Diagnostic Manifestations (Istedlal wa Alamat) of Anaemia (Faqr al-Dam) in Ancient Unani Literature - A Review

Abstract

Anaemia has a long history, as evidenced by 4,000-year-old bone samples from Thailand that showed advanced signs of the disease. Man has known the importance of iron in health and sickness since the dawn of humanity. Egyptians, Indians, Greeks, and Romans were among the first to use iron as a medicine. In the 17th century, iron was used to cure chlorosis (green disease), which was commonly caused by an iron deficiency. The molecule of haemoglobin requires iron to function properly. It is the most effective therapy for treating anaemia caused by a haemoglobin deficiency for over 2000 years. The aetiological factors (Asbāb), types (Aqsaam), pathophysiology, and clinical manifestation (Istedlal wa Alȧmȧt) of anaemia have been described in the Unani ancient literature which may be very useful for early diagnosis of anaemia. Data for this review article were collected from ancient Unani books and other manuscripts. It was found that there are several clinical manifestations (Istedlal wa Alȧmȧt) of Faqr al-Damin ancient Unani literature that aid in the diagnosis and treatment of anaemia. This article may be quite helpful for the early diagnosis and treatment of anaemia through the Unani system of medicine.Keywords:Anaemia (Faqr al-Dam), Aetiological factors (Asbāb), Clinical manifestation (Istedlal wa Alȧmȧt), Types (Aqsaam), Pathophysiology of anaemia, PreventionIntroductionAncient Unani physicians believed that derangement of the liver, sūmizāj and Ḍu‘f al-kabid (weakness of hepatic faculties) or sometimes associated diseases results in impaired and improper production of blood causing anaemia.1-3The word Sū’al-Qinya was coined by Ismail Jurjani (12th AD). Sū means defect and Qinya means treasure, therefore anaemia might be considered a treasury defect.4 Other vernaculars of anaemia stated by contemporary physicians are Faqr al-Dam,Sū’al-Qinya, Qillat-i-dam, khoon-ki-kami, khoon ki mohtaji (ghareebi, nadari) and Fas̄ad al-Dam.5