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Unani System of medicine is basically Greek system which was introduced by Ancient Greek philosopher Hippocrates in the 4th century BC. He was the first physician who separated the medical science from spiritual and magical treatments. This system of medication preserved afterwards by the Muslims, along with the other Greek sciences. The Muslim scholars like Ibn e Sina, Jabir bin Hayan and Ibnul Hatham adapted the Unani medical system and made useful developments in it in the light of Health indications recorded in the Holy Quran and Sunnah. Basic principle of Unani Tibb as stated by Hippocrates is that medicine should be gentle and safe. This system with the Muslim physicians travelled throughout the world and became more useful and effective with the addition of medical traditions of Arab, Persia and India. Nowadays this Unani Tibb is known as Islamic and oriental medicine. The traditional system of medicine popular in sub continent is a developed shape of Unani, Islamic, Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic systems based on Herbal Treatment.

Disease is a bodily imbalance in accord with the basic principles of the unani tibb. The physician’s duty is to balance the AKHLAT in the human body. Human body contains four AKHLAT (elements)

     1. Dum (blood),
      2. Balgham (phlegm),
      3. Sufra (yellow bile) and
      4. Sauda (black bile),

One or two of which when exceeds its quantity level it causes some disease in human body. That is called Ghalba i.e. Ghalba-e-Dum, Balgham, Sufra or Sauda. Tabib’s duty is to diagnose the actual GHALBA (domination of element) and revert it to its natural balance. Human beings are divided into four MIZAJS referring to these four AKHLAT. These mizajs are DAMVI (Hot and Humid), BALGHAMI (Cold and Humid), SUFRAVI (Hot and Dry) and SAUDAVI (Cold and Dry). All the herbs and food items has also four mizajs similarly. Foods and herbs opposite to the human mizaj have pleasant effect on body while the mizaj of food or herb similar to the human mizaj has negative effect on the body.

Diagnosis & treatment :

The unani Tabib diagnoses a disease by examining the patients carefully. The color and condition of skin and eyes shows all about the MIZAJ of patient. The rhythm of the pulse and urine (color and condition) also helps to pin point the problem. Mizajs change either due to the internal disorder or external effects. Su e Mizaj (disorder of mizaj) due to external effects needs no medicine it is treated providing external heat, cold, moisture or dryness to the patient. This way of Treatment is called ILAJ BITTADBIR. Moreover there are other therapies called ILAJ BILGHIZA (diet), ILAJ BIDDAWA (medicine) and ILAJ BILJARAHAT (surgery). As it is stated that the purpose of all these treatments is to balance the AKHLAT to their natural level, the ATTIBA (unani physicians) divide the treatment into two stages.

TANQIAH
TA’DEEL

TANQIAH (weakening the dominant element)

In the first step TANQIAH small quantity of blood is released from body that is called FASD. This process decreases all the four AKHLAT in the body along with the element causing disease. For this purpose Tabibs adopt some ways other than Fasd like JALLAB. By this way Tabibs loose the stomach of the patient through laxative medicines.

TA’DEEL (restoring the natural equilibrium)

In the second step TA’DEEL the tabib starts actual treatment through which he minimizes the harms caused by the dominant element reverting it to its natural equilibrium. TA’DEEL means the equilibrium in Arabic.

TIBB E UNANI and AYURVEDA

TIBB E UNANI came to Sub Continent with the Arabs Sufis. As they have already developed and made splendid enhancements in the Greek system of medication. In Sub Continent they came across the ancient Indian medical science called Ayurveda. Ayurveda was 5000 years old system of treating patients a thousand years ago. The Muslims, as educated by their Holy Prophet that intelligence was the lost treasure of Muslim, also studied this system and applied its rules on the Unani system which after developments made by Muslim physicians was now called Islamic Tibb. Ayurveda is made up of two SANSKRIT words AYUS and VED. AYUS means life and VED means study thus it means the study of life. In other words the Ayurveda means Biology as this term also has the same meanings. Ayurveda is based on the principle of balance in the work of body, mind and souls. According to AYURVEDIC physicians human body is comprised the five elements Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. Human body has three basic energies called VITTA (anabolism), PITTA (metabolism) and KAPHA (catabolism). There are three elements in human body. They are as under:

Hakeem Muhammad Akbar Arzani, Maseeh ul Mulk Hakeem Ajmal Khan and other Hakeems of Shareefi family, Hakeem Muhammad Musa Amritsari and Hakeem Muhammad Saeed Dehlvi are the prominent names in the traditional medical history of Sub Continent. They have made tremendous developments in the TIBB in response to the challenges and health problems of modern era. Hakeem Muhammad Akbar Arzani wrote the famous book TIBB E AKBAR which is the hallmark in the history of oriental medical science. Hakeem Ajmal Khan is most prominent name in KHANDAN E SHARIFI. He made new researches in the ancient Greek and Ayurvedic systems and found new medicinal and regimental therapies. His book Bayaz e Hakeem Ajmal Khan has notable recognition in treating the modern health problems with traditional therapies. He founded Dawa Khana Hakeem Ajmal Khan which is research foundation and manufacturing company of unani medicines. Hakeem Muhammad Saeed Dehlvi the founder of Hamdard Dawakhana Waqf Pakistan. Dawa Khana Hamdard is a mother institution of many Research, Education institutes including Madina tul Hikmat Karachi.