Unani medicine

Unani medicine
Alternative medicine
Parbat_Dard_Jangi_Tel
ClassificationTraditional Medicine
ModalityHerbal medicine (or Herbal Pharmacotherapy), Cupping therapy, Regimental therapy (e.g. Massage Therapy, Exercise), and Surgical Intervention
ClaimsHealth is maintained through the balance of four bodily humors, utilizing a holistic approach of treatment.
Related fieldsAncient Greek Medicine, Iranian traditional medicine, Ayurveda, Sowa Rigpa
Original proponentsHippocrates, Galen, Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
CultureSouth Asia

Unani or Yunani medicine (Urdu: طب یونانی tibb yūnānī[1]) is a Greco/Perso-Arabic Traditional Medicine System practiced in areas of South Asia and Central Asia. Unani medicine uses the Humoral Theory of diagnosis, which predates the discovery of microbes and modern medicine. Because of Unani Medicine predating the modern day medicine and sciences, the system is considered pseudoscientific.[2][3][4]

The term Yūnānī means 'Greek',[5][6] referring to the fact that the Perso-Arabic system of medicine was based on the teachings of the Greek physicians Hippocrates and Galen.[7]

The Hellenistic origin of Unani medicine is still visible in its being based on the classical four humours: phlegm (balgham), blood (dam), yellow bile (ṣafrā) and black bile (saudā'), but it has also been influenced by Indian and Chinese traditional systems.[8]

Entomology

The term “Unani” dates back to the ancient Greek place-name Ἰωνία (Iōnía), a coastal region on the eastern Aegean. The Ionians were the major ethnic group of the region, and their name became the primary Arabic and Persian reference for Greece as a civilization, known as Yunanistan.[9][10]

History

Ancient Greece (1200 BC - 600 AD)

Chart of Humoral Theory.

Unani Medicine established its foundations in Ancient Greece. Hippocrates (c. 460–380 BCE) constructed the Four-Humor framework (blood (dam), phlegm (balg), yellow bile (safra), and black bile (sawda)), attributing the cause of disease to an imbalance of internal humoral and bodily composition.[11]

Galen of Pergamon (born c. 129 CE) continued to elevate this Humoral Theory, contributing theories such as breath (pneuma) and 'The Four Faculties of a living organism', consolidating the theoretical diagnostic structure that Unani Medicine would be built upon.[12]

Islamic Golden Age (786 -1258)

During the Islamic Golden Age (8th–14th centuries), Caliphs Harun Rashid and Al-Mansur commissioned Arabic translations of Greek and Sanskrit medical works via the Bayt al-Hikma (House of Wisdom) in Baghdad.[13] Al-Razi (c. 854–925 CE) built upon this information, producing the 'Kitab al-Hawi (The Comprehensive Book), one of the largest medical encyclopedias of the medieval world which contained important clinical contributions, including the first recorded distinction between smallpox and measles.[14]

Following this, Ibn Sina (or Avicenna, 980–1037 CE) synthesized the vast medical knowledge into the Kitab al-Qanun fi al-tibb (Canon of Medicine), finishing it in Hamadan, where he died in 1037 CE. The Kitab al-Qanun fi al-tibb is a set of 5 large texts, which remained a foundational medical reference in both Arab and European institutions for centuries after.[15] Ibn Rushd (or Averroes, 1126–1198 CE) later produced the Kitab al-Kulliyyat fi al-Tibb (Colliget), a theoretical framework for Unani medicine that extended its reach westward into Al-Andalus.[16]

Mughal Period (1526–1857)

Depiction of Hakim Muhammad Sharif Khan.

Unani arrived in India by the 12th century, carried by Muslim scholars and grew its influence during court patronage throughout the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. When the Mongols invaded Persia and Central Asia, many Unani Hakims (physicians) were displaced, fleeing to India where some were appointed as court physicians.[17] Furthermore, Emperors Akbar (r. 1556–1605), Shah Jahan (r. 1628–1658), and Aurangzeb (r. 1658–1707) commissioned translations of Persian medical texts, enriching the medical practices and knowledge in the Mughal Empire.[18]

One large document, The Ilajat-I Dara Shikohi ('Ilājāt-i Dārā Šikōhī), is one of the largest written Persian medical manuals composed in Mughal India. This document written by Nur al-Din Shirazi (Nūr al-Dīn Šīrāzī), compiled both Muslim and Indian medical arts and gave a vast overview of the knowledge circulating among Muslim physicians in the Mughal Empire.[19] From the 18th century, Unani acquired a distinctly Indian character. The pharmacopoeia began utilizing local herbs and minerals and the system of medicine passed down family-lineages, entering the vernacular literature.[20]

British Colonial Period (1858–1947)

Hakim Ajmal Khan as depicted on the stamp of India,

During British Rule, Western medicine (referred to as doctory) was prioritized over Traditional systems throughout the sub-continent, leading to a decline of Traditional medical systems in British India. The dominant response and critique to Western medicine were Unani reformists who advocated for the legitimacy and retention of the Unani Tibb, considering it a distinct form of knowledge separate from Western medicine. Although they criticized the Western medical dominance, reformists emphasized adopting processes like the scientific method to Unani medical research.[21][22]

In 1883, Hakim Abdul Majeed established the Madrasa Tibbia (now Tibbia College) in New Delhi, as an institutional response to the suppression of indigenous medical systems under British rule. Hakim Ajmal Khan (1868–1927) continued to expand this institution, using it as a platform to resist a proposed British ban on indigenous medicine.[23]

Post-Colonial Period (1948 - Current)

Following Indian Independence in 1947, Unani, among other traditional medicine systems, gained formal governmental recognition after their colonial marginalization. The Majeedi family of Delhi made significant contributions toward the modernization of the Unani drug industry during this time. Particularly, Hakim Abdul Hameed (1908–1999) establishing the Institute of History of Medicine and Medical Research (IHMMR) in New Delhi in 1962, which developed into the Jamia Hamdard (Deemed to be University) in 1989.[24][25]

The Minister of State for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik planting a sapling at Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine, in Hyderabad (September 30, 2015)

The Indian Government identified the need for standardization of indigenous medicine systems, culminating in the Indian Medicine Central Council Act of 1970[26], which established the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM, succeeded by National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) as the statutory body for maintaining uniform educational standards across Unani, Ayurveda, and Siddha programs nationally.

The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), established in March 1978, serves as the apex government body coordinating scientific research into Unani pharmacology, clinical practice, and drug standardization.[27] In 2014, the Government of India elevated the Department of AYUSH into a full ministry, formally situating Unani within the national health infrastructure of India (alongside Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, and Homeopathy). Established in 1984, the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM) in Bengaluru serves as a pinnacle institution for postgraduate Unani education and research in India.

Education and recognition

India

Z.V.M. Unani Medical College in Pune

India hosts fifty-seven Unani Medical Colleges as of 2022, with the registered Unani medical practitioner base reaching an estimated 52,000 individuals as of 2024.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​[28][29] The common Undergraduate degree awarded on completion on an Unani medicine program is titled: Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (B.U.M.S.), although the name of this degree may vary slightly across institutions.

Postgraduate education in Unani medicine remains less widespread than undergraduate offerings, with a few colleges currently offering MD (Unani Medicine) or PhD programs. Postgraduate studies in Unani medicine can range in disciplines, a few being: Mu‘ālajāt (Medicine/Therapeutics), ‘Ilm al-Adwiya (Pharmacology or Pharmacognosy), ‘Ilm al-Saidla (Unani Pharmacy), among others. [30][31]

The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), a statutory body established in 1971 under the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), monitors higher education in areas of Indian medicine including Ayurveda, Unani, and other traditional medical systems.[32] Another subdivision of AYUSH, the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM),[33] aids and co-ordinates scientific research in the Unani system of medicine through a network of 22 nationwide research institutes and units.[34]

To fight biopiracy and unethical patents, the Government of India set up the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library in 2001 as repository of formulations used in Indian traditional medicine, including 98,700 Unani formulations.[35][36]

Pakistan

In 1990, the total number of hakims or tabibs (practitioners of Unani medicine) in Pakistan was 51,883.[37] The government of Pakistan's National Council for Tibb (NCT) is responsible for developing the curriculum of Unani courses and registering practitioners of the medicine.[38] Various private foundations devote themselves to the research and production of Unani medicines, including the Hamdard Foundation, which also runs an Unani research institution.[39] The Qarshi Foundation runs a similar institution, Qarshi University.[40] The programs are accredited by Higher Education Commission,[41] Pakistan Medical and Dental Council,[42] and the Pakistan Pharmacy Council.[43]

Criticism and safety issues

Some medicines traditionally used by Unani practitioners are known to be poisonous.[44]

The Indian Journal of Pharmacology notes:

  • According to WHO, "Pharmacovigilance activities are done to monitor detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of any obnoxious adverse reactions to drugs at therapeutic concentration that is used or is intended to be used to modify or explore physiological system or pathological states for the benefit of recipient."
  • These drugs may be any substance or product including herbs, minerals, etc. for animals and human beings and can even be that prescribed by practitioners of Unani or Ayurvedic system of medicine. In recent days, awareness has been created related to safety and adverse drug reaction monitoring of herbal drugs including Unani drugs.[45]
  • The Indian Medical Association describes Unani, Ayurvedic, Siddha practitioners who practice medicine without having right qualifications and prescribing allopathic medicines as quacks.[46]

See also

References

  1. ^ The transcription as Unani is found in 19th-century English language sources: "the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine" "Madhya Pradesh District Gazetteers: Hoshangabad", Gazetteer of India 17 (1827), p. 587.
  2. ^ Kaufman, Allison B.; Kaufman, James C., eds. (2018). Pseudoscience: The Conspiracy Against Science. MIT Press. p. 293. ISBN 978-0-262-03742-6.
  3. ^ "Humoral Theory, Contagion - CURIOSity Digital Exhibits (Harvard.edu)".
  4. ^ "Microbes Cause Disease (researchgate)" (PDF).
  5. ^ William Dalrymple (1994). City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi. Flamingo. p. 269. ISBN 978-0-00-637595-1.
  6. ^ "Unani Tibb". Science Museum, London. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Unani Medicine in India: Its Origin and Fundamental Concepts" by Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman, History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization, Vol. IV Part 2 (Medicine and Life Sciences in India), Ed. B. V. Subbarayappa, Centre for Studies in Civilizations, Project of History of Indian Science, Philosophy and Culture, New Delhi, 2001, pp. 298-325
  8. ^ Heyadri, Mojtaba; Hashempur, Mohammad Hashem; Ayati, Mohammad Hosein; Quintern, Detlev; Nimrouzi, Majid; Mosavat, Seyed Hamdollah (2015). "The use of Chinese herbal drugs in Islamic medicine". Journal of Integrative Medicine. 13 (6): 363–7. doi:10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60205-9. PMID 26559361. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-09-29.
  9. ^ "Ionian | Definition & Facts | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2026-01-28. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  10. ^ "Yunanistan", Wiktionary, the free dictionary, 2025-12-06, retrieved 2026-03-11
  11. ^ Masood, Mohsin; Fahad, Ataullah; Yasir, Mohammed (2025-07-15). "Empirical Observation of Akhlāṭ: An Experimental Study". Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics. 15 (7): 29–32. doi:10.22270/jddt.v15i7.7264. ISSN 2250-1177.
  12. ^ International, Hektoen (2020-02-06). "Experimental evidence for the humoral circulatory system - Hektoen International". hekint.org. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  13. ^ Bsoul, Labeeb Ahmed (2019). "Translation Movement and Acculturation in the Medieval Islamic World". doi:10.1007/978-3-030-21703-7. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. ^ "The Medical Influence of Rhazes | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  15. ^ "The Significance of Ibn Sina's Canon of Medicine in the Arab and Western worlds | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  16. ^ "Sage Journals: Discover world-class research". Sage Journals. doi:10.1177/0967772020981310. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  17. ^ Ahmad, Ashfaque. "Contribution of Alī Gilānī (1554-1609 AD), a 16th Century Physician of India, in the Treasure of Unani Medicine". Journal of Indian Medical Heritage: 77–81 – via Reaserchgate.
  18. ^ Speziale, Fabrizio (2009-07-09). "The Circulation of Ayurvedic knowledge in Indo-Persian Medical Literature". HAL Archives.
  19. ^ Speziale, Fabrizio. "The Encounter of Medical Traditions in Nūr al-Dīn Šīrāzī's ʿIlājāt-i Dārā Šikōhī*". eJournal of Indian Medicine: 53–67 – via HALSHS.
  20. ^ Parveen, Abida; Ahmad, Minhaj; Parveen, Bushra; Parveen, Rabea; Iqbal, Muhammad. "The traditional system of Unani medicine, its origin, evolution and Indianisation: A critical appraisal" (PDF). Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 21 (3): 511–521 – via NIScPR Online Periodicals Repository.
  21. ^ Kumar Awasthi, Ajay Kumar. "Healing Divides: How India Navigated Tradition and Modernity in Medicine" (PDF). NTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN TECHNOLOGY. 11 (4): 543–544.
  22. ^ Quaiser, Neshat. "COLONIAL POLITICS OF MEDICINE AND POPULAR UNANI RESISTANCE". Social History of Medicine. 2 – via Researchgate.
  23. ^ "History | Official Website of Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College and Hospital, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, India". app.delhi.gov.in. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  24. ^ "ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT- केंद्रीय यूनानी चिकित्सा अनुसंधान परिषद | Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine आयुष मंत्रालय, भारत सरकार | Ministry of Ayush, Government of India". ccrum.res.in. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  25. ^ "Unani Medicine in India — an Overview" (PDF). Ministry of Ayush, Government of India – via Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine.
  26. ^ "THE INDIAN MEDICINE CENTRAL COUNCIL ACT" (PDF). 1970.
  27. ^ "Home- केंद्रीय यूनानी चिकित्सा अनुसंधान परिषद | Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine". ccrum.res.in. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  28. ^ "A LIST OF TOTAL UNANI COLLEGES ACROSS COUNTRY as on 14.03.2023" (PDF).
  29. ^ Ansari, Athar Parvez; Anwar, Noman; Ahmed, K. Kibiruddin (October 2024). "Current status of Unani medicine in India". Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine. 10: 70–72. doi:10.31254/jahm.2024.10301.
  30. ^ Ansari, Athar Parvez; Anwar, Noman; Ahmed, K. Kibiruddin (October 2024). "Current status of Unani medicine in India". Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine. 10: 70–72. doi:10.31254/jahm.2024.10301.
  31. ^ https://ccrum.res.in/ViewData/Multiple?mid=1544. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |I title= ignored (help)
  32. ^ "Ministry of AYUSH (About Us)".
  33. ^ "Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM)". Traditional Knowledge Digital Library.
  34. ^ "Research and Development: Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM)". Centre for Research in Indian Systems of Medicine, (CRISM).
  35. ^ Traditional Knowledge Digital Library website.
  36. ^ "Know Instances of Patenting on the UES of Medicinal Plants in India". PIB, Ministry of Environment and Forests. May 6, 2010.
  37. ^ Gadit, Amin; Khalid, Najeeb (2002). State of Mental Health in Pakistan: Service, Education & Research. Hamdard Foundation. p. 27.
  38. ^ Bodeker, Gerard (2005). WHO Global Atlas of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine. WHO. p. 167.
  39. ^ "Hamdard Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Hamdard University". Retrieved 11 January 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  40. ^ "Department of Eastern Medicine and Surgery, Qarshi University". Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  41. ^ "H.E.C. Accreditation List". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29.
  42. ^ "PM&DC Accreditation List". Archived from the original on 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  43. ^ "PCP Accreditation List". Pharmacy Council of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 2018-12-26. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
  44. ^ Arnold, David (2012). David Hardiman, Projit Bihari Mukharji (ed.). Medical Marginality in South Asia: Situating Subaltern Therapeutics. Routledge. p. 171. ISBN 9780415502412.
  45. ^ Rahman, SZ; Latif, A; Khan, RA (Dec 2008). "Importance of pharmacovigilance in Unani system of medicine". Indian J. Pharmacol. 40 (7): 17–20. doi:10.4103/0253-7613.40238. PMC 3038517. PMID 21369407.
  46. ^ Aggarwal, K. K.; Sharma, V. N. "IMA Anti Quackery Wing". Indian Medical Association. Retrieved January 7, 2024. Quacks can be divided amongst three basic categories ... Practitioners of Indian Medicine (Ayurvedic, Sidha, Tibb, Unani), Homeopathy, Naturopathy, commonly called Ayush, who are not qualified to practice Modern Medicine (Allopathy) but are practicing Modern Medicine.

External links

allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unani_medicine