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Future of the Unani system of treatment
By Dr Khawar Hashimi
 The
art of Unani or indigenous system of treatment was born in Greece. The
Arabs, because of their extreme thirst for knowledge and learning also
learnt and adopted the Unani system of medical treatment and gave it new
and wide dimensions. They not only adopted and promoted this system for
diagnosis and treatment of diseases but during the period of their rule in
Spain, it was these intellectuals, men of learning and scientists who laid
down the basic criteria and rules of surgery on which stands the grand
structure of modern surgery.
Later on, this art or science reached central Asia and Iran. This is the
region where historic and epoch-making books on medicine and surgery were
written from which Europe derived benefits for centuries. Even today these
books are of great importance. When the entire Europe was pre-occupied
with concepts and superstitions of witchcraft and witch-hunting,
scientific ideas and concepts were deep rooted in the art of this system
of medicine. Principles of analysis, diagnosis and research in human
physical system were being laid down. Human diseases and ailments were
being treated with natural herbs and plants. In no other country except
India no other system of medicine and treatment based on natural herbs and
plants was so much developed and advanced as the Unani medicinal system.
This system came to India through the Muslim physicians from central Asia
and Iran. Today, no other country except India practices and follows this
system of medicine. The physicians who came to India from foreign
countries also took advantage and derived benefits from indigenous or
local system of medicine i.e. Ayurveda and this tradition has been
continuing ever since that time right upto the present times of Hakeem
Ajmal Khan, Masihul Mulk (Physician of the Nation) and Hakeem Abdul Hameed.
India had abundance of natural botanical treasures and the tradition of
treatment of diseases and ailments by natural herbs and plants was
prevalent since ancient times which was in conformity with the Unani
system of medicine. Therefore, India's natural conditions and climate were
favorable for the development and survival of Unani medicines. That is why
this system made so wonderful progress in this country that experts in
Unani medicinal system are playing a great part in the field of national
health services and in spite of the inherent shortcomings and weaknesses,
this system is producing great persons and physicians because of whom
there is no reason for pessimism with regard to this medicinal system.
Some challenges
The future of life and art (or science) is, however, not
unconditional. There are, therefore, some conditions and challenges before
the exponents and practitioners of Unani system in order to make its
future stable and bright. It is necessary to understand these challenges
which are of two kinds viz: internal and external.
Internal challenges or constraints include easy going attitude of people,
sense of inferiority complex, growing trend of ignoring and sacrificing
the broader interests for the sake of personal interests, mutual
differences and disputes for trivial matters, absence of unity, lack of
interest and hard work in the attainment of knowledge and learning, short
cut for the achievement of material comforts and resources, search for
back-door means for worldly requirements and many more such kinds of
shortcomings etc, can be harmful for the future of Unani system. The
future of this system and its practitioners lies in accepting these
challenges boldly and doing away with its shortcomings, weaknesses and
impediments.
People in general appear to be losing interest in this system for
treatments. If at all there are some people here and there, they do not
appear to be the representatives of the present generation who find it
very difficult to revive, maintain and promote this system. The
fundamental reason for this is the poor and disintegrating system of
education of Unani medicinal system. Neither students appear to have any
interest in learning nor the teachers appear to have any interest in
teaching this system. BUMS degree has simply become a means of employment
for students. If they start private practice, they have perforce to
include certain allopathic medicines for running their clinics. The
perseverance devotion and hard work needed for studying Unani medicine
system and course is sadly lacking. As far as the teachers are concerned,
most of them are careerists whose entire knowledge is confined to some
special books and very limited experience. They have no authority over
their subject and profession. Their laboratories are so small and
congested that even fresh air can not reach there. Useful, meaningful and
objective books are not available. The trend towards finding fault with
others is increasing.
As regards history of this science, more attention is being paid to the
dates of birth and death of famous Hakeems, their dynasty etc, but very
little attention is being paid on their works, research and valuable
services rendered by them. Unani Research Council and some learned
research scholars have no doubt written and published some important and
useful books but they are exceptions.
External challenges for the future of this system too are no less
important. Islamic and oriental arts and sciences have been passing
through the stages of rise and fall for centuries. They are alive even
today because of their inherent strength because they have been directly
related to human life, its requirements and aspirations, its moral and
cultural build-up and training. The Unani medicinal system is also one of
those sciences.
In 'Al Hilal' of 11 Feb, 1914, Maulana Azad published in his editorial a
proposal by Allama Shibli about Darul Musannifeen which is quoted below:
'In fourth century Hijri, the corrupt rule, violence and prejudice of
Mutawakkil Abbasi compelled the ulama and scholars of Baghdad to lave the
country. Historians have termed this event as ' Migration of learning and
knowledge' and said that all Arabs from the East migrated to other places.
A secret meeting of some physicians and Ulema was held in those days with
the objective of merging up or mixing some treatises on these sciences in
divine studies and sciences so that those sciences or knowledge about them
may be preserved. This meeting was named 'Ikhwanus Safa' whose magazines
and treatises are available even now. Hence today also it is essential
that a meeting of " Ikhwanus Safa' should be convened so that the
knowledge which has been lost could be regained'.
In the present age, the situation is even more critical and a matter of
greater concern. Urdu language, with all the literature, arts and science
and knowledge preserved therein has not migrated but effort is being made
to cut or block its life line. Grounds are being prepared to block fresh
air and oxygen with a view to stifling it. It must be understood for
certain with regard to Unani system of medicine that life is being made
very difficult for all those arts and sciences etc which are even remotely
associated with Islamic tradition.
Whatever meagre financial and technical assistance is being provided by
the government to Unani institutions, whether to keep alive the concept of
democracy or under the compulsion of politics of vote or prompted by the
unparalleled sacrifices, selfless services and nationalism and patriotism
of eminent personalities of the world of Unani medicines, in spite of
being woefully insufficient, should be treated as a blessing because in no
period of its history the science of Unani medicine has ever been
fortunate enough so as to win royal favour. What is even more unfortunate
is that the students and teachers of this science do not even have the
will and capacity to derive any advantage whatsoever from the nominal
patronage and assistance.
The policy and decision makers of our country do not want to do away with
Unani system altogether but are trying behind the scene to make it a part
of the wider science of Ayurveda or one of its departments by terminating
its identity as an independent and exclusive science. For this purpose
even some of the supporters of this system are being used as a tool.
From scientific point of view Unani system in a way is more perfect
science and a somewhat separate one as compared to Ayurveda. Its system of
diagnosis and prescription, fundamental principles and philosophy.,
prescription of medicines and method of use are completely different from
Ayurveda. Unani Scholars and practitioners emphasise the fact that there
is fundamental difference between Unani and Ayurvedic systems. But
unfortunately our senior and well informed physicians, pressurised under
the above-mentioned conspiracy, give the statement before the media that
there is not much difference between Unani and Ayurveda. This attitude and
way of thinking of our own people is unfortunate as well as harmful for
this system.
The period of Unani system of treatment, which is our past legacy, was
evolved and developed by our senior and master physicians by their
selfless services and also by their desire to alleviate the sufferings and
ailments of the slaves of God by their art and knowledge. They did not
enjoy government assistance and sponsorship. In order to brighten the
future of Unani system of treatment, it is very essential to understand
the dangers lying ahead in its path and be guided by the determined
efforts of our master physicians of the past in our forward march. q |
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