2025, Vol. 9 Issue 3, Part BPages: 132-136
Contribution of Unani Physician in Manafeul A’ḍā (Physiology); A Historical Review
Sajid Khan, Farheen Naz, Abdul Wahid, Mohd Nasiruddin and Nehal Ahmad
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Abstract:
The Unani System of Medicine, rooted in the Hippocratic theory of four humors (Akhlāt-e-Arba), Khilṭ-i-Dam (Blood), Khilṭ-i-Balgham (Phlegm), Khilṭ-i-Safrā (Yellow Bile), Khilṭ-i-Sawdā (Black Bile), emphasizes their balance for health and their imbalance as the cause of disease. This review explores classical concepts explained by eminent Unani scholars related with Manafeul A’ḍā such as Hippocrates, Galen, Raazi, Avicenna, Ibn Nafis etc. As per the principle of Unani System of Medicine, it is stated that Akhlāt are formed in the liver and distributed through vessels in different part of the body for different functions. The theory of Akhlāt concerned with many things but mainly it deals with the concept of nutritive function of human body. As Khilṭ-i-Dam nourishes organs and carries heat via arteries, while veins distribute deoxygenated blood. Bile (Khilṭ-i-Safrā), produce in liver-derived, supports digestion and blood vitality. Khilṭ-i-Balgham acts as a nutrient reserve, able to be converted into Khilṭ-i-Dam to nourish various organs, particularly during times of need. Khilṭ-i-Sawdā helps in increasing the viscosity of the blood. Some eminent scholar such as Aristotle stated that the heart as the centre of vital functions, Jālῑnūs provided an important theory on blood circulation, and Ibn Nafis’s pioneering insights into pulmonary circulation highlight the system’s sophisticated understanding of anatomy and physiology. Buqrat (Hippocrates), Jālῑnūs (Galen) Rabban Tabri, Raazi, Ibn Sῑnā (Avicenna), Ibn-e-Nafis etc, has also given a comprehensive theory on the concept of Ṭabῑ‘at. In Unani Medicine Ṭabῑ‘at is considered the chief faculty for the maintenance of homeostasis. This review underscores the Unani system’s holistic approach, integrating humoral theory, organ functions, and vital forces, offering a historical perspective on its contributions to medical science and its relevance in understanding human physiology.
