Unani Medicine

What Unani medicine is

Unani (also called Unani-tibb or Greco-Arab medicine) is a traditional medical system rooted in ancient Greek medicine and developed further in the Muslim world. The word is an Arabic spelling of "Ionian," meaning Greek. [1] It is practiced today mainly in South Asia, most of all in India. This page describes the tradition in its own terms and then separates what is traditional explanation from what has been tested.

Origins and cultural context

A 2015 history review describes Unani as resting on Greco-Arab medicine and the teachings of Hippocrates, Galen and Arab physicians, with a long record in India. [2] The Hippocratic humoral idea it inherited, that four body fluids (blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile) must stay in balance, is described by the US National Library of Medicine as central to Hippocratic thinking, and Galen's works came to symbolize Greek medicine for scholars in Europe and the Middle East for some fifteen centuries. [3]

Greek and Arab physicians are the origins named in the sources we could read in full. Persian contributions are not covered in those sources. A 1981 history paper is titled as examining the influence of Ibn Sina (Avicenna) on later Unani medicine, but only its title was available to us, so we do not describe individual Persian authors' contributions here. [4]

Core ideas, as traditional frameworks

Unani describes health as a balance of four humors, each with qualities, and a person's own temperament (mizaj). Treatment aims to support the body's natural healing and to restore balance. [1] These are traditional explanations. They are not biomedical findings, and this page does not present them as such.

Traditional practices

Reference sources describe four levels of Unani care: regimenal therapies (listed as exercise, massage, purging, cupping and others), diet-based care, medicines (mostly herbal) and surgery. [1] Some of these, such as purging, carry real risks and should only ever be done under qualified supervision; this site does not give instructions for any of them. Traditional examination reportedly includes looking at the tongue, pulse, urine and stool. [1] We do not offer self-assessment tools based on these.

What research shows

The research record is small.

The review authors themselves called for better study quality. [5] Most Unani trials cannot be blinded easily, so expectation can shape results.

Product quality and safety

India sets quality standards for Unani medicines through the Unani Pharmacopoeia of India and the National Formulary of Unani Medicine. Unani medicines can be made from plant, animal, mineral and metal ingredients. [6] Metal-containing products are the main concern in the wider South Asian traditions. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says some Ayurvedic preparations may contain lead, mercury or arsenic in toxic amounts, and the same product-quality caution is sensible for any traditional mineral or metal preparation bought online. [7] See product quality and contamination.

Practitioner training and regulation

In India, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020 covers Unani alongside Ayurveda, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa, sets up a National Exit Test for licensing and requires a National Register of licensed practitioners. [8] In the United States, NCCIH reports that no state requires Ayurvedic practitioners to be licensed, and licensing rules for complementary practitioners vary widely by state and discipline. [7][9] Elsewhere, rules differ again; check the national or state health authority.

Who should seek conventional care first

Anyone with chest pain, severe or sudden symptoms, a new lump, pregnancy, a long-term condition such as diabetes, or who takes prescription medicines should speak with a clinician before using Unani remedies. NCCIH advises telling all your health care providers about every approach you use. [10] Never stop a prescribed medicine because of a traditional remedy. Read medication interactions and talking with a health professional.

Related pages

Siddha medicine is a neighboring Indian tradition, and historical use vs clinical evidence explains how to weigh traditional claims.