What are the basic principles & concepts of the Unani system?

Q. 1 What is a Unani system of Medicine?

Ans . The Unani system is a science which deals with the preventive and promotive aspects of human being and health problems occurred by the Ecological and Environmental factors, which may vitiate humours i.e. Blood, Phlegm, Yellow bile and Black bile, the fluids circulating in the body vessels. It teaches to maintain the health and treat if affected by disease by bringing back the balance in imbalance humours. Humours are one of the basic principles & concepts conceptualised by the 'Father of Medicine', 'Hippocrates'.

Q. 2 What are the basic principles & concepts of the Unani system?

Ans . In the basic principles and concepts, the human body is considered to be made up of the following components.

Arkan (Elements)

Mizaj (Temperament)

Akhlat (Humours)

Aza (Organs)

Arwah (Spirit)

Quwa (Powers)

Afa'l (Function)

I) Elements (Arkan): These are four i.e. Air, Water, Earth and Fire. Actually, these four elements represent several other elements found in the modern science. There are four states denoting the temperaments of these four elements.

Air

Hot & Moist

Fire

Hot & Dry

Earth

Cold & Dry

Water

Cold & Moist

II. Temperaments (Mizaj):- The interaction between the chemical combination of four elements, produces various states which determine the temperament of an individual human being, plants, & minerals. Temperament (Mizaj) is simply defined as having the following states and their combinations:-

Hot

Dry

Cold

Moist

Single - Compound

Hot & Dry

Hot & Moist

Cold & Dry

Cold & Moist

III Humours (Akhlat) :- The humours are actually the body fluids which are classified broadly in four. The fluids of the body contain various hormones, enzymes and humours etc. They are responsible for nutrition to the whole of the body. These fluids are (a) Primary (b) Secondary.

(a) Primary fluids are four humour i.e. blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile.

(b) Secondary fluids are hormones, enzymes, and plasma etc.

IV. Organs (Aaza): - Organs are composed of cell, tissues, nerves and blood vessels. Various organs of the body and health in disease condition of each individual affects the state of health.

V. Pneuma-Gaseous material (Arwah) :- The Pneuma is a life force which carries of different powers, without which human body is dead. This is a source of life and vitality.

VI. Faculties (Qawa) :- Faculties/Powers are of three kinds.

a) Natural powers

b) Psychic powers

c) Vital powers

VII. Functions (Afaal): - Includes movements of various organs. It is necessary to ensure that various organs should be in proper shape and condition to perform proper functions.

Q. 3 What does temperament of the drugs means?

Ans . The temperament of the drugs means the whole chemistry and properties of a drug, its quality of having toxicity or otherwise. The drugs belong to plant, mineral & animal origin have their own temperaments. Because of the temperament, the property of one drug differs from the other.

Q. 4 How one can ascertain the temperament of compound drugs?

The different ingredients of a drug have a molecular structure (Surat-Mauiyah). Therefore their temperament is also different. When ingredients of different temperament assemble in a compound drug, they develop and produce a different temperament altogether.

Q. 5 Describe and illustrate the method of assessment of the temperament of a drug?

Ans . Al-Kindi (A distinguished pharcognosict died in 873 A.D.) established a method to assess the temperament, degrees of compound drugs and illustrated as follows.

Cardamom 1 warm ½ cold ½ moist 1 dry

Sugar 2 warm 1 cold 1 moist 2 dry

Indigo ½ warm 1 cold ½ moist 1 dry

Embolic 1 warm 2 cold 1 moist 2 dry

Sum:- 4 ½ warm 4 ½ cold 3 moist 6 dry

Thus the drug is dried to the first degree.

Q. 6 What do you mean by Hot, Wet or Dry Quality of Drug?

Ans . The temperament is a quality of drug it means the drug is hot and cold in touch and vice-versa. It actually means that the drug is potentially or action wises hot in comparison to the body. The potency and degree developed inside the body. The action takes place after intake of the drug, which increase or decrease the body temperament, stimulating the thermostat, centre of the hypothalamus, by increasing the Basic Metabolic Mates (BMR), by releasing various hormones. A drug is said to be hot because it produces certain symptoms related to heat after intake. A drug is said to be cold when it lowers the temperament by influencing hypothalamus or decreasing the BMR, as such the symptoms produce after intake of drugs of various temperaments attributed to hot, cold, moist or dry.

Q. 7 Is there gradation of potencies of drugs?

Ans . In Unani all drugs are defined in temperamental qualities and graded into four degrees according to the potency of their qualities as hot, cold, moist (wet) and dry. Thus a hot drug graded in degree one, two, three and four and cold, moist and hot are defined vice-versa. Thus the first and second degree are safe and third have a toxic effect of mild nature and the fourth considered having side-effects or toxic.

Q. 8 What are the importance of temperament and its manifestation?

Ans . For maintaining health it is imperative to maintain temperaments as well. It is also paramount to a physician to keep the temperament in mind while diagnosing a disease. The dominance of one or more humour in the body vitiate humour itself and create a condition i.e. cold disease.

Q. 9 How the humours altered and create disease?

Ans . There are various factors which affect the humours. When a disturbance in the quantity, quality and equilibrium in one or more humours occurred due to the effect of atmosphere or otherwise it causes disease.

Q. 10 How the temperament was determined?

Ans . It is the observation, experimentation and experience of ancient physicians who had undertaken clinical trials on living beings and treated with single as well as compound drugs. According to the actions, resulted in the human body, observed and examined by the physicians, the temperament was defined and determined.

Q. 11 What types of drugs are used in the Unani system?

Ans . Drugs of Herbal, Mineral & Animal origin are used. They form a large number of formulations and shape acceptable to the patient.

Q. 12 In what form the drugs are used?

Ans . Drugs are used in crude form as single drugs and compound form.

Q. 13 Why compound drugs are used when the single drugs also have effective action?

Ans . Because single drug sometimes could not give desired effect and results, they can give less and sometimes severe action. A drug of compound ingredients counteract the toxic effect of chemically active principle and act as an antidote and enhance the required action of other single drugs.

On the combination of multiple drugs in a formula having different qualities and active principles of mild or severe nature interact with each other. In the process, the toxic effects or side-effects reduce to nil, therefore, the trend continue.

Q. 14 In compound forms whether the Unani drugs retain the quality and maintain the efficacy of the drug and their life?

Ans . In Unani drug sugar or honey is the base as a preservative. So if the preservative is standard then the drug retain the quality, efficacy and also retain the life for more than one year. The methods of preparation of compound drugs, preservatives are described in detail in NFUM, Part-I.

Q. 15 Are Unani drugs safe?

Ans . All the drugs used in compound formulations are safe & non-toxic. These drugs are prepared according to the specific process & methods. Before preparation of Unani drugs toxicity of drugs are kept in mind and so the toxic ingredient is purified and detoxified. Due to this process, the toxicity is reduced to nil and the efficacy remains. Hence, the Unani drugs are absolutely safe.

Q. 16 It is well known that drugs in crude form act slowly. So they cannot give immediate relief to the patient? Then how the Unani physician handle in emergency and acute cases?

Ans. The medicinal plants are a type of vegetation, for example, some fruit or vegetables are used to stop diarrhoea and some are administered to increase haemoglobin in anaemia. Their action is fast. As such Unani medicines take effective action in the patients of acute diseases as well as of chronic diseases.

In the following acute conditions Unani drugs take immediate action.

I. Indigestion, Acidity, Flatulence

II. Diarrhoea

III. Dysentery

IV. Bronchitis

V. Coryza and Catarrh.

VI. Abdominal pain

VII. Urticaria and other ailments

The misconception that the Unani drugs act only in chronic diseases is absolutely incorrect. The Arthritis, Bronchial Asthma, Sinusitis, Hepatitis etc. becomes chronic due to repeated administration of allopathic drugs. These can be cured in acute condition by Unani drugs. As almost all the Unani drugs are used orally or locally and injectables are not used in the system, therefore they act like the allopathic drugs through the same route.

Q. 17 What are a preventive & promotive aspect of Unani?

Ans. Ecological & environmental factors affect the balance of humours in the body and also vitiate them. Maintenance of humour and promotion and preservation of health depends on six essentials which influence the living being with respect to preservation of health and causation of disease.

The Six Essentials (Asbab-e-Sitt-e-Zarooriya) are:-

I. Hawa-e-Muhit (atmospheric air)

II. Makul-vo-Mashrub (food & drink)

III. Harkat-vo-sakun badni (physical movement & rest)

IV. Harkat-vo-Sakun al-Nafsani (Mental movement and rest)

V. Naum vo-Yaqzah (Sleep and wakefulness)

VI. Istifragh-vo-Ihtibas (Evacuation & retention).

Q.18 How the disease is diagnosed?

Ans . Diagnosis is involved investigation of the cause of disease through pulse reading, naked eye examination of urine & stool and through the other conventional methods i.e. auscultation, palpation, percussion with the help of some modern tools. Thus, the spot diagnosis is made very easy.

Q. 19 What are the modes/methods of treatment?

Ans. Modes of treatment are four.

I. Regimental therapy

II. Diet therapy

III. Pharmacotherapy

IV. Surgery.

Q. 20 What do you mean by Regimental therapy?

Ans . Regimens are five as under.

I. Exercise

II. Massage

III. Hammam

IV. Douches

V. Regimen of Geriatrics

Hammam and massage therapy are available in Govt. Nizamia General Hospital (Unani) Hyderabad , Andhra Pradesh.

Cupping therapy as another speciality treatment of Unani is available in Central Research Instt., (CCRUM) Hyderabad , A.P.

Q. 21 Whether this system is recognised by the Govt. of India ?

Ans . Yes, this system is recognised by Govt. of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, under the Act-1970, to provide for the constitution of a Central Council of Indian Medicine and to maintain a Central Register of Indian Medicine. The CCIM makes the education regulations . This is a statutory body set up by an Act of Parliament.

The training and education in Unani are being regulated by the CCIM Act. At present there are 39 recognised undergraduate and three P.G. Unani colleges and 7 specialities are available in the P.G. courses.

Q. 22 What is the infrastructure of Unani in India ?

Ans. The Unani system has a network of Colleges, Hospitals, Dispensaries, Research Institutes, National Institutes and Unani speciality centre established by the Department of ISM & H, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India.

Q. 23 What are the contributions of Unani in the Health Care Delivery?

Ans. The Unani system has complete network in India and engaged in National Health Care Delivery through :-

1. Unani Under Graduate Colleges - 39

2. Unani Post Graduate Colleges - 3

Specialities in PG Colleges - 7 as under :

I. Kulliyat (Fundamentals of Unani medicine)

II. Ilmul Advia (Pharmacology)

III. Moalijat (Medicine)

IV. Amraz Niswan-vo-Qabala (Gynae and obstetrics)

V. Hifzane-Sehat (Health & Hygiene)

VI. Manfeul Aza (Physiology)

VII. Jarahiyat (Surgery)

3. Dispensaries - 965

4. Central Govt. Health Scheme Disp./Units - 9

5. Hospitals - 189

6. Unani Speciality Centre - 1

7. Research Institutes - 32

8. National Instt. of Unani Medicine - 1

9. Registered recognised physicians - 42000

10. Manufacturer - 514

Q. 24 What are the contribution of Govt. of India for the promotion of Unani in India ?

Ans . Govt. of India has various schemes for promotion, up gradation, propagation and for standardisation of the Unani system.

The following prioritised areas are:-

I. Constituted Unani Pharmacopoeia Committee (UPC) consisting of expert physicians, scientists, botanists, pharmacologists, chemists, manufacturers and experts of medicine. The first committee was constituted in 1964 for three years. Every third year it is being re-constituted.

Q. 25 What are the functions of UPC?

Ans . The functions of UPC are:-

I. To verify the formulations of Unani medicine which are frequently and commonly used, the time-tested formulation from reference books under Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.

II. To prepare pharmacopoeia for standards of single drugs and compound formulations worked out by the drug standardisation and drug testing laboratories, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine and Pharmacopoeial Laboratory of Indian Medicine (PLIM), U.P.

Q. 26 What are the contribution of UPC during the last 36 years?

Ans. The contribution of UPC are:-

I. Prepared National formulary of Unani Medicine (NFUM), Part-I - 441 formulations

II. NFUM , Part-II - 202 formulations

III. NFUM, Part-III - 103

IV. Unani Pharmacopoeia of India (UPI), Part-I - 45 standards, published in 1998

V. UPI, Part-II - 120 under process for publication

VI. UPI, Part-III - 103 under process for publication

Q. 27 What are the schemes Govt. of India has formulated for the development of Unani?

Ans. There are following schemes:-

I. Grant-in-aid for up gradation of standards of undergraduate colleges.

II. Grant-in-aid for the establishment of postgraduate colleges.

III. Re-orientation training program for up gradation of skills and knowledge of Teachers, Practitioners & Researchers.

IV. Extra Mural Research Projects.

V. Cultivation of Medicinal Plants Scheme

VI. Drug standardisation research programme.

VII. Upgradation of pharmacies/manufacturing units.

VIII. Upgradation of drug testing laboratory.

IX. To co-ordinate with Reproduction & Child Health (RCH Programme) under the Department of Family Welfare, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Q. 28 Is there any act to control the standards of Unani drug manufacturer sale, distribution and import-export law?

Ans. Drug Technical Advisory Board constituted for Ay., Unani & Siddha under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act & Rules-1940 to control the standards of drugs, manufacturing, sales & distribution of Unani drugs.

Q. 29 Is there any Drug Testing Lab. for Unani Medicines?

Ans. Yes, the PLIM is a Govt. Drug Testing Lab. for standardisation and quality control of Ay. & Unani drugs.

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Questions / Answers of common diseases and Unani drugs

Q. Sometimes I have eruptions on my body, usually accompanied by redness and itching . These eruptions disappear after sometimes without taking medicine. Again it appears with itching. What is this ? Is there any medicine for this ailment?

Ans. This can be allergic disorders caused by some impurities in the blood. The following medicines of Unani are advised.

Drug:-

Elva (Aloe barbadensis)

Mur Makki (Commiphora myrrh)

Boora-e-Aramani (Armanium Bole)

The method of preparation:- Powder all and mix within Vinegar and honey . Apply on the affected part.

Vinegar

Rose water ( Arq-e-Gulab)

The method of preparation:- Mix these drugs in equal quantity and apply on the affected part.

The method of preparation:- Take powder of Triphala 6 g. Triphala is powder of Amla ( Emblica Officinalis), Bella (Terminal IA Billerica and Halela (Terminalia chebula, Soak the powder in120 ml of water overnight and strain in the morning , take as such or by adding little Honey. This powder may also be taken with lukewarm water at bed time.

Q. I have pain in the back , hip and right side of the leg. This pain is periodic and start from the hip, radiating to the foot, calf muscle. Sometimes it is so severe and I am unable to stand or walk . Sometimes I feel pain in the joints. What can be this ? Is there any Unani medicine available?

Ans.This pain can be a Sciatica pain due to a disorder of nerves or Arthritis (Joints inflammation).

Drug Advisable:-

Elva ( Aloe babadensis Linn)

Kind of yellow Halela (Terminalia belerica)

Suranjan ( Colchicum luteum)Seed

The method of preparation:- Make a fine powder of all, mix with a little water, make Bengali Gram size pills, take 3 pills with plain water twice.

Powder of Chobchini(Smilax china ) 6g , soak in 250 ml. of water for 12 hours. Boil till it reduces to half and strain . Take as such in the morning.

Q. Is my child suffering from a sore throat and pain along with fever?

Ans. This is tonsillitis probably. For tonsillitis, the following drugs are advised.

The method of preparation:- Take 10-20 ml of Sharbat Toot ( syrup of Morus ace does Griff) for 3 to 7 days which is readily available in the market.

Gargles with the decoction of Berg-e-Toot ( Leaves of Morus acedosa Griff)

Gargles with decoction of Massoor (Lens esculent) and Khaskhaash ( papver somnifera)

Q. I am passing hard stool with pain and difficulty. Is there any medicine for the normal stool? If so please advice?

Ans. You are suffering from Chronic constipation . It may be due to intake of more proteins in the diet or you are missing lunch or breakfast. First of all take minimum proteins in diet and take more fibrous diet, green vegetable, salad regularly. Take one or two glass of water in the morning in empty stomach.

Take 6gm powder of Halela ((Terminalia belerica) at bedtime with lukewarm water. Husk Isabghol may also be taken safely.

Q. I am feeling shivering with fever. What should I take?

Ans. Shivering may be due to malarial fever or sometimes in viral fevers. Get malaria tested. Drug advised is:

Burn alum 5gm powder it

Dose 1 g twice a day for three days

Q. Is there any treatment of Migraine?

Ans. Yes , there is a number of Unani Medicine available in single and compound form.

Take pericarp of Reetha make powder and use as a snuff if the pain in right side of the head then use the powder in the left side of nostril as snuff and vice-versa. If not relieved, consult a Unani physician.

Q. From some time back, I am forgetting everything . In this way, I had lost many important and precious things in the office or wherever I visited. Please, advise the treatment for the loss of Memory.

Ans. Loss of memory may be due to head injury or malarial fever or any other cause but if it is due to weakness or non-specific reason some Unani drugs are very effective such as

Safoof-e-Darchini (Cinnamomum zylanicum) is very effective and useful.

Dose:- 3 to 5 g powder with sugar daily at bedtime with water may be used.

Q. I am suffering from fever. Please advice

Ans. For known specific fever, take a piece of Karanjwa (Cesalpinia bonducella) and 1 gm of Fifil Siyah ( Black piper) powder it and take 1 g twice daily for three days.

Q. Which are the well-known institutions/hospitals of Unani in the State?

Ans. Colleges

Govt. Nizamia Tibbi College , Charminar, Hyderabad

Hospitals

Govt. Nizamia General Hospital , Charminar, Hyderabad

Govt. Unani Hospital , Adoni

Govt. Unani Hospital , Kurnool

Govt. Unani Hospital , Nizamabad

Govt. Unani Hospital , Warangal

What are the specialised Unani treatments available in the State?

a. Faliz (Paralysis)

b) Laqua (Facial paralysis)

c) Bawaseer (Piles)

d) Turkish Bath

e) Ishab – Diarrhoea

f) Asthma

g) Chronic Hepatitis (Warm Jigar)

h) Jaundice and

i) Treatment for all seasonal diseases.

Source: https://www.aponline.gov.in/apportal/departments/UnaniFaqs.html