Aromatherapy: The Practice of Aroma’s in Unani Medicine

Abstract

Aromatherapy is a modern term for a healing art that is ages old. It is one of the regimens of Ilaj-Bil-Tadbir (Regimental Therapy) employed for the maintenance and restoration of health under Unani system of medicine. Though the term aromatherapy is new but the basic concept has been taken from Unani medicine, as evident from the review of classical Unani text. The history of aromatherapy dates back to the period of Hippocrates (460–377BC). He himself used aromatherapy in the forms of lakhlakha/shumoom (inhalation) for the cure of number of diseases. The fundaments of Unani medicine are based on the teachings of Hippocrates, we can proudly say that the aromatherapy has its origin from the Unani medicine and is only the revival of the forgotten regimen. All the physicians after Hippocrates were practicing this therapy in one or the other form. This paper presents a comprehensive review of aromatherapy with special reference to concept and mode of action of aromatherapy in Unani medicine with its objectives and indications. The paper also highlights the different modes of application of aromatherapy practiced in Unani system of medicine and reviews Unani literature for the reference of aromatherapy