The Unani method of medicinal treatment or the Greek system of medicine originated in Greece and the term Unani is derived from 'Unan', Arabic and Urdu for ' Greece'. The theoretical framework and explanations of Unani medicine is based on the works of the father of modern medicine Hippocrates (460-370 BC) whereby using his method of the careful study and comparison of symptoms, he laid down the foundation for clinical medicine and treatments based on diet and rest.

Hippocrates advocated and professed that one of the the chief functions of a physician is to aid the natural forces of the body in combating or fighting a disease. Unani or Greek system of medicine follows the humoural theory which postulates the presence of four humours in the human body: dam (blood), balgham (phlegm), safra (yellow bile) and sauda (black bile) and the cause of disease is the imbalance of any of these body humours.

A number of Greek scholars and philosophers after Hippocrates such as Galen (131-200 AD) followed by Arab physicians like Rhazes (850-932 AD) and Avicenna (980-1037 AD), enriched and contributed developments to the Unani system considerably. Rhazes and Avicenna authored "Al-Hawi" and "Al-Qanun" respectively, which were compilations of their observations and experiments with the Unani principles of medicinal practices.

These studies and observations were later translated and published into Latin and other European languages and taught in medieval European universities which have greatly influenced western medical thought. Though the roots which comprise Unani healing can be traced all the way back to Claudius Galenus of Pergamum, who lived in the second century of the Christian Era, the basic knowledge of Unani medicine as a healing system was collected by Hakim Ibn Sina (known as Avicenna). The time of origin is dated at circa 980 AD in Persia. As an alternative Holistic medicine, Unani medicine is very close to Ayurveda.

UNANI MEDICINE

According to Unani medicine, the essential constituents and the working principles of the body can be classified into the following seven main groups: arkan or elements, comprising earth, water, air and fire as different states of matter and the building blocks of everything and all in the universe; akhlat (humours); aza (organs); arwah (life, spirits or vital breaths); mizaj (temperament); quva (energy); and af'al (action).

Each of the four elements has its own specific qualities: earth is cold and dry; water is cold and moist; fire is hot and dry; air is hot and moist translating into the resultant specific quality of the individual body is called its mizaj. The resultant temperament of an individual or the substance may be a mizaj-e-mutadil (a well balanced one) or a mizaj-e-ghair-mutadil (imbalanced one). Various types of temperamental imbalances and their symptoms are described in Unani, which also believes that at the birth every individual is endowed with a unique and healthy humoural constitution determining the temperament of an individual.

Unani medical system believes that the human body contains a self-preservative power, which strives to restore and cure any disturbances within the limits prescribed by the constitution or the state of the individual. The Unani physician or a Unani doctor therapist merely aims to help and develop it rather than supersede or impede the action of this self healing power. Unani doctors or Hakims select the drugs according to the degree of variation from the normal healthy condition, and observe the effect produced by the Unani medicinal treatment and the useful restrictions in an individual's diet and lifestyle. Particular therapeutic care has to be taken while treating a 'hot', 'cold', 'dry' or 'moist' type of diseases, disorders, ailments and illness with food or drug of the opposite quality.

Since according to Unani, health and disease depends upon the equilibrium or imbalance between the four humours, a thorough and careful examination of the pulse is undertaken to determine which humour is dominant at the time of consultations and examination by a Unani medicine therapy practitioner. The examination of the urine and stool is the next important step to provide the signs where its colour, viscosity provides the clues. Modern Unani physicians also examine the blood pressure and use stethoscopes to study the breathing and the heart sounds for diagnostic purposes. The base used in Unani medicine is often honey, herbs, real pearls and metals are also used in the making of Unani medicine based on the kind of ailments it is aimed to heal.

TREATMENTS

The various treatments are named as 'Ilajbit-Tadbeer' (Regimental Therapy), 'Ilajbil-Ghiza' (Dietotherapy), 'Ilajbid-Dawa' (Pharmacotherapy) and 'Jarahat' (Surgery). Unani is helpful in treating chronic diseases like arthritis, gout, adult and childhood asthma, mental disorders, cardiac, respiratory and digestive disorders, urinary infections, sexual diseases, malaria, hepatitis B, hair loss, leukoderma and skin problems.

Life Smile facilitates Unani medicinal treatments at Unani hospitals and Greek medicine clinics in India and live or online web consultations with Indian Unani doctors and therapists for the medical opinion by phone or E-mail and it is advisable that to get the best results and full benefits of Unani science, one should consult and get Unani treatments in the early phase of sickness, acute aliments or initial stages of diseases. Highly effective Unani herbal treatments for following conditions are provided by the on panel certified, registered and licensed Unani consultants at Life Smile healthcare in India

Headache and Hemicrania, Giddiness, herb Sukha with, Common headache and Migraine, Sleeplessness, Epilepsy, Insanity, Asthenopea (Debility of Eyesight), Pain in Ear, Discharge from ears, Itching in the ear, Nasal Worms, Cold Catarrh and Influenza, Throat Pustules, Chronic Tonsillitis, Speech Impairment, Pyorrhea, Looseness of Teeth, Inflammation of Throat, Ribs Pains, Cough, Weakness of heart and Palpitation, High blood pressure, Snofilia, Slugish Liver, Weakness of the Liver, Enlargement of spleen, Diarrhea/Dysentery, Intestinal worms, General Debility, Indigestion, Blood Vomiting, Hiccup, Dyspepsia : Loose motion, Calculus (Stone) in Kidney and Bladder, Kidney Pain, Polyurea, Urine retention, Burning Urine, Nocturnal emissions and spermatorrhoea, Sexual sluggishness, Feebleness and Obiliguity, Metritis (Hardening of uterus), Menstrual bleeding, Abortion, Maternity, Over Lactation, Rickets, Indigestion/constipation, Epilepsy of children, Fever, Typhoid, Obesity, Boils, Whelks and Skin eruptions, Wounds, Syphilis, Glandular swelling, Tyroma, Graying of hair, Weakness of Brain (Brain Fag), Forget fulness, Weakness of Brain(Brain Fag), Over heat, Paralysis Chorea, Insanity, Cataract, Deafness, Ear Sounds, Foul smelling nose, Epistaxis, Pain and Swelling in throat, Tonsillitis, Mouth and Tongue diseases, Bad Breath, Toothache, Dirty Teeth, Throat wounds, Spitting of blood, Asthma, Fainting, Low blood pressure, Liver Enlargement, Hepatitis, Gall Bladder Stone, Dropsy, Constipation, Piles, Stomachache, Nausea and vomiting, Lack of appetite, Fermentation of gas formation, Cholera, Burning sensation in Kidney and Bladder, Diabetes (Sugar in urine), Bed wetting, Blood in Urine : Haematuria, Impotency, Premature ejaculation, Menstrual disorders, Leucorrhoea, Vaginal laxity, Uterus problems, Vaginal pruritus, Sagging breasts, Excessive thirst, Diarrhea in children, Rheumatism, Tuberculosis, Chicken-Pox, Measles, Scabies, Pimples, Eczema, Gonorrhea, Leucoderma, Restricted hair growth, Alopecia.