History of Islamic (Unani) Medicine [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

History of Islamic(Unani) Medicine

History of Islamic
Medicine in its true context, can thus be defined as a body of
knowledge of Medicine that was inherited by the Muslims in the early
phase of Islamic History (40-247 AH/661-861 AD) from mostly Greek
sources, but to which became added medical knowledge from, Persia,
Syria, India and Byzantine.

This knowledge was not
only to become translated into Arabic, the literary and scientific
lingua franca of the time, but was to be expounded, assimilated,
exhaustively added to and subsequently codified, and 'islamicized'.
The Physicians of the times both Muslim and Non-muslim were then to
add to this, their own observations and experimentation and convert
it into a flourishing and practical science, thus helping in not
only curing the ailments of the masses, but increasing their
standards of health.

The effects of its
domineering influence extending not only in the vast stretches of
the Islamic lands, but also in all adjoining nations including
Europe, Asia, China, and the Far East. The span measurable not only
for few centuries, but perhaps for an entire millennium, 610 to 1610
AD. During which time, Europe and rest of the extant civilized
nations of the world were in grips of the 'dark ages'.

It also was to set the
standards of hygiene, and preventative medicine and thus was
responsible for the improvement of the general health of the masses.
It was to hold sway until decadence finally set in, concomitant with
the political decline of the Islamic nation. With the advent of
Renaissance in Europe, at the beginning of the 17th Century AD, it
was finally challenged by the new and emerging science of modern
medicine, which was to finally replace it in most of the countries,
including the countries of its birth !

Islamic(Unani)
Medicine

Origin and
Development

UNANI system of
medicine owes its origin to Greece (Unan in Arabic=Greece). It was
the Greek philosopher-physician Hippocrates (460-377 BC) who freed
Medicine from the realm of superstition and magic, and gave it the
status of Science. The theoretical framework of Unani Medicine is
based on the teachings of Hippocrates. After a number of other Greek
scholars had enriched the system considerably, Galen (131-210 AD)
stands out as one who stabilized its foundation.

On this foundations
islamic physicians like Al-Razi (Rhazes) (850-925 AD) and Ibn Sina
(Avicenna) (980-1037 AD) Al Zahravi (Albucasis) the surgeon and
Ibn-Nafis (to name only a few) constructed an imposing edifice.
Unani medicine got enriched by imbibing what was best in the
contemporary systems of traditional medicine in Egypt, Syria, Iraq,
Persia, India, China and other Middle East and far East countries.
The Unani system received great impetus during the reign of the
Abbasids and became a respectable and 'rational' science

In India, Unani system
of medicine was introduced by Arabs, and soon it took firm roots in
the soil. When Mongols ravaged Persian and Central Asian cities like
Shiraz, Tabrez and Geelan, scholars and physicians of Unani Medicine
fled to India. The Delhi Sultan, the Khiljis, the Tughlaqs and the
Mughal Emperors provided state patronage to the scholars and even
enrolled some as state employees and court physicians. During the
13th and 17th century Unani Medicine had its hey-day in India. Among
those who made valuable contributions to this system into period
were Abu Bakr Bin Ali Usman Ksahani, Sadruddin Damashqui, Bahwa bin
Khwas Khan, Ali Geelani, Akbal Arzani and Mohammad Hashim Alvi
Khan.

The scholars and
physicians of Unani Medicine who settled in India were not content
with the known drugs. They subjected Indian drugs to clinical
trials. As a result of their experimentation added numerous native
drugs to their own system further enriching its
treasures.

During the British
rule, Unani Medicine suffered a setback and its development was
hampered due to withdrawal of governmental patronage. Since the
system enjoyed faith among the masses it continued to be practiced.
It was mainly the Sharifi family in Delhi, the Azizi family in
Luchnow and the Nizam of Hyderbad due to whose efforts Unani
Medicine survived during the British period. An outstanding
physician and scholar of Unani Medicine, Hakim Ajmal Khan
(1868-1927) championed the cause of the system in India.

The development of
Unani Medicine as well as other Indian systems of medicine gained
considerable momentum after independence. Even prior to
independence, several committees were appointed which underscored
the future role to be played by the indigenous systems of
medicine.

The government
established in 1969 a Central Council for Research in Indian
Medicine and Homeopathy (CCRIMH) to develop scientific research in
different branches of Indian systems of medicine viz Unani Medicine,
Ayurveda, Siddha, Yoga, Naturopathy and Homeopathy. the research
activities in these systems continued under the aegis of the CCRIMH
till 1978 when it was split up into four separate research Councils,
one each for Unani Medicine, Ayurveda and Siddha, Yoga and
Naturopathy and Homeopathy.

This was done to
further develop these systems in consonance with the basic
philosophies of the respective systems. Ever since its
establishment, the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine
(CCRUM) has been making concerted efforts to provide scientific
basis to this age-old system and to come up with viable solutions to
the health problems of the people.

In order to streamline
education and regulate practice in the Indian systems of medicine,
the Government set up by an Act of Parliament, Indian Medicine
Central Council Act 1970, the Central Council of Indian Medicine
(CCIM).

At present the Unani
systems of medicine, with its own recognized practitioners,
hospitals and educational and research institutions, forms an
integral part of the national health care system. Today, India is
considered a world leader in Unani Medicine. The Government is
providing increasing support and funds for the multipronged
development of Unani Medicine to draw the fullest advantage of this
system in providing health care to the masses. It is hoped that the
spread of Unani and other Indian systems of medicine will help
realize the cherished goal of Health for all by the year
2000.

Fundamentals

UNANI Medicine, as
said earlier, is based on the principles put forward by Hippocrates
and exploited asssimalated by the Medeaval Muslim Physicians.
Hippocrates was the first person to establish that disease was a
natural process, that its symptoms were the reactions of the body to
the disease, and 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 the medical reals in the humoral theory.

The Humors

The humoral theory
presupposes the presence of four humors-Dam (blood), Balgham
(phlegm), Safra (yellow bile) and Sauda (black bile)- in the body.
The temperaments of persons are expressed by the words sanguine,
phlegmatic, choleric and melancholic according to the preponderance
in them of the respective humors blood, phlegm, yellow bile and
black bile. The humors themselves are assigned temperaments: blood
is hot and moist, phlegm cold and moist, yellow bile hot and dry,
and black bile cold and dry.

Every person is
supposed to have a unique humoral constitution which represents his
healthy state. And to maintain the correct humoral balance there is
a power of self-preservation or adjustment called Quwwat-e-Mudabbira
(medicatrix naturae) in the body. If this powder weakens, imbalance
in the humoral composition is bound to occur. And this causes
disease. In Unani Medicine, great reliance is placed in this
power.

The medicines used in
this system, in fact, help the body to regain this power to an
optimum level and thereby restore humoral balance, thus retaining
health. Also, correct diet and digestion are considered to maintain
humoral balance.

Diagnosis

Another distinctive
feature of the Unani system of medicine is its emphasis on
diagnosing a disease through Nabz (pulse), arrhythmic expansion of
arteries which is felt by fingers. Other methods of diagnosis
include examination of Baul (urine), Baraz (stool) etc.

Prevention of
Disease

Unani system of
medicine recognizes the influence of surroundings and ecological
conditions on the state of health of human beings. This system aims
at restoring the equilibrium of various elements and faculties of
the human body. It has laid down six essential pre-requisites for
the prevention of diseases and places great emphasis, on the on
hand, on the maintenance of proper ecological balance and, on the
other, on keeping water, food and air free from pollution. These
essentials, known as 'Asbab-e-Sitta Zarooriya' are air, food and
drinks, bodily movement and repose, psychic movement and repose,
sleep and wakefulness, and exertion and retention.

Therapeutics

In Unani system of
medicine various types of treatment are employed, such as
Ilajbit-Tadbeer (regimental therapy), Haj bil-Ghiza (dietotherapy),
Haj bid-Dawa (pharmacotherapy) and Jarhat (surgery). The regimental
therapy include venesection, cupping, diaphoresis, diuresis, Turkish
bath, massage, cauterization, purging, emesis, exercise, leeching
etc. Dietotherapy aims at treating certain ailments by
administration of specific diets of by regulating the quantity and
quality of food.

On the other hand
pharmacotherapy deals with the use of naturally occurring drugs,
mostly herbal. Though drugs of animal and mineral origin are also
used. Similarly, surgery has also been in use in this system for
quite long. In fact, the ancient physicians of Unani Medicine were
pioneers in this field and had developed their own instruments and
techniques.

In Unani Medicine,
single drugs or their combinations in raw form are preferred over
compound formulation. The system offers time-tested and excelled
remedies for gastrointestinal cardiovascular and nervous disorders.
The naturally occurring drugs used in this system are symbolic of
life and generally free from side-effects. And such drugs which are
toxic in crude form are processed and purified in many ways before
use. Since in this system, great importance is attached to the
temperament of the individual, the medicines administered are such
that go well with the temperament of the patient. Thus accelerating
the process of recovery.

Research

The concept of
research in Unani system of medicine was originally perceived by
Masih-ul-Mulk Ajmal Khan in 1920's. A versatile genius of his time,
Hakim Ajmal Khan very soon realized the importance of research, and
his inquisitive nature spotted Dr. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui, an eminent
chemist, to materialize his dreams. Dr. Siddiqui, who was engaged in
research work at the Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College, Delhi well
undertook the task visualized by the Masih-ul-Mulk.

Dr. Siddiqui's
discovery of medicinal properties of a plant, commonly known as
Asrol (Pagal Booti), led to sustained research which established the
unique efficiency of this plant, known all over the world as
Rauwolfia serpentine, in neurogasular and nervous disorders, such as
hypertension, insanity, schizophrenia, hysteria, insomnia,
psychosomatic conditions ect.

Central Council for
Research in Unani Medicine

The Central Council
for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) an autonomous organization
set up in 1978 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Government of India is engaged in developing independent and
multidimensional research into various fundamental and applied
aspects of Unani system of medicine. The Council is fully financed
by the Government of India and over the years has made great strides
in its research programme.

Programme
Profile

The research programme
of the Council, which is being pursued at its 32 institutes/units
functioning in different parts of the country, has been so devised
that the system could stand on solid scientific foundations and be
acceptable to the scientific world; its benefits could be extended
to the common man, particularly the undeserved living in rural and
far-flung areas. Greater emphasis is being placed on achieving
national priorities. the areas of research chosen by the Council
include clinical research, standardization of single and compound
drugs, literary research, survey and cultivation of medicinal
plants, and family welfare research.

Clinical
Research

The clinical research
programme of the Council aims at critical appraisal of the theory of
pathogenesis, symptomatology, clinical methods of diagnosis and
prognosis, principles, lines and methods of treatment enunciated in
the classical texts of Unani system of medicine. The programme has
been taken up with a view to providing economically cheap and
effective remedies for common as well as chronic ailments. Concerted
efforts are being made to scientifically establish the therapeutic
efficacy of various Unani drugs which have been in use for
centuries. The Council has therefore, taken up both disease and drug
based trials.

The diseases on which
clinical trials are going on in the institutes and units of the
Council include Bars (Vitiligo), Nar-e-Farsi (Eczema), Daussadaf
(Psoriasis), Iltehab-e-Kabid (Infective hepatitis), Hasat-ul-Kuliya
wa Masana (Renal and bladder calculus), Qarah-e-Meda wa
Asna-e-Ashari (Gastric and duodenal ulcer), Ishal-e-Muzmin (Chronic
diarrhea), Ishal-e-Atfal (Infantile Diarrhea), Deedan-e-Ama
(Helminthiasis), Humma-e-Ijamia (Malaria), Zusantaria Mevi (Amebic
dysentery), Ziabetus, Sukkari (Diabetes mellitus), Waja-ul-Mafasil
(Rheumatoid arthritis), Iltehab-e-Tajaweef-e-Anf (Sinusitis),
Seeq-un-Nafas (Brachial asthma) and Sailanur Rahem (Leucorrhoea). On
these 18 problems 55 combinations of Unani drugs are being
clinically tested.

The Council's Central
Research Institute of Unani Medicine at Hyderabad has attained
international fame for its research work on the successful treatment
of Bars (Vitligo). Since its inception in 1972 the Institute has
treated about 35,000 patients for this disease. Similarly, the
Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine at Madras has become
famous for curing Daul fell (filariasis). The Council has also taken
significant lead in the treatment of Hepatitis, Bronchial Asthma,
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sinusitis, Eczema and Psoriasis.

The Council has
conducted cupping experiments on several patients of rheumatoid
arthritis and other joint pains at different centres, which have
yielded encouraging results. Under its mobile clinical research
programme, the researchers of the Council make door-to-door surveys
in these areas mainly to register cases of different ailments. The
researchers also provide free medical treatment to the ailing
people, near their doorsteps, and thus serve as a potential source
of health care for the masses.

Besides, the Council's
researchers conduct health check-ups of school children,
particularly in rural areas, provide free treatment to those
suffering from different disorders and promote health consciousness
among them. The Council's workers also take active part in medical
aid-cum-relief operations during epidemics and
calamities.

Drug
Standardization

The programme of drug
standardization is mainly concerned with evolving standards of
single and compound Unani drugs of proven efficacy included in the
National Formulary of Unani Medicine for their incorporation in the
official Unani Pharmacopoeia of India.

Standardization of
single drugs includes scientific documentation, pharmacognosy and
phytochemistry of the drugs. Undertaken in order to establish
standards for the drugs as well as the methods of their manufacture.
Such type of work has been undertaken for the first time in the
history of Unani Medicine.

The Council has so far
been able to finalize standards for 180 single and 380 compound
drugs.

A monograph entitled
"Physicochemical standards of Unani Formulations," in three volumes,
each having standards for 100 drugs, has been brought out on the
standardization of Unani formulations. Besides, another publication
entitled "Standardization of single Drugs of Unani Medicine" in two
volumes, each having standards for 50 single drugs, has been
published by the Council. Yet another book entitled 'Chemistry of
Medicinal Plants" has also been published.

Survey of Medicinal
Plants

The survey of
medicinal plants programme of the Council envisages systematic
survey of various forest areas/ranges for the collection of
medicinal plants used in Unani system.

Under this programme
experimental cultivation of such plants as are rare or imported at
present, but can be cultivated in India, is being
undertaken.

Survey of different
forest areas in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya
Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have been
undertaken for collecting information on their medicinal flora. So
far around 43,000 plant specimens have been collected, out of which
around 26,000 have provisionally been identified. Besides mounting
the herbarium sheets of 32,000 plant specimens, 1000 drug specimens
have also been collected and preserved.

A special programme
has been launched for the ethnobotanical exploration of the areas
surveyed. Special attention has been paid to the anthropology,
geography, geology, ecology etc. of various tribal communities
residing in the deep pockets of forest areas. The Council has also
collected 7,200 folk claims for different ailments.

Greater importance is
being attached to the procurement of genuine herbal Unani drugs.
Experimental cultivation of some Unani drug plants to study their
yield, adaptability and response to verbalization, watering, spacing
and manuring, is being carried out at the Council's centres at
Aligarh, Lucknow, Madras and Srinagar. Considerable progress has
been achieved in the cultivation of some important medicinal plants
such as Aatrilal (Ammi majus L.), Asal-us Soos (Glycyrrhiza glabra
L.), Gulnar Farsi (Punica granatum L.) (abortive variety), Kawnch
(Mucuna prurita Hook.), Satawar (Asparagus racemosus Willd.) etc.

Cultivation of some
other medicinal plants including Aspghol (Plantago ovata Forsk),
Babchi (Psoralea corylifolia L.), Babbonah (Matricaria chamomilla
L.), Kasni (Cichorium intybus L.), Khatmi (Althea officinalis L.),
Khubbazi (Malva sylvestris L.) etc. is also being undertaken with a
view to meeting the demands of the Council's clinical research
units.

The Council has
published three monographs on the medicinal plants of various
regions with the titles "Contribution to the Medicinal Plants of
Aligarh", Medicinal Plants of Gwalior Forest Division" and
"Contribution to the Medicinal Plants of North Arcot District-Tamil
Nadu.

The Council is making
efforts to develop the Central Herb Garden and Museum into a major
centre for collection, preservation and display of genuine Unani
medicinal plants for their exact identification and for providing
authentic information on them. About 236 perennial herbs, shrubs,
and trees are being maintained round the year and 50 annual
medicinal herbs are being cultivated during the appropriate seasons.
Besides, 325 drug specimens have been classified, labeled and
displayed in the museum.

Literary
Research

The literary research
programme of the Council includes editing, compilation and
translation of rare manuscripts of Unani system of medicine. This
programme is being carried out through a Literary Research Institute
of Unani Medicine in New Delhi.

The Council has
published some very rare books of Unani Medicine such as
Kitab-al-Kulliyat by Ibn Rushd (Averoes) (Arabic text and Urdu
translation in separate volumes), Kitab-al Abdal by Zakaria Razi
(Rhazes) (Arabic text, Urdu translation and explanatory notes),
Aina-e-Sarguzisht (biography of Avicenna), Kitab-al-Tailsir by Ibn
Zohar (Avenzoar) (Urdu translation), Kitab-al-Umda fil Jarahat vol.
I & II by Ibn-al-Quf Masihi (Urdu translation), Uyoon-al-Amba fi
Tabaqat-il-Atibba by Ibn-e-Abi Usaiba (Urdu translation) and Kitabal
Mansuri by Zakaria Razi (Rhazes) (Urdu translation).

Family Welfare
Research

The Council has
embarked upon a programme to clinically screen the oral
contraceptive agents described in the classical literature of Unani
system of medicine. This programme aims at finding out an effective,
potent, cheap and safe Unani oral contraceptive free from
side-effects.

Presently, four
combinations of Unani oral contraceptive drugs are being clinically
screened. The studies carried out so far have ensured increase in
the inter-pregnancy period in those women of reproductive age group
who hitherto did not have access to the family planning network. The
Council has also published a book entitled "The concept of Birth
Control in Unani Medicine" compiled on the basis of references
available in Unani classics.

Collection and
Dissemination of Information

In order to gather the
scattered literature on Unani Medicine and allied sciences, and make
available at one place the recent advances in these disciplines, an
Information Centre is functioning at the Council's
headquarters.

The Council publishes
its research work in the form of books, monographs, reports, etc. It
brings out a bimonthly CCRUM News letter in English to highlight its
activities which is circulated in many parts of the country and
abroad. The Council has so far brought out 60
publications.

The Council encourages
its working scientist to exchange ideas and discuss the research
work being undertaken at different centres. The Council has, since
its inception, organized several seminars and workshops. The
Council's researchers have also been attending several international
as well as national conferences, seminars and symposia on Unani and
other traditional systems of medicine. So far the Council's
researchers have produced a total of 700 research papers. These
papers have been presented at different seminars and workshops
organized by the Council as well as other agencies.

Besides, the Council
has organized a number of exhibitions on such occasions to introduce
its activities and achievements to the general public. The Council
also participates in exhibitions and fairs, organized by other
institutions, including the World Book Fair.

Health Care

Unani system of
medicine is quite popular among the masses. The practitioners of
Unani Medicine, scattered all over the country, form structure.
According to available official figures, there are 35,350 registered
Unani practitioners in the country. Of them, 13,116 are
institutionally qualified. Besides, a large number of unregistered
practitioners are dispersed all over the country who practice Unani
Medicine on hereditary basis.

Hospitals

Presently, 11 States
have Unani hospitals. The total number of hospitals functioning in
different states of the country is 105. Out of these, 95 are run by
Government agencies and 10 by other organizations. The total bed
strength in all the hospitals in 1914.

Dispensaries

Fourteen States in
country have Unani dispensaries. The total number of Unani
dispensaries is 954. Out of which, 780 are being run by Government
agencies, 169 by local bodies and three by other
organizations.

Seven dispensaries two
in Andhra Pradesh, one each in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal and
three in Delhi are functioning under the Central Government Health
Scheme (CGHS) which mainly cater to the health needs of the Central
Government employees. Established of CGHS dispensaries in other
parts of the country is also underway.

Drug
Control

The manufacture of
Unani drugs is being regulated through Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940
as amended from time to time. The pharmacopoeia standards are being
finalized in respect of single and compound drugs. There is a
permanent Unani Pharmacopoeia Committee under the Government of
India in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which consists
of experts in Unani Medicine, chemists, botanists and
pharmacologists.

This committee has
already finalized part I of the National formulary of Unani Medicine
containing 441 compound formulations which has since been published
in English and Urdu languages. This is considered a step forward in
securing uniformity based on authentic Unani literature. There is an
Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani Drugs Technical Advisory Board which
monitors the enforcement of Drugs and Cosmetics Act over the Unani
drugs as well.

An advisory committee,
the Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani Drugs consultative Committee, has
also been constituted to advise the Central Government, the State
Governments and the Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani Drugs Technical
Advisory Board on any matter for the purpose of securing uniformity
in the administration of Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Education

The education and
training facilities in Unani system of medicine are presently being
monitored by the Central Council of India Medicine which is a
statutory body set up by an Act of Parliament known as Indian
Medicine Central Council Act 1970. At present, there are 25
recognized colleges of Unani Medicine in the country which provide
education and training facilities in the system.

These colleges of
Unani Medicine in the country which provide education and training
facilities in the system. These colleges have a total admission
capacity of about 950 students per year for undergraduate courses.
They are either Government institutions or set up by voluntary
organizations. All these educational institutions are affiliated to
different universities. The curriculum prescribed the Central
Council of Indian Medicine is followed by these
institutions.

Postgraduate education
and research facilities are also available in the subjects of Ilmul
Advia (Pharmacology), Moalijat (Medicine) and Kulliyat (Basic
Principles) at Ajmal Khan Tibbia College, Aligarh Muslim University,
Aligarh and in the subjects of Moalijat (Medicine) and
Amraz-e-Niswan (Gynecology) and Amraz-e-Atfal (Pediatrics) at
Government Nizamiah Tibbi College, Hyderabad.

The Hamdard Tibbi
College, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi has also recently started
postgraduation in Moalijat (Medicine) and Ilmul Advia
(Pharmacology). The total admission capacity to these courses in all
these colleges is 50.

National Institute of
Unani Medicine

In accordance with its
decision in 1975, to establish separate National Institutes for the
various Indian Systems of medicine, the Government has set up a
National Institute of Unani Medicine at Bangalore in collaboration
with Government of Karnataka.

A principal
institution of Unani Medicine in the country, the Institute will
serve as a demonstrable model of teaching, training and research in
the system.