Major specialties of Unani medicine

 

Major specialties of Unani medicine

Unani medicine is based on the concept of humoral theory. This is the first theory of scientific medicine and practiced for over 2500 years. According to this theory, there are four humours in the body. These humours are Blood (daam), phelgum (bulghum), yellow bile (safra), and black bile (sauda). In Unani medicine, all the phenomena of health and disease are described in this theory. There are three basic modalities of treatment in the Unani system of medicine. These are –

Ilaj Bil Tadbeer wo Taghjiya (Regiminal Therapy and diet therapy)

Ilaj Bil Advia (Pharmacotherapy)

Ilaj Bil Yaad (Therapy with manual intervention like Surgery)

Unani medicine is subdivided into several specialties. Few other major specialties and departments of Unani medicine are follows –

1.     Kulliyat-e-tibb (Principle of medicine): it is a fundamental branch that provides the basis for the study of Unani medicine as it deals with the governing principles of Unani medicine. This subject begins with the description of seven Umoor (factors) that are considered essential viz. Arkaan, Mizaj, Akhlat, Aaza, Arwah, Quwa and Afaal. Further, it discusses bio-chemical diversity and anatomical and physiological relationships. This subject also deals with the genesis and functions of human organs and their maintenance discussed under the concept of humours and Tabiat. One of the important topics included in this subject is the cause-and-effect relationship between various biological functions and the environment. At last normal body, functions are described as indicators of both health and disease.

2.     Mahiyatul Amraz (Pathology): This branch of Unani Medicine is concerned with the study of the abnormal state of the body i.e., disease. It deals with morphological and functional changes occurring in the body and its Ashbab wo Alamat (signs and symptoms) and as well as the course of diseases. It is concerned with the diagnosis of the disease and its pathogenesis. The laboratory investigations are also concerned with this specialty.

3.     Moalajat (Medicine): This specialty focuses on the study the diseases and their management. The modalities of treatment are Ilaj Bil Dawa / and Ilaj Bit Tadbeer /and Ilaj bil Ghiza.

4.     Ilaj bil tadbeer (Regiminal Therapy): This specialty focus on the prevention and treatment of disease by use of a certain regimen of Unani medicine. Tadbeer is an Arabic word meaning Regimen (Systemic plan) whereas Ilaj means therapy or treatment. So Ilaj-Bil-Tadbeer means treatment through regimen, which is a method, through which care of the sick person and maintenance of general health is performed with the help of certain procedures, and tools described by the Unani physicians.  Ilaj-Bil-Tadbeer is used independently or in combination with other methods of treatment like Ilaj bil Dawa (Pharmacotherapy), Ilaj Bil ghiza (Dietotherapy), and Ilaj Bil Yad (Surgery). Ilaj-Bil Tadbeer (Regimental Therapy) consists of Hijamat (cupping), Fasd (venesection), Taleeq (leeching), dalak hamam (bath), (Massage), and Kai (cauterization), etc.

 

5.     Hifzane sehat (Preventive and social medicine): This specialty deals with providing health services in the areas of prevention, promotion, and treatment of disease and rehabilitation of disabilities.

 

6.     Ilmul advia (Pharmacology): This specialty deals with the understanding of the effect and mode of action of single and compound drugs. it also deals with the knowledge of Mawalide-e-salasa (Sources of drugs) and ethical responsibilities OF Unani Pharmacology.

http://www.jamiahamdard.ac.in/pdf/ilmul-advia/introduction%20to%20ilmul%20advia.pdf

7.     Ilmul Saidala (Unani pharmacy): This branch of Unani medicine deals with drug preparation, detoxification, storage, and forms of Unani drugs.

8.     Tibb-e-saikhukhat (Geriatrics): Saikhukhat means age of senility. This age begins at the age of 60 years. The temperament of this age is barid-yabis (cold-dry). People of this age group need special care and treatment. Most Unani physicians describe the management of this age group under a separate heading. Tibb-e-saikhukhat focus on preventive measures and treatment plan for a senile person.

9.      Ilmul amraz ain (Opthalmology): This specialty focus on the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorder.

10.  Ilmul amraz uzn, anaf wa halq (Otorhinolaryngology): This specialty focus on the diagnosis and treatment of the head, ear, and neck.

11.  Amraz-e-Jild wa Tazeeniyat (Unani Skin and Cosmetology): This specialty focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of skin disease and also deals with the enhancement and ailment of beauty.

12.  Ilmul Jarahat (Surgery): This specialty uses operative manual and instrumental techniques of treatment for the pathological condition which is untreatable with other means or to treat the injury,

13. Ilmul Samoom (Toxicology):  this branch deals with understanding the harmful effects of drugs, chemicals, substances, or situations, on humans and animals, and the environment.

14. Tibb Qanooni (Medical Jurisprudence): it is legal medicine that deals with the study and application of scientific and medical knowledge to legal issues.