The Unani medical system was introduced to India a few thousand years ago by the Muslims and grew very popular among the Indian population. It has now been widely practiced in the Indo-Pakistan region. The Unani doctors who initially settled in India took up several new medicines from the foreign culture and thus the Unani medical system practiced in India today is quite different from its original Greek form. However, there is one thing that all variants have in common - an Ayurveda cure is always recommended for every ailment. Ayurveda is basically a traditional system of medicine that includes a vast variety of medicines that are used for various health problems. The basic aim of the Ayurveda medicines, or Unani medicines, is to treat the body holistically. A person's diet plays a vital role in maintaining good health and a balanced life. The unani medical system believes that the body should be drug free and that only by removing the toxins from it can the body heal itself. Toxins are known as "ajunkhala", which means "poisonous substances". Hence, any medicine that contains a lot of toxins is considered a "poison" medicine. The Unani medicines use various methods to remove the toxins from the body. These methods include the use of herbs, natural detoxification procedures and cold pressing methods. Some of the popular unani drugs are: Triphala-Guggulu, Gokshuradi-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Chandraprabha-Vati, Saarivadi-Churna, Shankh-Bhasma and Behada (abisseeds). Each of these medicines has at least six main types, with each type being used for a specific purpose. All the above mentioned medications are part of the traditional system of medicine practiced in northern India. But some of them have been used for western diseases. Such drugs are widely available on the internet. A few of the most highly recommended are: Triphala, Guggulu and Chandraprabha-Vati. The choice of medicine depends upon the individual's constitution and symptoms. If the person is healthy, the choice of medicine would be Gokshuradi-Guggulu. If he is unhealthy, Unani (system) medicines like Triphala-Guggulu and Punarnavadi-Guggulu can be used. But in all cases it is better to consult a professional physician. The choice of herbal medicine for an esophageal disease patient greatly depends upon the degree of obstruction in the throat. If there is any obstruction, then the choice of herbal medicine mostly depends upon its remedial properties for soft tissue and cardio-vascular disorders. If the cause of the problem is a thyroid disorder, then Unani (system) medicines like Shankh-Bhasma, Praval-Panchamrut, Kamdudha-Ras, Vishwa (Zinziber officinalis), Pippali (Piper longum), Marich (Piper nigrum), Pippali-Ksheer, Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina), Shirva (Rauwolfia serpentina), Vasa (Adhatoda vasaka) and Khurasani ova (Hyoscyamus Niger) can be used. For problems of the lungs, Unani (system) medicines like Laxmi-Vilas-Ras, Maha-Laxmi-Vilas-Ras, Laxmi-Vilas-Rosh is recommended. If the problem is a kidney problem, medicines like Bilva (Aegle marmelos) and Shallaki (Boswellia serrata) can be used. Other important medicines that can be used as treatment in Unani (system) forma are Arjun (Terminalia Arjuna), Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Nimba (Azadirachta indica), Khadeer (Acacia catechu) and Lashun (Allium sativum). Some of the medicines mentioned above are used separately and in combination in several ways to increase efficacy. The unani drugs are prepared from selected herbs of Ayurveda origin and are derived by combining selected components of herbology, physiology and biotechnology. In order to manufacture these medicines, stringent standards are followed such as GMP procedures and strict quality control processes. The manufacturing process employs most modern methods and equipment to ensure that the quality of the constituents and medicines is good. Only the best and purest materials are used in the manufacturing of these medicines. This makes them highly in demand in Ayurveda formulations and forms a major constituent of the Unani formulations. Ayurveda Unani formulations form a large percentage of the total volume of the global pharmaceutical products. These include traditional medicines, manufactured and modified formulations, herbal formulations, eczema, diabetes, infertility, gout, kidney and liver diseases, etc. Ayurveda Unani drugs can also be prescribed for use in combination with traditional medicines to maximize their therapeutic effects and to avoid the chances of adverse reactions or drug interactions. They can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions and are found extremely useful in various clinical settings including hemodialysis, chemotherapy, cardiovascular, immunological, neonatology, pulmonary, neurological, neurosurgery, podiatry, surgery and trauma as well. Ayurveda Unani formulations can also be used for homeopathic purposes, as they have very few side effects and are found to be very effective in homeopathy.
