Unani can cure chronic ailments

Unani, like Ayurveda, is based on the theory of the presence of the elements (fire, water, earth and air) in the human body. Hakim Ibn Sina, who developed Unani in 1025 AD, was not only influenced by Greek and Islamic medicine but also by the ancient Indian medical teachings of Sushruta and Charaka. In the colonial period this healing therapy languished in the absence of state patronage, but with the growing interest of people in alternate healing practices Unani too is coming out of the shadows.

Dr M Suhaib (Hakim) has been running his Unani clinic in Old Delhi’s Chawri Bazaar for the last five years. He studied Unani medicine from Tibia College and is from a family of hakims who have been for generations practicing Unani medicine. He says, “Approximately I see around 25 to 30 patients in a day and mostly people come to Unani therapy when conventional medicine, read Allopathy has failed them. The patients that I see are suffering from chronic diseases like—gastritis, jaundice, renal stone and asthma.”

Curing asthma sounds strange, as in allopathic treatment asthma is controlled at the best and can’t be cured. “But Unani has a different take on disease; it believes that disease is a natural process which reflects that the body is not in sync with nature. Once the elements with which body is composed of are realigned, the disease will disappear on its own,” explains Dr Rehan Jamali, Unani doctor, who has run his clinics and worked with government organizations nationally as well in Middle East countries. “When famous Hollywood actress Demi Moore revealed that she uses leech therapy to beat ageing, many in India gasped in surprise – not knowing that it is the contribution of one of India’s oldest medical sciences, Unani. When a patient comes complaining of abscesses that refuse to go, leech therapy offers relief,” adds he.

Therapy Power 

Professor Tariq Siddiqui , HoD—Unani medicine in Jamia Hamdard University explains the concept of the therapy. He says, “Unani believes that the human body is composed of four humors which are body fluids. Each humor has its own characteristic and they in turn decide the temperament or the mizaj of the person depending on the preponderance of the humor in the person. At birth every person is endowed with a unique and healthy humoral constitution determining the temperament of an individual.

• Dam (blood)—hot and moist
• Balgham (phlegm)—cold and moist
• Safra (yellow bile)—hot and dry
• Sauda (black bile)—cold and dry

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is dependent on the temperament or mizaj of the person. Pulse, urine and stool of the patient are intensively examined before any conclusive diagnosis is reached. While treating a disease it is vital to keep in mind the temperament of the person.

Treatment

“Since Unani therapy believes in the intelligence of human body to cure itself of ailments, which themselves are manifestations of out of sync humors, the treatment strives to restore the humoral balance,” informs Dr Siddiqui. Hence, the role of the doctor is to help and develop the healing mechanism of the body which is done through—

• Diet therapy aims at treating certain ailments by administration of specific diets or by regulating the quantity and quality of food.
  Climatic therapy is changing the location of the patient to improve his health.
• Pharmacotherapy—Medicines given in Unani are made of natural ingredients composing of plant and animal origin. Sometimes the doctor prepares the medicine himself or he can prescribe medicines of companies like Hamdard.
• Regimental therapy is special technique of physical methods of treatment to improve the constitution of body by removing waste materials and improving the defense mechanism of the body and protect health. This includes methods like, Venesection, cupping, diaphoresis, diuresis, Turkish bath, massage, cauterization, purging, emesis, exercise, leeching etc.

“In fact this therapy works as an adjunct therapy. If someone is suffering from pneumonia he has to resort to antibiotics, but in chronic diseases like psoriasis Unani has shown excellent results. Similarly the therapy has medicines that can help treat obesity,” adds Dr Sidiqqui. Sharing a personal instance he says, “My wife was suffering from hypertension for the last four years, and initially she was on Allopathic drugs. Some time back I supplemented her Allopathic medicines with Unani medicines and gradually she was weaned off Allopathic medicines and is now having only Unani medicines.”

Unani therapy is somehow associated with Muslims, as majority of the doctors practicing belong to the Islamic faith. “Actually, the medical books that are to be read while studying Unani are in Urdu, Arabic and Persian hence it is studied mostly by Muslims. Recently, the books are getting translated into English so that the Unani therapy can be read by all” informs Dr M Suhaib. Late Hakim Abdul Hameed, founder of Hamdard University has written many books in English and Hindi.

The fact remains that this is a remarkable therapy for patients who have lost hopes in conventional medicine, concludes Dr Jamali.

If you wish to try Unani therapy go to the following places—

Ayurvedic Unani Tibia College, Karolbagh
Delhi Dawakhana, Ballimaran
Jamia Hamdard University, Majeedia Hospital
Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has an OPD ward on Unani
Archana Darshan

*(My Health Guardian doesn’t vouch for the authenticity of the treatment.)

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