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Unani Medical Theory in Principle, Part 2—The Vis Medicatrix Naturae Yaser Abdelhamid, ND, Lac

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Unani Medical Theory in Principle, Part 2—The Vis Medicatrix Naturae Yaser Abdelhamid, ND, Lac This article is protected by copyright. To share or copy this article, please visit copyright.com. Use ISSN#1543953X. To subscribe, visit imjournal.com MEDICAL PRACTICE Unani Medical Theory in Principle, Part 2—The Vis Medicatrix Naturae Yaser Abdelhamid, ND, LAc ABSTRACT Unani medicine is an organic synthesis of Greek, Arabic, worlds’ subsequent transformation of it into the Unani and Islamic medical knowledge. It enjoys vast popularity medicine practiced today. Part 1 also presented a brief in certain parts of the world, and the World Heritage primer on the rich philosophical and spiritual framework Center, part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, defining Unani medicine. and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the United In Part 2 of this article, the author provides some Nations Foundation list it as an authentic and still-living summary remarks about Unani medicine’s governing form of traditional medicine. Despite these facts, contem- principles and theories, such as the concept of the porary Western cultures know very little about this humors. ancient form of primary health care. Finally, Part 3 will focus on illustrating facets of this This article is Part 2 of a three-part series. Part 1 high- medicine’s classical and contemporary translations into lighted the historical and civilizational beginnings of this clinical practice, with further discussion about its various medicine while it also investigated the Arabic and Islamic modes of natural therapeutics. Yaser Abdelhamid, ND, LAc, is in private practice at Wellness Evolution in Beachwood, Ohio. octors of Unani medicine can visualize the state of a patient’s subtle body (jism al-latīf) properly only through the eye of the heart (ayn al-qalb), Dwherein the flowing, dynamic streams of humors lie. The doctor (hakīm) enlivens the patient’s self-healing power or vital force (the vis medicatrix naturae), at the level of the subtle body to move him or her toward health and well- ness. A particular organizing principle of the hidden physiology of the subtle body (al-quwwa al-mudabbirah) Figure 1. Illustrates the vis medicatrix naturae, the effects a harmonizing reaction in the face of disease or ill- invisible healing power of nature for grounding and ness. One can perceive the vis medicatrix naturae as the balancing the body, mind, and spirit. thread that holds together the fabric of the human body, mind, and soul in close collaboration with the spirit. Unani medicine posits the general medical theory of the healing power of nature as a guiding principle upon which it builds more complex, specific understandings of human Unani medicine’s key concepts fall under the strict health and disease. heading of the principles of natural physiology (umūr -iyyah), and they comprise seven natural compoءVarious medical systems around the world offer their al-tabī own understandings of the primary and essential func- nents, forming the Doctrine of the Seven Naturals. These tional components that cause health to reign or disease to components make up the basic knowledge required to take root, progress, and finally show itself in constellations understand the physiological systems that determine of signs and symptoms of illness. Chinese medicine pro- health or disease. These components include (1) elements motes physiologic concepts such as qi, blood, yin, and (arkān), (2) temperaments (mizāj), (3) humors (akhlāt), dā’), (5) forces, drives, faculties, or powersءyang. In conventional medicine, key concepts relating to (4) organs (a āl), and (7) pneumaءbody tissues and fluid dynamics dominate the under- (quwwāt), (6) actions or functions (af standing of physiology. or spirit substance (rūh). 26 Integrative Medicine • Vol. 11, No. 4 • August 2012 Abdelhamid—Unani Medicine This article is protected by copyright. To share or copy this article, please visit copyright.com. Use ISSN#1543953X. To subscribe, visit imjournal.com THE DOCTRINE OF THE SEVEN Table 1. Sanguine Temperament NatUrals Elements, Qualities, Properties, States Humor Blood The seven elements are the simple building blocks of matter in nature, includ- Basic Qualities Hot and wet ing the human body. They are nondivisible Face Oval or acorn-shaped face and head. Delicate, but do have qualities that are active and well-formed mouth and lips. Beautiful almond- passive. These properties determine the shaped eyes, often brown. An elegant, swanlike states of matter. They include (1) fire neck. (nār), which is hot and dry (hār and yābis) Physique In youth, balanced, neither too fat nor too and determines the energy state; (2) air thin. Moderate frame and build. Elegant, statu- (hawā’), which is hot and wet (hār and esque form, with ample, luxuriant flesh. Joints ratab) and determines the gaseous state; well-formed; bones, tendons, veins not promi- (3) water (mā’), which is cold and wet nent. Can put on weight past 40, mostly around (bārid and ratab) and determines the liq- hips, thighs, and buttocks. uid state; and (4) earth (ardh), which is cold and dry (bārid and yābis) and deter- Hair Thick, luxuriant, wavy. Abundant facial and mines the solid state. body hair in men. The seven elements do not mean lit- Skin Pink, rosy, blushing complexion. Soft, creamy erally the presence of clods of dirt, buckets smooth, with a luxurious feel. Pleasantly warm of water, and so forth. Hakim Chishti to the touch. states, “Likewise, the burning fire that we Appetite Quite hearty, often greater than digestive capac- see is not the element fire, (but) is really ity. A predilection for rich gourmet foods. the potentiality of fire within the substance.”1 Digestion Good to moderate; balanced. Can be over- whelmed by excessive food. Temperaments Metabolism Moderate, balanced. Bowel tone can be a bit lax. The interplay between the qualities of Predispositions Metabolic excesses of the blood. Uremia, gout, the elements leads ultimately to a uniform diabetes, high cholesterol. Intestinal sluggish- configuration of temperament. David ness, putrefaction. Congested, sluggish liver and Osborn says, “Each one (temperament) is pancreas. Congested blood, bleeding disor- named after a certain humor and is char- ders. Respiratory catarrh, congestion, asth- acterized by the predominance of that ma. Urinary conditions, genito-urinary disor- humor and its associated basic qualities.”2 ders. Excessive menstruation in women. Skin The classical temperaments correlate well conditions, hypersensitivity, capillary conges- to today’s psychological types of constitu- tion. tions: sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic. Imbalances of tempera- Urine Tends to be rich or bright yellow and thick. ments cause disharmony, especially on the Stool Well-formed, neither too hard nor too soft. mental and emotional fronts. Tables 1 through 4 offer concise but thorough Sweat Balanced, moderate. medical depictions of the temperaments: Sleep Moderate, balanced, sound. Can have some snoring. Humors Dreams Usually pleasant, of a charming, amusing, roman- The principle of the humors (akhlāt) tic nature. Travel, enjoyment, games, distrac- no doubt originated with the father of tions. medicine, Hippocrates, who described the at al-Insān.3 Mind Faculty of judgment well-developed. A syntheticءconcept in his book Tabī Upon examination of blood, he observed: intellect that likes to see the whole picture. An (1) the red portion of fresh blood is the optimistic, positive mental outlook. Rather con- blood humor (dam), corresponding to the ventional and conformist; good social skills. sanguine temperament; (2) the white Personality Exuberant, enthusiastic, outgoing. Optimistic, material mixed with blood is the phlegm confident, poised, graceful. Expansive, gener- humor (balgham), related to the phleg- ous. Romantically inclined; loves beauty, aesthet- matic temperament; (3) the yellow froth ics, arts. Sensual, indulgent nature. Sociable, gre- on top is the yellow-bile humor (safra), garious, light-hearted, cheerful. Abdelhamid—Unani Medicine Integrative Medicine • Vol. 11, No. 4 • August 2012 27 This article is protected by copyright. To share or copy this article, please visit copyright.com. Use ISSN#1543953X. To subscribe, visit imjournal.com Table 2. Choleric Temperament Humor Yellow bile Basic Qualities Hot and dry Face Broad jaw. Sharp nose, high cheekbones. Sharp, angular facial features. Reddish face com- mon. Sharp, fiery, brilliant, penetrating eyes and head. Physique Compact, lean, wiry. Good muscle tone and definition. Prominent veins and tendons. Broad chest common. An active, sportive type. Weight gain usually in chest, arms, belly, upper body. Hair Often curly. Can also be thin, fine. Balding common in men. Blonde or reddish hair com- mon. Skin Ruddy or reddish color if heat predominates; sallow or bright yellow if bile predominates. Rough and dry, quite warm. Appetite Sharp and quick. Soon overcome by ravenous hunger. Fond of meat, fried foods, salty or spicy foods, alcohol, intense or stimulating taste sensations. Digestion Sharp and quick. Tendency towards gastritis, hyperacidity, acid reflux. When balanced and healthy, can have a cast-iron stomach, able to digest anything. Metabolism Strong, fast, active; catabolic dominant. Strong innate heat of metabolism. Liver and bile metabolism can be problematic. Digestive secretions strong, bowel transit time short. Adrenals, sympathetic nervous system dominant. Strong inflammatory reactions. Predispositions Fevers, infections, inflammation. Hives, rashes, urticaria. Fatty liver, bilious conditions. Hyperacidity, acid reflux,
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