UNANI SYSTEM
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- Title
- UNANI SYSTEM
- extracted text
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RF_DR.A_13_SUDHA
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HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
rvurvedic physicians not only to
zzmake a correct assessment of the
the appropriate remedy.
irate classification of diseases and
rat could be influencing them. As
the sun controls the soul and
Afflictions by the moon and
in<
te mental disorders. The
zired on Mercury, or the moon
reduced by the conjunction of the
io have an important effect on the
nenza, etc.
however, to make a realistic
nis physical and mental characid the influences exerted over him
Thus it is possible to make
occurrence, through astrological
an ayurvedic physician after the
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CHAPTER 5
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□y and its intricate working, and
aain inexplicable despite scientific
:ould prove to be of great use to
'iinowledge. Another contribution
lo provide a working knowledge
iial during a certain period of his
can strive to lessen the adverse
ess. Here astrology recommends
.rom ^ncient times is replete with
mat
sastra. The afflictions
ncy of the requisite or normal
rnsated by mantras which are
ed forms of sound vibrations.
The Unani system of health
and medicare
Hakim Mohammed Said 1
Unani Tibb or Graeco-Arab medicine may be traced to that system of
Greek medicine which was developed during the Arab civilization. The
Moslems still call it Unani (Ionian) medicine out of adherence to its true
historical derivation, whereas European historians would call it Arab
medicine. It is now practised in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent.
Basic concepts of health and disease
The basic framework consists of the four-humour theory of Hippocrates,
which presupposes the presence in the body of four humours: blood,
phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.
The body is regarded as comprising the following:
I
(1) Arkan (elements) comprising the different states of matter and materials
entering into and forming a part of everything in the universe.
(2) Mizaf—the bodily temperament.
(3) Akhlas—the structural components.
(4) A 'da—the fully developed and mature organs.
(5) Ruh—the vital force or life-force.
(6) Qawa^—the bodily power.
(7) Af'al—the corporeal functions.
It will be seen that these seven working principles are comprehensive in
that the arkan include the elementary constituents of the body; the mizaj
the physicochemical aspects of the body; the akhlat, the bodilv humours’
a'da, the anatomy of the body; ruh, the life-force or vital force; qim'a\
1
1 Adviser on 1 ibb to the President of Pakistan, and President of the Hamdard Foundation
Karachi, Pakistan.
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TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
energy; and af ’al the physiology of the body including the biochemical
processes.
.
.
Temperament (mizaj) occupies a very important place in Unani I ibb and
forms the basis of pathology, diagnosis and treatment. The temperament of
the person to be treated is expressed by the Galenic concept of its being
sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric or melancholic, according to the respective
preponderance of the humours. In other words the temperament of the
individual is equal to the uniqueness of the individual or, in modern
terminology, the psycho-neuro-endocrinal system with its orientation
tempered differently in each individual. Any change in the temperament
brings about a change in the person's state of health. Thus disease is an
expression of the imbalance of the humours or the disturbance to their
harmony, and of the failure of one or more parts oi the body to eliminate
pathogenic waste.
The humours are assigned temperaments, i.e.. blood is hot and moist,
phlegm is cold and moist, yellow bile is hot and dry, and black bile is cold
and dry (in their physical temperaments).
Drugs are also assigned temperaments and there are degrees of these
drug is assessed by its action
temperaments. The temperament of a given
f
on the temperament of the body itself. Thus a drug said to be hot means
that, when it enters the body and interacts with the vital faculties, it
.3 aa 1temperament which is hot. Hence drugs are principally used to
produces
correct the
t. abnormal pathological temperament of the body itself or of any
particular system or organ.
Concept of preventive medicine and self-care
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The basic philosophy of Tibb is that the body, composed of matter and
spirit, is taken as a whole because harmonious life is possible only when
there is a proper balance between the bodily (physical) and spiritual
functions. Unani Tibb seeks the restoration of the body as a whole to its
original slate.
There is formulated also a power of self-preservation or adjustment (vis
medicatri.x naturae) which strives to restore any disturbance within the
limits prescribed by the constitution or stale oi the individual. This
corresponds to the defence mechanism which is called into action in case of
injury to the body. In the Unani system of treatment, great reliance is
placed on this power, the aim of the physician being to help and develop
its action. The consequence is that by the use of Unani medicines not onl)
is the system enabled to overcome the present disturbance through its
intrinsic power, but it emerges after recovery with a greater power of
resistance to future disturbances. Only in case of immediate and imminent
danger to life is it considered necessary to resort to drastic methods of
treatment.
...
.
...
In time of epidemics, every precaution in maintaining a balance in diet
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ody including the biochemical
-□rtant place in Unani Tibb and
Treatment. The temperament of
Galenic concept of its being
,,ic, a
rding to the respective
words ae temperament of the
the individual or, in modern
system with its orientation
-y change in the temperament
of health. Thus disease is an
rs or the disturbance to their
parts of the body to eliminate
i.e., blood is hot and moist,
and dry, and black bile is cold
md -there are degrees of these
drug is assessed by its action
a.drug said to be hot means
ns with the vital faculties, it
drugs are principally used to
ent of the body itself or of any
ire
oody, composed of matter and
:ous life is possible only when
odily (physical) and spiritual
of the body as a whole to its
□reservation or adjustment (ris
-e any disturbance within the
state of the individual. This
is called into action in case of
of treatment, great reliance is
;an being to help and develop
e of Unani medicines not only
esent disturbance through its
'ery-with a greater power of
se of immediate and imminent
resort to drastic methods of
maintaining a balance in diet
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THE UNAN1 SYSTEM OF HEALTH AND MEDICARE
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and general health habits is recommended. Unani practitioners recommend
inoculation and immunization against diseases. In the classical literature of
Tibb, there are certain prescriptions and prophylactic measures along with
general preventive measures against the spread of infectious and contagious
diseases.
The healer-patient relationship
The Unani practitioner holds a respectable place in society, particularly
in rural communities. In urban areas, tabibs are often consulted for
treatment of diseases and in matters relating to the protection of health.
The tabibs adhere to the traditional moral and social values while treating
their patients. This ensures an excellent healer-patient relationship which
can be favourably compared to the old-style relationship between general
practitioner and patient.
Consultation, diagnosis, treatment and management of disease
In large clinics and practices, individual case reports are made on the
patients and submitted to the chief physician for study and prescribing.
Lady physicians (tabibas) examine women, who usually observe purdah,
and prescribe or give a report of their ailment to the physician who, after a
study of the report, examines the pulse and accompanying pathological
reports and then prescribes the medicine.
Diagnosis is carried out in the following manner:
(1) Body heat is measured by pulse, palpation and thermometer.
(2) Urine gives many indications of disorders in kidney and liver and in
the organs of digestion, and plays an important part in the Unani system,
(3) Examination of stools helps in the diagnosis of certain diseases.
(Laboratory examinations of urine and stools are made.)
(4) Observation, palpation and percussion are used to diagnose diseases of
internal organs. Every disease is fully described in Unani literature with its
symptoms, points of differential diagnosis, and all its complications. A
detailed examination of a patient entails studying the person as a whole.
The tongue gives an indication of the condition of the blood and functions
of the digestion. The eyes. lips, teeth, throat and tonsils have all indicative
signs together with other physical conditions and secretions. Sleep, fear or
grief, anger or happiness also provide indicative signs.
The prescriptions arc begun with the legend Howash Shafi (God is the
Healer), generally in the Persian language. The prescriptions contain
detailed instructions about the dosage and the preparations of medicine.
The medicine is prescribed initially for three days, the treatment being
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TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
continued or changed according to the response of the patient. A strict diet
is also prescribed.
•;
General features of the pharmacopoeia
<o
The pharmacopoeia consists of an extremely rich armamentarium of
natural drugs, mainly herbal but also including animal, mineral and marine
drugs. The drugs can be used singly or as polypharmaceuticals, in the form
of decoctions; infusions, tablets, powders, confections, syrups and aquas.
It is true that the Unani pharmacopoeia is lacking in detailed
experimental, physicochemical and biomathematical data, but il is nearly
always safe. One keynote of Unani medicine is that the drug should not
serve as a quick curative and in the end generate serious side-effects such
as those sometimes observed with synthetic drugs. Another aspect of its
approach is that the physical faculties (temperament) should be allowed to
function according to their own nature and at their own speed under the
operation of the natural laws, and that their functioning should be given
help in every possible way.
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Professional services and remuneration
Most of the tabibs either conduct an individual r
practice or operate in
hereditary clinics or larger clinics with a chief physician and junior
physicians under him. Generally no consultation fee is charged but, on
account of rising costs, some labibs have started charging nominal fees. In
the case of house calls, a tabib does not take fees from patients living in his
own locality or home town.
Generally, dispensaries are attached to the clinics, and the tabibs derive
their income from the sale of the medicines dispensed.
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Medical education
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There are two categories of Unani practitioners:
(1) Academically qualified from recognized institutes.
(2) Academically unqualified, but having long practical experience in the
family tradition.
There are Unani medical colleges for the education and training of
practitioners. The course ol study is four years, but recommendations have
been made to make it five years to bring it in line with the allopathic
course of studies. The syllabus and curricula include anatomy, the Canon
of Avicenna, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, hygiene, pharmacy,
medicine, fevers, medical jurisprudence, surgery, clinical diagnosis, ob-
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THE UNANI SYSTEM OF HEALTH AND MEDICARE
soonse of the patient. A strict diet
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zremelv rich armamentarium of
eding
mal, mineral and marine
nolypharmaceuticals, in the form
confections, syrups and aquas.
Topoeia is lacking in detailed
znematical data, but it is nearly
.-me is that the drug should not
venerate serious side-effects such
uc drugs. Another aspect of its
iperament) should be allowed to
;d at their own speed under the
teir functioning should be given
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stetnes, pathology, gynaecology, paediatrics, and infectious and tropical
diseases.
A special feature of Unani medical education is that modern medical
knowledge is juxtaposed with Unani medical knowledge in such a way that
a tabibs while specializing in his own system and techniques, also acquires
knowledge of contemporary medicine.
Organization of practitioners, discipline, and recognition
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.dividual practice or operate in
a chief physician and junior
illation fee is charged but, on
.arted charging nominal fees. In
e fees ^om patients living in his
There are national and provincial Tibbi associations responsible for the
professional and collective problems of tabibs. Since the official recognition
of Unani medicine by the Governments of Pakistan and India, regulating
bodies have been set up in the ministries of health. In Pakistan, the
National Council for Tibb has come into being; its Chairman is the
Adviser on Tibb to the President of Pakistan. This Council represents
the whole country, and its members are nominated by the Government.
The Council prescribes the syllabus, holds examinations, awards certifi
cates, and is responsible for registration. In India, a separate Directorate of
Unani medicine has been set up under the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare to perform similar functions.
Special laws promulgated by the Government regulate the practice of
medicine and protect people from malpractices. A Drug Control Bill is in
preparation, with special emphasis on the manufacture of medicines, their
standardization and use.
Research
ie clinics, and the tabibs derive
es dispensed.
Since time immemorial iman has made use of natural medicines in the
treatment of disease. Although
compounds
. purely
. . . synthetic
—r
------ J are being
employed in iincreasing
---measure in modern clinical practice, interest in the
examination of plants as potential
sources
of new drugs has never waned.
:
-------------No medicinal plant traditionally employed in the treatment of disease can
be dismissed as an “old wives tale”. Many active antibiotics occur in plants
and this is still an unexploited field. In fact we are on the threshold of plant
analysis and research. When it is said that Saraca indica is useful in
menorrhagia, or Cephalandra indica ( = Coccinea cordifolia) in diabetes
or Boerhaavia diffusa m dropsy, the scientific mind is not satisfied with mere
itioners:
institutes.
jng practical experience in the
statements, no matter from what source they originate, unless they are
corroborated by clinical and experimental evidence. The active
principles responsible lor the therapeutic action have to be isolated and
analysed; the way in which the effect is brought about and the manner
in which the important organs are affected have to be studied. For
example. Podophyllum and its resin have long been known to cause
irritation of mucous membranes and even skin. It is probably knowledge of
ne education and training of
irs, but recommendations have
it in line with the allopathic
a include anatomy, the Canon
ychology, hygiene, pharmacy,
’.rgery, clinical diagnosis, ob-
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TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
this which initiated the use of Podophyllum resin to destroy soft warts or
condylomatas. The excellent work done by Dr Salimuzzaman Siddiqui, Sir
Kam Nath Chopra and others has demonstrated the vast scope for research
in medicinal plants. In Pakistan, investigations of Tamarix dioica and
feganum harmala have disclosed astounding results. The efficacy of
Tamarix dioica in jaundice and Rauvolfia serpentina in hypertension are
beyond doubt, and the abundance of Artemisia, Ephedra, and other
medicinal botamcals warrant pharmacological studies on their therapeutic
value. With the growth of pharmaceutical institutions and chemical
laboratories m universities both in Pakistan and India, a good deal of
progress m research has been done. Plant drugs like Adhatoda vasica
Psoralea corylifoha, Swertia chirata ( = Agathotes chirayta), Plantago ovata
Nardostachys jatamansi, Lavandula stoechas and others have come under
investigation. Still another 2000 plants remain to be investigated and there
is a likelihood that some of these may be effective in the treatment of
disease and m medical care.
Research studies are being carried out in the Councils for Scientific and
Industrial Research and the results published in their respective journals. In
Pakistan, recently, an official programme for research has been instituted
wnh the setting up, under a Presidential ordinance, of a National Council
lor Tibb which has activated the National Council for Tibbi Research with
hakims, doctors and scientists constituting its members. As a result, three
high-level committees have commenced work: the Pharmacopoeia
Committee, the Herbs Committee and the Tibbi Drugs Act Committee. A
five-year plan for research in medicinal plants costing about Rs. 1.5 crore1
has also been prepared.
Interest in medicinal plants is being manifested in the Middle Eastern
countries. The Government of Kuwait has already started a programme for
a large and modern research centre for medicinal plants. It is expected that
other governments will follow suit.
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Coordination or integration
The future of medicine lies in a tripartite alliance of the tabib, the doctor
and the scientist. Traditional practitioners, modern doctors and scientists
must make joint efforts for new developments in the field of research The
I oilowing is a classic example of such efforts.
Acupuncture, a traditional form of therapeutics in China in unbroken
practice over four millennia, used to be dismissed by modern medicine as a
lot ol old-fangled nonsense. In recent years, however, the alliance of the
traditional physician, doctor, scientist and politician has reestablished it
not only as a curative measure but also as a form of anaesthesia in surgical
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1 Rs. 1.5crore = US SI.8 million.
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THE UNANI SYSTEM OF HEALTH AND MEDICARE
sum resin to destroy soft warts or
*>y Dr Salimuzzaman Siddiqui, Sir
istrated the vast scope for research
mgations of Tamarix dioica and
binding results. The efficacy of
□Z7 serpentina in hypertension are
Artemisia, Ephedra, and other
agical ^’idies on their therapeutic
xiticai iStitutions and chemical
istan and India, a good deal of
cant drugs like Adhatoda vasica,
-jathotes chirayta), Plantago ovata,
^as and others have come under
main to be investigated and there
t>e effective in the treatment of
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m the Councils for Scientific and
led in their respective journals. In
for research has been instituted
□rdiaance, of a National Council
Council for Tibbi Research with
i its members. As a result, three
:d work: the Pharmacopoeia
Tibbi Drugs Act Committee. A
znts costing about Rs. 1.5 crore1
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operations with astonishing results. Instances like this can be multiplied
and exploited for human health and welfare.
In developing countries such collaboration depends to a great extent on
official or governmental attitudes. There can be no individual, approach to
the problem of coordination. The starting point should be "the hospital,
where a separate wing for coordinated therapeutics should be established
and the patient given the choice of treatment, i.e., Unani only, or a
combined form of treatment after mutual consultation between the Unani
practitioner and the modern doctor. But this can be done only when the
modern medical curriculum includes the Unani system of medicine as a
subject for short-term study. This too requires a basic change of attitude
on the part of modern medicine and a swing to innovative or universal
medicine a combination of traditional and modern medicine—which will
rightly be the medicine of the future.
FURTHER READING
Baquai, F. U. Traditional medicine in Pakistan. Karachi, Hamdard Foundation, 1977.
Campbell, D. Arabian medicine and its influence on the Middle Ages. New York, AMS Press
(reproduction of the 1926 edition).
Chopra, R. N. Indigenous drugs of India. Calcutta, U. N. Dhur & Sons. 1958.
Gruner, O. C. Commentary on the Canon of Avicenna. Karachi, Hamdard Foundation. 1967.
Hameed, H. A. At temperament in medicine. Karachi, Hamdard Foundation, 1979.
Nadkarni, A. K. Indian materia medico. Bombay, Popular Book Depot, vols. 1 & 2 1954.
Said, H. M., ed. Hamdard pharmacopoeia of eastern medicine. Karachi, Institute of Health
and Tibbi Research, 1969.
Said, H. M. Traditional Greco-Arab and modern Western medicine: conflict or symbiosis.
Karachi, Hamdard Foundation, 1979.
Shah, M. H. Canon of Avicenna (English translation). Karachi, Interservices Press, 1966.
Theories and philosophies of medicine, 2nd ed. New Delhi, Institute of History of Medicine and
Medical Research, 1973.
The wealth of India: a dictionary of indigenous raw materials and industrial products. New
Delhi, Council of Scientific and industrial research, vols. 1-4, 1948-56.
^nifested in the Middle Eastern
already started a programme for
dicinr' iants. It is expected that
alliance of the tabib, the doctor
modern doctors and scientists
mts in the field of research. The
oris.
'apeutics in China in unbroken
missed by modern medicine as a
-rs, however, the alliance of the
politician has reestablished it
. form of anaesthesia in surgical
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COMMUNITY HEALTH CELL
47H (First Hoor)St. Marks HoaO
47/ ' BANGALORE-560 Out
Prof. S.M. ICamaluddin Husain,
Department of Kulliyat,
A.K. Tibbiya College, A.M.U., Aligarh
HEALTH FOR ALL ..ACCORDING TO AVICENA
Avicena was a famous physician in 10th century. He discussed
the necessity of health for all and he has described basic principles
to maintain health for all i.e. for children, for adults and for the
elderly peoole in the light of Unam Medicine,
in his canon. If these
principles are adopted the health of all i.e. children, adults and elderly
people may be saved with the diseases to a great extent. These principles.
in brief, are as follows:
(a) basic principles to
(1) Child Sleen
(i)
The child should be made to sleep in a room with moderate
air, neither hot nor cold.
(ii)
The child should sleep
on his back.
(iii) The child* s room should be dark.
(iv;
On the cot the child’s head be slightly raised.
(v)
The child should, sleep on the cot in such a way that his
neck, arms. feet and back do not curve.
(vi)
Before sleeping/the child, should be given lori. whi ch
helps him sleep quickly.
(2) Child Bath
(i)
Moderate water should be used to bath the child, It should
neither be too hot nor too cold.
(ii)
Bathing time is best when the child wakes up after a long
sleep.
(iii) A child should be given bath two or three times a day.
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Common Diseases of Children andtheir Remedies
To cure the child first cure the mother is a rule,, because the
health of mother directly affects the health of the child. The mother
should continue a light exercise-throughout. She should be given light
and digestive diet and she should abstain from intercourse.
The common diseases of children are as follows:
1.
If child has swelling in the gums, then Olive oil should
PYORRHOAEA :
be rubbed on them or honey mixed x^ith Roghan-i-Baboona should be
applied.
2.
DIARRHOEA : When child is suffering from loose motions, then
fomentation should be applied on his stomach with Zira and Zirr-i-Word
mixed with vinegar or Anisoon and Tukhm-i-Karafs mixed with vinegar.
Instead of pure milk some other light food or powder milk should be
given.
3.
CONSTIPATION :
In case of constipation excrement of mouse (Choohe ki
mengani) mixed with Sesamum oil (Roghan-i-Kunjad) should be applied
as suppository (Shafa) .
4.
CRAMPS AND CONVULSIONS :
In this case Olive oil or Roghan-i-Banafsha
should be massaged on the body. The same oil should be applied on
the head also.
5.
COUGHS AND COLDS : In this case the child should be given the powder
of Simagh-i-Arabi, Katira, Rubbussoos, Misri of equal quantity mixed
with honey (Shahad) or milk.
6.
STOMATITIS :
If the child suffers from stomatitis, then Gul-e-Surkh
should, be applied on the blisters
with some saffron, in powder form, should
of the mouth or Mure Makki, Mazoo, Kundar in equal quantity in powder
form with honey should be applied. Rubbe Toot-i-Tursh or Rubb-iAngoor-i-Tursh is also useful.
7.
OTORRHOEA :
In
In this
this case
case Marham-i-snanjar
Marham-i-Shanjar (Marham-i-Ratanjot)
very useful for the ulcers of the children’s ears.
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1. EXERCISE
If a person properly exercises at regular times he can maintain
his health properly because in this x-ray excreta (Vazlat) can dissolve
regularly from the organs of the body and could not collect in the
structure of the body.
Hippocrate says that one who is to be hungry he should avoid
exercise or hard work. Exercise aggravates natural heat (Hararat-i-Gharizi)
and creates lightness in the body after removing idleness. Exercise
aggregates heat lightly and dissolves excreta which produces in the body
daily. One should do exercise properly as in this way exercise creates
heat and increases the functions of digestion and metabolism and in this
way the bodily power increases.
Every Organ of the Body has its own Exercise like Chest, Throat, Organs
of Respiration etc.:
To speak loudly or slowly or to sing is the exercise of mouth
organs, throat and chest also.
Exercise of Digestive Organs:
If a person keeps himself busy in the works in which his hands and
feet work hard like a labourer. his digestive power increases. He feels
hunger severely and his stomach digests the food taken, rapidly.
Light Exercise :
Swinging, boating and camel riding.
Hard Exetcise
Fast running, boating and wrestling.
:
The Time for Beginning and Ending Exercise:
The exercise should start when:
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(i)
The body is clean with the waste matters and the visceras and
vessels should be empty with bad and unripe humours so that these
humours could not spread in the body.
(ii)
The food taken is digested in the liver and vessels•
At the time of hard exercise this is also necessary that the stomach
should not be quite empty with food.
The best time for the exercise is that when the body is normal and
the stomach and urinary bladder is free from tension.
To increase the capacity of exercise the massage is necessary so
that heat of the could be increased and the poareses of the skin could
be dialated. Along with the massage any oil should also be rubbed on the
skin and after that the exercise should begin.
The exercise should be done in the morning in summer and in the
evening in the winter season.
Quantity of Exercise;
It denends upon the three points:
(i)
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Colour : The exercise should be continued till the colour of the
body is shining but when it' is going to be pale the exercise
should be stooped.
(ii)
Till the body feels lightness the exercise may be continued but
when movement of organs becomes hard and painful the exercise
should be stopped.
(iii) Till the organs become extended the exercise may be continued but
when the organs become debilitated the exercise should be stopped.
After Exercise
Sesamum oil (Roghan-i-Kunjad) should be applied on the body.
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Bath
After exercise and massage bath (Hammam) should be taken after
some time and should remain in bath until, the body is extended and the
skin is red and when the body is debilitated then should leave the bath
at once. It is not proper to enter the bathroom (Hammam) before taking
complete rest.
2. FOOD
The following principles should be applied for diet:
(i)
The food should be free from any drug.
(ii)
Meat of goat or birds is better than the meat of buffalo and
other quadrupeds (Charpaya) .
(iii) Bread or Man of wheat and sweet diet according to the temperament.
(iv)
Wine 4- sweet-smelling wine.
(v)
Fruits:- Fig, grapes or fresh dates.
This is also necessary that any diet should not be taken without
true hunger and wish otherwise the digestion will be disturbed and the
diet will not be digested. One should not avoid food at the time of
true wish as the bad humomrsare collected in the stomach if the food is
not taken at the time of true wish. Hot diets should be taken in winter
and warm diet should be taken in summer. Moreover, if any food is taken
before the previous food is indigested in the stomach, then it will
increase indigestion and injurious humours which cause pain in the joints,
pain in the knees, asthma, acute fevers and swelling of organs of body etc.
After taking food, one should also walk lightly for a while if he
wants to take sleep after taking food. One should also avoid of psychic
reactions (Infialat-i-Nafsania) such as anger and sorrow etc. after taking
food. Hard work after taking food also indigests the food. This is also
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Those foods which produce phlegmatic fluids and bile are the
cause of fevers as the fluids which they produce become a cause of
infection a^ter mixing with the blood in the vessels and besides this
these fluids become thick and cause obstruction in the ducts and canals
and produce fever. Biliary humours increase heat in the body.
Vegetables
Bitter vegetables, such as, mustard seed (Raee)t fennel (Soya) and
methi are useful in the winter season and tasteless vegetables, such as.
purslain (iChurfa), Palak, pumpkin (Lauki), cucumber (kakri) etc. are
useful in the summer season.
If a person feels harm with sweet diet, then he should take some
more things after sweet diet, such as, Sirka, sore pomegranate (Anar-iMekbush), Sikanjabeen-i-Sirka and quince (Bihi) etc. Moreover, he should
acquire evacuation (Istifragh) through vomiting and if a person feels
harm with sore diet, then he should use honey and Sharab-i-Atiq in the
same vzay. Harm of oily food may be removed by using bitter drugs, such as.
Shah Bloot, Habbul As, Khurnoob-i—Shami, Rasan—i—Talkh or salty drugs^
such as, Lehsun, Pyaz, Podina etc. Dry food creates constipation. Fatty
and cold diets create laziness in the body. Bitter diets bring old age
too early. Salty diets are harmful for the stomach and eye.
This is also necessary to take one variety of food at one time.
Taking different varieties of food at one time is harmful for health as
different varieties digest at different times and thus disturb digestion.
According to Hindi Vaids the use of milk with acidic diet or with
fish are harmful. This composition creates leucoderma (Baras) or leprosy
(Juzam) . Moreover, the use ot Mooli with Dahi is also harmful.
i
11
General Directions for Maintaining Health of Elderly People
They should sleep more than the young people and .they should use
humectine (Murattibat) and calorific (Musakhkhinat) diet and diuretics
(Mudirrat) also. They should also avoid constipation. They should have
massage with oil and after massage they should walk lightly. If they
feel weakness in walking they should take some conveyance. For elderly
people, scents are also useful.
Food
Elderly people should take food with a gap of some time and they
should avoid such food which produces phlem (Balgham) and Black bile
(Sauda) and also with spices (Garm Masaiah). They should use Lehsun
with gap. Moreover, Murabba-i-Zanibil or Adrak are also useful for the
elderly people. Ingir and green Aaloobukhara are useful for those who
have constipation. Enema with olive oil is also useful in case of
constipation.
Exercise
Walking is the best exercise for elderly people.
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