Unani Formulation - Jamia Hamdard

Dawa (Drug)
Drugs may be synthetic or natural. In Unani system of medicine natural
drugs mostly from plants animals and minerals are used. These are
used either Mufrad (single drug) or Morakkab (compound).
Drugs are obtained from three sources. These are called Makhaz Advia
(Sources of Drugs) or Mavaleed Salasa. There are three sources of
drugs, which are used in Unani system of Medicine. These are
Botanical, Animal and Geological or Mineral.
Botanical Source: All the plants, which may be used as drug, may
be herbs, shrubs and trees. Herbs may be used as whole or part. Shrubs
and trees are used in different ailment in form of their parts, like
juice, root, stem, branch, leaf, flower, fruit, seed, gum, bark, latex
etc.
Animal Source: Animal or their parts obtained from this source, are
used as medicine. As canthradines, pigeon, head of sparrow, gall
bladders of some birds, horn, nails, fats, secretions etc.
Geological Sources: Substance obtained from earth either in pure or
impure from are used medicinally these may be in form of matter
like gold, Silver, Copper, iron, coal, salts etc.
Drug is any substance used for medicinal purposes. When
administered changes the state or function of cell, organ or
organism, there by helps in preventing or curing diseases.
Drug is any substance or product that is used, intended to be used, to
modify or explore physiological system or pathological states for the
benefit of the recipient. (WHO)
“A medicinal substance used in the treatment of disease. (Taber)
“Establishes its effect with its kefiyat (quality). (Allama Qarshi)
Diet: The substances, when introduced in body are affected by body
and breaks into constituents. Their constituents are able to give
replacement of different part of body for example Proteins fats,
carbohydrate, vitamins etc.
Difference between Drug and Diet: Drug acts due to its kefiyat
(quality) and establishes it’s effect and eliminate. It does not
become a part of body, like Mako (Solanum nigrum herb), Afsanteen
(Artemisia absynthium Linn herb) etc. these drugs due to their
particular property reduces inflammation of liver.
On the other hand diet becomes part of body and only unabsorbed
part is eliminated from body. For example. Gandum (Triticum
aestivum seed), rice, egg and other protein, fat etc are broken in
their parts and help in repairing or maintaining body system.
In short it can be said that diet becomes part of body and produces
replacement. Drugs act with their properties and do not become part
of body.
Ilaj bid Dawa (Pharmaco therapy)
Drugs are used externally and internally. Internally they are used
single or in combination with other drugs or formulation, because
of the delicacy and importance of the digestive process. There are
many external applications of drugs. These are affusions, compresses,
dressings, embrocations, fomentations, frictions, ointments,
powders, softening agents and spreads. Drugs are also used
internally.
The purposes of internal therapy are as follow
(1) To modify the Mizaj (Temperament), as with cold water during
a fever
2) To prevent elimination as by Behi (Cydonia quincy fruit) or
Behidana (Cydonia quincy seed).
3) To eliminate disease matter from the body, as by Senna (Cassia
senna leaf and fruit).
Generally we should not treat every minor change occurring in the
body with drugs. We should first treat it by changing the method of
life management with regards to Sitta Zarooriya (six essentials of life),
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