2025, Vol. 9 Issue 3, Part CPages: 165-172
A synthesis of traditions: A comparative and integrative review of diabetes mellitus from Unani and modern medical perspectives
Faisal Habib, Intazar Ali, Iliyas Hussain and Junaid Malik Hashmi
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Abstract:
The global burden of diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to escalate, posing a significant public health challenge that underscores the limitations of purely conventional therapeutic models. This review undertakes a comprehensive comparative analysis of diabetes from both the modern biomedical and the Unani medical perspectives. The report traces the historical evolution of the disease from ancient observations to the discovery of insulin and the Unani concepts of Ziabetes Shakri and Sue Mizaj. It provides a detailed exposition of the modern pathophysiology of diabetic complications, particularly diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), detailing key molecular mechanisms such as the polyol pathway, advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), and oxidative stress. Parallel to this, the Unani medical paradigm is explored, with its foundational principles of Mizaj (temperament) and Quwa (faculties) presented as a holistic, systems-based model. A critical analysis reveals significant conceptual overlaps, with the Unani concept of Sue Mizaj Haar (hot temperament) aligning with modern notions of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, and Zouf-e-Kulya (renal weakness) correlating functionally with modern pathophysiology of glomerular hyperfiltration in diabetic kidney disease. The report also evaluates the pharmacological properties of key Unani formulations, demonstrating that their multi-component nature can modulate multiple biochemical pathways, a characteristic validated by recent clinical studies. This integrative review concludes that Unani medicine is not merely a collection of remedies but a rational, philosophical system that can offer a complementary framework for holistic diabetes management. An integrated approach, combining the mechanistic precision of modern medicine with the systemic and preventive strategies of Unani medicine, holds great promise for developing more effective, patient-centred, and sustainable solutions to the global diabetes crisis.
