A Comprehensive Literary Review of Bronchial Asthma (Ziq-Un-Nafas Shu‘Bi) and its Management in the Unani System of Medicine

Lung diseases are among the leading global health concerns, affecting more than 500 million people and accounting for nearly 10% of annual deaths. Asthma, derived from the Greek verb aazein meaning “to pant,” was first mentioned in Homer’s Iliad and later recognized in the Corpus Hippocraticum as a medical condition. Initially used for general breathlessness, it was more clearly defined in the 19th century by Henry Hyde Salter as a disorder characterized by episodic breathing difficulty due to airway narrowing. In the Unani System of Medicine (USM), asthma is classified under Amrāḍ-i-Majāri (respiratory disorders). This paper explores the Unani perspective of bronchial asthma through classical references and modern research. Literature search included classical texts such as Al-Qanoon, Kitab al-Hawi, Zakhira Thabit bin Qara, Kulliyat, and Tibbe Akbar, along with modern databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Scopus). A total of 23 classical Unani books, 18 original research articles, and 34 review articles were reviewed. Scholars like Buqrat, Jalinus, Razi and Ibn Sina described asthma as Rabw, Buhr, and, Ḍῑq al-Nafas, and recommended single drugs (Adusa, Aslussus, Banafsha, Afteemoon, Unnab) and compound formulations (Sharbat-e-Banafsha, Sharbat-e-Ejaz, Sharbat-e-Unnab, Safoof-e-Dama). The collected data were analysed and systematically organized to highlight the relevance of Unani approaches in asthma management. Keywords: Amrāḍ-I-Majari, Ḍῑq al-Nafas, Asthma, lung disease, Rabw, USM