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Understanding hormones in terms of humours (Akhlat) in Unani system of medicine

  • Md Anzar Alam ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Mohd. Aleemuddin Quamri and Ghulamuddin Sofi
Published/Copyright: August 31, 2020
Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine
From the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Volume 18 Issue 3

Abstract

In Unani System of Medicine, humours (Akhlat) play a vital role in maintenance of health; imbalance of their proportion either qualitative or quantitative can cause disease. Akhlat refers to the body fluids under a wider perspective in the Unani Medicine, which also encompasses fluids designated as hormones by the Modern Medicine. Akhlat (humours) are those moist and fluid parts of the body which are produced after transformation and metabolism of the nutrition; they serve the function of growth, repair, produce energy, preservation of individual and the species. It is concerned with growth, multiplication, differentiation, and metabolic activities of different tissues and systems, and thereby maintains a correct physiological balance between them. Present paper is a review on the concept of Akhlat and an attempt to understand hormones.

Keywords: Akhlat; humours; hormones; temperament; Unani medicine
Corresponding author: Md Anzar Alam, PhD Scholar, Deptartment of Moalajat, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Kottigepalya, Magadi Main Road, Bangalore 560091, India, Phone: +91-9916164662, E-mail:

Acknowledgment

The authors express thanks to Library staffs of NIUM Bangalore for providing the materials of this conceptual manuscript.

  1. Research funding: There is no financial support in this study.

  2. Author contributions: Study concept and design: Md. Anzar Alam (PhD Scholar); drafting of the manuscript; Professor Mohd. Aleemuddin Quamri; critical revision of the manuscript for imperative rational content; Professor Ghulamuddin Sofi.

  3. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Received: 2020-01-13
Accepted: 2020-04-19
Published Online: 2020-08-31

© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. ‘Ilāj bi’l-Tadbīr (regimenal therapy): a core mode of Unani treatment
  4. Understanding hormones in terms of humours (Akhlat) in Unani system of medicine
  5. Review Articles
  6. Understanding Humma-e-Wabai (epidemic fever) and Amraz-e-Wabai (epidemic disease) in the light of Unani medicine
  7. Emergence of antimicrobial resistance and magnitude of Unani medicine – scope and challenges
  8. Medicinal importance of Papra (Podophyllum hexandrum Royle) in Unani System of Medicine
  9. Research Articles
  10. Comparative effects of berberine and piperine on the neuroprotective potential of neostigmine
  11. Neera, a non-fermented traditional drink from coconut spadix restores the redox status in sodium fluoride intoxicated mice
  12. Evaluation of wound healing potential of Bhallatakadi Ghrita – cow ghee based polyherbal formulation: in-vivo excision and incision wound model
  13. Effects of co-administration of Unani pharmacopoeia formulations Qurs Tabasheer Sartani and Arq Hara Bhara with CAT-I antitubercular drugs in rats
  14. Neurotoxicity of organic solvents with emphasis on the role of iron
  15. Regular consumption of “Nkui”, a Cameroonian traditional dish, may protect against cardiovascular and bone disorders in an estrogen deficiency condition
  16. A spatial-temporal study of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by type: exploring localization economies implications in urban areas in Ontario
  17. Complementary and alternative interventions for stroke recovery – a narrative overview of the published evidence
  18. The feasibility and acceptability of hypnotherapy among overweight and obese individuals in a Malaysia’s public university
  19. Effectiveness of wet cupping therapy on relieving pain in patients with chronic migraine: an observational study
  20. Effect of aromatherapy massage by orange essential oil on post-cesarean anxiety: a randomized clinical trial
  21. Effect of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) on daytime and situational sleep propensity in novice practitioners: a prospective cohort study
  22. Comparison of instability resistance training, traditional resistance training and plyometric training on athletic performance parameters
  23. Individualized homeopathic medicines and Urtica urens mother tincture in treatment of hyperuricemia: an open, randomized, pragmatic, pilot trial
  24. Association of microsomal epoxide hydrolase gene (fast genotype) with lung functions impairment in wood workers
  25. Dietary glycine improves urine storage symptoms in urology outpatients
  26. Hypoxia-induced oxidative stress in high altitude population: impact of coenzyme Q10 supplementation
  27. Short Communications
  28. Terminalia arjuna induced testicular assault through Leydig cell derangement: an in vitro approach
  29. Effect of acupuncture on cognitive task performance of college students: a pilot study
  30. Yoga for children in the new normal – experience sharing
  31. Effect of Arogya Raksha Panchatantra (five lifestyle principles) on hematological parameters and anthropometric measures among healthy volunteers: a pilot study
  32. Case Reports
  33. Yellow phosphorous ingestion cause liver dysfunction and internal bleeding: a case study
  34. Effect of yoga on plasma glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure and insulin requirement in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus
  35. Management of Vipadika with Mahisha Gritha Padanimajjana – a case report
https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2020-0003
Keywords for this article
Akhlat; humours; hormones; temperament; Unani medicine

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. ‘Ilāj bi’l-Tadbīr (regimenal therapy): a core mode of Unani treatment
  4. Understanding hormones in terms of humours (Akhlat) in Unani system of medicine
  5. Review Articles
  6. Understanding Humma-e-Wabai (epidemic fever) and Amraz-e-Wabai (epidemic disease) in the light of Unani medicine
  7. Emergence of antimicrobial resistance and magnitude of Unani medicine – scope and challenges
  8. Medicinal importance of Papra (Podophyllum hexandrum Royle) in Unani System of Medicine
  9. Research Articles
  10. Comparative effects of berberine and piperine on the neuroprotective potential of neostigmine
  11. Neera, a non-fermented traditional drink from coconut spadix restores the redox status in sodium fluoride intoxicated mice
  12. Evaluation of wound healing potential of Bhallatakadi Ghrita – cow ghee based polyherbal formulation: in-vivo excision and incision wound model
  13. Effects of co-administration of Unani pharmacopoeia formulations Qurs Tabasheer Sartani and Arq Hara Bhara with CAT-I antitubercular drugs in rats
  14. Neurotoxicity of organic solvents with emphasis on the role of iron
  15. Regular consumption of “Nkui”, a Cameroonian traditional dish, may protect against cardiovascular and bone disorders in an estrogen deficiency condition
  16. A spatial-temporal study of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by type: exploring localization economies implications in urban areas in Ontario
  17. Complementary and alternative interventions for stroke recovery – a narrative overview of the published evidence
  18. The feasibility and acceptability of hypnotherapy among overweight and obese individuals in a Malaysia’s public university
  19. Effectiveness of wet cupping therapy on relieving pain in patients with chronic migraine: an observational study
  20. Effect of aromatherapy massage by orange essential oil on post-cesarean anxiety: a randomized clinical trial
  21. Effect of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) on daytime and situational sleep propensity in novice practitioners: a prospective cohort study
  22. Comparison of instability resistance training, traditional resistance training and plyometric training on athletic performance parameters
  23. Individualized homeopathic medicines and Urtica urens mother tincture in treatment of hyperuricemia: an open, randomized, pragmatic, pilot trial
  24. Association of microsomal epoxide hydrolase gene (fast genotype) with lung functions impairment in wood workers
  25. Dietary glycine improves urine storage symptoms in urology outpatients
  26. Hypoxia-induced oxidative stress in high altitude population: impact of coenzyme Q10 supplementation
  27. Short Communications
  28. Terminalia arjuna induced testicular assault through Leydig cell derangement: an in vitro approach
  29. Effect of acupuncture on cognitive task performance of college students: a pilot study
  30. Yoga for children in the new normal – experience sharing
  31. Effect of Arogya Raksha Panchatantra (five lifestyle principles) on hematological parameters and anthropometric measures among healthy volunteers: a pilot study
  32. Case Reports
  33. Yellow phosphorous ingestion cause liver dysfunction and internal bleeding: a case study
  34. Effect of yoga on plasma glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure and insulin requirement in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus
  35. Management of Vipadika with Mahisha Gritha Padanimajjana – a case report
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