Unani medicine
Unani medicine, rooted in ancient Greek philosophy and further developed in the Muslim world, is a traditional healing system that emphasizes the balance of four bodily humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. This holistic approach asserts that disease is a natural process, and the physician's role is to support the body’s innate healing capabilities. Commonly practiced in countries like India, Saudi Arabia, and China, Unani medicine offers diverse treatments for chronic diseases, mental illnesses, and various physical ailments, including diabetes, hepatitis B, and respiratory issues.
Treatment modalities in Unani include regimental therapy (such as exercise and massage), dietary changes, herbal pharmacotherapy, and, when necessary, surgical interventions. While it has documented cases of effectiveness, particularly for chronic conditions, Unani medicine is often met with skepticism in the Western world due to a lack of robust scientific evidence supporting its practices. Safety considerations are important; while many methods are generally safe, reliance solely on Unani treatments can result in serious health risks if conventional diagnoses are overlooked. Therefore, it is advisable for individuals seeking Unani care to consult licensed practitioners, ideally with recommendations from healthcare professionals.
Unani medicine
RELATED TERMS: Hikmat, homeopathy, Ionian medicine, Siddha medicine, Unani Tibb, Greco-Arab
DEFINITION: The practice of balancing defined humors, or components, of the blood to sustain good health.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: Chronic diseases, mental illness
OTHER PROPOSED USES:Diabetes, hepatitis B, malaria, sexual dysfunction, skin problems, digestive issues, nervous system disorders, respiratory issues, musculoskeletal problems, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, urinary issues, reproductive issues
Overview
Unani is an Arabic spelling for “Ionian,” meaning “Greek.” Unani medicine originated with the ancient philosopher-physician Hippocrates and his followers in Greece and was further developed in the Muslim world. The basic premise of Unani medicine is that disease is a natural process, with symptoms manifested by the body's reactions to disease. The function of a physician is to aid the body's natural forces and self-preservative powers in combating a disease.
Mechanism of Action
Unani medicine concentrates on the body's four humors (or components): blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Each humor contributes its own characteristics and temperament to the body. Through proper care and treatment, the humors can be balanced to optimize a person's physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Uses and Applications
The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicines claims that Unani medicine is highly effective in treating a variety of diseases, including hepatitis B, malaria, and skin problems. It is further claimed to be unmatched for treating chronic diseases and other conditions, such as arthritis, asthma, cardiac disorders, urinary infections, and sexual disorders. The number of conditions, illnesses, and symptoms Unani medicine claims to treat is extensive.
Scientific Evidence
Unani medicine is generally relatively unknown, particularly in the Western world. It is practiced in Asia, particularly in India, Saudi Arabia, China, and Japan, where it is purported to be a sophisticated therapy that offers cures for many problems. Depending on the disease involved, Unani medicine offers four levels of treatment: regimental therapy (exercise, massage, purging, cupping, spiritual awareness), dietotherapy (diet-based), pharmacotherapy (mild drugs, mostly herbal), and surgery. Prominent medical doctors, such as Stephen Barrett, question the validity of some aspects of the Unani regime and classify Unani medicine as a form of homeopathic medicine.
In practice, the scientific basis for Unani medicine involves a thorough examination of the tongue, pulse, urine, and stool of a patient to determine the balance of the four body humors. Once an imbalance is diagnosed, proper diet, mild drugs (ginkgo, ginseng, spices), and rest are prescribed to produce balance and improved health. If necessary, surgery is performed. During the 1990s, when a ten-year-old boy suffering from cerebral palsy was treated with the techniques of Unani medicine for an extended period of time by Hakim Jameel Ahmed, the boy’s ability to think, talk, and walk improved significantly. Many other documented cases indicate that medical needs have been met using Unani medicine.
Although the list of conditions treated by Unani medicine is long and the practice has an extensive history embedded in many cultures, robust scientific evidence of Unani medicine's benefits is lacking. Some aspects of Unani, such as taking a holistic approach to healthcare, treating the whole patient, and promoting a healthy lifestyle, are valid medical suggestions. However, there is a lack of standardization and quality control that can lead to inconsistencies in Unani medicine. Several herbs and medicines used are toxic and can interfere with traditional medicine. Further, relying solely on Unani medicine could cause an individual to miss an important diagnosis that needs a higher level of care.
Choosing a Practitioner
One should obtain a recommendation from a medical doctor for a person practicing Unani medicine. One should also ensure that the practitioner is licensed.
Safety Issues
Unani methods are generally safe. If used alone, there is the risk that a serious illness will remain undetected and untreated. Many Unani drugs are sugar-based and hence not suited for people with diabetes.
Bibliography
Alavi, Seema. Islam and Healing: Loss and Recovery of an Indo-Muslim Medical Tradition, 1600–1900. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.
Bala, Poonam. Contesting Colonial Authority: Medicine and Indigenous Responses in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century India. Lanham: Lexington, 2012.
Chen, Nancy N. Food, Medicine, and the Quest for Good Health. New York: Columbia UP, 2008.
"Home." Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, ccrum.res.in. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.
Maqbool, Mudasir. "Managing Anxiety In Unani System Of Medicine." ResearchGate, 12 Mar. 2020, www.researchgate.net/publication/339876018‗MANAGING‗ANXIETY‗IN‗UNANI‗SYSTEM‗OF‗MEDICINE. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.
Sen, Saikat, and Raja Chakraborty. "Revival, Modernization and Integration of Indian Traditional Herbal Medicine in Clinical Practice: Importance, Challenges and Future." Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, vol. 7, no. 2, Apr. 2017, pp. 234-244, doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.05.006.