Concept of Dhaat Syndrome in Unani System of Medicine: A Review

Abstract

The term “Dhat” was derived from songskrito and the ancient Vedic depiction of body fluids called “dhatus” and among the seven different body fluids (dhatus) mentioned in Veda; semen is perceived to be most precious one. First of all Indian doctor Narendra Wig coined the term Dhat syndrome in 1960 and described it as being characterized by vague psychosomatic symptoms of fatigue, weakness, anxiety, loss of appetite, guilt, and sexual dysfunction, attributed by the patient to loss of semen in nocturnal emission, through urine or masturbation. Several local terms have come to imply the passing of semen in urine as “dhatu rog” and named also as “jiryan.” Ayurvedic scholars regard semen loss as a severe illness, leading to physical debilitation, ill health, thereby promoting herbal and dietary therapies. In Unani system of medicine there is no as such description of Dhaat Syndrome but the concept of Jiryan-e-Mani is well described by Unani scholars. The signs and symptoms of Jiryan-e-Mani is almost very similar to Dhaat syndrome. Many Unani Physicians like Ibn-e-Sina, Buqraat, Ibn-e-Nafees, Hakeem Aazam khan etc., describes jiryan-e-Mani in detail.