What is Unani-Tibb?
Congratulations on taking your first step towards vitality and
well-being. Unani -Tibb is a natural
system of healthcare that is
uniquely suited to you. Combining the science of medicine with the art
of care, you can easily transform the way you feel and safeguard your
most precious asset – YOUR HEALTH!
Unani-Tibb is a Persian word and is also called Greek medicine. It is a
system of medicine that
began with Hippocrates and Galen and was then
further refined over the centuries by Avicenna.
Within the discipline of Unani - Tibb you can expect to find:
· Natural and herbal medicines and treatments,
· Regimental therapies such as cupping, massage, manipulation, meditation,
· Essential teaching on Lifestyle management,
· Nutrition.
Living in accordance with nature
* *
All humans are subject to the natural laws of the universe. Tibb
believes that everything in the universe is made up of a combination of
qualities:
* Heat
* Dryness
* Coldness
* Moistness
These qualities determine the ideal state of Temperament as it is known
in Unani - Tibb medicine, of
all none living material, plants, animals
and humans. For instance we know that some animals and
plants need a lot
of moisture and live in wet areas and others have adapted to live in dry
and hot areas. Others are living only in cold environments. During
different seasons, plants and
animals behave differently to accommodate
the changes. Humans are much the same. By finding
out which conditions
are suited to the type of person we are, or the temperament we have, we
can benefit and enjoy good health.
*Living out of *******balance*********
Living out of balance with nature creates disharmony and eventually
disease. If one becomes aware
of the qualities associated with the body
and that of the environment and food, one can maintain and balance
individual temperament, ensuring good health. Too much of anything, even
a good thing,
can create an imbalance. Excess heat, coldness, moistness
or dryness caused by a bad diet, stress, worries, depression, anxiety or
lack of exercise can cause an imbalance.
The ***Doctor*** inside us
* *
Present in each of us is an organizing principle, which draws towards an
ideal state of health. Tibb medicine calls this physis. It is almost
like having our own personal doctor living inside us. We see evidence of
this when people recover from life threatening illnesses against all
odds and much to the astonishment of the medical doctors. If we become
aware that this healing Doctor within us exists,
then we can begin to
listen to him. Remember that behind every natural action of the body is
an inherent wisdom. No medicine we take can heal the body without the
body’s own help.
Tibb recognizes the body’s own ability to heal and
works in accordance with this ability.
Determining your unique temperament
* *
Knowing who you are can take some examination and thought. Very often we
are too busy looking around us that we forget to look at ourselves.
Tibb has identified four temperaments and each one has a specific
combination of qualities:
* Sanguinous****** Hot and Moist
* Bilious********* Hot and Dry
* Melancholic*****Cold and Dry
* Phlegmatic******Cold and Moist
The six lifestyle factors which determine your health and well-being
* *
* The environment, air and breathing
* Food and drink
* Movement and rest
* Sleep and wakefulness
* Emotions
* Elimination and retention
Just as all living creatures have qualities associated with them, so to
do each of the six lifestyle factors.
The food we consume, the weather,
the environment and our emotions, all exert different combinations
of
qualities which can either be to our detriment or to our benefit. **The
rule to remember is that
too much of what you are, or too little of what
you are, will have an negative effect on you.
Example: A bilious person will be negatively affected by an excess of
heat and dryness brought about through the six lifestyle factors, i.e.
during summer, by eating an excess of hot and dry foods,
excessive
exercise, or unchecked emotions of anger will negatively affect a
bilious person. Being
aware of how your temperament is affected by the
six governing factors will assist you in living healthy.
Emotions as an example
* *
Our emotional state plays a vital role in our well-being. Every emotion
creates a different qualitative effect on the body. By recognizing the
qualities that emotions exert on your temperament, you can, to a great
extent, control the influence on your health.
Tibb categorises six emotions with their representative qualities:
· Anger --- hot and dry
· Worry----hot and moist
· Depression---moist and hot
· Fear -------cold and moist
· Grief ---- cold and dry
· Excitement----dry and hot
How does a Unani-Tibb Practitioner go about helping you?
* *
When you come for a consultation, the Unani-Tibb practitioner will ask
you various questions, together with a specially arranged questionnaire
to ascertain your specific temperament.
A physical examination will then be performed and other clinical
diagnostic tests in the practice such as blood pressure, glucose test,
urine test and, if necessary, blood tests and X-rays or sonar will be
called for, to establish a clinical diagnosis.
Treatment consists of:
* Diet/nutritional adjustments according to your temperamental
deviation and the disease;
* Manipulation {Dorn –Breuss therapy};
* Cupping to release pressure;
* Education on the six governing life-style factors;
* Herbal medication specifically designed to alter the qualities.
Why do you need to come to a qualified practitioner?
* *
It is all about teaching the patient. Over the centuries the qualities
of hundreds of diseases have been established. The difficulty is that
the qualities of diseases are super- imposed on the personal temperament
of the patient and can confuse the diagnosis. It is necessary to get
assistance from a qualified person to help you identify the differences
in the various qualities that can affect the human body.
IT IS ABOUT SELF- EMPOWERMENT AND BECOMING RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR
OWN HEALTH
