Ilaj bil Ghiza (Dietotherapy): A Core Mode of Unani Treatment

Abstract

The physical and mental health of a human being is largely dependent upon good nutrition. The carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins and minerals are considered as nutrients that are consumed from vegetable, animal and mineral sources. A well-balanced diet with adequate intake of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, is necessary for good nutrition and for maintaining health and preventing diseases. Many Unani physicians such as Hippocrates, Galen, Rhazes, Ibn Zohar, Ibn Sina etc have compiled several books on dietetics. The makool va mashroob (food and drink) is one of the vital factors among the six essential prerequisites for preservation of life as described in Unani medicine. All the forms of diet have been classified according to the nutritional value and chyme viz. light and soft diet, attenuated highly nutritious, attenuated less nutritious, attenuated highly nutritious and good chyme forming diets etc. Some modified diets viz. barley water, mutton soup, whey, honey water, nabeez, vinegar, aabkama, murabba, halwa, gulqand etc are recommended alone or as adjuvant for the treatment of several body ailments. Selective diets are also advised according to the diseases viz. massor dal (red lentil) along with vinegar in headache, mutton of young sheep in melancholia, goat's milk in tuberculosis etc. The dietotherapy is widely acceptable, accessible and above all affordable to the patients with near nil adverse reactions. In present scenario, several life style disorders viz. hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and other diseases viz. anaemia, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency etc can be managed by selectisng appropriate diet either alone or as adjuvant with pharmacotherapy. Therefore, the study of clinical nutrition and dietetics is in vogue since centuries and the same is now scientifically validated with precision. This mode of treatment is widely prescribed by Unani physicians in various disorders successfully provided the basic fundamental principles of Unani medicine is judiciously followed, i.e. Ilaj biz Zid (antagonistic treatment). Hence the dietotherapy an integral mode of Unani treatment if adopted prudently will go a long way in alleviating the suffering of humanity.

Full text

Journal of Advanced Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences &
Pharmacology Interventions
Volume 2, Issue 1 - 2018, Pg. No. 27-35
Peer Reviewed & Open Access Journal
Review Arcle
Copyright (c) 2018 Journal of Advanced Research in Pharmaceucal Sciences & Pharmacology Intervenons
Corresponding Author: Athar Parvez Ansari, Regional Research Instute of Unani Medicine, Srinagar, CCRUM, Ministry of AYUSH,
Govt. of India
E-mail Id: aatharparvez@gmail.com
Orcid Id: hps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5755-3525
How to cite this arcle: Ansari AP, Ahmed NZ, Wadud A ET AL. Ilaj bil Ghiza (Dietotherapy): A Core Mode of Unani Treatment. J Adv
Res Pharm Sci Pharmacol Interv 2018; 2(1): 27-35.
Abstract
The physical and mental health of a human being is largely dependent upon good nutrion. The carbohydrates,
lipids, proteins, vitamins and minerals are considered as nutrients that are consumed from vegetable,
animal and mineral sources. A well-balanced diet with adequate intake of proteins, fats, carbohydrates,
vitamins and minerals, is necessary for good nutrion and for maintaining health and prevenng diseases.
Many Unani physicians such as Hippocrates, Galen, Rhazes, Ibn Zohar, Ibn Sina etc have compiled several
books on dietecs. The makool va mashroob (food and drink) is one of the vital factors among the six
essenal prerequisites for preservaon of life as described in Unani medicine. All the forms of diet have
been classied according to the nutrional value and chyme viz. light and so diet, aenuated highly
nutrious, aenuated less nutrious, aenuated highly nutrious and good chyme forming diets etc. Some
modied diets viz. barley water, muon soup, whey, honey water, nabeez, vinegar, aabkama, murabba,
halwa, gulqand etc are recommended alone or as adjuvant for the treatment of several body ailments.
Selecve diets are also advised according to the diseases viz. massor dal (red lenl) along with vinegar
in headache, muon of young sheep in melancholia, goat’s milk in tuberculosis etc. The dietotherapy is
widely acceptable, accessible and above all aordable to the paents with near nil adverse reacons. In
present scenario, several life style disorders viz. hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and other diseases
viz. anaemia, malnutrion, vitamin deciency etc can be managed by selecsng appropriate diet either
alone or as adjuvant with pharmacotherapy. Therefore, the study of clinical nutrion and dietecs is in
vogue since centuries and the same is now sciencally validated with precision. This mode of treatment
is widely prescribed by Unani physicians in various disorders successfully provided the basic fundamental
principles of Unani medicine is judiciously followed, i.e. Ilaj biz Zid (antagonisc treatment). Hence the
dietotherapy an integral mode of Unani treatment if adopted prudently will go a long way in alleviang
the suering of humanity.
Keywords: Ilaj bil Ghiza, Dietotherapy, Unani medicine
Ilaj bil Ghiza (Dietotherapy): A Core
Mode of Unani Treatment
Athar Parvez Ansari1, N Zaheer Ahmed2, Abdul Wadud3,
Mohammed Arif4, Suheena Khanday5
1
Research Ocer (Unani), Regional Research Instute of Unani Medicine, Srinagar, CCRUM, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India.
2Research Ocer (Unani)/ Sc IV, Regional Research Instute of Unani Medicine, Chennai,
CCRUM, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India.
3Professor & Head, Dept. Of Ilmul Advia, Naonal Instute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore.
4Lecturer, Dept. of Amraz-e-Ain, Uzn, Anf va Halaq, Hakeem Syed Ziaul Hasan Govt. Unani Medical College, Bhopal, M.P.
5P.G. Scholar, Dept. of Ilmul Advia, Regional Research Instute of Unani Medicine, Srinagar,
CCRUM, Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India.

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Ansari AP et al.
J. Adv. Res. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. Interv. 2018; 2(1)
Introduction
The overall growth of the body, physical, and mental
well-being of an individual is enrely dependent on good
nutrion. Good nutrion also provide smart and beauful
looking which are expressed by shiny hair, glowing skin, clear
eyes, erect posture, aenve expressions and rm esh
on well-developed bone structures. The carbohydrates,
lipids, proteins, vitamins and minerals are considered as
nutrients which are mainly consumed from vegetable,
animal and mineral sources.
1
A well-balanced diet with
adequate intake of all the nutrients, is necessary for good
nutrion as well as for maintaining health and prevenng
diseases.
2
Since olden mes, people have been aware that
a poor or imbalanced diet can cause various diseases.3 In
present scenario, poor and errac dietary habits cause many
life style disorders such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia,
coronary artery diseases, obesity, diabetes, indigeson, liver
diseases, cancer etc. The change in environment, customs,
behaviour, food supply, and life style have dramacally
inuence the health outcomes. Hence, to be pragmac
within these life theories of alteraon and steadiness,
the knowledge of food, nutrion and health care must
emphasize on health promoon.
4
The Unani system of
medicine is based on the concept of asbab-e-sia zaruria
(six essenal prerequisites) which includes hawa-e-muheet
(atmospheric air), makoolat va mashroobat (foods and
drinks), harkat va sukoon-e-badni (physical acvity and
repose), harkat va sukoon-e-nafsani (mental acvity and
repose), naum va yaqza (sleep and wakefulness) and ehbas
va isfragh (retenon and eliminaon).5-7 These six factors
are essenals for living human beings. Nobody could escape
these prerequisites of life.
7
Makoolat va Mashroobat is one
of the essenal prerequisites among them for restoraon
of health and prevenon from diseases.5 The management
of the diseases in Unani system of medicine is largely
based on the holisc approach with an aim to treat body,
mind and soul. Four core modes of treatment are usually
employed such as Ilaj bit tadbeer (regimenal therapy), Ilaj
bil ghiza (dietotherapy), Ilaj bid dawa (pharmacotherapy)
and Ilaj bil yad (surgery).7,8 The ilaj bil ghiza is a disncve
non-medicinal therapy in which the treatment is done
by modulaon in dietary habits, i.e. fasng, use of food
stu in more quanty having less nutrional value or
less quanty having more nutrients or vice versa.
4
The
principle aim of ilaj bil ghiza (dietotherapy) is to maintain
nutrional needs according to demand of the body and
avoid pharmacotherapy as drug is not considered to be
part of the body and can produce adverse reacons.
Historical background
The earliest record on dietotherapy is observed in Chinese
medicine, where Zhang Ji, a renowned physician 1000 years
BC realized the role of food items for the management
of various diseases. The Charaka Samhita and Sushrutha
Samhita, two most authenc compendiums of Ayurvedic
medicine have also described dietotherapy as a discrete and
separate branch.
4
In Unani system of medicine, the role of
diets and drinks for health issues has been considered very
much signicant since the days of Hippocrates (460-370
BC) when the sweet smell of urine led to the diagnosis of
diabetes and modicaon in dietary habits which played
major role to control the clinical manifestaons of diabetes.
9
He has compiled two treases on dietotherapy as ‘Kitab
al-Ghiza’ (book on dietecs) and ‘Kitab Ma-us-Shaeer’
(book on barley water).10 Other ancient Unani physicians
like Aristotle (384-322BC), Celus (53BC-7AD) and Galen
(130-200 AD) had also emphasized on the use of various
food items for the treatment of common and specic
ailments of the human body.4 The ‘Kitab  Tadbeer al-
Aghzia’ (book on selecon of diets) is wrien by Aristotle.
The ‘Kitab Qawi al-Aghzia’ (book on the strength of diets) is
compiled by Galen. Masar Joya Basri (d. 730 AD) compiled
‘Kitab al-Aghzia’ (book on diets). Jibreel ibn Bakhteeshu
(d. 828 AD) wrote ‘Risala  al-Taam va al-Sharab’ (short
communicaon on food and drink). The ‘Kitab  al-Ashrab’
(book on drinks), ‘Kitab  al-Aghzia’ (book on diets), ‘Kitab
Khawas al-Aghzia va al-Buqul’ (book on the properes
of diets and vegetables), Kitab  Sharab al-Fakeh’ (book
on drink and fruits) have been compiled by Ibn Masoya
(d. 857 AD). Hunyen Ibn Ishaq (d. 873 AD) has compiled
three books on dietecs i.e. ‘Kitab -l-Labn’ (book on milk),
‘Kitab Qawi al-Aghzia’ (book on potency of diets) and
‘Kitab  Tabae al-Aghzia va Tadbeer al-Insan’. The ‘Kitab
Jalinus  al-Aghzia’ (book of Galen on diets) is wrien
by Sabit ibn Qartah (d. 901 AD). The ‘Kitab al-Aghzia ala
Tareeq Qawaneen al-Qulliya’ is wrien by Qusta bin Luqa
(d. 912 AD). Razi (d. 925AD) has wrien two manuscripts
on dietecs i.e. ‘Kayat al-Aghza’ and ‘Kitab Munafe
al-Aghzia va Dafe Mazariha’. Ibn Butlan (d. 1064 AD) has
compiled ‘Taqveem al-Sahet  Quwa al-Aghzia va Dafe
Mazariha’. Najeebuddin Samarqandi (d. 1220 AD) wrote
‘Risale Aghzia va-l-Ashraba lil Marza’.10
Most of the ancient Unani pharmacopoeias have discussed
on diets and drugs simultaneously. Ibn Baitar (1197-1248
AD), a renowned botanist, philosopher and physician of
Unani medicine has described 2300 drugs including several
diets in his pharmacopoeia i.e. ‘Al-Jame al-Mufradat al-
Advia va al-Aghzia’ (complete book on single drugs and
diets).
11
Ibn Hubal Baghdadi (1121-1213 AD), another
botanist and physician has depicted several dietary
substances in ‘Kitab al-Mukhtarat  al-Tib’ which can be
used for the treatment of various diseases.
12
Ibn Zohar
(1091-1162 AD) compiled a commentary on dietecs i.e.
‘Kitab al-Aghzia’ (book on diets) which has menoned
many dietary substances such as Ficus carica, grapes, Vis
vinifera, apple, Cydonia oblonga, Prunus cerasus, walnut,
almond, banana, dates, Chenopodium album, cucumber,
water melon, musk melon, olive, carrot, reddish, deer, egg,
sheep, sh, milk etc.10 The Urdu translaon of this book is

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Ansari AP et al.
J. Adv. Res. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. Interv. 2018; 2(1)
made by the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine
(CCRUM) in 2009 AD. Razi (d. 925AD) has wrien a chapter
on dietotherapy and pharmacotherapy entled ‘potency
and ecacy of diets and drugs’ in his manuscript ‘Kitab
al-Mansuri’.13 Indian Hakims such as Hakim Sharif Khan,
Hakim Azam Khan and Hakim Akbar Arzani have also laid
emphasis on the use of good nutrients for healthy living
and prefer dietotherapy in cases of diseases. Hakim Najmul
Ghani Khan has wrien approximately 2500 drugs along
with several diets in his compendium ‘Khazain al-Advia’.14
Some quotes of Unani physicians regarding diets
and dietotherapy
The signicance role of food and drink for healthy living of
an individual and selecon of good diets for the prevenon
and treatment of diseases are quoted by many ancient
Unani physicians. Hippocrates stated that “let your food
be your medicine, and medicine be your food”, and “leave
your drugs in the chemist’s pot, if you can heal the paent
with food”.3 Other statements of Hippocrates are “the cause
of sickness is over eang and the cause of health is eang
like a bird”, “take diet only when you have desire”, “good
wines in small quanty is the friend of body and apple is
the friend of soul”.15 Avicenna says “stomach is the house
of disease and diet is the head of healing”.5 Pythagoras
stated that “people should take care of their health; the
diet, coitus and exercise should be in a balanced way”.
Aristotle stated that “those persons who are taking grape
juice, bread and muon, doing physical exercise and repose,
taking sleep and wakefulness in a balanced way they don’t
sick frequently”. Haris bin Kalda quoted that “pomegranate
is the best fruit among all the fruits, rose is the best essence
among all the essences, and kasni (Cichorium intybus) is
the best vegetable among all the vegetables”.
15
Razi stated
that “good nutrion, adequate rest, happiness and best line
of treatment are the pillars for curing of diseases”. He also
stated that “the amount of desired food items should be
less for a paent”, and “whenever possible, treatment of
the diseases should be done by diets only not by drugs”.16
Substances used for treatment purposes
In Unani medicine, ve substances are commonly used for
the treatment of diseases.
Dawa (drug): Various denions of drug have been given
by Unani physicians such as Galen dene “the substance
which alters the funcons of the body is called a drug”.
He further says “the substance which is dominated on
the body is known as a drug”.17 Qarshi dene the drug as
“the substance which changes the temperament of the
body”.
18
Another denion is “any substance which is
administered by any route followed by interacon with
internal homeostasis and producing desired or undesired
eect is called a drug”.
19
From the above denions, it
is concluded that the drug doesn’t become the part of
the body and can produce wanted or unwanted eects.
The acons of drug in Unani medicine is fully based on
temperament which can be correlated on physiological
level not on molecular basis.
Ghiza (Diet): The substances which can become the part of
the cells, ssue or organ of the human body and provide
badal ma tahallul (replacement of cellular organelles).18
They contain carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins,
minerals etc.20
Ghiza-i-Dawai (Diet cum drug): The substances, which
are primarily used as diet but have some therapeuc
properes. The dietary constuents are more in such type
of substances as compared to drug constuents.7,17,20 e.g.
bole guard, pumpkin, cucumber, musk melon, water
melon etc.
Dawa-i-Ghizai (Drug cum diet): The substances, which are
primarily used as drugs but have some nutrional values.
7,20
e.g. mint, pepper, cardamom, ginger etc.
Zulkhassa (Specific drugs): The substances whose
mechanism of acon is obscure.18
Classication of diet7,20
All the forms of diet have been classied according to the
nutrional value and chyme.
Ghiza-i-Lateef (Light & so diet): They are easily digesble
food items and reduce the viscosity of khilt (humour)
inside body and are recommended in those cases where
the pores of the body are impeded with ghaleez madda
(viscous maer) that is unable to eliminate from the body
by excretory system. E.g. aab-e-anar (pomegranate juice),
aab-e-mosambi (orange-navel juice), aab-e-naranji (orange
juice), ma-us-shaeer (barley water), tea, coee, wine etc
(Table 01).
According to nutritional value, the ghiza-i-lateef is
subdivided into two types:
• Ghiza-i-Lateef Kasser-ut-Taghzia (Aenuated highly
nutrious diet): Easily digesble and high caloric food
items such as ma-ul-lahem (meat disllate) and zardi
baiz-e-murg neem birasht (yolk of half boiled egg) are
given as immunomodulators.
•
Ghiza-i-Lateef Qaleel-ut-Taghzia (Aenuated less
nutrious diet): Easily digesble and low caloric food
items such as fruits recommended to those cases
where the tabiyat (physic) is somewhat strong and
require least associaon to boost internal homeostasis
of the body for treatment purposes.
These two types are further subdivided into four types
according to chyme:

30
Ansari AP et al.
J. Adv. Res. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. Interv. 2018; 2(1)
i) Ghiza-i-Lateef Kasser-ut-Taghzia jayyad al-Kaimus
(Attenuated, highly nutritious and good chyme
forming diet): This is considered as best diet among
all. They are easily digesble, high caloric and good
forming chyme such as meat disllate, yolk of half
boiled egg etc.
ii) Ghiza-i-Lateef Kasser-ut-Taghzia raddi al-Kaimus
(Aenuated, highly nutrious and bad chyme forming
diet): Easily digesble, high caloric and bad forming
chyme diets such as liver and lung. This type of diet
is usually not preferred for treatment purposes.
iii) Ghiza-i-Lateef Qaleel-ut-Taghzia jayyad al-Kaimus
(Aenuated, less nutrious and good chyme forming
diet): Easily digesble, low caloric and good forming
chyme foods such as fruit juices and fruits. They are
given for treatment purposes when natural healer is
strong.
iv) Ghiza-i-Lateef Qaleel-ut-Taghzia raddi al-Kaimus
(Aenuated, less nutrious and bad chyme forming
diet): These food items are easily digesble, provide
less energy and bad forming chyme viz. radish, mustard,
leuce etc.
These two types are further subdivided into four types
according to chyme:
i) Ghiza-i-Kaseef Kasser-ut-Taghzia jayyad al-Kaimus
(Heavy, highly nutrious and good chyme forming
diet): The heavy, high nutrious and good forming
chmye diets such as fully boiled egg, meat of young
sheep etc. They may be useful in tuberculosis, chronic
fever, chronic infecons, cachexia etc.
ii) Ghiza-i-Kaseef Kasser-ut-Taghzia raddi al-Kaimus
(Heavy, highly nutrious and bad chyme forming
diet): This type of diet should be avoided because
they are very dicult to digest and always form bad
chmye viz. duck meat and horse meat.
iii) Ghiza-i-Kaseef Qaleel-ul-Taghzia jayyad al-Kaimus
(Heavy, less nutrious and good chyme forming diet):
The heavy, less nutrious and good forming chmye
diets such as meat of young beef. It may also be useful
in cachexia.
iv) Ghiza-i-Kaseef Qaleel-ul-Taghzia raddi al-Kaimus
(Heavy, less nutrious and bad chyme forming diet):
The heavy, not easily digested, less nutrious and bad
forming chmye diets such as dry beef meat.
Table 1.Types of light and soft diets
Aenuated highly
nutrious diets
Meat disllate, Half boiled
yolk of egg
Aenuated less
nutrious diets
Fruit and Vegetable juices,
tea, coee
Aenuated, highly
nutrious and good
chyme forming diets
Meat disllate, Muon soup,
Chicken soup, Half boiled
yolk of egg
Aenuated, highly
nutrious and bad
chyme forming diets
Organs of Animals such as
Liver, Lung, Kidney
Aenuated, less
nutrious and good
chyme forming diets
Apple, Pomegranate, Orange,
Grapes, Beet Root, Carrot,
Litchi, Mango, Pumpkin,
Sweet bole gourd juices
Aenuated, less
nutrious and bad
chyme forming diets
Radish, Mustard, Leuce
Ghiza-i-Kaseef (Heavy diet): This type of diet cannot be
easily digested and forming ghaleez khilt (viscous humour)
which may produce sudda (obstrucon) in organs. (Table 02)
According to nutritional value, the ghiza-i-kaseef is
subdivided into two types:
•
Ghiza-i-Kaseef Kasser-ut-Taghzia (Heavy & highly
nutrious diet): Dicult digesble and high caloric
food such as beef meat.
•
Ghiza-i-Kaseef Qalil-ul-Taghzia (Heavy & less
nutrious diet): They are not easily digested and low
caloric foods such as dry beef meat.
Table 2. Types of heavy diet
Heavy & Highly Nutrious
diet
Beef meat, Muon,
Chicken
Heavy & Less Nutrious
diet
Dry beef meet, dry
muon and chicken
Heavy, Highly Nutrious
and Good Chyme forming
diet
Fully boiled egg, Meat
of young goat and
sheep
Heavy, Highly nutrious and
bad chyme forming diet
Duck meat, Horse
meat, Veal meat
Heavy, less nutrious and
good chyme forming diet
Meat of young beef
Heavy, less nutrious and
bad chyme forming diet
Salted meat, dry beef
meat
Ghiza-i-Motadil (Moderate diet): This type of diet produces
moderate viscosity of khilt (humour) which are usually not
harmful to the body. E.g. Khichdi, cow’s milk etc
Some diseases may be cured by using an appropriate food
items but they should be selected based on ghiza-e-lateef
(light diet), sari-ul-hazm (easily digesble) and jayyad al-
kaimus (good forming chyme).
Principles of treatment by dietetics
Unani physicians strongly believe that food provide strength
to the body and to the morbid maers both. The wrong
selecon and mismanagement of diet may hamper the
tabiyat (physic) which is known to increase the severity
of diseases. Complete absnence from diet or parally

31
Ansari AP et al.
J. Adv. Res. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. Interv. 2018; 2(1)
reducon is generally advised in acute illnesses whereas
only paral reducon is advised in chronic diseases with
an aim to restore the facules of the body.22
1. Tark-e-Ghiza (Absnence from diet): When the tabiyat
(physic) is strong, such paents are advised to abstain
completely from diet which facilitate in evacuaon of
morbid maer from the body.7,21,22
2. Taqleel-ul-Ghiza (Reducon in intake of diet): The
second principle is to reduce the amount of food
quantavely as well as qualitavely with an aim to
restore quwa (faculty) which facilitate tabiyat (physic)
to work solely in one direcon and parcipate in
eradicaon of disease from the body. Half boiled egg
is a highly nutrious and good forming chyme diet
which can be given if quwa (faculty) of the body is
weak. Likewise, watermelon and muskmelon can be
given if quwa (faculty) of the body is strong.7,20,22 The
diet can be reduced through either of three modes.
i) Reducon in kammiyat (quanty) of the diet: The
diet is decreased in terms of quanty which means the
nutrional value of such diet is more but the bulk is
low. This type is advised when digeson of the paent
is weak but needs to provide strength to the body’s
facules. e.g. egg.22
ii) Reducon in kayat (quality) of the diet: In this type,
the quanty in terms of nutrional value is decreased.
This type is advised when the paent has desire of
food but simultaneously the vascular system of the
body is impeded with morbid maers. In this case,
the producon of humours are decreased which will
provide favourable medium for concocve acon of
morbid maers. e.g. vegetables and fruits.22
iii) Reducon in kammiyat (quanty) and kayat (quality)
of the diet: In this type, the diet in the terms of quanty
and quality both, is reduced parcularly when the
facules of the body is neither so weak nor strong.22
Specic dietetics
In Unani system of medicine, many modified diets,
separately or as an adjuvant with pharmacotherapy, are
also used for the treatment of various diseases. These diets
have been menoned in several Unani pharmacopoeias
(Table 3).
1. Ma-us-Sha’eer (Barley water): It is considered as
the most benecial ‘diet cum drug’. Hippocrates has
menoned 10 properes of barley water. One part
of barley and 10 or 14 parts of water are boiled ll
the colour changes to reddish. This is useful in case
of fever, acute infections, tuberculosis, diabetes
mellitus and other debilitang diseases.23,24 The ‘ma-
us-sha’eer mulham’ is a specic form of barley water
which is prepared with mixing of meat disllate and
is considered more potent than plain barley water.25
2. Ma-ul-Asl (Honey water): One part of honey and 2 parts
of water are boiled for few minutes. Few herbs such as
darchini (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), zinger (Zingiber
ofcinale), mastagi (Pistacia lenscus), safron (Crocus
savus), cardamom (Elearia cardamomum), jaifal
(Myrisca fragrans) and javitri (Myrisca fragrans)
are mixed in the ma-ul-asl to increase its potency.
It is very much useful in cerebro-vascular disorders,
paralysis, facial palsy, fever, gastric diseases and in dry
cough.22,24,25
3. Ma-ul-Laham (Meat disllate): A form of meat /
chicken soup prepared by method of disllaon. Few
drugs viz. Cinnamomum tamala, Foeniculum vulgare,
Coriandrum savum, Mentha arvensis, Cinnamoum
zylenicum, Lavandula stoechas, Pistacia lenscus,
Alpinia galanga, Curcuma zedoria, Valeriana jatamansi
etc are mixed in ma-ul-laham to increase its potency
and for other purposes [25]. It is used in protein energy
malnutrion, tuberculosis, cachexia, anaemia, cerebral
and cardiac diseases. 23,24,25
4. Ma-ul-Jubn (Whey): This special diet is prepared by
boiling sheep/ goat’s milk with added lemon juice,
sikanjabeen or grape’s vinegar and separated the
watery part. Some drugs such as maghz-e-amaltas
(Cassia stula), turanjbeen (Alhagi pseudalhagi) and
sheerkhist (Fraxinus ornus) may also be mixed to
increase its potency. It may be used in melancholic
diseases, depression, mental disorders, migraine,
burning micturion, renal failure, ascis and jaundice.
23,24
5. Ma-ul-Fawakah (Fruit juices) & Ma-ul-Buqool (Fresh
vegetable juices): These are useful in vitamin and
mineral deciencies, conspaon, anaemia, general
body weakness, and cardio-vascular diseases. Apple,
pomegranate, orange, watermelon, Solanum nigrum,
Cichorium intybus, pumpkin juices etc are usually
prescribed to the paents.7
6. Sikanjabeen (Oxymel): It is generally prepared by
boiling 1 part vinegar and 3 parts honey or sugar.
26
Some specic sikanjabeen such as sikanjabeen-e-
buzuri is used as diurec; sikanjabeen-e-lemuni and
sikanjabeen-e-nanaee are used in voming, acute
hepas and jaundice.27
7. Aabkama: It is prepared by fermentaon of mustard
(Brassica nigrum), salt, zeera (Carum carvi), ajwain
(Cuminum cyminum), wheat bread, vinegar, mint
(mentha arvensis), zinger and pepper and is useful in
gastric disease.4
8. Asfeedaj: This special food is prepared by plain muon
soup without mixing spices and is useful in winter
season.4
9. Sikbaj: This food item is prepared with goat/ sheep’s
muon, vinegar, spices and vegetables. It can be used
in voming, jaundice, mild inammatory condion of
liver and ascis.28
10. Nabeez: It is a type of non-dislled wine which contains

32
Ansari AP et al.
J. Adv. Res. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. Interv. 2018; 2(1)
lile amount of alcohol. It is prepared with grapes,
dates, anjeer, coconut, sugar, barley, wheat etc by the
method of fermentaon. It contains enzymes which
are essenal for maintaining health.29
11. Murabba: Seasonal fruits such as apple, orange, carrot,
pear, Emblica ocinalis, Terminalia chebula, Cydonia
oblonga etc are preserved by boiling them into sugar
or honey and they are used as cardiotonic, brain
tonic and stomachic.
26
Several Unani pharmacopoeial
preparaons viz. murabba-e-amla, murabba-e-badam,
murabba-e-zangbeel, murabba-e-seb, murabba-e-
kaddu etc are prepared for various purposes.23
12. Gulqand: Rose petals or petals of some other owers
are preserved into sugar or honey which can be used
as laxave and purgave, cardiotonic, brain tonic,
hepatoprotecve and anpyrec.28
13. Halwa: It is made by Aloe vera, almond, bole gourd,
coriander, egg or carrot with added sugar. It is rich in
calories, nutrious and energec.
4
Halwa-e-Khashkhash
is used to increase appete in tuberculosis paents.
Halwa-e-Seb va Bihi is given to increase the strength
of stomach, liver and heart. Halwa-e-Badam, halwa-
e-salab and halwa-e-baiza-e-murg are used for the
treatment of sexual dysfuncons. Halwa-e-Suparipak is
recommended especially in gynaecological disorders.
24
14. Falooda: This is a special highly nutrious food item
which is made with starch, cow’s milk and sugar. It is
very much useful in general body weakness and cardiac
weakness.24
15. Hareesa: This special diet is prepared by muon and
wheat which can be used in chronic fever, tuberculosis
and anaemia.4
16. Mazurat: This is prepared with muon soup, Vis
vinfera, sugar and honey. It may be useful in chronic
disease.4
17. Kavameekh: A diet is prepared with vegetables, milk,
spices and mint to increase appete.28
18. Zeerbaaj: A type of soup prepared with vinegar, dry
fruits, saron and spices which is useful in stomach
and liver diseases.28
19. Mazeera: It is prepared with curdled milk which is
useful in hot season.4
20. Maibah: This specic diet is made with quince fruit
juice, grape wine, dried ginger, cinnamon, cardamom,
saron and honey. It is used in indigeson, nausea and
voming, diarrhoea and as stomachic.4
21. Hareera: Harera is made with wheat or pieces of ro
(bread), dry fruits, saron, sugar and cow’s ghee. This
diet is highly nutrious and increases body’s innate
heat.
26
Some recipes of hareera have been menoned
in Unani pharmacopoeias
24
for the treatment of certain
ailments such as cough, tuberculosis, haemoptysis,
pleurisy, sexual dysfuncons, headache etc.23
22. Sao: Barley or corn our is soaked into water, pounded
with dry fruits and made sao. It should be given along
with plenty of cold water to make it easily ingesble.4
23. Rub (Extract): Rub is prepared with juices of dierent
fruits by method of evaporaon. Rub-e-Bihi (extract
of quince), rub-e-anar (extract of pomegranate), rub-
e-seb (extract of apple) and rub-e-jamun (extract of
black plum) are used as stomachic, brain and cardiac
tonic.24
24. Sharbat (Syrup): Certain sharbat such as sharbat-e-
anannas, sharbat-e-balango, sharbat-e-bihi, sharbat-e-
tamar Hindi
23
, sharbat-e-ward sada, sharbat-e-na’na
24
etc are prescribed for the treatment of several common
and specic ailments, nausea and voming, gastris,
hepas, jaundice and fever.
25. Khageena: It is prepared by yolk of egg, aqueous
extract of onion, ginger powder, Orchis lafolia,
Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Syzygium aromacum and
Elearia cardamomum. It is very much useful in sexual
dysfuncon.24
26. Sirka (Vinegar): Sirka-e-Unsal is used in facial palsy,
paralysis, epilepsy, headache and sciaca. Sirka-e-
Angoori is used as cardiac, brain tonic and stomachic.
Sirka-e-Jamun is used in diabetes mellitus.24
27. Qahwa: It is made with tea leaves and other herbs
such as Foeniculum vulgare, Cinnamomum zeylanicum,
Elearia cardamomum, Syzygium aromacum, Zingiber
ofcinale, Glycyrrhiza glabra etc which is useful in
common cold, cough, bronchial asthma, headache
and fever.24
Table 3.Modied diet for specic indications
Modied diet Indicaons
Ma-us-Sha’eer Fever, Acute infecons, Tuberculosis, Diabetes mellitus
Ma-ul-Asl Cerebro-vascular disorders, Paralysis, Facial palsy, Fever, Gastric diseases, Dry cough
Ma-ul-Laham Protein energy malnutrion, tuberculosis, cachexia, anaemia, cerebral
disorders, cardiac diseases
Ma-ul-Jubn Melancholia, depression, anxiety, migraine, burning micturion, renal failure, ascis, jaundice
Ma-ul-Fawakah
& Ma-ul-Buqool
Vitamin deciency, conspaon, anaemia, general body weakness, cardiovascular diseases
Sikanjabeen Voming, hepas, jaundice, gastric disturbances, burning micturion, UTI

33
Ansari AP et al.
J. Adv. Res. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. Interv. 2018; 2(1)
Dietotherapy according to diseases
The Unani physicians are advised to take diets according to diseases which are helpful to reduce the clinical features
of the diseases and also assisted the pharmacotherapy in curing of diseases (Table 4).
Aabkama Gastric disorders
Sikbaj Voming, jaundice, hepas, ascis
Murabba Cerebral, cardiac and gastric disorders
Gulqand Conspaon, gastric diseases, liver diseases, cerebral disorders, cardiac diseases
Halwa General body weakness, cachexia
Falooda General body weakness
Hareesa Chronic fever, anaemia, tuberculosis
Kavameekh Loss of appete
Zeerbaaj Stomach and liver diseases
Maibah Indigeson, nausea and voming, diarrhoea
Hareera Cough, tuberculosis, haemoptysis, pleurisy, sexual dysfuncons, headache
Rub Gastric, liver, brain and cardiac disorders
Khageena Sexual dysfuncons
Table 4.Recommended diets according to diseases
Headache Masoor dal (Red lenl) along with vinegar, green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits.13
Meningis Barley water.13
Cerebro-vascular
accident
Fresh fruits having cold temperament13, ma-ul-asl
Paralysis Bengal gram, olive oil, ma-ul-asl13
Febrile convulsion Barley water, chicken soup13
Epilepsy Fried muon, Onion, garlic, Brassica nigra, Vicia faba, Cabbage13
Melancholia Muon of young sheep, Chicken, Bread of ne wheat, Fresh milk, Live sh, Sweat made
with Sugar and Roghan-e-Badam.13 Ma-ul-Jubn Avoid taking dry muon, Masoor dal,
Cabbage, Salty and acrid taste food23
Common cold Barley water, Murabba-e-banafsha13
Conjucvis Fruit juices13
Cough Barley water, Made vegetable of Vicia faba or spinach made along with almond oil13
Pleurisy Barley water13
Tuberculosis Goat’s milk, Barley water, Fried sh, Vegetables made with leaves of Portulaca oleracea,
Tribulus terrestris, Lagenaria siceraria and cucumber, Ma-ul-lahem (muon soup), Water
melon, Pomegranate, Grape, Prunus domesca, Apple, Turmeric, Turnip, Ma-ul-asl13
Palpitaon Chicken soup made with mixture of hot spices and unripe grapes, Sikanjabeen-e-shakri13,
murabba-e-amla, Arq-e-kewda, Arq-e-gaozaban, Murabba-e-anannas, Murabba-e-tamar
hindi30
Cholera Pomegranate juice alone or mixed with wheat bread13
Gastris Pomegranate juice, Sikanjabeen, Cydonia oblonga mixed with wheat bread, Fruits having
cold temperament13
Jaundice Vegetable made with pumpkin, Spinach, Malva sylvestris, Cucumber, Prunus domesca,
Solanum nigrum, Cichorium intybus, Pomegranate juice13

34
Ansari AP et al.
J. Adv. Res. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. Interv. 2018; 2(1)
Conclusion
Dietotherapy as a specialized form of treatment has
long been propounded and pracsed since the period
of Hippocrates, Galen, Razi, Avicenna etc. The extensive
literature review of Unani medicine has pointed out that
the ancient Unani physicians were completely aware
about the concept and importance of food and drink.
This important tool has been described in detail under
six essenal prerequisites for life. The dietotherapy play
a vital role for prevenon and treatment of several body
ailments. It also minimizes the duraon of treatment and
improves the tolerance of drug by modicaon in diets.
This form of treatment is widely acceptable, accessible and
above all aordable to the paents with near nil adverse
reacons. In present scenario, several life style disorders
such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia etc can be
managed by selecng appropriate diet either alone or as
adjuvant with pharmacotherapy. Several other diseases
such as anaemia, malnutrion, vitamin deciency etc can
also be treated by using appropriate diet. Therefore, the
study of clinical nutrion and dietecs is in vogue since
centuries and the same is now sciencally validated with
precision. The aforesaid diet are widely prescribed by Unani
physicians in various disorders successfully provided the
basic fundamental principles of Unani medicine is kept
in mind, i.e Ilaj biz zid (antagonisc treatment). Hence
the dietotherapy an integral mode of Unani treatment if
adopted judiciously will go a long way in alleviang the
suering and pain of humanity.
Conict of Interest: None
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Date of Submission: 2018-07-06
Date of Acceptance: 2018-07-21