Dr. Md Khursid Alam

    Collected crude drugs must be free from all types of impurities, such as foreign materials, animal excreta, insects, fungus, or any substances other than the drug. The optimum environmental condition should be maintained during the storage and transportation of a drug to avoid any damage or loss of properties. Appropriate conditions of light, humidity, ventilation, temperature, and security should be ensured.   Extreme conditions of temperature fluctuations and humidity may result in harmful toxic degradation that can be difficult to detect. Any change in the normal physical property of a drug, like a change in color, odor, etc is an indication of abnormality. Drugs must be prevented from petrification, decomposition, fermentation, or any unusual changes. There are specific guidelines for handling specific drugs that should be followed. Factors considered for proper storage are Sanitation, Temperature, Light, Moisture, Ventilation, and Segregation . Storage areas sh...

     Celestial bodies or heavenly bodies are objects in space such as the sun, moon, planets, and stars. These Celestial bodies affect the entire mavalid-e-salasa (plant, animal, and mineral kingdom). The life of living organisms including growth and reproduction are directly influenced by gravitational and electromagnetic forces exerted by Celestial bodies and indirectly by the effects of Celestial bodies on climatic conditions. Ancient physicians described that a major impact ate exerted by the 7- Celestial bodies. These are Shams (Sun), Qamar (Moon), Zehel (Saturn), Mushtari (Jupiter), Mareekh (Mars), Zohra (Venus), and Atarad (Mercury). The revolution of Celestial bodies from east to west on earth is called “zamana-etasharruf” and the revolution from west to east is called “zamana-e-haboot”. The effects of a Celestial body are more pronounced in zamana-e-tasharruf than in zamana-e-haboot. The bitterness in fruits, the falling of leaves, the sweetness of nectar, etc of...

  All drugs are not found everywhere. Drugs from either zoological, Botanical, or Geological sources are not available in every region and season. Even if the same drugs grew in different geographical areas and different climatic conditions differ in their medicinal properties.   Hence, Unani scholars have instructed that the drugs of which geographical region and quality are known for their best effect should be collected at the prescribed time by proper methods of collection. In Unani Ilmul Advia (Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy), a special pattern has been adopted as the name of the geographical region has been indicated for particular drugs. Like Sabr saqootri (Scotrin aloe), Afsanteen Roomi (Rome absynthium) Senna makki (Arabian Senna) Revand Chini (China Rhubarb), etc. Some herbal drugs are cultivated for commercial purposes others are collected from wild sources. Similarly, animal drugs are also obtained from the wild or pets. Mineral drugs are available naturally but ...

  Ilaj bil tadbeer (Regiminal Therapy)   This specialty focus on prevention and treatment of disease by use of certain regimen of unani medicine. Literally 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, tools described by the Unani physicians. Ibn Sina has mentiones 36-types of regimen in his famous treatise Al-Qannon Fil Tibb, Some otherscholars has mentioned few more Regimen in their writings. 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...

Dalak (Massage)  Dalak is time tasted regimen that is practiced since the prehistoric era of human civilization. Unani scholars have mentioned details about dalak in their writings. Hippocrates (460BC-370BC) mentioned that massage, exercise, a balanced diet, fresh air, and rest are essential for good health. Ibni Rushed, states that massage is a type of exercise for the removal of toxins or waste metabolites from the body and is a very important regimen for neurological and Musculoskeletal disorders. In this maneuver friction or pressure, rubbing, stroking, kneading, pounding, tapping, vibrating, or stimulating the external soft part of the body with rough cloth or soft cloth or hands with or with medicated oils, creams, or ointment.  Different types of dalak are mentioned below: 1. Dalak-e-layyin (soft massage) is a sedative that makes the body relax. 2. Dalak-e-sulab (Hard massage) for muffatheh-e-suda. 3. Dalak-e-kaseer (prolonged massage) reduces body fats. 4. ...

  Constituents (Ajzaay-e-Tarkeebiya) of drugs Every living organism is made up of several organic and inorganic components, that have their own physical and chemical properties.   Hence almost all drugs of plant and animal origin (Nabati wo Haywani) are basically of composite composition (Murakkab-ul-Qua). Based on medicinal use, Unani scholars have divided the constituents of plants and animal drugs into the following types. Components of plants and animal drugs: 1.       Carbohydrates (shakariyat): These are the sweet components of plant and animal-origin (Nabati wo Haywani) drugs. 2.       Proteins (lehmiyat): These are complex organic components found in both Nabati wo Haywani advia. 3.       Fats (shehmiyat): The oils and fats of plant and animal drugs are categorized in this group. Various types of fat-soluble constituents are also found in it. For example Roghan-e-bedanjeer, ghee, fi...

  Majoone Falasfa is a compound Unani drug. It is also called Madaat-ul-Hayaat i.e. Elixir of life . This grug was invented by a ancient Greek physician, Indrumakhas (Andromachos, the elder, court physician to King Nero). This compound drug was originally preapared for the intellectuals and people doing hard mental work, hence named Majoone Falasfa (A majoon for philosopher). Majoone Falasfa contains thirteen ingredients, which is used as tonic for vital organs (Heart, Liver, Brain, Kidney, Gonads), antidiuretic, aphrodisiac, appetizer, digestive, semenagogue, carminative, stomachic, lithotriptic, deobstruent, anti- arthritis, and tonic for gall bladder. It is used in senile dementia and to delay ageing. the original preparation of Majoone Falasfa contained only ten herbal ingredients viz, Filfil Siyah ( P. nigrum ), Filfil Daraz ( P. longum ), Zanjabeel ( Z. officinalis ), Darchini ( C. zeylanicum ), Kundur ( B. serrata ), Balela ( T. belerica ), Amla ( E. officin...

  Duwār (Vertigo) In Duwār the patient feels that their surrounding objects are spinning. He also feels that their body and brain are spinning. Etiology: The Khām Ghalīz Mawād (Immature concentrated matter) is the morbid matter of this disease that abnormally accumulates in brain, on heating it produces thick gases which stimulates Rūh Nafsāniyya (Psychic pneuma) leads to symptom of Duwār. Symptoms: sensation of spinning of head and objects, darkness in front of eyes, heaviness of head and tinnitus. These symptoms appear while standing and the patient falls down due to imbalance. Investigations: 1.      Tafsira e bole 2.      Examination of nebz 3.      Complete Blood Count 4.      X-ray Cervical Spine. Usūl-e Ilāj (Principles of treatment):        I.             Tanqiya-e Dimāgh (Evacuation of morbi...