Gastric Faculties and Their Role in Digestion: A Unani Perspective

Unani medicine describe the stomach (Mi’da) as a central organ in digestion, regulated by five essential faculties (Quwa). These faculties ensure proper food intake, digestion, absorption and waste expulsion. This paper elaborates on the five faculties of the stomach- Quwwat Jādibah (absorptive Faculty), Quwwat Māsika (Retentive Faculty), Quwwat Hādima (Digestive Faculty), Quwwat Mumayyaza and Quwwat Dāfiya (Expulsive Faculty)-along with their causes of dysfunction, symptoms, complications and associated diseases.