European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

FUNDAMENTALS OF UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE - A REVIEW

Shabnam Ansari, Qamar Alam Khan, Dr. Rubi Anjum*, Aisha Siddiqui and Kamar Sultana

ABSTRACT

Unani System of Medicine refers to Graeco-Arabic medicine, which is based on the teachings of Greek physician Hippocrates and Roman physician Galen and developed into an elaborate medical system in middle age era by Arabian and Persian physicians, such as Rhazes (al Razi), Avicenna (Ibn-e-Sina), Al-Zahrawi, and Ibn Nafis. Buqrat (better known as Hippocrates, 460-377 BC) is said to be a descendent of Aesculapius and recognized as „father of Unani medicine'. It originated in Greece almost 2500 years back and has been using drugs of approximately 90% herbal, 4-5% animal and 5-6 % mineral origin. It is not only the original science of medicine but also a rich store house of principles and philosophies of medicine which can be of immense value to the medicine in particular and science in general. Diseases and ailments are considered to derange the normal temperament and homeostasis of the humours in the body. So regimenal therapy or (Ilaj bi‟l-Tadabeer) pharmacotherapy (Ilaj bi‟l-Dawa) have been utilized since ancient times as per the sole concept to bring back the homeostasis of the humours and to correct the abnormal temperament involved. Once these mode of treatment proved ineffective, surgery (Ilaj bi‟l-yad) has been advised as a last resort.

Keywords: Unani medicine, theories, therapy, dietotherapy, Unani treatment, Unani drugs.