Abstract: Sleep (Nawm) is a natural physiological state essential for the restoration of body and mind. In Unani medicine, sleep is one of the Asbāb-e-Sitta Ḍarūriyya (Six Essential Factors) necessary for maintaining health and preventing disease. Unani scholars, such as Ibn Sīnā, Rāzī, and Jurjānī, described sleep as a natural process of Istirāḥat-e-Quwā (rest of faculties) and Tafarruq-e-Ḥarrārat Gharīziyya (distribution of innate heat). Modern physiology describes sleep as a neurobiological process governed by the brainstem, hypothalamus, and circadian rhythm. This paper aims to compare the Unani understanding of sleep with modern concepts to explore their harmony and significance for health and disease prevention.
How to cite this article:
Saddam Husain Ansari, Faria Nawab, Irshad Ahmad Ansari, Samreen Imlak. A comparative analysis of the concept of sleep (Nawm) in Unani medicine and modern physiology. Int J Unani Integ Med 2025;9(3):187-190. DOI: 10.33545/2616454X.2025.v9.i3c.399
