Unani Concept of Prevention and Control of Lifestyle Disorders: A Literature Review

Abstract

Unani system of medicine approach to the prevention and treatment of the lifestyle and non communicable diseases is aimed at avoiding the accumulation of fasad mada (toxins) through maintaining of asbab e sitta zarooriya (six essential factors). This review was designed with the objectives to translate and compile ancient Unani literature on lifestyle disorders from classical text, to interpret Unani concept of lifestyle disorders and find proper management for lifestyle disorders through Unani system of medicine. The review was carried out from Arabic and Urdu classical texts of Unani medicine and published articles from reputed journals. In various Unani classical texts it have been stated that chronic disorders, which can also be termed as lifestyle disorders, are the conditions which arise from poor management of the asbab e sitta zarooriya (six essential factors) over an extended period. This invariably results in an accumulation of fasad mada (toxins) which is beyond the ability of physics or tabiat to deal with. Unani recognises the importance of identifying a person"s risk factors like saman e mufrat (obesity) and interpreting the illness on the basis of the temperamental as well as humoral theory. This allows a targeted approach to deal with the humoral or structural imbalance associated with chronic lifestyle disorders such as Ziabetas shakari (type 2 diabetes mellitus) and Zaghtuddum qavi (hypertension). The matter or madda which is accumulated inside the heart or in the pericardium is mostly fasad rutoobat (morbid fluid) in nature. Excessive accumulation of morbid matter in the pericardium exerts pressure on the heart and prevents proper inbasat (relaxation) and thereby destructing the rooh (vital spirit) which leads to death. Lifestyle modification with asbab e sitta zarooriya (six essential factors) and non essential factors (asbab e ghair zarooriya) provide the ability of physis or tabiat to preserve and restore health.

Implication of temperament in Ilāj Bi’l-Ghidhā

“…Other statements of Hippocrates are "the cause of sickness is over eating and the cause of health is eating like a bird", "take food only when you have desire", "good wines in the small quantity is the friend of body and apple is the friend of soul" [11] . Avicenna quotes that "stomach is the house of disease and diet is the head of healing" [12] . Aristotle stated that "the persons who takes grapes juice, bread and mutton, doing physical exercise, taking adequate sleep won't be ill frequently".…”