Unani Medicine: Home Remedies for a Healthy Life

Unani Medicine

An introduction:
While Hippocrates (460-377 BC) is hailed as the founder of Unani system of medicine, the principles of Unani Tibb as followed in India, were first laid by the Persian physician ibn Sina (980- 1037 AD) in his book Al Qanun. An integral part of India's national health care system, unani tibb is today widely practiced in many parts of the nation.

Unani Tibb stresses on maintaining a proper balance of various vital forces and humors that make up the body.  An imbalance of these constituents is believed be the root cause of ill health. The Treatments aim to cure the ailment through helping the body achieve the desired balance, and gain health

Unani Tibb treatments involve extensive use of natural herbs and other material, many of which are commonly available. This article presents you with a few simple Unani Tibb remedies, which can be tried out in the convenience of your home.

Ailment:

Conjunctivitis (Ashob-e-Chashm)

It is an inflammation of the covering membrane of the eye. The eye becomes red and sore along with lachrymation and photophobia. There is sticking of eyelids due to purulent discharge.

Home Remedies:

• Phitkari (Alum): 3 gm
• Rasaut (Extract of Berberis Bark): 3 gm
• Arg-e-Gulab (Rose Water): 60 ml

Method of Preparation:Dissolve the first two drugs in rose water, filter and preserve in a clean glass bottle.

Administration: Use as eye drops, instill 2 drops in the affected eye both in morning and evening

Or

• Suhaga (Borax): 2 gm
• Haldi (Turmeric): 6 gm

Method of Preparation: Heat Suhaga on fire till it converts into Calx (Kheel). Make a fine powder of both drugs, add 350 ml of water, boil and strain.

Administration: soak apiece of cloth in the decoction and foment the eyes.

Ailment:

Ear ache (Waja-ul-Uzn)

It is caused by excessive heat or cold, formation of pimples and boils etc.

Home Remedies:

• Fresh leaves of Mooli (Radish): Quantity Sufficient

Method of Preparation:  Extract 180 ml of juice from fresh leaves of Mooli. Add 60 ml of Til Oil (Sesame Oil), and heat the mixture until the water evaporates.

Administration: Instill 2 drops (lukewarm) in the ear.

Ailment

Pyorrhoea (Qurooh-e-Lissa)

Pain in the teeth and inflammation of the gums. Pus oozes from the gums. Bad breath is common in this condition.

Home Remedies

• Haldi (Turmeric)

Method of Preparation: Take a stick of Haldi, burn it and make a fine power.

Administration: Gently rub on the gums both in morming and evening with Sarson (Mustard Oil).

Ailment: 

Toothache (Dard Dandan):

The gums are swollen, painful and reddish. Sometimes patient becomes restless due to severe toothache

Home Remedies

• Bark of Pomegranate: 35 gm
• Bark of Ber (Chinese date): 35 gm
• Laung (Cloves): 5 gm

Method of Preparation: Boil all these in 1 litre of water & filter.

Administration: Gargle twice a day

Or

• Adarak (Ginger) Juice: 5 ml
• Namak (Salt): 1 gm

Method of Preparation Mix a little salt with Adrak juice

Administration: Apply on the gum and aching tooth

Or

• Laung (cloves) oil 

Apply on the gums and aching tooth

Ailment:

vomiting & Nausea (Ghasyan-Ma-Qai)

• Aab-e- Pyaz (onion Juice): 10 ml
• Aab-e-Podina (Mint Juice): 10 ml
• Aab-e-Adarak (Ginger Juice): 10 ml
• Aab-e-Leemu (Lemon Juice): 10 ml

Method of Preparation Mix all the juices

Administration Add ml of the mixture in 120 ml of water, add one pinch of soda and take immediately.

Or

• Tender shoot of Jamun (Jambol): 10 gm

Method of Preparation: Grind win 60mlof water and strain

Administration: Takehe above in two parts twice daily

Or

• Illachi Badi: 10 gm
• Saunf: 10 gm
• Pudina: 20 leaves

Method of Preparation:  Boil in 60 ml of water and strain.

Administration: 2 teaspoonful thrice daily

Ailment:

Indigestion (zof-e-Hazm):

Feeling of heaviness in the stomach after taking meals, lack of appetite. nausea, flatulence and vomiting are also felt. It is generally due to irregular diet, excessive use of spicy food and irregularities in habits..

Home Remedies:

• Ajwain (Ajowa Seeds): 10 gm
• Namak Siyah (Black Salt): 10 gm

Method of Preparation: Grind with Lemon juice and make Bengal gram size pills/tablets

Administration: 2 pills/tablets twice daily after meals.

Or

• Namak Sendha (Rock Salt): 10 gm
• Adrak Juice (Grinder Juice): 60 ml
• Aab-e-Leemu (Lemon Juice): 60 ml

Method of Preparation: of Mix all the ingredients well, preserve in a glass bottle and keep in the sun for three to four days.

Administration: Mix a tea-spoonful of this liquid with half cup of water and take twice daily after meals.

Or

• Sat Pudina (Extract of Mint)
• Sat Awain (Extract of Alwain)
• Kafoor (Camphor)

Method of Preparation: Mix in equal quantity and keep it in a tightly closed

glass container; expose it to sunlight for a day. Its becomes liquid.

Administration: 3-5 drops in 20 ml of water after meals twice daily for 2-3 days.

Ailment:

Common fever (Bukhar)

Home Remedies:

• Khaksi (Khubkalan): 6 gm

Method of preparation: Boil in 120 ml of water and drain.

Administration: Take the above solution in two equal parts twice daily

Or

• Fresh Tulsi leaves: 25 gm
• Kali Mirch (Black Pepper): 1 gm

Method of preparation: Grind with water and make Bengal gram size pills

Administration: 1 pill with water thrice daly

Ailment

Constipation (Qabz)

Hard stool, difficulty in passing stool in the morning.

Home Remedies:

• Barg-e-Sana (Senna Leaves): 10 gm
• Sonth (Dry Ginger): 10 gm
• Saunf (Fennel): 10 gm
• Namak Sendha (Rock Salt): 10 gm

Method of Preparation: Make a fine powder.

Administration: Take 5 gm with water at bed time.

Ailment:

Intestinal worms (Deedan-e-Ama)

Paleness of face, general weakness, sometimes abdominal pain and vomiting

Home Remedies:

Root bark of Anar: Quantay suficient (Anat ki jad ki chall)

Method of preparation: Dry and burn into ash.

Administration: 3 gm with water at bed time.

Or

Palas Seeds (Papra of Bengal Kino tree): 250 mg to 1 gm

Method of preparation: Boil the seeds in 250 ml of water till reduced to half of a glass.

Administration: Take one dose as full quantity at bed time.

Ailment:

Cough & Cold (Khansi wa Nazla)

(Cough, sore throat. Bodyache Headache)

Home Remedies

• Adarak Juice: 10 ml
• Honey: 10 gm

Method of Preparation: Mix and prepare paste (Chatni)

Administration: Take 1/2 tea spoon twice or thrice a day before meals

Or

Mulethi (Liquorice): Quantity Sufficient

Method of Preparation: Take a piece of Mulothi and keep it in hot ash till it becomes soft.

Administration:  Chew and swallow the juice two to three times daily.

Ailment

Tonsilitis (Warm-e-Lauzatain)

Tonsils are swollen and red with sore throat and pain.

Home Remedies:

• Suhaga (Borax): 1 gm
• Honey: 5 gm

Method of Preparation: Heat Suhaga on fire till it convert into calx (kheel). Make fine powder of Suhaga and mix with honey

Administration: Use as throat paints.

Or

• Retha: 125 mg (Powder)

Honey: Quantity Suficients

Method Preparation Mix both and take twice a day

Ailment

Diarrhea(Dast)

Frequent motion more in a liquid form than normal.

Home Remedies

Dried Belgiri (Pulp of Bel Fruit): 10 gm
Zeera Safaid (Cumin): 10 gm

Method of Preparation: Make a fine powder.

Administration: 4 gm twice daily

Instructions:

Weight:
5 gm = 1 tea spoon full (TSF)
5 ml = 1 tea spoon full (TSF)
125 ml = 1/2 glass of Water

Precautions and Directions:

Easily Digestible, simple and light food should be taken during illness
Avoid fried and spicy roasted food in case of vomiting, Diarrhoea Flatulence and acidity.

In Mouth ulcer, Gingivitis, tonsilitis and pyorrhoea. It is very important to brush the teeth before going to bed and after wake-up.
In Cough, Cold, Coryza and Headache avoid cold water bath, curd, ice cream, cold drinks and take warm water in sip which will give relief to pan in tonsillitis and bronchitis.
In Conjunctivitis, i) wash eye with cold water thrice a day. ii) avoid wiping the eyes with cloth
In vomiting: do not take milk or fried food.

In case patient does not get relief within 2-3 days of taking medicine, he/she should consult the nearest clinic or hospital.

Decoction: 

It is prepared by boiling the ingredients in water and reducing it to 1/4th of the total volume. It may be filtered and taken like tea.

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