Abstract

DIABETES IN CONTEXT OF UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE: A REVIEW STUDY

Haider Ali Quraishi*, Naquibul Islam, Md. Sheeraz, Arsheed Iqbal, Shabir Ahmad Bhat, Jameel Ahmed, Syed Sabahat and M. Aftab Ahmad

Abstract

Diabetes is an important public health problem globally. The comprehensive increase in the prevalence of diabetes is due to population growth, urbanization and increase in obesity and physical inactivity. As per the WHO, Diabetes is a heterogeneous metabolic disorder characterized by common features of chronic hyperglycemic with disturbance of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. In classical Unani Literature, most of the Unani physicians have described Ziabetus or "Aldulab, Moattasha, Atsha, Intesae Anmas, Zalaqul Kulliya, Dolab, Dawwarah, Barkar, Barkarya, Qaramees etc." with its number of Arabic vernaculars and defined Ziabetus symptomatically as characterized by excessive thirst and increased frequency of urination soon after taking fluid. Ibn-e- Sina stated in his book of Al Qanoon fit tib, the word diabetes is derived from Greek word of Diabanmo which means to "passing through" or "run through" in reference to the excessive urine produced as a symptom of this disease. The causes of disease are Su-e- Mizaj wa Zauf-e-Kulliya wa Masana & Zauf-e-Jigar. Zakariya Razi stated in his book Kitabul Hawi, dribbling of urine is the only complaint of the disease because whatever enters to the bladder gets excreted immediately without being held. Classification according to the presence or absence of sugar in the urine as Ziabetus Sada & Shakri and according to Khiffat and Shiddat of the sign and symptoms Ziabetus Haar & Baarid. This review paper discusses about the Unani Concept of Diabetes from the Historical age to the Insulin era.

Keywords: Ziabetus, Diabetes, Unani Concept of Diabetes.