Unani

Unani is the common term in the Indian subcontinent for the Greco- Arab medicine. It is derived from the Arabic word يوناني / Yunani /, Greek ' (actually, ionic ' ) from. Unani is the Arab- Islamic counterpart to Ayurveda in India is often referred to outside of the Indian subcontinent as a classical Arabic medicine.

Name Origin and History

Origin of the name

Unani is a combination of traditional medicine systems, originally based mainly on the ancient Greek medicine, hence the name Unani / Yunani - Greek '. There are also influences from the Ayurveda, the more developed of the Nestorians Greek medicine and the medicine of the Arab Bedouin.

History

Due to the general call of the Koran, to acquire knowledge and because of the Islamic principle to preserve the body, the early Muslims first began to collect the limited medical knowledge of the Arabian Peninsula. These are, pre-Islamic physicians such as al - Harith ibn Kalda, in turn, acquired at the Nestorians at the Academy of Gundischapur his knowledge. Gundischapur in late antiquity was a center of science and since the Islamic conquest of 642 until the founding of the House of Wisdom also the starting point of the early flowering of Islamic science.

At the time of the Umayyads ( 661-750 ) of the lively scientific exchange started with the then civilizations were first medical works translated from Greek. At the time of the Umayyad Gundischapur was still the center of medicine.

At the time of the Abbasids (750-1258), the other the then known medical systems were first compiled and then analyzed, especially the Greek, Nestorian and Indian ( Ayurvedic ) medicine. At that time the center was the Bait al - Hikma ( House of Wisdom ) in Baghdad.

After the phase of development and critical assessment of the known medieval medicine theories began with the theory of humors was not even touched, as opposed to medical reform of Paracelsus in Europe. Numerous theories in antiquity were examined and reformed, such as the adoption of Galen, wounds would fester in order to better heal. Especially ar - Razi was known for his empirical research in the natural sciences.

The now known as Unani medicine is finally the development of Arabic medicine in the Middle Ages in India. The pharmacology has been extended to many Indian medicines, new massage techniques and therapies have been developed.

Basics

It is based on the Greek theory of humors. It has been expanded and refined, was and however is the basis of Unani. Thus, similar to the Unani Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, in which similar juices teachings are based. This theory assumes that all matter on the four elements of fire (energy ), water ( liquid), earth ( solid matter ) and air ( gases) is due. All diseases and medications are explained on the principle of this theory of the elements.

In the diagnosis, the following criteria are important:

• Questioning the patient: This is the patient according to his medical history, pain, the physical and mental condition, consults his eating habits and other criteria.
• Consider the patient: the body is examined for suspicious abnormal changes, pain points are sampled.
• Pulse Diagnosis: Here, the pulse is sampled at several parts of the body such as in Ayurveda, the classical Greek medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. It's not about the measurement of blood pressure, but the so-called pulse qualities: fast or slow pulse
• Wider or thinner pulse
• Regular or irregular heartbeat and more.

In the stool sample color, texture, odor and undigested particles were also studied.

Forms of therapy

• Internal Applications: diet, medication
• External use: cupping, massage, sports, surgery

Training

The training in Unani medicine is regulated in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan through higher education. There are numerous universities that offer this degree, best known is probably the Hamdard University. After completing the Bachelors ( BUMS Bachelor of Unani Medicine Science) graduate obtains the title Hakim. Outside of these countries there is no such higher education.

In addition to academic training, there is also the so-called traditional Hakim. We learned Unani based on the classic Arab al - Qanun fī t- Tibb of Ibn Sīnā, al - Kulliyat fī t- Tibb of Ibn Rushd, al - Malaki ʿ Alī al - of Madschūsī and much more.