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The Unani system of medicine has reason to be proud of the fact that in Europe, medical education was based on its parameters.
Unani is an unique and one of the potent systems of medicines and therapies, and occupies a distinguished place in the world systems of medicine. Although modern medical science has crossed many stages of research and experiments, Unani has reason to be proud of the fact that in Europe, medical education was based on its parameters. In France and England, a medical encyclopedia, titled, Al-Hadi written by Abu Bakr Mohammed Bin Zackariah Ar-Razi, a great physician of his time, and which took 18 years for him to complete, was on the syllabus till the 18th century A.D. Even today, Ar-Razi’s portrait is adoring the walls of these Universities. Ar-Razi (864 A.D) had written 113 books and 28 magazines, a few of them translated into other languages, including a magazine on small pox named, Al-Jadri Wal Hasha and which was translated in Latin in the year 1545 A.D.
In addition to Razi, Al Hussain Abdullah Ibn Sina more popularly known all over the world as Bu Ali Sina, gave to the world a Book called, Al Khanoon Fit Tibb and he was given the titles of Malikul Atibba, Ash Shaikhur Rais and Muallimus Sani. The work, once called the “Bible of Medicines”, in 5 volumes, was also on the syllabus in the European Universities till the 18th century A.D. It is an encyclopedia, comprising names of 765 medical compounds and about the diseases from head to foot, as well as their remedies. This was also translated into Latin. The great historian, P.K.Hitty says that the book, Al Khanoon, due to its useful contents earned a distinguished place in Europe. A well known saying of his: “drinking water before food is health, in the middle, a medicine, and after food, non-health”, is followed even today. He was the inventor of the thermometers. His other work, Ash-Shifa, was also read in early European syllabus.
Unani had its impact on other disciplines of therapy also, namely eyes and small-pox. Abul Walid Muhammed Ibn Rushd (1122 – 1198 A.D.) speaks on eyes and on all forms of small-pox. His finding on the theory of eye-sight corroborate with the modern view.
Veterinary:
In veterinary science also, Unani has guided the medical world. Abu Betar (1181-1248 A.D) who was a specialist on animal diseases, was also an expert on the diseases of horses. He travelled to many countries and gathered all varieties of herbs and found out their characteristics. His work, Al-Jame-Fil-Adviat-Al-Mufarradah which speaks about 1400 different herbs, is almost an encyclopedia. Famous orientalist, Max Meohaff says that this book is an outcome of extraordinary study and research.
Physicians:
In addition to Abu Betar, Unani has produced expert physicians like Al-Farghani, and Al-Jahiz Umru Basri, who were the pioneers in veterinary sciences. Their book, Al-Haiwaan was read in Europe for a long time.
Surgery:
When medical science, after research and experiments, reached the stage of surgery, here, too, the Unani system of medicine guided the world. Modern surgeons learnt a lot from the world- renowned book on medicine and surgery, At-Thasreef by Abul Qasim Bin Abbas Az-Zahrawi (1554 A.D.), supposed to be the world’s first surgeon. He suggested, burning of the affected parts of the body, as a treatment. He invented related equipments and explained their uses. In the second and third chapters, he speaks about practical surgery of teeth, eyes, throat, bladder and piles. He has also mentioned about joining of broken bones, displaced joints, amputation of unwanted limb and dissection of all kinds of abcesses. In his book, he has provided sketches of different kinds of surgeries. This book was translated in Latin in 1497 A.D.
Unani system of medicine, after reaching its peak of success in Muslim Spain and Arab countries, reached India where it was welcomed and received royal patronage. Today Unani has gained world-wide fame and popularity and the World Health Organisation has recognised it.
But a question remains unanswered: why, despite tremendous progress in modern medical science, millions of people, all over the world, remain victims to some chronic and dangerous diseases? The state of helplessness and frustration of these victims, brings them to a Unani clinic, where many get cured. This has proved beyond doubt that the Unani system of medicine has in it, remedy for many chronic and so-called incurable diseases.
In India, which is supposed to be self -sufficient with its Ayurveda and Siddha systems, the advent of Unani was an added advantage. It came with its distinctive, non-toxic medicines, which provides, in addition to cure, protection from any side effects.
(The writer is a senior Unani physician based in Chennai)
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