UNANI MEDICINE / herbal medicine

Medical tourism has emerged as a one of the trending markets across the globe. It encompasses primarily and predominantly biomedical procedures, combined with travel and tourism such as when consumers elect to travel across international borders to receive some form of medical treatment, which may span the full range of medical services. Though travelling abroad for health benefits is not a recent concept, it has gained more momentum and media interest in the last decades. India is one of the major contributors in this industry. Towering medical costs, high insurance premiums, increasing number of uninsured and under insured people in developed nations, long waiting period in the home country, availability of high quality health care services at affordable rate, and internet/communication channels in developing countries, cheaper air fares, and the diversity of tourist destinations available in the country are the driving forces of the outbound medical tourism. Currently, India hosts about 1.27 million medical tourists from industrialized countries like UK and USA and from its neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and China. Its foreign exchange earnings from medical tourism are around US $1.8 billion. The Indian systems of medicine (ISM), i.e. Ayurveda, Unani, Yoga and Naturopathy, Siddha, etc., are among the most ancient systems of medical treatment, of the world. Medical tourism holds immense hope for development and promotion of Indian systems of medicine (ISM) worldwide, besides contributing to foreign exchange earnings. In fact, ISM systems are one of the elements of basic structure of medical tourism in India. India can provide medical and health care at international standard at comparatively low cost. This paper recognizes the perspectives of Unani system of medicine for medical tourism sector of India and explores the possible role of central council for research in Unani medicine (CCRUM) in hosting medical tourism centres in India. Finally, this paper analyses and concludes the scope of Unani medicine in medical tourism by which India can attracts more number of foreign tourists for the medical treatment.

According to Unani system of medicine,
health is attributed to the quantitative and
qualitative equilibrium of Akhlat (humours)
i.e Damvi (sanguinous), Safra (bilious),
Balgham (Phelgamatic) and Saudah
(melancholic). Besides this, there is Asbab e
Sittah Zarooriya (six essential factors) which
are the main determinants of health .These
include atmosphereric air (hawa), food and
drinks (makool mashroobat), bodily
movements and repose (Harkat-wa-Sakoon
Badni), mental activity and repose (Harkatwa-
Sakoon Nafsani), sleep and wakefulness
(Naum Wa Yaqza) and retention and
excretion (Ahtibas wa Istifiragh).These
factors are highly modifiable and any
imbalance in any of these factors is likely to
cause diseases. Proper evacuation of morbid
materials is the prerequisite of humoral
equilibrium or in other words maintenance
and restoration of health. The elimination of
ABSTRACT
Shafia Mushtaq*, Asia Sultana**, Fassihuzaman***, Sadia
Nikhat****, Muzamil Rehman*****
* M.D. scholar, Department of Moalijat. Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.
** Associate Professor, Department of IBT, AKTC, AMU, Aligarh.
*** Associate Professor, Department of Moalijat. Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.
**** Assistant Professor, Department of Tahafuz wa Samaj Tib.
***** Research officer, Department of AYUSH, Govt. of India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Asia Sultana Associate Professor, AKTC, AMU, Aligarh.
E-Mail: aasia.sultana@gmail.com
Keywords : Munzij mushil, regimen, humoral inequillibrium.
morbid materials can effectively be achieved
by the process of Nuzj (concoction) and Is’haal
(purgation) which is one of the basic principles
of the treatment of chronic diseases in Unani
system of medicine. Nuzj and Is’haal has been
in use as a regimen as the main stay of
treatment by almost every unani scholar.
Great and eminent scholars such as Jalinos,
Raban Tabri, Razi have given the importance
of Munzij and Mu’shil therapy in their
literature and they themselves treated patients
successfully with this mode of treatment
for thousands of years. Unfortunately, this
time tested regimen has been sidelined by
contemporary unani practitioners and is not
being given its due space in therapeutics.
Although attempts have been made to validate
the effects of this regimen in some
autoimmune disorders but more
comprehensive efforts are needed to yield
structured data in support of it.

Liver damage or disease is a worldwide health threat due to non-availability of
specific drug and potentiality of modern drugs to add further damage. A large
number of traditional drugs possesses hepatoprotective activity have been
used in liver pathologies since centuries. So investigating these drugs for their
hepatoprotective effect to make an effective medicine in the treatment of liver
toxicity or dysfunction is promising. Different kinds of laboratory models have
been used to assess the hepatoprotective action of these drugs. Hepatotoxic
agents such as Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), Paracetamol, D-galactosamine are
commonly used. Most widely, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) has been used to
induce liver toxicity in rodents. Likewise chloroform, acrylamide, adriamycin,
aflatoxin, thioacetamide, isoniazid, rifampicin, ethanol, pyrilizidine alkaloid,
alphanapthoisothiocynate, tamoxifen, phalloidin, cadmium, lead and
erythromycin have been also used to induce chemical injury in the liver. When
the disease is induced in an appropriate animal, the traditional drugs can be
tested for its therapeutic effect as well as its effective dose and toxicological
profile. In experimental models, both in vivo and in vitro models of liver have
been used. The hepatoprotective effect is evaluated by ability of the trial drug
to prevent or mitigate the injury in different parameters like biochemical,
histological changes and normalization of the volume of the liver. The present
article explains the types, dose and mechanism of hepatotoxic agents along
with experimental model used to study hepatoprotective effect of traditional
drugs.

Introduction: Kushta of Shangarf (KS) is in therapeutic use since long time in Unani and Ayurvedic medicine. It requires extensive assessment with respect to its safety and processing because of the presence of mercury. KS prepared with Shangarf (HgS), Phitkari (alum), and Jozbua (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) was selected for the study. It is indicated as tonic, increases blood production, and improves complexion of face. Preparation of KS by classical and contemporary method and its comparative physicochemical analysis was attempted in this work. Materials and Methods: Kushta was prepared by incinerating the drugs kept inside Buta in Bhatti with 24 kg of Uple (cow-dung cakes) and also in muffle furnace. Samples obtained were evaluated by Unani specifications (test), powder characterizations, loss on drying, pH, ash value, solubility, particle size, and qualitative estimation of organic and inorganic constituents, X-ray diffraction (XRD), quantitative estimation by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry, and so on. Results: Physicochemical standards set in were comparable in KS prepared by classical method (KSCM) and in KS prepared by muffle furnace method (KSMFM), except water-soluble ash and solubility in water were found slightly more in KSMFM. XRD study revealed the presence of aluminum oxide phase and absence of mercury in both the samples. Quantitative estimation of elements in both the samples in decreasing order are as follows: sulfur > aluminum > calcium > iron > arsenic. Arsenic was found more than iron in KSCM at parts per million level. Conclusion: Preliminary understanding suggests that muffle furnace method could be a better option with respect to safety and ease of preparation. Shangarf incinerated above 900°C with Phitkari and Jaiphal did not show presence of mercury in both the samples, indicating KS prepared by incinerating at higher temperature can be safer than unroasted preparation. Studied formulation can be recommended or used for its indications without the concern of mercury toxicity.

Strychinus nuxvomica (SN) is an evergreen and medium sized deciduous tree, usually 15-20 m high and up to 70 cm diameter. The fruits are globose, 2.5-5cm. in diameter, orange red when ripe containing many discoid, compressed coins likes seed in fleshy pulp. Seeds are used for therapeutic purposes. The objective of the present investigation was development of the quality standards and the phytochemical analysis of SN. This includes morphological and histological characters. pH of aqueous solution, ash values, extractive values, loss on drying, fluoresce analysis , primary phytochemical screening and HPTLC finger printing profile of different extracts. The finding of this study might be useful as supplement information regarding the identification of SN and lying down pharmacopoeial standards as standardization of the herbal medicine is essential and need of today. Pharmaceutical Sciences International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2249-6793

In recent times the liver dysfunction has gained significant importance as a precursor and for a broad range of metabolic disorders. Both, chronic and acute liver diseases irrespective of age, sex, region or race are the major cause of morbidity and mortality across the world. Natural products are used and examined for various types of liver disorders. Large number of compound formulations and single drugs from Ayurved, Siddha and Unani systems are commonly used without much adverse effects to manage a variety of liver disorders.

Cucumis  melo  Linn.  (family  cucurbitaceae)  is  extensively  cultivated  throughout  India
particularly  in  the  hot  and  dry North-Western  areas.  Its  fruit  pulp,  root,  seeds  and  seed oil  are
used  for  medicinal  purposes.  In  Unani  medicine,  the  seed  kernel  is  commonly  used  to  treat
various  disease  conditions.  Seeds  are  having  diuretic,  lithontriptic,  laxative,  demulcent  and
refrigerant  properties.  There  are many  varieties  of  melon  available  and  they  also  show  great
diversity  in foliage. Hence, adultration  is very common with this plant. Standardization provides
a  more  reliable,  effective  and  high-quality  product  by  confirming  the  presence  of  plant
constituents  qualitatively  and  quantitatively. Hence,  efforts  have  been made  to  standardize  the
seed to provide scientific data for identification, authentication and distinguishing the plant from
its  adulterants. The morphological, microscopic,  physicochemical  and  chromatographic  studies
of Cucumis melo seed will be useful  for quality control of  this drug  in  formulations and would
serve as a standard reference for further studies.
Key words: Adultration, Cucumis melo, flavonoid, phenolic, standardization

The history of Tiryaq is around 2000 years old and, since ancient times, has been regarded as a universal antidote. It was a complex compound consisting of many ingredients, originating as a cure for the bite of poisonous wild animals, mad dogs, or wild beasts. Tiryaq was not a usual antidote; it was not developed to cure or prevent a particular disease. It was a multi-medicine to protect against all poisons and treat different conditions, such as chronic cough, stomach-ache, asthma, chest pain, fever, colic, seizures, diarrhoea, and urine retention. The belief that Tiryaq could protect individuals from poisons and various maladies persisted well into the modern era, only gradually being dispelled by the progress of Western medicine founded on scientific principles. Tiryaq was taken off most formularies, although now it survived in India and a few European cities.

Unani Medicine believes in humoral and temperamental theory and on the basis of these two theories the disease is diagnosed and treatment is prescribed accordingly. Babchi (Psoralea corylifolia Linn.) is one of the famous Unani Medicines mentioned in classical Unani literature for the effective treatment of Leucoderma, Psoriasis, Leprosy and other skin disorders. Its main functions are Musaffi-e-khoon, Daf-e-Bars, Daf-e-Juzam, Daf-e-Daussadaf, Daf-e-Kharish, Jali and Mulayyen etc. Because this medicine is already being used in different dosage forms, the aim of this article is to highlight the use of this herbal medicine in Leucoderma and also explore its efficacy in different diseases that could be beneficial for the masses.

REVIEW ARTICLE ABSTRACT ARTICLE INFORMATION Liver damage or disease is a worldwide health threat due to non-availability of specific drug and potentiality of modern drugs to add further damage. A large number of traditional drugs possesses hepatoprotective activity have been used in liver pathologies since centuries. So investigating these drugs for their hepatoprotective effect to make an effective medicine in the treatment of liver toxicity or dysfunction is promising. Different kinds of laboratory models have been used to assess the hepatoprotective action of these drugs. Hepatotoxic agents such as Carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4), Paracetamol, D-galactosamine are commonly used. Most widely, carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) has been used to induce liver toxicity in rodents. Likewise chloroform, acrylamide, adriamycin, aflatoxin, thioacetamide, isoniazid, rifampicin, ethanol, pyrilizidine alkaloid, alphanapthoisothiocynate, tamoxifen, phalloidin, cadmium, lead and erythromycin have been a...

Liver (Kabid) is a vital organ in the body where every metabolic process occurs. Formation of Khilt
(humour) occurs in the liver. According to doctrine of Unani medicine Liver is Sar Chasma of Quwate
tabayiah. It is resemblance to Unsur “Naar” (fire), Khilt Safra (blilous humour) and with Fasl Saif
(summer season) where as its temperament is Haar Yabis. When its mizaj deviates from normal to
abnormal it leads to disease with various sign and symptoms like Zoaf-e-Isteha (losss of appetite), Matliwa-Qai (nausea & vomiting), Zoaf-e-Aam (general weakness), Hikka (pruritis), Sehar (insomnia).
Restore of mizaj as a normal depends upon Ghiza, Dawa etc.
Bhui Amla is a medicinal plant which is highly used for treatment of various liver disorder and also
scientifically reported for various activity viz; antioxidant, immunomodulator, hepatoprotective, antihepatocellular carcinoma. So, above I contemplated a case seris among 6 patients of liver disease with
raised liver parameters. We concluded that, Bhui Amla is highly effective for the management Liver
Disease. The present case series study is new vistas for researcher and conveys it to medical field for the
better understanding and management of liver disease which are described in Unani classical text.
Keywords: Bhui Amla, liver disease, Amraaze Kabid, case series