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Q.1 What is Unani system of Medicine?
Ans. Unani system is a science which deals with
the preventive and promotive aspects of human
being and health problems occurred by the
Ecological and Environmental factors, which may
vitiate humours i.e. Blood, Phlegm, Yellow bile
and Black bile, the fluids circulating in the
body vessels. It teaches to maintain the health
and treat if effected by disease by bringing
back the balance in imbalance humours. Humours
are one of the basic principles & concepts
conseptualised by the 'Father of Medicine', 'Hipporcrates'.
Q.2 What are the basic principles & concepts
of Unani system?
Ans. In the basic principles and concepts the
human body is considered to be made up of the
following components.
-
Arkan (Elements)
-
Mizaj (Temperament)
-
Akhlat (Humours)
-
Aza (Organs)
-
Arwah (Spirit)
-
Quwa (Powers)
-
Afa'l (Function)
-
Elements (Arkan): These are four i.e. Air,
Water, Earth and Fire. Actually these four
elements represents several other elements
found in the modern science. There are four
states denoting the temperaments of these
four elements
-
Air
-
Hot & Moist
-
Fire
-
Hot & Dry
-
Earth
-
Cold & Dry
-
Water
-
Cold & Moist
-
Temperaments (Mizaj):- The interaction
between the chemical combination of four
elements, produces various states which
determine the temperament of an individual
human being, plants, & minerals. Temperament
(Mizaj) is simply defined as having the
following states and their combinations:-
-
Humours (Akhlat):- The humours are actually
the body fluids which are classified broadly
in four. The fluids of the body contains
various harmones, enzymes and humours etc.
They are responsible for nutrition to the
whole of body. These fluids are (a) Primary
(b) Secondary.
-
Primary fluids are four humour i.e.
blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black
bile.
-
Secondary fluids are harmones, enzymes,
and plasma etc.
-
Organs (Aaza):- Organs are composed of cell,
tissues, nerves and blood vessels. Various
organs of the body and health in disease
condition of each individual affects the
state of health.
-
Pneuma-Gaseous material (Arwah):- The Pneuma
is a life force which carries of different
powers, without which human body is dead.
This is a source of life and vitality.
-
Faculties (Qawa):- Faculties/Powers are of
three kinds.
-
Natural powers
-
Psychic powers
-
Vital powers
-
Functions (Afaal):- Includes movements of
various organs. It is necessary to ensure
that various organs should be in proper
shape and condition to perform proper
functions.
Q.3 What does temperament of the drugs means?
Ans. The temperament of the drugs means the
whole chemistry and properties of a drug, its
quality of having toxicity or otherwise. The
drugs belongs to plant, mineral & animal origin
have their own temperaments. Because of the
temperament the property of one drug differs
from the other.
Q.4 How one can ascertain the temperament of
compound drugs?
The different ingredients of a drug have a
molecular structure (Surat-Mauiyah). Therefore
their temperament is also different. When
ingredients of different temperament assemble in
a compound drug, they develop and produce a
different temperament altogether.
Q.5 Describe and illustrate the method of
assessment of the temperament of a drug?
Ans. Al-Kindi (A distinguished pharcognosict
died in 873 A.D.) established a method to asses
the temperament, degrees of compound drugs and
illustrated as follows.
-
Cardamom 1 warm ½ cold ½ moist 1 dry
-
Sugar 2 warm 1 cold 1 moist 2 dry
-
Indigo ½ warm 1 cold ½ moist 1 dry
-
Embolica 1 warm 2 cold 1 moist 2 dry
-
Sum:- 4 ½ warm 4 ½ cold 3 moist 6 dry
-
Thus the drug is dried to the first degree.
Q.6 What do you mean by Hot, Wet or Dry
Quality of Drug?
Ans. The temperament is a quality of drug it
means the drug is hot and cold in touch and
vice-versa. It actually means that the drug is
potentially or action wise hot in comparison to
the body. The potency and degree developed
inside the body. The action take place after
in-take of drug, which increase or decrease the
body temperament, stimulating the thermostat,
centre of hypothalamus, by increasing the Basic
Metabolic Mates (BMR), by releasing various
harmones. A drug is said to be hot because it
produces certain symptoms related to heat after
intake. A drug is said to be cold when it lowers
the temperament by influencing hypothalamus or
decreasing the BMR, as such the symptoms
produces after intake of drugs of various
temperaments attributed to hot, cold, moist or
dry.
Q.7 Is there gradation of potencies of drugs?
Ans. In Unani all drugs are defined in
temperamental qualities and graded into four
degrees according the potency of their qualities
as hot, cold, moist (wet) and dry. Thus a hot
drug graded in degree one, two, three and four
and cold, moist and hot are defined vice-versa.
Thus the first and second degree is safe and
third have a toxic effect of mild nature and the
fourth considered having side-effects or toxic.
Q.8 What is importance of temperament and its
manifestation?
Ans. For maintaining health it is imperative to
maintain temperaments as well. It is also
paramount to a physician to keep the temperament
in mind while diagnosing a disease. The
dominance of one or more humour in the body
vitiate humour itself and create a condition
i.e. cold disease.
Q.9 How the humours altered and create
disease?
Ans. There are various factors which affect the
humours. When disturbance in the quantity,
quality and equilibrium in one or more humours
occurred due to the effect of atmosphere or
otherwise it causes disease.
Q.10 How the temperament was determined?
Ans. It is the observation, experimentation and
experience of ancient physicians who had under
taken clinical trials on living beings and
treated with single as well as compound drugs.
According to the actions, resulted in the human
body, observed and examined by the physicians,
the temperament was defined and determined.
Q.11 What types of drugs are used in Unani
system?
Ans. Drugs of Herbal, Mineral & Animal origin
are used. They form a large number of
formulations and shape acceptable to the
patient.
Q.12 In what form the drugs are used?
Ans. Drugs are used in crude form as single
drugs and compound form.
Q.13 Why compound drugs are used when the
single drugs also have effective action?
Ans. Because single drug sometime could not give
desired effect and results, they can give less
and sometime severe action. A drug of compound
ingredients counteract the toxic effect of
chemically active principle and act as antidote
and enhance the required action of other single
drugs.
On combination of multiple drugs in a formula
having different qualities and active principles
of mild or severe nature interact with each
other. In the process the toxic effects or
side-effects reduce to nil therefore the trend
continue.
Q.14 In compound forms whether the Unani
drugs retain the quality and maintain the
efficacy of drug and their life?
Ans. In Unani drug sugar or honey is the base as
a preservative. So if the preservative are
standard then the drug retain the quality,
efficacy and also retain the life for more than
one year. The methods of preparation of compound
drugs, preservatives are described in detail in
NFUM, Part-I.
Q.15 Are Unani drugs safe?
Ans. All the drugs used in compound formulations
are safe & non-toxic. These drugs are prepared
according to the specific process & methods.
Before preparation of Unani drugs toxicity of
drugs are kept in mind and so the toxic
ingredient are purified and de-toxified. Due to
this process the toxicity is reduced to nil and
the efficacy remains. Hence, the Unani drugs are
absolutely safe.
Q.16 It is well known that drugs in crude
form act slowly. So they cannot give immediat
relief to the patient? Then how the Unani
physician handle in emergency and acute cases?
Ans. The medicinal plants are a type of
vegetation for example some fruit or vegetables
are used to stop diarrhoea and some are
administered to increase hemoglobin in anemia.
There action is fast. As such Unani medicines
take effective action in the patients of acute
diseases as well as of chronic diseases.
In the following acute conditions Unani drugs
take immediate action.
-
Indigestion, Acidity, Flatulence
-
Diarrhoea
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Dysentery
-
Bronchitis
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Coryza and Cattarrh.
-
Abdominal pain
-
Urticaria and other ailments
The misconception that the Unani drugs act only
in chronic diseases is absolutely in-correct.
The Arthritis, Bronchial Asthma, Sinusitis,
Hepatitis etc. becomes chronic due to repeated
administration of allopathic drugs. These can be
cured in acute condition by Unani drugs. As
almost all the Unani drugs are used orally or
locally and injectables are not used in the
system, therefore they act like the allopathic
drugs through the same route.
Q.17 What are preventive & promotive aspect
of Unani?
Ans. Ecological & environmental factors affect
the balance of humours in the body and also
vitiate them. Maintenance of humour and
promotion and preservation of health depends on
six essentials which influence the living being
with respect to preservation of health and
causation of disease.
The Six Essentials (Asbab-e-Sitt-e-Zarooriya)
are:-
-
Hawa-e-Muhit (atmospheric air)
-
Makul-vo-Mashrub (food & drink)
-
Harkat-vo-sakun badni (physical movement &
rest)
-
Harkat-vo-Sakun al-Nafsani (Mental movement
and rest)
-
Naum vo-Yaqzah (Sleep and wakefulness)
-
Istifragh-vo-Ihtibas (Evacuation &
retention).
Q.18 How the disease is diagnosed?
Ans. Diagnosis is involved investigation of the
cause of disease through pulse reading, naked
eye examination of urine & stool and through the
other conventional methods i.e. auscultation,
palpation, percussion with the help of some
modern tools. Thus, the spot diagnosis is made
very easy.
Q.19 What are the modes/methods of treatment?
Ans. Modes of treatment are four.
-
Regimenal therapy
-
Dieto therapy
-
Pharmaco therapy
-
Surgery.
Q.20 What do you mean by regimenal therapy?
Ans. Regimens are five as under.
-
Exercise
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Massage
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Hammam
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Douches
-
Regimen of Geriatrics
Hammam and massage therapy is available in Govt.
Nizamia General Hospital (Unani) Hyderabad,
Andhra Pradesh.
Cupping therapy as another speciality treatment
of Unani is available in Central Research Instt.,
(CCRUM) Hyderabad, A.P.
Q.21 Whether this system is recognised by the
Govt. of India?
Ans. Yes, this system is recognised by Govt. of
India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,
under the Act-1970, to provide for the
constitution of a Central Council of Indian
Medicine and to maintain a Central Register of
Indian Medicine. The CCIM makes the education
regulations. This is a statutory body set up by
an Act of Parliament.
The training and education in Unani are being
regulated by the CCIM Act. At present there are
39 recognised under graduate and three P.G.
Unani colleges and 7 specialities are available
in the P.G. courses.
Q.22 What is the infrastructure of Unani in
India?
Ans. Unani system has a network of Colleges,
Hospitals, Dispensaries, Research Institutes,
National Institutes and Unani speciality centre
established by the Department of ISM & H,
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of
India.
Q.23 What are the contributions of Unani in
the Health Care Delivery?
Ans. The Unani system has complete network in
India and engaged in National Health Care
Delivery through :-
-
Unani Under Graduate Colleges - 39
-
Unani Post Graduate Colleges - 3
Specialities in PG Colleges - 7 as under :
-
Kulliyat (Fundamentals of Unani
medicine)
-
Ilmul Advia (Pharmacology)
-
Moalijat (Medicine)
-
Amraz Niswan-vo-Qabala (Gynae and
obstetrics)
-
Hifzane-Sehat (Health & Hygiene)
-
Manfeul Aza (Physiology)
-
Jarahiyat (Surgery)
-
Dispensaries - 965
-
Central Govt. Health Scheme Disp./Units - 9
-
Hospitals - 189
-
Unani Speciality Centre - 1
-
Research Institutes - 32
-
National Instt. of Unani Medicine - 1
-
Registered recognised physicians - 42000
-
Manufacturer - 514
Q.24 What are the contribution of Govt. of
India for promotion of Unani in India?
Ans. Govt. of India has various schemes for
promotion, upgradation, propagation and for
standardisation of Unani system.
The following prioritised areas are:-
-
Constituted Unani Pharmacopoeia Committee (UPC)
consisting of expert physicians, scientists,
botanists, pharmacognocists, chemists,
manufacturers and experts of medicine. The
first committee was constituted in 1964 for
three years. Every third year it is being
re-constituted .
Q.25 What are the functions of UPC?
Ans. The functions of UPC are:-
-
To verify the formulations of Unani medicine
which are frequently and commonly used, time
tested formulation from reference books
under Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.
-
To prepare pharmacopoeia for standards of
single drugs and compound formulations
worked out by the drug standardisation and
drug testing laboratories, Central Council
for Research in Unani Medicine and
Pharmacopoeial Laboratory of Indian Medicine
(PLIM), U.P.
Q.26 What are the contribution of UPC during
the last 36 years?
Ans. The contribution of UPC are:-
-
Prepared National formulary of Unani
Medicine (NFUM), Part-I - 441 formulations
-
NFUM , Part-II - 202 formulations
-
NFUM, Part-III - 103
-
Unani Pharmacopoeia of India (UPI), Part-I -
45 standards, published in 1998
-
UPI, Part-II - 120 under process for
publication
-
UPI, Part-III - 103 under process for
publication
Q.27 What are the schemes Govt. of India has
formulated for the development of Unani?
Ans. There are following schemes:-
-
Grant-in-aid for upgradation of standards of
undergraduate colleges.
-
Grant-in-aid for establishment of
postgraduate colleges.
-
Re-orientation training program for
upgradation of skills and knowledge of
Teachers, Practitioners & Researchers.
-
Extra Mural Research Projects.
-
Cultivation of Medicinal Plants Scheme
-
Drug standardisation research programme.
-
Upgradation of pharmacies/manufacturing
units.
-
Upgradation of drug testing laboratory.
-
To co-ordinate with Re-production & Child
Health (RCH Programme) under the Department
of Family Welfare, Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare.
Q.28 Is there any act to control the
standards of Unani drug manufacturer sale,
distribution and import-export law?
Ans. Drug Technical Advisory Board constituted
for Ay., Unani & Siddha under the Drugs &
Cosmetics Act & Rules-1940 to control the
standards of drugs, manufacturing, sales &
distribution of Unani drugs.
Q. 29 Is there any Drug Testing Lab. for
Unani Medicines?
Ans. Yes, the PLIM is a Govt. Drug Testing Lab.
for standardisation and quality control of Ay. &
Unani drugs.
Questions / Answers of common diseases and Unani
drugs
Q. Some times I have an eruptions on my body,
usually accompanied by redness and itching .
These eruption disappear after some times
without taking medicine. Again it appears with
itching. What is this ? Is there any medicine
for this ailment .?
Ans. This can be alllergic disorders caused by
some impurities in the blood. The following
medicines of Unani are advised.
Drug:-
-
Elva (Aloe barbadensis)
-
Mur Makki (Commiphora myrrh)
-
Boora-e-Aramani (Armanium Bole)
Method of preparation:- Powder all and
mix with in Vinegar and honey. Apply on the
effected part.
Vinegar
Rose water ( Arq-e-Gulab)
Method of preparation:- Mix these drugs in equal
quantity and apply on the effected part.
Method of preparation:- Take powder of Tirphala
6 g. Tirphala is powder of Amla ( Embelica
officinalis), Balela (Termianlaia belerica and
Halela (Terminalia chebula, Soak the powder
in120 ml of water overnight and strain in the
morning , take as such or by adding little
Honey. This powder may also be taken with
lukewarm water at bed time. |
