by Nayab Naseer

Created on: March 13, 2009

The Unani system of Medicine bases itself on the teachings of Hippocrates (460-377 BC), the father of medicine, and his disciple Galen (131-210 CE). They advocated that the chief function of a physician is to aid the natural forces of the body in combating a disease. Based on this principle, the Unani system postulates that the body contains a self-preservative power, which strives to restore any disturbance within the limits prescribed by the constitution or state of the individual. The physician merely aims to help and develop rather than supersede or impede the action of this power.

According to the unani system of medicine, seven essential constituents affect the working of the human body. These seven constituents are elements, temperament, humours, organs, vital breaths, energy, and action.

The Unani system of medicine postulates that everything in this universe comprises of the four elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Each of these elements has their special qualities. Earth is cold and dry; water is cold and moist; fire is hot and dry; air is hot and moist. If these elements are present in the human body in a uniform fashion, the temperature is normal. However, if any one of the element dominate, the temperature becomes imbalanced.

The Unani system also postulates the presence of four humors in the body: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. A healthy body maintains a dynamic equilibrium of these humours, and disorders arise when environmental or intrinsic factors influence a shift out of this equilibrium and one of the humours dominate.

The examination of pulse, urine, and stool determines which humour is dominant at the time. Some hakims also examine the blood pressure and study heartbeats. The hakims then question, palpate, and observe to investigate the nature of the imbalance.

After a complete evaluation of the innate constitution of the patient, including evaluating the temperament and quality and quantity of humours, the Unani hakim (physician) applies therapies aimed at restoring the entire internal and external biotic environment to a state of balance. Some of such measures are ripening, purging, cupping, sweating, diuresis, bath therapy, massaging, and exercise.

When it comes to medication, the unani hakim does not prescribe the strongest drug. They rather select the drug according to the degree of variation from the normal healthy condition, and observe the effect produced by the treatment. To counter balance the therapeutic effect of these drugs, they impose restrictions in diet and lifestyle. For treating a 'hot', 'cold', 'dry' or 'moist' disease, food, or drug of the opposite quality is administered. Skillful use of warming and cooling spices and herbs contribute heavily to the appropriateness of the meal to correct the root causes of imbalances.

Unani is today unmatched in treating chronic diseases like arthritis, asthma, mental, cardiac and digestive disorders, urinal infections, and sexual diseases or ailments including sterility. Diabetes in its early stages is curable using Unani. Recent research has proved that Unani medicines are highly effective in treating diseases like malaria, hepatitis B, leukoderma, and skin problems. Unani is also effective in increasing immunity levels in AIDS patients. While modern medicines may also be able to do all these, they come with harmful side effects. Unani medicines, on the contrary improve the general health of the person.

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