Obesity (Siman-E-Mufrat) in Greeco-Arabic Perspective: A Review

Abstract

Tibb-e-Unani has been rendering services to the mankind for thousands of years. This healing art is one of the oldest and well organized systems of medicine. The Greeks were the first to recognize Siman-e-mufrat (obesity) as a medical disorder. It is evident that Buqrat (460–377 BC) was first who described obesity (siman-e-mufrat) in his famous book Fusool-e-Buqrat. Buqrat understood that siman-e-mufrat leads to infertility and early death. He was also the first to notice what has probably been recognized as the single greatest, most undeniable truth in health and medicine: That people who are chronically overweight have shorter life expectancies, and suffer more health problems and complications than slender people, which include diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and many others. Ali Bin Raban Tabri also explains the mahiyat and causes of siman-e-mufrat in his book Firdausul Hikmat. Abu Bakr Zakariya Razi in his book Al-Haavi said that Murattab diet causes siman-e-mufrat. Ali bin Abbas Majoosi and Ibn-e-Sina said that taqleel-e-ghiza is a better treatment for siman-e-mufrat and obese person should take such diet which is more in quantity but less in nutritional value such as rich fiber diet and vegetable. The importance of good nutrition is nothing new. Back in 400 BC, Buqrat said, “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.” Today, good nutrition is more important than ever. At least 4 of the 10 leading causes of deaths in the U.S. – heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes – are directly related to the way we eat; diet is also implicated in scores of other conditions. But while the wrong diet can be deadly, eating right is among the cornerstones of health. Ilaj-bil-Ghiza (dietotherapy) is the distinguish line of treatment in Unani system of medicine that is advocated from Buqrat and taken into consideration by all Unani physicians. It prevents deficiencies and other life style diseases. Details will be discussed in full length paper.