Basic History of Unani Tibb
Unani Tibb has its historical roots in Ancient Greece, its founder being the infamous Hippocrates. He was given the title Father of Medicine after eliminating the notion that evil spirits influenced people to become disease stricken. He believed the body was one unit, a primary Unani Tibb principle - one that is shared with all natural healing methods and absent only in the modern Western pharmaceutical practice of medicine.
Hippocrates determined, using his scientific observations and focus, that the environment was a crucial factor influencing a person's health. He 'set the foundation' and hence is referred to as the 'Father of Medicine.' However, I would argue we consider him such because we can give him a name, his name, and thus a beginning to the story (our story here being the history of Unani Tibb). Instead, Unani Medicine, or simply the principle that the environment, winds, seasons, etc., influence health, is but drenched in prehistoric cultures. Medicine was always based on the natural course of Nature, meaning our human initiative to heal has always been based on prototypes of Nature's method of healing.
Nevertheless, whether it be due to the fault of man or pure forgetfulness, Unani Tibb's natural philosophy has, in terms of popularity and practice, fluctuated throughout the centuries - as we will see. Following in the footsteps of Hippocrates, Galen extended the common understanding of the four elements by showing that they can also be found in our food. Food, whatever category, also has a temperament, meaning some foods are cold, and others are warm. Based on this, they affect the body accordingly. For example, eating a spicy curry will inevitably heat the body - we see it in the morning after a late-night trip to a Mexican or Indian restaurant.
After Galen, Unani Tibb quietened down. Hakim Chishti, in his book, The Traditional Healer's Handbook, wrote that 'another period of inertia followed for almost nine hundred years' (1). What brought it back from the dead was the Arab and Persian scholars during the Renaissance of the Middle East and the Greater Middle East. The most prominent mind during this was Ibn Sina, who was reported to have composed an astonishing '276 books' on various topics - medicine included (1). He wrote the Canon of Medicine, a five-volume mammoth detailing the Unani Tibb principles, herbs, remedies, procedures, etc. Note, the word 'Tibb' is a souvenir of the Middle East's involvement in developing Unani Medicine, Tibb meaning medicine in Arabic. (Unani meaning Greek).
It was not just Ibn Sina; other names included Ibn Rushd, Tabrani, and Al-Razi. Today, however, Unani Tibb is most prominent in India and Pakistan, where it was advocated by the governments and rulers, past and present. With the migration of many people of Indian and Pakistani origin to the UK during the 20th century, Unani Tibb found roots on British soil. Ironically though, Western Medicine, as we know it built its foundations from Unani Tibb (2), brought before (but forgotten) to the West during times of the Crusades and British Empire. The Canon of Medicine was studied in medical schools across Europe up until the 17th century (3).
This was your brief history of Unani Medicine - there is, like with all stories, more to it.
Reference:
- Chishti, Ghulam Moinuddin. The Traditional Healer's Handbook: A Classic Guide to the Medicine of Avicenna. Inner Traditions/Bear, 1991.
- Moosavi J. The place of Avicenna in the history of medicine. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol. 2009 Apr;1(1):3-8. PMID: 23407771; PMCID: PMC3558117.
- "Avicenna - Islamic Golden Age, Neoplatonic & Aristotelian Thought, & Cultural Enlightenment of Europe." Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 April 2023,
DISCLAIMER: Shifaa Khan's content is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose, and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship, a consultant-client relationship, or a practitioner-client/patient relationship between Shifaa Khan and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. No presentation or communication shall expressly or implicitly bind any person or entity to any contract, agreement, or course of conduct or waive any part of this disclaimer, and no one should rely on unverified claims that Shifaa Khan is part of any endeavor and all such reliance is expressly disclaimed.
