An Insight on Malankholia (Melancholia)-Unani Perspective

Abstract

Malankholia (Melancholia) has been defined as a disorder in which the mental functions are deranged and the afflicted person is more prone towards constant grief, fear and dubious aggression and the ability to analyze and interpret things is grossly affected as enunciated by Jalinus (Galen) quoted by Zakaria Razi (850-923 A.D) in his world renowned treatise “Kitab Al-Havi.” The term melancholia literally means “black humour” which is the predominant causative factor. Mental ill-health is one of the most disturbing and disabling disorders of life. It affects not only the concerned person but also the family and the society as a whole with social stigma attached to it. The problem is steadily on the rise due to factors such as urbanization, industrialization and increase in lifespan, together with breakup of the joint family system, with implication of multiple genes has augmented the psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of psychiatric illness is almost same globally, about 8 to 10 per 1000 population. Unani an age old traditional system of medicine has described this disorder in its classical text not only the concept but also its management with various modes of treatment which if pursued will mitigate the suffering humanity to a great extent. The present review manuscript is an attempt to highlight the available literature from the Unani perspective.