Unani:
Unani system of medicine is a comprehensive medical system, which provides preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative health care. The system is holistic in nature and takes into account the whole personality of an individual rather than taking a reductionist approach towards disease. The fundamentals, diagnosis and treatment modalities of the system are based on scientific principles. The basic framework of this system is based on the Hippocratic theory of four Humours, according to which any disturbance in the equilibrium of humours causes disease and therefore the treatment aims at restoring the humoral equilibrium. The system also believes that Medicatrix Naturae (Tabiat Mudabbira-iBadan) is the supreme power, which controls all the physiological functions of the body, provides resistance against diseases and helps in healing naturally.
The remarkable holism of Unani system of medicine arises from giving primacy to the Temperament of man and drug, which unlike the molecular level, is simple and can be known as a whole. Its ease of practice arises from the fact that it uses only a few parameters i.e. the primary qualities (Kayfiyat) of Hot: Cold & Dry: Wet to describe the temperament of both man and drug. Its precision and reproducibility arises from the principle of clinical testing of the drugs hypo the sized by Temperament, before accepting them. This clinical testng also reveals effects which cannot be deduced from the Temperament or basic qualities of the drug. Unani system of medicine described four mode of treatment viz., Ilaj-bil-Tadbir (Regimenal Therapy), Ilaj-bil-Ghidha (Dietotherapy), Ilaj-bil-Dawa (Pharmacotherapy) and Ilaj-bil-Yad (Surgery). The thrust areas of Unani medicine include; skin diseases, liver disorders, non-communicable diseases including life style diseases, metabolic & geriatric diseases and menstrual / gynaecological disorders etc.
The Unani system of medicine includes the Science of Maintaining Health (Hifzan-iSihhat). It has the methods of understanding and maintaining health in a positive and individualized manner with different guidelines for different temperaments, genders, age groups, geographical regions, seasons, occupations etc. Some of the more commonly used guidelines are summarized as: Regimens for Seasons(Tadabir-iMavasim), Regimens for Age-groups (Tadabir- iAsnan), Regimens for Pregnancy (Tadaber- iHamal), Regimens for Travellers (Tadabir-iMusafir) etc. The section on maintenance of healthis followed by methods for preventing disease. Itshould be noted that it describes not only Prevention of Disease (Taqaddumbill-Hifz) but Promotion or what it calls Maintenance of Health (Hifzan-iSihhat) as a separate discipline, which should be used even before Prevention of Disease. This is because, being holistic, it possesses a positive concept and description of health. Though, understandably quite elaborate. In Unani System of Medicine, drug so obtained only from herbal, animal and mineral sources are used for medication. Sometimes, these drugs are used singly, and sometimes in the form of a compound of various drugs. They may be subjected to physico-chemical processing but without breaking up the unnatural character. Thus, Unani system of medicine uses only natural substances in treatment.
Originating in Greece (Yunan), this system travelled to many countries before coming to India to find here its permanent home. During its journey wherever it passed, the system enriched its repository by imbibing which was best of the healthcare systems in vogue in those countries. The system after getting further developed in the Arab and Persian lands came to India around the 8th century and took deep roots in the Indian civilization. The Indian scholars and physicians have made significant contributions to the further advancement of this system. It forms integral part of the national health care delivery system and India is considered world leader with the largest infrastructure and network of educational research and healthcare institutions. With a view to globalization the Unani system in other countries efforts are on. These steps have led to setting up of an Unani Medicine Chair at the University of Western Cape, South Africa.
