Unani Medicine makes headway in Sri Lanka

By Naalir Jamaldeen

The Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha medical systems are yet to be absorbed to the National Health policy. Employing graduates who have passed out is another problem which has to be addressed by the Government, Sectional Head of Unani Medicine of the Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Rajagiriya, Dr . B.M. Najeeb said in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

Dr. M.H.M. Nazeem.	Dr. B.M. Najeeb

He said that the Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha doctors faced issues in practising these forms of medicine.

Dr. Badurdeen said when compared to other medical practices the facilities in this institute was poor and needs to be improved while upgrading Indigenous hospitals to produce skilled Unani, Ayurvedic and Siddha graduates.

"Facilities at the institute should be improved while providing facilities to Indigenous Teaching hospitals to be on par with other medical systems" Dr. Badurdeen said.

The Government under the Mahinda Chinthanaya national development program has taken every possible effort to protect and develop the Unani medical system", he said.

The Unani Medical system has the capacity to provide treatment for problems of the nervous system, respiratory system, skin diseases, abdominal problems, arthritis, non-communicable diseases and women's and children's diseases as well.

As a first step in the development program, 58 varieties of Unani medicine was imported from India at a cost of Rs. six million. The Government provided tax relief of over 70 percent on the import of these drugs.

Bottled Unani Medicine.

Herbal powder.

Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Salinda Dissanayake said that steps should be taken to produce Unani Medicine in Sri Lanka without depending on imports. He also recalled the close ties between the then kings and Arabian sailors who brought the Unani medical system to Sri Lanka. He said he has taken steps to improve Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha medical systems. Until the consignment of medicine was imported from India there was a severe shortage of medicine causing hardship to practitioners, Senior Lecturer and former Head of the Unani Division, Dr. M.H.M. Nazeem said.

"The Unani medical system has a long history and started with the advent of Arabian sailors. This system originated in Greece and was taught by Grecian Physicians to the Physicians in the Arabian peninsula. They developed the Unani medical system and propagated it to the rest of the world", Dr. Nazeem said.

Preserved Unani medicine  A drug stall

Hippocrates was known as the father of Unani medicine by the Western World, Dr. Nazeem said.

"Until the 17th century the Unani system was the prime health care system in the world. There are numerous theories in the Unani system which help to find a cure for many ailments. Arabian physicians developed this system. The Arabian Sailors brought Unani medicine for their own purpose and provided treatment even to the local community", he said.

"The then Kings who came to know of Arabian Unani medical system also received treatment from Arabian Physicians. Since then Unani Medicine is practised in Sri Lanka. This system was institutionalised considering the importance of this system", Dr. Nazeem said.

The Unani Division functioned under the Ayurveda Department and was affiliated with the University of Colombo in 1997, Dr. Nazeem said. Before affiliation with the University of Colombo, students were given a Diploma in Unani Medicine and Surgery Certificate. After affiliation with the University of Colombo, they are given Degree certificates of Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery, Dr. Nazeem said.

Five hundred Unani doctors have passed out from this Institute and are practising islandwide. Fifty students will be absorbed every year.

"The Unani Medical system is growing in Sri Lanka. We had three lecturers in 1983. Now the number of lecturers have increased to 23 and there are 18 demonstrators which is a good sign", he said.

"Nearly five Unani doctors worked for the Government Service in 1983. Now there are over 350 Unani doctors working in Government institutions. The Scarcity of drugs was a huge problem in the Eastern province and was solved to a considerable extent after importing Unani medicine from India", he said. The Government provides all facilities to teach students, to improve the Unani medical system, Dr. Nazeem said.

The Government has taken steps to promote health tourism. If Unani medical graduates are engaged in this program, many Unani Medical graduates will benefit. It will help to improve the Unani medical system further.

Ayurveda was famous in Sri Lanka from ancient times. For its gradual development a College was started by well-wishers under the then Government and it was known as the College of Indigenous Medicine. It was affiliated with the University of Colombo in 1972, according to Dr. Badurdeen.

Sitthar is a tamil word, derived from the word "Sith" which means perfection in life or heavenly bliss. The ancient Tamils in their quest for knowledge for longevity developed two ways by which man can achieve mastery over nature. One of this is the yogic way and the other through medicine.

The Tamils who inhabit the Southern peninsula of the subcontinent of India have a historical background as ancient as that of perhaps the Egyptians.

They undertook a systemic study of nature and its elements and from what they were able to grasp and develop a highly systematised form of medicine known as the Siddha system, he said.

In 1929, the Unani system was set up along with the Ayurveda and Siddha sections at the College of Indigenous Medicine due to the untiring efforts of Dr. K. Balasingam, Dr. A.D. Ahmed and Dr. Jaffer were brought down from India as lecturers in Unani. They were instrumental in organising and establishing Unani medicine at the College.

Dr. H.M. Jaffer along with Sir Razik Fareed, then a member of the Board of Indigenous Medicine strived to keep the Unani section at the College. Dr. M.H. Jaffer was the chief lecturer in the Unani section. Dr. M.H.M. Kaleel, Dr. M.A.M. Jalaldeen and Dr. M.I. William succeeded him in the posts of Head of Unani section. They all strived hard to develop the Unani section during their tenure.

Side effects caused by allopathic medicine is well-known. The side effects and therapeutic affect depends on the correct dose, correct diagnosis and correct period of duration in which the patients takes the medicine. Almost all medicines have side effects but when compared to Western Medicine (Allopathic medicine) Unani medicine has very little or no side effects. Side effects depends on the patients' compatibility to the medicine. In Unani terminology it is known as the 'mizaj' of the patient which is the patient's temperament.