EXPLORING UNANI MEDICINES FOR ANAEMIA (FAQR AL-DAM): A REVIEW

Anaemia is a most common disorder of Indian women especially during the age of reproduction. Anaemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells (and consequently their oxygen-carrying capacity) is insufficient to meet the body’s physiologic needs. WHO define nutritional Anaemia as a condition in which the haemoglobin content of the blood is lower than normal as a result of a deficiency of one or more essential nutrients, regardless of the cause of such deficiency. This is the most common type of Anaemia worldwide and includes iron, folate and vitamin B-12 deficiencies. In Classical literature mentioned that Su-e-Mizaj Barid wa Ratab (Deranged cold and wet temperament) leads to the development of feature of Iron deficiency anaemia, which they have described as Faqr al-Dam/Su’ al-Qinya (Anaemia). In ancient Unani literature the cause of Su’ al-Qinya is abnormal cold temperature of liver, thus Unani physician have used drug which stimulate the innate heat of the liver. Few names of that compound are; Dawa-ul-Kurkum, Jawarish-e-Jalinoos, Jawarish-e-Mastagi, and Majun-e-Dabidul ward. So, the present paper highlights the Unani concept of anaemia as well as unani medicines which are commonly used as iron supplements in iron deficient patients.