E-Paper
Re-establishing Unani system is this doctor?s mission
When people have almost sounded death of Unani system of medicine, three prominent families in India took up cudgels to re-establish this ancient system of medicine. One amongst them was Usmani family of Allahabad. Dr Saad Usmani, the scion of this family, is now 'serving' people with Unani medicine with same pride and dedication, what his ancestors did five generations ago
When people have almost sounded death of Unani system of medicine, three prominent families in India took up cudgels to re-establish this ancient system of medicine. One amongst them was Usmani family of Allahabad. Dr Saad Usmani, the scion of this family, is now 'serving' people with Unani medicine with same pride and dedication, what his ancestors did five generations ago. Reader and Head Department of Kulliyat (basic science of Unani Medicine) at State Unani Medical College, Allahabad, represents the modern Unani system of medicine. He has to his credit atleast 12 research papers on various topics and has attended atleast six international conferences on Unani medicine.
He has also been honoured by Central Council of Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) and Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) for his outstanding work in Unani medicine. Dr Usmani is also actively involved in various literary, social and cultural organisations.
With an almost rustic simplicity he explains to Smriti Malaviya why mostly Muslim students study Unani and the problems faced in the development of Unani system in India.
What are the basic principles and fundamentals of Unani medicine?
The theoretical structure of Unani medicine is based upon the teachings of Buqrat, a Greek philosopher and physician famous by the Latinised name of Hippocrates.
The Unani system of medicine is basically based on humoral theory. It works on the principle that the disease is a 'natural process' and its symptoms are the reactions of the body to the diseases and the function of the physician is to help and aid the natural forces to cure the body.
What are humors?
Humors are body fluids. The humoral theory pre-supposes the presence of four humors. These are 'Dam' 'Balgam' 'Safra' (yellow bile) and Sauda (black bile).
Normally every individual is supposed to have a unique 'Humoral constitution' which represents a person's healthy state. Imbalance in the humoral constitution causes diseases. This imbalance of humors may be either qualitative or quantitative or both.
What are the methods of diagnosis in Unani medicine?
A distinctive feature of Unani pathy is its emphasis on diagnosing a disease through 'Nabz' or pulse, which is a rhythmic expansion of radial artery, felt by the fingers of a Unani physician. Other methods of diagnosis include the examination of Baul (urine) Bazaz (stool). For detailed study of patient's history modern Unani doctor also uses latest diagnostic tools to correctly diagnose the disease.
What is the basic difference between Unani and Ayurveda system?
Unani works on the fundamental of four humors, as already mentioned earlier. Whereas Ayurveda works on 'tridosha' which are 'Vat', 'Pitta' and 'Kuf'. The common factor is that both the systems use herbs to cure the disease.
What is the scope of Unani medicine in surgical cases?
The use of synthetic drugs is avoided in Unani medicine, although synthetic drugs are fast effective. Hence the Unani medicine are not that effective in surgical cases. However these medicines are very effective in post-surgical recovery.
Why non-Muslim students take less interest in studying Unani system?
It is because of language barrier. The ancient Unani literature is in Arabic or Persian. Of late much of the work has been translated into regional languages. But still many non-Muslim students have also taken admission to study Unani system of treatment.
What are the main reasons of slow progress of Unani system in India?
Apart from funds crunch there is lack of state patronage. The infrastructure is poor. The medicines have become a bit costly with the formation of Uttranchal which has rich growth of herb and other medicinal plants and above all there is no pay parity. Of late the government has granted Unani system a place in the National Health Policy, which is a step in regaining the past glory of this system.
