Abstract

A REVIEW ON ANTI-CANCEROUS PROPERTY OF SINGLE UNANI DRUGS

Reesha Ahmed*, Mohd. Wasim Ahmed, Asma Sattar Khan and Shoeb Ahmed Ansari

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Abstract

About 80% of the world‘s population relies on traditional medicine that involves use of plant and herb extracts for primary healthcare system. Unani is a traditional system of medicine developed during the medieval period, which employs natural drugs composed of herbal, animal and minerals. Fundamentally, it is based on the humoral theory postulated by Hippocrates., According to him, the state of body health and disease are regulated by qualitative and quantitative equilibrium of four humours including Blood, Phlegm, Yellow bile and Black bile. Therefore, Unani physicians believe that cancer is caused by accumulation of Sawda (Black bile), produced due to Ihtiraq (burning) of humours in the body. Treatment of cancer through various means such as evacuation of causative humour from the body, administration of Muqawwiyat (Tonics) such as antioxidant and immunomodulator drugs mentioned in Unani classical literature and so on.

Keywords: Unani, Hippocrates, Humours, Sawda and classical literature.