3
Review: Review: An introduction and development of Unani System of Medicine and its Potential Herbal Drugs Used for Liver Diseases
Javed Ahmad
Visiting Visiting Associate Professor, Research Center for Ethnomedicines, Institute of Natural Medicine (Department (Department of Botany, Hamdard University, New Delhi, INDIA)
Europe and Arab World for almost eight centuries. Historical Historical Background: Ibn Ibn Zohar (1092-1198 A.D.), an Arab scholar wrote Unani system of medicine owes its origin to an important compendium of Unani medicaments Greece. Greece. It was the Greek philosopher physician in his book Kitabul-Taiseer fl Madawat Wal-Tadbir. Hippocrates Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.), who put forward the Ibn Rushd (1126-1248 A.D.), an Arab author wrote theoretical theoretical framework of Unαni system of mediｭ an important book, Kitabul Kulliyat (Principles of cine. cine. After Hippocrates a number of Greek scholars Medicines). Ibn-e-Baiytar (1190-1286 A.D.), the enriched enriched this system considerably. Of them Galen great botanist of his times collected information
(131 ・ 210 A.D.) is the one who established its founｭ about 1,000 drugs from the authentic sources but dation, dation, and Arab physician like Rhazes (850-925 also added about 500 drugs to the materia medica, A.D.) A.D.) and Avicenna (980-1037 A.D.) further develｭ as a result of his personal research. His book Alｭ oped this. Jami Li Mufradat al Adwiya Wal Aghzia has been Hippocrates Hippocrates and Galen were Greek scholars. translated in Urdu by Central Council of Research The humoural concept was suggested by in Unani Medicine, Govt. of India. Three volumes Hippocrates Hippocrates in his book Tabiatul lnsan. Galen of this treatise have been published. The fourth is to based based his philosophy and theories on experimental be brought out shortly. Alｷ fasihi (1233 ’ 1286 evidence. evidence. He defined the structure and functions of A.D.), a renowned Arab author presented up to date all all body organs and established a concept of anatｭ knowledge on the subject in his book, Kitab-alｭ omy as well as physiology of the human body. ”De Umda fil Jarahat. He also mentioned the prescripｭ Simplicibus" Simplicibus" enjoyed great popularity in Latin. tions based on single drugs. During the time of Abbasit Caliphate (749- Unani medicine got enriched by imbibing
1258 A.D.) the Arab scholars of the time converted what was best in the contempor訂y systems of tradiｭ almost almost all Greek, Roman and Latin medical and sciｭ tional medicine in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Persia, India entific entific works into Arabic. Rhazes (850-925 A.D.) China and other Middle East countries. was a famous, legendary healer of the Arab world. His His most celebrated work is Al-Hawi (Libre Introduction in India: Continents). Continents). It is available in 25 volumes. It covers Greeko-Arab System: the the subjects of therapeutics, materia medica and Ayurveda: Native medicine (in India). pharmacy. pharmacy. The most significant work of Zahra vi ”Unani Tibb”: Amalgamated form. (946 (946 A.D.) is Al-Tasreef, a book on surgery. Ibn Ibn Sina (Avicenna) was born in Bukhara. He Hakim Gilani came to India from Iran during travelled travelled very widely. He reformulated the theories the reign of Akbar the Great (1556-1605), and beｭ from a clinical point of view in his book Al-Qanon came personal physician of the emperor. He was Fit Fit Tibb, latinised as The Canon of Medicine. This honoured with the title of ”Galen of the age”. He book has also been translated into Uzbek Turkish was veηf intelligent and fervent. He wrote the comｭ
Hebrew, English and Urdu. It was accepted in mentaηon Al-Qanon. 4
In In India, this system was introduced by Arabs According to Unαni scholars "T.αbiat" (physis) in in 13th - 14th centuηr A.D. The Unani (Greekoｭ is a power which all living beings possess to mainｭ
Arab) Arab) system of medicine came to India with the tain good health. It takes c訂e of the smooth funcｭ Muslims. Muslims. Due to the native medicine Ayurveda and tioning of all bodily functions and fight against the due to the temperament of the people of India the diseases. The concept of Tabiat was laid down by new system was not easily acceptable. The scholars the ‘Hippocrates’ who said "the nature heals" and and physicians of Unani medicine who settled in the physician is only nature ’s assistant, and he adｭ India India were not content with the known drugs, but vised physicians to abide by and follow the power they they subjected Indian drugs to clinical trials, and as of Tabiat (physis) and not antagonise it. a result of their experimentations added numerous native native drugs to this system. Thus a hybrid amalgam Seven natural principles (Umoor e tabla): of of the Greeko Arabic and Ayurvedic medical pracｭ tice tice was gradually produced, whieh later on was 1) Elements (Arkan) known as. ”Unani Tibb” or ”Tibbi medicine”. During 2) Temperament (Mizaj) the the British rule in India, Unani medicine suffered. 3) Humours (Akhlat) It It declined. Sharief family in Delhi, and the Aziz 4) Members (Aza) family family in Lucknow (India) during the late 18th and 5} Pneuma or vital breaths (Arwah) early early 19th centuries and the Nizam of Hyderabad 6) Faculties (Quwa) wanted to keep the tradition alive. Thus Unani 7) Functions or operations (Af aal) medicine medicine survived by their efforts. Hakeem Ajmal Khan ( 1864-1926) an outstanding physician and 1) Elements (Arkan) scholar scholar of Unani medicine championed the cause of Among these seven natural principles the the the system in India. first is elements (Arkan). These are simple indiｭ Hakeem Abdul Hameed, a renowned Unani visible substances, which provide the primary physician, physician, established a Unani institution (Jamia components of the body. They can not be further Hamdard) in Delhi in 1989. His younger brother resolved into simpler entities. Thus all types of Hakeem Mohammed Said established Baitul matter found in the nature are formed by the Hikmat (Unani University) in Karachi, Pakistan. combination of these substances. The element is Presently Presently the Govt. of India is patronising the the basic unit of the compound. According to the
Unani system of medicine in India. The literary and classical Unani theory there are four prim紅y ele research research works of Central Council for Research in ments. Air, Fire, Water and Earth. These eleｭ Unani Medicine (Govt. of India) are commendable. ments are the basic blocks of all substances in nature nature including the human body. The concept of Unani medicine: These four elements also determine the four The ancient Greek physicians used the term states of the matter. Air stands for the gaseous ‘physiology’ to denote the origin and nature of state, water stands for the liquid state, earth things, things, which later was applied to the study of all stands for the solid state, and fire stands for matｭ the the natural sciences, including medicine and biolｭ ter, which has been transformed into heat. ogy. ogy. And since the teaching of the medical sciences Each element contains two properties in came under the general heading of ‘physicis’ the which one is active and one passive. For example practitioner practitioner of medicine was designated as ‘physi in fire, heat is an active property, which has the cian'. cian'. productive capacity, while dryness is the passive The Unani physicians forwarded a theory, property. Two active properties can never be which described that human bodyｷ is composed of found in an element i.e., an element can not be the the seven natural principles (Umoor e Tabia). simultaneously hot and cold. 5
Every element has a certain temperament or -Have early eruption of teeth
'Mizaj', 'Mizaj', which makes every compound differ in -Have Wぽmer skin and prominent veins
nature nature as far as chemical and physical states 訂e - Their built is lean concerned. concerned. Physically three types of matters are -Have black and thick hairs
found. found. Solid, liquid, and gaseous, and chemically ー They feel comfort ｷfrom the use of cold
there there are Hot, Moist, Cold, and Dry ・ The human things body contains all types of matter. b) Cold personality: -They are fat and feel cold to the touch 2) 2) Temperament (Mizaj) -Have wheatish complexion According According to the Unani physicians temperaｭ - Suffer greatly during winter season and have ment or mizaj is the new state which results from little desire for drinks the the action and reaction among contrary qualities c) Dry personality: present present in minute particles of different elements. -Have dry and rough skin The resultant uniform state emerging after the -Humid things appeal to them combination combination of more than one element is ｷcalled -Do not like autumn weather and some of mizaj. mizaj. them even suffer from sleeplessness The temperament is the result of intermixｭ d) Moist personality: ture ture of elements with mutual affinity. Therefore, -These individuals have soft skin and are two forms of intermixture. If two or more eleｭ more fat
men ts 訂e simply mixed and their previous propｭ -They do not tolerate moist nature things easｭ erties erties are maintained as before, it is called as ily simple simple intermixture (imtizaj sadhij), as for examｭ -They have excess sleep, excess salivation, ple ple the mixture of sugar and water in the form of and have puffiness of eyelids a syrup. If the elements mix in such a way that their their former properties are changed altogether Similarly each organ and tissue of the body and quite new properties are produced it is true has its own temperament. The main stress in this
admixture admixture called factual combination (imtizaj e system is given to co汀ect the temperament or haqiqi). haqiqi). mizaj of the body as a whole or the organ inｭ The temperament is of two kinds: volved.
a) a) A balanced or equable temperament (mizαj e The hot organs (Aza e Harra) are supposed muatadil), muatadil), when the contrary qualities of the to be those in which blood supply and metabolic elements elements in a compound are qualitatively equal activities are comparatively more intense. Of all and perfectly balanced according to the reｭ the organs heart is the hottest, then come Ii ver quired quired properties and functions of that comｭ and then flesh (muscle). pound. pound. The cold organs (Aza e Ratiba) are those in b) b) An imbalanced or inequable temperament which blood supply and metabolic activities are (mizaj (mizaj e ghair muatadil) when the opposite comparatively less intense. Of all the organs qualities qualities of the elements in a compound are bone is coldest, then come cartilage, ligament qualitively qualitively unequal and unbalanced. and nerves, followed by spinal cord and the brain. brain. According According to the presence of different temｭ The moist organs (Aza e Ratiba) are more
peraments peraments various types of personalities 訂e deｭ humid than the other category. Wettest is fat, and scribed. scribed. then loose flesh i.e. glands. a) a) Hot personality: These individuals have a The dry organs (Aza e Yabisa) are drier than hotter hotter temperament than average. the other category .. Of all the organs the body 6
hair hair is the driest, then fall bones, cartilage, tenｭ and thus enables blood to reach those minutest dons, dons, and nerves in order. channels of the body. It cleanses the food resiｭ dues dues and phlegmatic humour off the walls of 3) 3) Humours (Akhlat) bowels, and stimulates the muscles of the intesｭ Another Another important principle is humours tines and anus. (Akhlat). (Akhlat). Unani physicians developed the system, The black bile (sauda) in its normal form is which combined physiology and pathology, and the sediment of the blood, but this term also inｭ explained explained health and disease on humoural basis. eludes all other fluids having black or dark
There 征e four humours in the body, Blood, brown colour. It is cold and dry in nature. The Phlegm, Phlegm, Yellow Bile, and Black Bile. Corresponｭ portion of the black bile that enters into the blood ding ding to the four elements and their four primary subserves two purposes: takes part in the nourｭ qualities. qualities. It was observed that when the blood coｭ ishment of some of the organs i.e. the bones, and agulates, agulates, it separates into humoural components. bestows the density and consistency upon the At the bottom black portion of the clot is black blood. Its main use is that by travelling to the bile, bile, the upper red part is the blood, the yellow mouth of the stomach, it tickles the site and sets
portion portion is the yellow bile, and the fibrin is the up a sense of hunger and so ，紅ouses the appetite. category category of the phlegm. The scholars and physiｭ cians cians of Unani system of medicine expressed the Every person is supposed to have a unique temperament temperament of persons of as Sanguine, humoural constitution, which represents his
Phlegmatic, Phlegmatic, Choleric, and Melancholic accordｭ healthy state, and to maintain the co汀ect ing ing to the humours, blood, phlegm, yellow bile, humoural balance there is a power of selfｭ and black bile, respectively. preservation or adjustment called as Medicatrix
The blood (Dam) is a fluid of red colour, hot Naturae in the body. If this power weakens im却 and wet in nature. Its main function is to provide balance in the humoural composition to occur. nutrition nutrition to the human body. It promotes growth And this causes disease. The medicines used in of of the body in adolescence and helps in the genｭ this system help the body to regain this power to eration eration of innate heat by supplying fuel to the an optimum level, thereby restoring humoural human body. balance, and thus retaining health. The blood is of two kinds, normal and abｭ normal. normal. The normal blood is red in colour, has no 4) The members or organs (Aza): unpleasant unpleasant odour, and is sweet in taste. The organs of the body are derived primarｭ
The phlegm (Balgham), is a body fluid of ily from the coarser and solid p訂tides of the whitish whitish colour, which also includes many other humours as compared to the pneuma, which is
white white humours of different nature possessing diι formed out of the finer and lighter constituents of ferent ferent characteristics and functions. In nature, it the humours. These members may be divided is is cold and wet. It is capable of transformation into two classes; simple (mufrad) and compound
into into blood at any time. It subserves nutrition to (murakkαb). the the organs. The vital organs necessary for the mainteｭ The yellow bile (safra) is hot and dry in naｭ nance for life of an individual are three, and for ture ture and occurs in normal as well as abnormal the preservation of the race one more vital organ forms. forms. The normal bilious humour is bright red is necessary. These vital organs are: (like (like saffron) in colour. It is light and pungent. a) The heart is the source of the vital power. The yellow bile enables the blood to nourish b) The brain is the seat of all mental faculties, those those organs, which need the presence of bilious sensations and movements. It is subserved by humour such as the lungs. It attenuates the blood nerves. 7
c) c) The liver is centre of the nutritive faculties. It Maintenance of health is is subserved by veins. d) d) The testis (or ovary) is concerned with the Unani medicine believes in preventive measｭ
propagation propagation of the race. It is the seat of formｭ ures rather than curative. There 紅e six basic facｭ ing. ing. generative elements. tors, which are considered essential for the maintenance maintenance of good health. 5) 5) Air is considered to be composed of a number of A) Air substances, substances, the most important and the one on B) Food and drinks which life depends is the pneuma or vital air. C) Physical movements and repose After After this air enters the lungs and is purified it D) Psychic movements and repose
goes goes to heart and from there to all the p紅白 of the E) Sleep and wakφtlness body through the arteries, and then the waste F) Evaquation and retention which comes out with this air is exhaled out by If a person is in practice of basic these princiｭ the the lungs. ples with a perfect balance, his/her health remains maintained. maintained. 6) 6) The faculties (Quwa) is that property of the body with which the phenomenon of life is maniｭ Methods of treatment fested. fested. The faculties provide the basis for differｭ
ent ent bodily functions and are to be distinguished In Unani system of medicine there 訂e four from the functions themselves. There are three methods of treatment.
kinds kinds of faculties; natural (tabia), animal a) Pharmaco ・ therapy: The medicines used for
(nafsania), (nafsania), and vital (haiwania). therapeutic pu中oses 紅e derived from the herbal, mineral, mineral, and animal sources. These are mostly
7) 7) The functions (Af 'aの is the term in the Unani used in their natural forms within a purified way. medicine medicine used for the normal or special action or These are used as single and compound forms.
performance performance of a part of body. The Unani physiｭ Single drugs 紅e seldom used.
cians cians consider that some of the functions 紅e c訂－ b)Surgeη ： Which includes veinesection （如αめ， ried ried out by one single faculty like attraction etc., cupping (hijamat), leaching (taleeq), and cautriｭ which are therefore called simple functions (af zation (aml e kai).
'al 'al miザトida). While, some other functions 紅e c) Diet o therapy: By regulating the quality and carried carried out by the two or more faculties, like the quantity of the patient's diet. act act of swallowing which is called as the comｭ d) Regimental therapy: the modes of regimental pound function (af ‘ale murkkaba). therapy include exercises, massages, steam baths, fomentation, fomentation, emesis, purging, and enema. 8
Table 1. Plants Recommended to be Used for the Cure of Various Liver Diseases as Described by Ibn Sina 1, 2) S.No. S.No. Botanical names Part (s) used Unani names
Achillea Achillea millefolium Whole plant ‘ Bira吋 as if 2 Adiantum capillus-veneris Whole plant ‘ P訂siaoshan ’ 3 Aloe vera Leaf ‘Ghee kanvar’ 4 Alhagi pseudalhagi Manna ‘Turangabeen’ 5 Althaea officinalis Root ‘ Bekh-e悼khatmi ’ 6 Amoora rohituka Bark ‘Harinhara’(H) 7 Andrographis paniculata Whole plant ‘Kalmegh’ 8 Areca catechu Nut ‘Fofal’ 10 10 Artemisia absinthium Flower ‘Afasanteen’ Bambusa arundinacea Siliceous concretions of the stalk of ‘Tabasheer’ 11 11 female female plant 12 12 Berberis aristata Stem/Root bark ‘Rasaut’ 13 13 Capparis spinosa Root bark ‘Ka bar’ 14 14 Carissa spinarum Root ‘ J angli karnoda’ 15 15 Cassia fistula Fruit ‘Amaltas’ 16 16 Cassia occidentalis Seed/Leaf ‘Kasaundi’ 17 17 Cichorium intybus Root/seed ‘Kasni’ 18 18 Cinnamomum camphora Camphor ‘Kabfoor’ 19 19 Cinnamomum zeylanicum Bark ‘Darchini’ 20 Citrus medica (syrup with sugar) Fruit juice ‘Sikanjabeen’ 21 21 Commiphora myrrha Gum resin ‘Murmaki’ 22 Crocus sativus Dried stigma ‘Zafran’ 23 Cuscuta reflexa Whole plant ‘Akashbel’ 24 Cymbopogon jwarancusa Grass ‘Izkhir’ 25 Eclipta alba or E. prostrata Whole plant ‘Bhangra’ 26 Emblica officinalis Fruit ‘Amla’ 27 Ferula galbaniflua Gum-resin ‘Jaosheer’ 28 Fumaria indica Whole plant ‘Shahtar 勾’ 29 Gentiana dahurica Plant ‘Ghafith’ 30 Glycyrrhiza glabra Root ‘Mulethi’ 31 31 Iris germanica Root ‘Bekh saosan’ 32 lndigof era tinctoria Plant ‘Neel’ 33 33 Lagenaria siceraria Seeds ‘Kaddu’ 34 Luffa echinata Fruit ‘Bandal’ 35 35 Marrubium vulgare Plant ‘Farasiyun’ 36 恥fatricaria chamomilla Flower ‘B abuna’ 37 37 Melilotus officinalis Plant ‘Aklil ul- malik’ 38 38 Myrtus communis Leaf/Fruit ‘Habulas’ 39 Nardostachys jatamansi Root 'Sumbul teeb’ 40 Nympaea stellata Root stock ℃hota kamal’ 41 41 Ocimum basilicum Leaf/seed ‘Tulsi/Rehan’ 42 Pennisetum glaucum Plant, seed ‘ B司 ra ’ 43 Phyllanthus fraternus Whole plant ‘Bhui-amla’ 44 Physalis alkekengi Plant ‘ Kakn吋’ 45 Picrorhiza kurroa Root ‘Kutki’ 46 Piper longum Unripe fruit ‘Pipla ’ 47 Piper nigrum Fruit ‘Mirch siyah’ 48 lentiscus Pistacia Resin ‘Mastagi’ 9
49 Plantago ovata Seed ‘Ispghol’ 50 Plumbago zeylanica Root ‘Chita lakri’ 51 51 Portulaca oleracea Leaf ‘Berg-e-khurfa’ 52 52 Pterocarpus santalinus Wood ‘Sandal surkh' 53 53 Punica granatum Seed ‘ Tukhm-e-an訂’ 54 Rheum emodi Rhizome ‘Revandchini’ 55 55 Ricinus communis Seed ‘Arand’ 56 56 Rosa damascena Flower ‘Gul-e-surkh' 57 57 Rubia cordifolia Root ‘ M司 eeth ’ 58 58 Salix caprea Leaf ‘Bed Mushk’ 59 59 Saussurea lappa Root ‘Qust’ 60 Solanum nigrum Fruit I Leaf ‘Makoh ’ 61 61 Tamarindus indica Fruit ‘Tamar-e-hindi’ 62 62 Tamarix dioica Leaf ‘Berg-e-jhau’ 63 63 Terminalia chebula Fruit ‘Halela-e-zard’ 64 Tinospora cordifolia Stem ‘Gilo’ 65 65 V aleriana wallichii Root ‘Asaroon’ 66 66 Viola odorata Flower ‘Gul-banafsha’ 67 67 Vitex negundo Seed I Leaf ‘S ambhalu’ 68 68 W edelia calendulacea Plant ‘Bhangra’(H) 69 69 Withania somnifera Fruit ‘Asgand’ 70 Zizyphus sativa syn. Z. vulgaris Fruit ‘Unnab’ H=Hindi
References:
1. 1. Al-Qanun Fil-Tibb. Avicenna. (English translaｭ 2. A Comprehensive Glossary of Avicenna’S Canon tion tion of the critical Arabic text), Book 2, 1998. of Medicine, 1967. Institute of History of Hameed, H. A. (editor), Dept. of Islamic Medicine and Medical Research, New Delhi. Studies, Studies, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), Da iratul Ma arif Press, Osmania University, New-Delhi India. Hyderabad-7, A. P. India.