Abstract

AN OVERVIEW OF CONCEPT OF INSOMNIA AND ITS MANAGEMENT IN GREKO- ARAB MEDICINE

Saba Fatma, Rubi Anjum*, Paras Wani and Atiya Anjum

ABSTRACT

Insomnia is defined as not simply by total sleep time but rather by difficulty in initiation and maintenance of sleep, poor quality of sleep and an insufficient duration of sleep, such that functioning in the awake state is impaired. Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep complaint, affects up to 10 to 45% of the adult population and is second only to the complaint of pain as a reason to seek medical attention. The condition of insomnia is called Sehar or Bekhaabi in Greeko- arab Medicine. There are six essential factors which are necessary at its optimum to maintain the healthy life known as Asbab-e-Sitta -Zarooriyah. Fifth one of them is Naum -wa -Yaqza which means „sleep and awakening‟. Imbalance between these two conditions leads to imbalance of the temperament of brain, which causes the disease state known as Sehar (Insomnia). In Greko-arab medicine Insomnia is well controlled by Ilaj Bil Ghiza, Ilaj Bil Dawa, and Ilaj Bit Tadabeer i.e. Dalk, Riyazat, Nutool etc. without causing dependency and any adverse effects. Aim of this article is to highlight the concept of insomnia and the safe and effective ways of of its management under the luminosity of unani system of medicine.

Keywords: Insomnia, Sehar, Ilaj Bit Tadabeer, Asbab -e -Sitta Zarooriyah, unani medicine.