Sanila Adil Zafar et al. Journal of Biological & Scientific Opinion • Volume 11 (1). 2023 8 Available online through www.jbsoweb.com ISSN 2321 - 6328 Review Article HUMOURS (AKHLAT) AS A DEFINING FACTOR FOR THE CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF HEALTH AND DISEASE Sanila Adil Zafar 1 , Sultana Anjum 2 , Sana Kauser Ateeque Ahmed 3 *, Shaihba Firoz Ahmed 4 , Mohd Anis Ansari 5 1 MD, Dept. of Mahiyatul Amraz (Pathology), National Institute of Unani Medicine Bangalore, Karnataka, India 2 MD, Department of Amraze Jild wa Tazeeniyat (Skin and Cosmetology), National Institute of Unani Medicine Bangalore, Karnataka, India 3 Assistant Professor, Department of Mahiyatul Amraz (Pathology), Al-Ameen Unani Medical College & Hospital, Malegaon, Maharashtra, India 4 Assistant Professor, Department of Ilmul Atfal (Paediatrics), Al-Ameen Unani Medical College & Hospital, Malegaon, Maharashtra, India 5 Assistant Professor, Department of Ilmus Saidla, Al-Ameen Unani Medical College & Hospital, Malegaon, Maharashtra, India *Corresponding Author Email: sanakauserateeque@gmail.com Article Received on: 16/11/22 Accepted on: 29/12/22 DOI: 10.7897/2321-6328.111173 ABSTRACT In the Unani system of medicine, the seven fundamental principles (Umür Tabi’iyya) i.e. Arkan (basic constituents), Mizaj (Temperament), Akhlat (Humours), A’da’ (Organs), Arwah (Vital pneumas), Quwa (Faculties) and Afal (Functions) are not only responsible for the exis tence of human body but for the maintenance of health too. Any alteration in these principles could lead to disease or even death. Amongst them, the concept of four humours is momentous in the diagnosis and management of diseases, as it covers every single aspect of health and diseases. Hence innumerable diseases are classified depending on alteration in humours. Owing its philosophical and scientific facts Unani physicians believe on this classical concept and use it in their practice too. In the present study alteration and discordance of Akhlat i.e., Imtilä Ba Hasbul Quwa and Imtilä Ba Hasbul Awaiya and their alarming features have been described in detail. Thus, with the help of logical and scientific parameters the study will aid in better understanding of the concept of akhlat, their effect on health and diseases too. Keywords: Humour; Health; Disease; Sanguine; Phlegmatic; Bilious; Melancholic INTRODUCTION The Unani System of Medicine (USM) is an inclusive system of medicine that envisions individual in relation to not only his/her internal and external environment, stresses on health of body, but mind and soul too. For instance, several idiosyncratic concepts are described in the USM viz. concept of temperament (mizaj), humoral theory (theory of akhlat), concept of tabiyat (physis) etc. 1-4 Amongst them the concept of temperament is given pronounced importance in the USM. Further Unani physicians have explained all the physiological and pathological processes of human body in relation to the body fluids (rutubat-i-Badan). In the USM all the body fluids are called Akhlat (humor); literally means “admixture”; because these body fluids are found amalgamated together within the body but not as a single entity. According to the USM the humor is formed after several digestive processes in the liver. Thus, the central framework of USM is based on humoral theory (theory of Akhlat), which was postulated by father of medicine Hippocrates (460B.C). According to him, the body contains four major kinds of humors (Akhlat arba), Blood (Dam), Phlegm (Balgham), Yellow Bile (safra) and Black Bile (Sawda) in right proportion. Mingling of different humours followed by dominance a humour in a body result in appearance of a particular temperament that is exclusive for that particular body only. A well-balanced state of humours with normalcy in quality as well as quantity maintains health as an upshot. However, disturbances in their quality and quantity could lead to dyscrasia/disease obliging an individual to turn out to be sick. 1-4 Human temperament is usually represented by the dominant humour i.e. Sanguine (Damwi), Phlegmatic (Balghami), Choleric (safrawi) and Melancholic (sawdawi). Moreover, the human temperament can be correlated with the temperament of diet, drugs, environmental factors, etc. Thus, the humoral imbalance can be rectified by giving proper diet, medication and therapies. Accordingly, the physician is capable of prescribing medication and therapies also. 5,6 It is a fact that heart, brain and liver are the principal organs of human body. Therefore, the human survival depends on their healthier functions. Heart is the principal organ of vital faculty and brain is the principal organ of nervous faculty. Whereas the most important function of liver is to produce humours (akhlat) for nourishment, growth and development of the body. 1,4 Galen (Jalinoos) believed that all the animals and plants that are subjected to genesis and degradation beside minerals are made from four basic elements (Arkan Arba); fire (Nar), water (Maa), air (Hawa) and earth (Arz). Thus, Akhlat Arba are also made up of basic elements. 1 From above discussion Galen validated and made more comprehensive understanding of concept of Akhlat. 2