At present, there are 31 Unani colleges in India offering graduate education and four colleges offering Postgraduate education.
Umoor-e-Tabiyyah (Basic Components of Life)
The human body is a complex structure comprising of seven Umoor-e-tabiyyah i.e. basic elements. These are Arkan (Elements), Mizaj (Temperament), Akhlaat (Humors) Aza(Organs), Arwah (Pneuma), Quwa (Faculties), and Af’aal (Functions).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 Humoral Theory. According to it,there are four humors in the body i.e. Dam (Blood), Balgham (Phlegm), Safra (Yellow Bile), and Sauda (Black bile).These are generated in liver by the nutrient components of the ingested food and liquids. There is a strong relationship between a body fluid and its associated humor, so any imbalance in a humor 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 the 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 health of human being. There are six factors, which are essential for the maintenance of good health called Asbab-e- Sittah Zaruriah. These essentials are as follows:
1. Hawa-e-Muheet (Fresh Air)
2. Makool-o-Mashroob(Food and Drink)
3. Harkat-wa-Sukoon-e-Badania(Body Movement and Repose)
4. Harkat-wa-Sukoon-e-Nafsania(Mental Movement and Repose)
5. Naum-o-Yaqzah(Sleep and Wakefulness)
6. Ehtibas-o-Istafraagh(Retention and Evacuation)
Diagnosis
Firstly, the practitioner takes a full case history. This has many aspects, but generally includes observation of the patient under 10 physical parameters of mizaj to determine the Mizaj 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 humors. In diseased condition,there is imbalance in body temperament and humors. Therefore, Unani physicians make all efforts for the correction of temperament and balance in humors. Every humor has a specific temperament as described earlier e.g. hot, wet, cold, and dry. So, the drug used for the treatment should posses an opposite temperament than that of diseased humor, resulting in normalization of temperament. A disease, which is cold in nature, can be cured by a drug, which has hot temperament.
Methods of Treatment
Treatment is divided into four parts:
1. Ilaj-Bil-Ghiza(Dietotherapy)-Treatment through Diet
2. Ilaj-Bil-Tadbeer(Regimental therapy)- Treatment through certain procedures, tools and equipments.
3. Ilaj-Bil-Dawa(Pharmacotherapy)- Treatment through Drugs/Medicines, which are of Plant, Mineral or Animal Origin.
4. Ilaj-Bil-Yad(Surgery)- Treatment through Minor /Major Operative Procedures.
Treatment depends on degree of variation from the normal healthy condition. Dietotherapy is advised if the variation is of low degree, 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. In addition, Dietotherapy is also advised along with pharmacotherapy as per the temperament of the disease to cure the disease in a short period, so, the disease can be cured easily. Regimental therapy and Surgery are also advised when Dietotherapy and Pharmacotherapy fail to restore the health of a patient.
Unani traditional medicine formulations till date included in the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library are 1,75,150.