Unani medicine

• RELATED TERMS: Hikmat, homeopathy, Ionian medicine, Siddha medicine, Unani Tibb, Greco-Arab
• PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: Chronic diseases, mental illness
• OTHER PROPOSED USES: Diabetes, hepatitis B, malaria, sexual dysfunction, skin problems, digestive issues, nervous system disorders, respiratory issues, musculoskeletal problems, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, urinary issues, reproductive issues

DEFINITION: The practice of balancing defined humours, or components, of the blood to sustain good health.

Overview

Unani is an Arabic spelling for “Ionian,” meaning “Greek.” Unani medicine originated with the ancient philosopher-physician Hippocrates and his followers in Greece and was further developed in the Muslim world. The basic premise of Unani medicine is that disease is a natural process, with symptoms manifested by the body's reactions to disease. The function of a physician is to aid the body's natural forces and self-preservative powers in combating a disease.

Mechanism of Action

Unani medicine concentrates on the body's four humours (or components): blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Each humour contributes its own characteristics and temperament to the body. Through proper care and treatment, the humours can be balanced to optimize a person's physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Uses and Applications

The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicines claims that Unani medicine is highly effective in treating a variety of diseases, including hepatitis B, malaria, and skin problems. It is further claimed to be unmatched for treating chronic diseases and other conditions, such as arthritis, asthma, cardiac disorders, urinary infections, and sexual disorders. The number of conditions, illnesses, and symptoms Unani medicine claims to treat is extensive.

Scientific Evidence

Unani medicine is generally relatively unknown, particularly in the Western world. It is practiced in Asia, particularly in India, Saudi Arabia, China, and Japan, where it is purported to be a sophisticated therapy that offers cures for many problems. Depending on the disease involved, Unani medicine offers four levels of treatment: regimental therapy (exercise, massage, purging, cupping, spiritual awareness), dietotherapy (diet-based), pharmacotherapy (mild drugs, mostly herbal), and surgery. Prominent medical doctors, such as Stephen Barrett, question the validity of some aspects of the Unani regime and classify Unani medicine as a form of homeopathic medicine.

In practice, the scientific basis for Unani medicine involves a thorough examination of the tongue, pulse, urine, and stool of a patient to determine the balance of the four body humours. Once an imbalance is diagnosed, proper diet, mild drugs (ginkgo, ginseng, spices), and rest are prescribed to produce balance and improved health. If necessary, surgery is performed. During the 1990s, when a ten-year-old boy with cerebral palsy was treated with the techniques of Unani medicine for an extended period by Hakim Jameel Ahmed, the boy’s ability to think, talk, and walk improved significantly. Many other documented cases indicate that medical needs have been met using Unani medicine.

Although the list of conditions treated by Unani medicine is long and the practice has an extensive history embedded in many cultures, robust scientific evidence of Unani medicine's benefits is lacking. Some aspects of Unani, such as taking a holistic approach to healthcare, treating the whole patient, and promoting a healthy lifestyle, are valid medical suggestions. However, there is a lack of standardization and quality control that can lead to inconsistencies in Unani medicine. Some herbs and preparations used in Unani medicine can be toxic or interfere with conventional treatments. Further, relying solely on Unani medicine could delay diagnosis or treatment of serious medical conditions.

Choosing a Practitioner

One should obtain a recommendation from a medical doctor for a person practicing Unani medicine. One should also ensure that the practitioner is licensed.

Safety Issues

Unani methods are generally safe. If used alone, there is the risk that a serious illness will remain undetected and untreated. Many Unani drugs are sugar-based and hence not suited for people with diabetes. The World Health Organization's Benchmarks for the Practice of Unani Medicine provides standards and guidelines to improve the safety of Unani medicine, including practice and training standards, monitoring of adverse drug reactions, and considerations of the ethical aspects of practice.

Bibliography

Alavi, Seema. Islam and Healing: Loss and Recovery of an Indo-Muslim Medical Tradition, 1600–1900. Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.

Bala, Poonam. Contesting Colonial Authority: Medicine and Indigenous Responses in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century India. Lexington, 2012.

Chen, Nancy N. Food, Medicine, and the Quest for Good Health. Columbia UP, 2008.

Imran, Saba, et al. “Therapeutic Evaluation of Unani Medicine, Including Single Drugs and Polyherbal Formulations with Special Reference to Neurodegenerative Disorders.” Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, vol. 30, no. 9, 2024, pp. 54–64, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39212516. Accessed 9 Dec. 2025.

Maqbool, Mudasir. "Managing Anxiety in Unani System of Medicine." ResearchGate, 12 Mar. 2020, www.researchgate.net/publication/339876018_MANAGING_ANXIETY_IN_UNANI_SYSTEM_OF_MEDICINE. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.

Sen, Saikat, and Raja Chakraborty. "Revival, Modernization and Integration of Indian Traditional Herbal Medicine in Clinical Practice: Importance, Challenges and Future." Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, vol. 7, no. 2, Apr. 2017, pp. 234-44, doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.05.006. Accessed 9 Dec. 2025.

"WHO Benchmarks for the Practice of Unani Medicine." World Health Organization, 11 Feb. 2022, www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240042698. Accessed 9 Dec. 2025.