Conceptual Understanding of Preventive Strategies for Metabolic Disorders in Unani Medicine: A Narrative Review.

Background: The global burden of metabolic disorders is increasing at an alarming rate. These disorders have a huge impact in terms of human suffering and economic implications. There is an urgent need for effective strategies, including the use of traditional systems of medicine, to reduce the burden of these diseases. Objective: The objective of this article is to compile information on preventive strategies for metabolic disorders found in Unani medicine. Methods: A literature survey of classical Unani texts was conducted to understand the conceptual framework in Unani medicine underlying preventive strategies for metabolic disorders. Electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched to obtain the evidence needed to validate the Unani medicine viewpoint. Results: Unani scholars have described a set of clinical conditions caused by the insufficiency of the nutritive faculty. These conditions correlate in many ways with metabolic disorders. Cold dystemperament of the liver is considered to be the cause of insufficiency of nutritive faculty. Therefore, care and protection of the liver is considered as the main preventive approach for metabolic disorders in Unani medicine. Several epidemiological studies have also reported a strong relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: The broad set of approaches (based on its theoretical foundations) used by Unani scholars to maintain the nutritive faculty in its optimal functional state seems to be an effective measure for the prevention of metabolic disorders.

Unani medicinal herbs as potential air disinfectants: an evidence-based review.

OBJECTIVES: Indoor air quality has a significant impact on our health and quality of life, as people spends 80-90% of their time indoors. Fumigation of several medicinal herbs has been recommended by Unani scholars to improve air quality, but their efficacy in air purification is still unknown. Hence, this article aims to discuss the applicability of proposed medicinal herbs in the light of current researches. METHODS: A manual literature survey of classical Unani texts was conducted to collect information about the herbs recommended for air purification. In addition, research databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect were extensively searched for evidence on the efficacy and mechanism of action of the suggested herbs in air purification. RESULTS: In classical Unani texts, authors have found descriptions of 26 herbs that have been recommended for improving air quality. In-vitro studies have confirmed the antimicrobial activity of 19 of these herbs. Moreover, the efficacy of Styrax benzoin, Commiphora myrrha and Acorus calamus fumigation on aerial microbes have also been validated by studies. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the literature review clearly demonstrated that the herbs recommended by Unani scholars for air purification have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, indicating that these herbs could be a potential candidate for air disinfectant. Therefore, authors recommend the further researches on proposed herbs to validate their efficiency against airborne pathogens in the vapour phase.

Public health approach of Unani medicine to cope and stay safe in hot environmental conditions.

The rising episodes of deadly heat waves have intensified the need for a heat protection strategy. The Unani system of medicine offers ways to stay healthy in different climatic conditions. Hence, this article aims to discuss the applicability of health protection measures suggested by Unani scholars for hot weather conditions in the light of current researches. The manual literature survey of classical Unani texts was conducted to collect information on health safety measures for hot weather. A substantial search of scientific databases such as "Google Scholar" and "Medline" for proposed measures in combination with "heat-stroke", "heat exhaustion" and "heat rash" was also conducted to identify their possible activity in heat-related illnesses. The guidelines for summer seasons in the classical Unani literature are described under the title tadabir-i-mavsam. Unani scholars have discussed in detail the pathophysiological effects of heat and the measures to stay healthy by regulating the body system through lifestyle, diet and herbs. Most of the measures proposed by them are backed up by evidences. However, some measures have not yet been evaluated for their therapeutic or prophylactic efficacy in heat-related illnesses. On the basis of findings, the authors advocate the adoption of evidence-based measures and propose further investigation of those measures that are not well supported by the evidence or have not yet been evaluated.