The Distinctive Unani Approach in the Prevention of Lifestyle Diseases

Abstract

The term lifestyle is often used to denote “the way people live”, reflecting a whole range of social values, attitudes and activities. It is composed of cultural and behavioural patterns and lifelong personal habits that have developed through processes of socialization. It is the adoption of poor lifestyles like physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol consumption, poor sleep, stress due to heavy workload etc., which results in various lifestyles related disorders. There is a long list of lifestyle diseases comprising of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, psychiatric disorders, certain types of cancer etc. These disorders are distinct from other diseases, because they can be prevented by conscious changes in the diet, behaviour and environment. According to Unani medicine, lifestyle diseases arise due to poor management of six essential factors (Asbaab sitta zaruriya). These are: air, food and drinks, bodily movements and repose, psychic movement and repose, sleep and wakefulness, evacuation and retention. No human being is out of sphere of these factors and has to experience and deal with them in his daily life. Departing from principles of these factors results into diseases and following them restore health. Unani medicine fully appreciates and understands the creation of man, his nature, his constitution and his relationship to the environment. Thus, the present day lifestyle diseases can be successfully, economically and safely managed by following the instructions with regard to these six essential factors. This paper outlines what we know about lifestyle diseases and what are the preventive strategies for these diseases in Unani system of medicine