Traditional Medicine in Asia

“medicarix naturae”, is formulated, which
strives to restore any disturbance within the
limits prescribed by the constitution of an
individual. This corresponds to the defence
mechanism, which is called to action in
case of insult to the body. The aim of the
physician is to help and develop rather than
supersede or impede the action of this
power. The consequence of this is that not
only is the system enabled to overcome the
present disturbance by dint of its intrinsic
power, but it also emerges, after recovery,
with greater power of resistance to further
disturbances.
In Unani Tibb, drugs of plant, mineral
and animal origin are extensively used. The
Unani physicians encouraged polypharmacy
and devised a large number of
poly-pharmaceutical recipes, which are still
in use in Unani Tibb.
Gruner in a treatise on the Canon of
Medicine of Avicenna published in 1930,
states:
“Modern medicine is based on the
conception of the universe as a conglomeration
of dead matter out of which, by
some unexplained process, life may
become evolved in forms. To Avicenna the
whole of the universe is the manifestation
of a universal principle of life, acting
through the instrumentality of forms. In
modern medicine, the forms are the source
of life but to Avicenna, they are the product
of life.”
Principles
The human body is considered to be made
up of the following seven components
(Umore Tabaiya) each having a close
relation to and direct bearing on the state
of health of an individual and it is therefore
necessary for a Unani physician to take all
these factors of the human entity into
Unani medicine
consideration for arriving at a correct
diagnosis and deciding the line of
treatment.
Arkan (Elements)
The human body consists of four elements,
viz., air, fire, water and earth. These
elements actually symbolize the four states
of matter. They have their own temperaments.
Air: hot and moist; water: cold and
moist; earth: cold and dry; and fire: hot
and dry.
Mizaj (Temperament)
The interaction of the elements produces
various states, which in their turn determine
the temperament of an individual, and it is
of paramount importance to keep the
temperament of an individual in mind while
prescribing a course of treatment. A
temperament may be (i) real equitable – the
temperaments of the four elements are in
equal quantities – which do not exist, (ii)
equitable – just and required amount having
compatible temperaments, and
(iii) inequitable – an absence of a just
distribution according to their requirements.
Aklat (Humours)
These are the fluids which the human body
obtains from food, and include various
hormones and enzymes. These fluids are
(i) primary fluids – four humours, and (ii)
secondary fluids – these are also four in
number and are called Rotubat E Arba
(four fluids). These are responsible for
maintaining the moisture of the different
organs of the body and also provide
nutrition to the body. There are four types
of moisture: moisture of the small vessels;
moisture in the small spaces of the body;
moisture of the different parts of the
organ; and the moisture that holds the
body together.
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