The
Unani system of medicine owes its origin to the Greeks. Hippocrates,
the Greek Philosopher – Physician who lived during BC
460-377, freed medicine from the clutches of magic and superstition
and made it into a science. He advocated that disease was
a natural phenomenon and its symptoms were the reactions of
the body to the disease. He said that the chief function of
the physician was to aid the natural forces of the body. He
was the first physician to introduce the method of taking
medical histories. His chief contribution to medicine is the
humoral theory, the basis of Unani. Later, several other Greek
scholars developed the system, and of them Galen who lived
during 131-210 A.D, and Arab Physicians like Rhazes and Avicenna
made significant contributions, and as a result, it became
a full fledged system of medicine.
Unani in India
The Unani system has along and impressive record in India.
It was introduced in India around 10 th century A D with th
sread of Islamic civilization. Now Unanipathy has become a
part of Indian system of Medicine and India is one of leading
countries so far as its practice is concerned. It is very
much similar to our Ayurveda. In India Unani medicine was
chiefly propagated by Freedom fighter and Unani scholar HAKEEM
AJMAL KHAN.
Presently, there are recognized practitioners hospitals,
educational and research institutions which forms an integral
part of the health care system in India. There are at present
42 Unani Medical Colleges in India.
Basis of the Unani medicine
The Unani system of medicine is based on the humoral theory
.The humoral (relating to the four bodily fluids) theory
presumes the presence of four humours- Dam (blood), Balgham
(phlegm), Safra (yellow bile) and Sauda (black bile).
How does unani tackle a disease?
Every man is supposed to have a unique humoral constitution
which indicates his health. To maintain the correct humoral
balance, there is a power of self-preservation or adjustment
called ‘"quwwat -e-mudabbira" (medicatrix
nature) in the body. If this power weakens, the imbalance
in the humoral composition is bound to occur every person
resulting in disease. In Unani, great reliance is placed
in this power. The medicines help the body to regain the
power to an optimum level and thereby restore humoral balance.
Unani diagnoses a disease through Nabz (Pulse), Baul(Urine)
and Baraz (stool)
How does Unani prevent a disease?
Unani has laid down six essential pre-requisites known as
“asbab-e-Sitta Zarooriya” or air, food and drinks,
bodily movement and repose, psychic movement and repose,
sleep and wakefulness, and finally excretion and retention
for the prevention of diseases. It emphasizes on a good
environment besides clean water, food and air.
Some Misperceptions
Most of the practising Unani physicians in India are Muslims.
Though there are also many practitioners from other communities,
most people think of Unani as solely a Muslim system of Medicine.
Unani is a well-developed medical science and has nothing
to do with Islam or Muslim culture.
Hakkim Jameel points out that the number of students from
other communities in Unani Medical Colleges in South India
is increasing and they are not only going for under graduate
courses but post graduate courses as well.
Siddiqi adds that the number of students from scheduled castes
and other backward sections has also registered a sharp rise.
Siddiqi observes that most patients seeking Unani treatment
are mostly from other communities.
For instance, in Delhi, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital's Unani
wards receives over 300 patients daily, an overwhelming majority.
