12/10/2025
In Unani medicine, arthritis is understood as a condition caused by an imbalance in the body's humors (Akhlat)—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. It is often classified under the term "Waja-uz-Mafasil" (joint pain) and attributed to the accumulation of morbid matter (Mawad-e-Fasida) or humoral imbalances, particularly excess cold and moist humors (Balgham) or black bile (Sauda). Below is an overview of arthritis in Unani medicine, including its causes, types, diagnosis, and treatment, as requested:
# # # Causes of Arthritis in Unani Medicine
Unani practitioners identify several factors contributing to arthritis:
1. **Humoral Imbalance**: Dominance of cold and moist humors (e.g., phlegm) or abnormal black bile accumulation in joints.
2. **Mawad-e-Fasida (Morbid Matter)**: Toxic or waste materials accumulating in joints, causing inflammation and pain.
3. **External Factors**: Exposure to cold, damp environments, or excessive physical exertion.
4. **Lifestyle Factors**: Poor diet (e.g., excessive consumption of cold, heavy, or indigestible foods), lack of exercise, or stress.
5. **Weakness of Joints**: Due to aging, overuse, or hereditary predisposition.
6. **Asbab-e-Sitta Zarooriya (Six Essential Factors)**: Imbalance in lifestyle factors like air, food, sleep, exercise, mental state, or evacuation/retention.
# # # Types of Arthritis in Unani
Unani classifies arthritis based on the affected humor or clinical presentation:
1. **Waja-uz-Mafasil Balghami**: Caused by excess phlegm, leading to swelling, stiffness, and coldness in joints.
2. **Waja-uz-Mafasil Saudawi**: Due to black bile, causing chronic pain and stiffness, often in older individuals.
3. **Waja-uz-Mafasil Damawi**: Linked to blood humor, resulting in acute inflammation, redness, and heat.
4. **Waja-uz-Mafasil Safrawi**: Caused by yellow bile, leading to burning pain and inflammation.
# # # Diagnosis in Unani
Diagnosis involves a holistic assessment:
1. **Pulse Diagnosis (Nabz)**: To evaluate humoral imbalance and body temperament (Mizaj).
2. **Urine Examination (Baul)**: To assess metabolic waste and humoral status.
3. **Physical Examination**: Checking joint swelling, stiffness, pain, and range of motion.
4. **Patient History**: Evaluating lifestyle, diet, and environmental factors.
5. **Temperament Assessment (Mizaj)**: Determining if the patient’s temperament is cold, moist, hot, or dry to identify the root cause.
# # # Treatment in Unani
Unani treatment focuses on restoring humoral balance, eliminating morbid matter, and strengthening joints. It includes:
1. **Ilaj bil Tadbeer (Regimenal Therapy)**:
- **Hijama (Cupping)**: To remove toxic humors from affected joints.
- **Dalk (Massage)**: Using medicated oils like Roghan-e-Babuna (chamomile oil) or Roghan-e-Malkangni to improve circulation and reduce stiffness.
- **Nutool (Irrigation)**: Pouring warm medicated decoctions over joints to relieve pain.
- **Riyazat (Exercise)**: Gentle exercises to enhance joint mobility.
- **Hammam (Steam Bath)**: To promote detoxification and relax muscles.
- **Fasd (Venesection)**: In cases of excess blood humor, to reduce inflammation.
2. **Ilaj bil Ghiza (Dietotherapy)**:
- Foods to correct humoral imbalance, e.g., warm and dry foods (ginger, cinnamon) for Balghami arthritis.
- Avoiding cold, heavy foods (e.g., dairy, raw vegetables) that aggravate phlegm or black bile.
- Including anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric, garlic, and honey.
3. **Ilaj bil Dawa (Pharmacotherapy)**:
- **Single Drugs (Mufrad)**: Herbs like Suranjan (Colchicum luteum) for gouty arthritis, Zanjabeel (ginger) for warming joints, and Boswellia serrata (Kundur) for anti-inflammatory effects.
- **Compound Formulations (Murakkab)**: Majun Suranjan, Habb-e-Asgand, or Roghan-e-Suranjan for pain relief and joint mobility.
- **Mushil (Purgatives)**: To eliminate morbid matter through stool or urine.
- **Munzij (Concoctive)**: To prepare the body for detoxification by maturing humors.
4. **Ilaj bil Yad (Surgery)**: Rarely used, only in severe cases for joint deformities or abscesses.
# # # Preventive Measures
- Maintain a balanced diet suited to one’s temperament.
- Regular moderate exercise to prevent stiffness.
- Avoid exposure to cold and damp environments.
- Manage stress through relaxation techniques.
- Regular detoxification through regimenal therapies like cupping or massage.
# # # Modern Relevance
Unani treatments for arthritis align with modern holistic approaches, emphasizing lifestyle, diet, and natural remedies. Some Unani herbs like Boswellia and Colchicum are validated by modern research for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. However, severe cases may require integration with allopathic treatments like NSAIDs or DMARDs for optimal management.
