A Handbook of Common Remedies In Unani Medicine

Unani Medicine is a comprehensive medical system which provides preventive, preservative, curative and promotive measures and therapies to deal with the health and disease. The modes of treatment include Ilaj bi 'l-Ghidha' (dietotherapy), Taj bi l-Dawa' (pharmacotherapy), Taj bil-Tadbir (regimenal therapy) and 'Ilaj bi'l-Yad (surgery). The treatment through a bil-Dawa' or pharmacotherapy is primarily based on the drugs derived from natural sources. There are ample medicinal plants used in Unani Medicine which can be found growing in our surroundings and some of them are easily available even in our households.

This entitled 'A Handbook of Common Remedies in Unani Medicine' was first brought out in 1978 as a part of the Government policy to publish handbooks providing information regarding home remedies used in various Indian systems of medicine for various common ailments. The handbook was well-received by the practitioners of Unani Medicine as well as common people and became very popular through its translation in various regional languages. Subsequently, the second and third editions were brought out in 1986 and 2004.

The handbook comprises prescriptions of Unani Medicine: based on easily available, beneficial and cost-effective natural drugs. The remedies and the types of diseases included in this handbook cover a wide range of day to day illnesses. It is enriched with prescriptions from classical texts and for each disease condition multiple prescriptions and compound drugs along with their dosage are mentioned. Besides, information related to hygiene, diet, preparation, administration and storage of prescriptions and list of scientific/botanical names along with common names of drugs have been provided. In this fourth edition, a few old prescriptions have been removed or replaced and numerous new drugs have been added depending on their availability and relevance in the current time.

Unani system of medicine is being practiced as a beneficial system in almost all parts of the country. Unani medicines are easily available, easy to administer, safe and inexpensive.

The remedies and the types of diseases included in this handbook cover a wide range of day-to-day illnesses which one comes across everywhere. These have been carefully gone into by a team of experienced Hakims who were associated with this work. Every care has been taken to ensure that full and detailed instructions are given in the handbook.

For a single disease more than one formulation is prescribed in this compilation so that the patient could make use of one which is available in his surroundings. For the same reason, compound drugs have also been included and the patients can use whichever are available near their normal place of residence.

Treatment of serious and complicated diseases has not been included in this book for negligence in such cases may endanger the life of the patient. Only simple remedies for common ailments have been prescribed and are not to be used in the initial stages of the diseases. If the patient does not show improvement, a physician may immediately be consulted or the patient should be referred to the nearby hospital.