Unani System of Medicine - Introduction and Challenges

The Unani System of Medicine pioneered in Greece and was developed by Arabs into an elaborate medical science based on the frame work of the teaching of Buqrat (Hippocrates) and Jalinoos (Galen). Since that time Unani Medicine has been khown as Greco-Arab Medicine. This system is based on Hippocatic theory of four humours viz. blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile, and the four qualities of states of living human body like hot, cold, moist and dry. They are represented as earth, water, fire and air, the Greek ideas were put by Arabian physician as seven principles (Umoor-e-Tabbiya) and included, element (Arkan), temperament (Mizaj), humours (Akhlat), organs (Aaza), sprit (Arwah), faculties (Qowa) and functions (Afaal). In this system is it believed that, these principles are responsible for the body constitution and its health, as well as, diseased
conditions (1).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the Unani System of Medicine (USM) as an alternative system to cater the health care needs of human population. Alternative medicine is being practiced worldwide.