The knowledge of these illustrious scholars has been preserved and then transmitted to the West regardless of borders and centuries.
Unani Medicine
Origin
The theory and practice of Unani medicine, as a natural healing process, originated in Greece. (Unan in Arabic) . The Greeks had accumulated, over the centuries, a treasure trove of pragmatic information on how to maintain health.
Greek medicine was erected into a scientific system by Hippocrates, who is considered the father of Unani medicine.
There are written traces of herbal therapies in Chinese texts dating back to 3000 BC.
As well as on some Egyptian papyri, 1500 BC.
In order to understand the origin of this theory as well as its current practice, it is necessary to return to the origin of medicine and its evolution until today.
Modern Science traces the origins of medicine as an art to ancient Greece, where schools of medicine flourished from 600 BC. For a long time, diseases or dysfunctions were treated without a holistic vision.
Hippocrates
Hippocrates discarded from medicine what he considered “superstition” and “magic”. He established the theoretical framework of Unani medicine, basing it on the theory of humors.
According to him, the human body contains 4 humors and as long as these humors are combined in proper proportions, the person is healthy, but when they are not, disease sets in.
After the death of Hippocrates, his knowledge became tradition and dogma.
It was not until Galen, 600 years after Hippocrates, that medicine experienced a powerful awakening.
Galen
After Galen, a great scientist also marked the history of Medicine: Abu Ali Ibn Sina, known as Avicenna.
Two of his medical books have gained indisputable fame. In the first, “The Book of Healing,” he develops the idea that all components of a person's life must be considered to make a diagnosis.
In his second book “The Canon of Medicine” he collected all the medical knowledge that existed in the world up to his time.
Today it still remains the manual of all Unani practitioners.
Avician
After Galen, a great scientist also marked the history of Medicine: Abu Ali Ibn Sina, known as Avicenna.
Two of his medical books have gained indisputable fame. In the first, “The Book of Healing,” he develops the idea that all components of a person's life must be considered to make a diagnosis.
In his second book “The Canon of Medicine” he collected all the medical knowledge that existed in the world up to his time.
Today it still remains the manual of all Unani practitioners.
It is to Avicenna that we also owe the bases of medical chemistry in its botanical form, the organization of pharmacy and the foundation of hospitals.
The journey through time to the present day...
The Arab world
After a long journey through Greece, Rome and Iran, Unani medicine arrived in the Arab world. This was the golden age of Arab civilization, that of the Abbasid Caliphate. Baghdad gained the reputation of being one of the greatest intellectual centers , where medical research was more honored than anywhere else.
Thus, it was mainly in the Arab world that Unani medicine became a complete and original system. The Arabs nurtured and developed it widely.
Between the 9th and 14th century, the Arabs translated most of the medical works by these illustrious scholars and little by little, a complete system of medical science came into being. Unani or Greco-Arabic medicine, in Arabic Unani means coming from the Greeks), in recognition of its origins.
Arab scholars wrote valuable treatises on various aspects of Unani medicine. During the same period, Unani medicine was enriched by Ayurvedic theories , which spread to Arab countries.
introduction to india
The Unani physicians who left Persia to settle in India, subjected Indian remedies to clinical experimentation and enriched the two systems.
The Unani system became popular in India where it spread and retained its place. Research centers are in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka . In India, the main institution for the study and practice of Unani medicine is Hamdard University, Delhi. The university is perhaps the only institute in Asia that conducts extensive research in Unani pharmacology, pharmacognosy and pharmacy.
discovery of chemistry
Until the beginning of the 20th century, herbal medicine was the basis of medicine in the world. Then, chemical medicine prevailed and eventually imposed itself in the West after the discovery of Penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928.
The intrusion of Chemistry into the medical field has brought about an evolution in the concept and treatment of illnesses; the bacteriological school imposed the idea that microbes and viruses are the main causes of disease.
Thus, suppressing the microbe or the virus would suppress the disease.
For the supporters of traditional Unani medicine, each morbid condition is the result of not one but several factors, almost always occurring in combination otherwise how to explain that the same virus does not strike all the people who are exposed to it yet? under identical conditions.
While admitting the existence of microbes, Unani Medicine maintains that it is the original imbalance of Temperament which, by altering the biotic environment of viruses and bacteria, allows them to grow and thrive.
It is then necessary to look for the causes of the initial imbalance of the temperament: in our eating habits, the lifestyles and hygiene of life, the psychic state, as well as the environment which vary for each of us.
For the Unani practitioner, the bacteriological approach may well bring a temporary "cure" , but without restoring the Mood to its proper balance , the disease will recur, as often happens with, for example, recurrent vaginal infections, problems breathing, recurrent flu or colds…
Comments
Joe Goldberg said:
Unani medicine takes a holistic approach to healthcare, emphasizing the balance of the four humors (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) and the equilibrium of bodily functions. This approach acknowledges the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and spiritual health. Unani medicine relies on natural remedies, including herbal medicines, minerals, and animal products. These remedies are often prepared through specific formulations and processes to maintain their therapeutic properties.
unani medicine
Joe Goldberg said:
A comprehensive approach to healthcare, unani medicine places a strong emphasis on the harmony of bodily functions as well as the balance of the four humors—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. This method recognizes the connection between spiritual, mental, and bodily well-being. Natural cures like as animal products, minerals, and herbal medications are the foundation of unani medicine. To preserve their therapeutic qualities, these treatments are frequently made using certain formulas and procedures.
unani medicine
Joe Goldberg said:
Unani medicine takes a holistic approach to healthcare, emphasizing the balance of the four humors (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) and the equilibrium of bodily functions. This approach acknowledges the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and spiritual health. Unani medicine relies on natural remedies, including herbal medicines, minerals, and animal products. These remedies are often prepared through specific formulations and processes to maintain their therapeutic properties.
unani medicine
stella said:
I’ve been exploring unani medicine as an alternative to conventional treatments, and this blog has been incredibly helpful. The articles are well-written and provide a comprehensive understanding of different herbs and their uses. I also appreciate the focus on safety and the reminder to consult with healthcare professionals. It’s clear that the author is passionate about herbal medicine and committed to sharing knowledge. Thank you for this valuable resource!
unani medicine