Introduction

Unani medicine is an indigenous holistic practice, an amalgam of Greek and Arabic health systems. It is dated back to Hippocrates, and his theory of humours and their impact on the human body. He proposed that the human body is composed of four humours — black bile, yellow bile, blood, and phlegm, and they are associated with four elements of the universe —-earth, fire, air, and water, respectively.

Greek practices influenced Arabic scholars and they incorporated the discoveries, theories, and practices of Greek philosophers in their medicine. When the Arabs arrived in India their sophisticated medicinal practices were welcomed with open arms and Unani medicine was birthed.

Unani medicine is based on the concept that the human body has seven components and these components interact with each other to balance the constituents of health. It also takes into account all the internal and external factors that can influence health.

With the advent of modern medicine, Unani practices have lost their previous popularity. The use of synthetic medicine and unorthodox health practices have done more harm than good. The unprecedented pandemics, surging chronic diseases, and global health crises, all tell the sorry tale of the failure of modern medicine.

Unani medicine offers a gentler and more organic approach to healthcare than conventional medicine. If properly employed, Unani medicine can be radical to human health as it provides better, safer, and more wholesome methods to achieve ideal health. By combining modern health practices with traditional methods, it will be possible to achieve better life quality, optimal healthcare, and fruitful cures.