EPILEPSY CONCEPT AND MODES OF TREATMENT IN UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

Epilepsy has been described as Apasmara in the ancient Indian literature around 500-1000 BC. In Unani System of Medicine (USM), epilepsy is synonymous with Sar’ or Mirgī, described by almost all Unani physicians like, Ibn Sina, Ali Ibn Abbas Majusi, Zakaria Razi, Ibn Zohar etc. According to Majusi, Sar’ is caused by a obstruction inside the brain and its ventricles that causes impairment of sensory and motor functions. According to morbid matters it caused by Phlegm, Sanguine Black bile and rarely by bile. Jalinus (Galen) has classified it into three, as Sar’ Asli (related to brain), Sar’ Shirki Mi’di  (which occurs due to the involvement of stomach) and Sar’ Shirki Atrāfi (which occurs due to the involvement of peripheral organs). The other types are named according to causes and the name of the affected organs which involve brain also due to the association of nerves which supply them, that are Sar’ Zarabi (which occurs due to injury), Sar’ Didāni (which occurs due to intestinal worms), Sar’ Lasa’I (which occurs due to poisonous bite), Sar’ Tihāli (which occurs due to involvement of spleen), Sar’ Mirāqi (which occurs due to involvement of diaphragm), Sar’ Kabidi (which occurs due to involvement of diaphragm) and Sar’ Rahmi (which occurs due to involvement of uterus). On the basis of its occurrence, Unani System of Medicine providing different modes of treatment like dietotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and regimenal therapy. In this book a detailed information regarding its management through Unani medicine is mentioned. In regimenal section various regimen like Natool (irrigation), Hijama (cupping), Fasd (venesection), etc. are mentioned. 23 plants and their parts are mentioned in detail with their finction and scientific studies done by various scholars for their antiepileptic uses.

Author takes full responsibility of the mistakes that might have crept in. I shall welcome heartly if there are pointed out and if the sugession for improvement are made by the colleagues and students, using the present edition thsese will be incarporated as for as possible and acknowledges gratefully in the next edition. I would like to mention that associate author Dr. Nida Khan has made commendable work during collection and compilling data, review of the book and confirming the medicinal uses mentioned with each plants and use for the treatment of epilepsy. In the last not least I am thankful to Dr. Tauseef Alam MD. Moalajat, RRIUM, Srinagar for his help in compiling the book.