Health

Rain rain go away come again another day little Rahim wants to play. This is a common nursery rhyme sung by the kids when it is raining as the monsoon sets in; but probably the mother’s rhyme during this season would be Cold cold go away come again another day little Rahim wants to play.

During the rainy season there are a number of common aliments, which could be easily counted on our fingertips and among them a few; are described here which are most common,
Nazala-o-zukham-Cold & Rhinits

¨ Suda-e-barid-Head ache due to cold
¨ Sual / khansi-Cough
¨ Nazala-o-zukham-Cold & Rhinits

The common cold as per Tibb-e-unani is defined as transforma-tion in the Tabayi mizaj where akhlath-e-balgham (phlegm) is increased in the body “Iltehaabi ghair tabaiye mizaj. The change of temperament which means the interchange of the temperament or the increase of sard.

Zukham:
Rhinitis in the modern equivalent means running nose. Here the balghami khilth (phlegmatic fluid) which is increased in the body or the production of the excess of balgham (phlegm) in the body. The common causes are :
¨ Baaresh mei bheegna Getting drenched in the rain.
¨ Qadeem sard-o-tar ghiza ka istemaal Consumption of extreme cold food like Baraf ice, Amarud guava, Jamoon black berry.etc/-
¨ Ziyadah der tak paani mei rehna being in water for a long time-ike playing in water,etc/-
¨ Geele kapadoun mei ziyadah der tak rehna-Wearing wet clothes for a long time & remaining in water.

Ilaj-Treatment:
1. Joshanda Decoction:
Ingredients used :
¨ Zanjabeel-Ginger-10 gms
¨ Zeera-cummium seeds-10 gms
¨ Goud-Jaggery-100 gms
¨ Fil-fil-e-siyah-Pepper-10 gms
¨ Paani-Water -150 ml

All the above ingredients are powdered finely except goud (Jaggery) after heating them to a slight roast on the pan a little brown. Jaggery is then powdered and then water added to it, stirred well in a pan & then the above powder is added to it. Then heated until all the ingredients are finely boiled. Till the liquid in it is up till half of it is left. The liquid is then filtered and the filtrate is used to cure cough & cold. Then this is then given sip by sip to the patient to be consumed twice a day.

2.Louqh— Semi solid
Ingredients used :
¨ Sont-Dry Ginger-100gms
¨ Asal asoos-Glycereza glabera-100 gms
¨ Asal-Honey-150 ml
Sont & Asal a soos are coarsely powdered (neem koob) and these are mixed with honey .
About ½-1 teaspoon is given to the patient For three times a day.
Note : for diabetic patients honey is not added instead of it is given singly with only water.
Sual / khansi-Cough
The Arabic name for khansi is SUAL.
According to tibb-e-unani there are 2 types of khansi /Sual.
They are :
1. Sual-e-khushk-Dry Cough or cough with out expectoration.
2. Sual-r-tar-Wet cough or cough associated with expectorant
Some Gharelu nuske Home remedies are :
1. Joshand-e-rubb-us soos Ingredients are:
¨ Aslasoos-Glycereza glabera-100mg
¨ Zeera-Cummium seeds-100mg
¨ Paani-Water-250ml

The above drugs are finely powdered and sieved to a fine powder & then they are soaked in water & heated up for about 10-15 minutes & then it is taken orally empty stomach twice a day. *Note it is advised by the hakims that it should be taken after NAMAZ-E-FAJAR –morning prayers-&-NAMAZ-E-ISHAN-night prayer before sleep * the reason is that when taken before sleep there will be no irritation in the throat & there won,t be any tingling sensation in the throat as to that the person suffering from dry cough will have a sound sleep.

It is advice for the patient to sleep in the method of sunnath (sleeping on one side ) especially turning towards the right side.

2.Joshanda :
Paani-Water-50ml
¨ Berg-e-rehan-(Ocimum basilicum L.)-1-4-leaves
¨ Amba haldi-Termaric-1/2 tea spoon
¨ Goud-Jaggery-50 mg
The leaves & the turmeric are well ground together with the help of water & then they are finely mixed & then boiled in the pan . This is then given to the patient especially after food as a drink milk can also be added to the above water mixture and given . For Diabetic patients the same joshanda is given but goud (jaggery is avoided)

Suda–e-Barid
¨ The literal meaning of Suda -e-Barid is
¨ Suda-Head ache
¨ Barid-Cold
This is a type of head ach, which is caused due to excess of accumulation of balgham-phlegmn –in the layers of the brain. In this type of the head ache; The patient has: Severe head ache with,Nasal block, Watering of the eyes, Severe sneezing & Ear ache where the person suffering from this headache is irresistible & doesn’t withstand the strain of the headache & he is restless. The person one who is suffering from this is not able to even carry out his daily routine activities.

Note : This is of recent onset, constant ,severe & over the whole head ,travels down the neck ,person feels ill , fever , vomiting & preceding sore throat or respiratory infection ,The allied suffering person has difficulty even in bending down the neck to rest it to chin or the chest .

For the application purpose the following nuskha is a very effective application:
Arq-e-ajeeb
Ingredients:
¨ Sath-e-kafoor-Camphor-100 mg
¨ Sath-e-Nana-e-Hindi-Menthol-100 mg
¨ Sath-e-Ajwain-Thymol-100mg
¨ Moum-Wax-200mg

The process of mixing all the three forms of Kafoor, Ajwain, & Pudina available are in a solid form . These are to be taken in glass bottle & then shaken continuously until all the three liquefy. This is then mixed with wax / moum & applied as an pain balm on the fore head or the templets. The same above can be added in Garm bhapayahuva paani ( hot-boiling water ) & the bhaap (vapors) can be taken as fermentation.

Zulal
Ingredients:
¨ Fil fil-e-Siya-Black pepper-2 tea spoon
¨ Namak-e-taam-Common Salt-1/2 tea spoon
¨ Zanjabeel-Ginger-Powdered dry ginger about 1 tea spoon .
¨ Paani-Water-100ml

Filfil-e-siyah & Zanjabeel are powdered finely & mixed along with the salt & rinsed in water for about 10 minutes , given to the person having the head ache so as to enable him to have it & get some relief. Few tips for the just in mothers (which means who have delivered with in 40 days).

Take adequate amount of food preferably a balanced diet whuch has raw vegetables , like carrot; as a side dish. The peel of garlic can be used for fumigation after bath. A few seeds ( about ½ teaspoon) of ajwain is fried until golden brown on the pan & then boiled in water, used during bathing ,the avoids the cold. Paste made of multani mitti & Sath-e-kafoor (camphor ) to be applied on the templets - *gives a good relief from head ache and avoids cold. Chewing of Pan (beetle leaves) helps in good digestion & avoids cold.

* Note : There may be some alterations in the Formulations ; this has been done only for the convenience of the HOME MAKER TO USE IT .


The writer is a Unani physician, based in Bangalore and can be reached at
amin.hakim@frlht.org.in, dr_ashaan@yahoo.co.in Ph: 9448207319