What Is Unani Medicine? A Simple Guide to One of the World's Oldest Healing Systems

July 27, 2026 by Syed Fuzail Irshad

If you have ever taken a Khamira for a nervous heart, a Majoon for joint pain, or an Itrifal for chronic headaches, you have already experienced Unani medicine without necessarily knowing it. Millions of people in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and across the Middle East use Unani medicine every day for conditions that range from common colds to chronic fatigue.

But most people who use it could not tell you exactly what Unani medicine is, where it came from, or how it actually works. This guide answers all of that in simple terms, no jargon, just a clear explanation of a healing tradition that has survived for over two thousand years because it genuinely works for the people it is meant for.

Where Did Unani Medicine Come From?

The word 'Unani' comes from the Arabic word for 'Greek', 'Yunan'. Unani medicine is rooted in the teachings of the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, who lived around 400 BC and is often called the father of medicine. His ideas were later developed by Galen, another Greek physician, and then significantly expanded by the Persian scholar Ibn Sina, known in the West as Avicenna.

Ibn Sina wrote a book called the Canon of Medicine, which was used as a medical textbook in Europe and the Arab world for centuries. It brought together Greek, Persian, Arab, and Indian medical knowledge into one comprehensive system.

When this knowledge came to India, Indian physicians added their own observations and ingredients, creating what we now call Indo-Unani medicine. Rex Remedies is part of this tradition, preparing formulations that follow the classical texts while using quality ingredients carefully sourced for their medicinal properties.

The Central Idea: Your Body Has Four Humours

To understand Unani medicine, you need to understand one core idea: the four humours. Unani physicians believed that the human body is governed by four fluids called humours. When these are in the right balance, you are healthy. When they fall out of balance, illness follows.

Every person has a natural mixture of these humours, called their 'mizaj' or 'temperament'. Some people are naturally warm, some cold, some dry, and some moist. This temperament shapes everything from what foods suit them to which medicines work best for them. A Unani hakim does not just treat a disease. They treat the person, taking their individual temperament into account when prescribing.

How Unani Medicine Treats Illness

Unani treatment works on four levels. The Hakim first tries the simplest approach and only moves to stronger interventions if needed.

Food and Lifestyle First

Before any medicine is prescribed, Unani medicine looks at what you eat and how you live. Food is considered medicine in this system. Certain foods increase one's humour and reduce another's. Adjusting diet and daily routine is always the first step. Even today, a proper Unani consultation will include dietary advice as a core part of the treatment.

Herbal and Natural Medicines

If dietary changes are not enough, the Hakim prescribes medicines made from plants, minerals, and sometimes animal-origin substances. These medicines are prepared in specific forms, Khamiras, Majoons, Itrifals, Sharbats, and others, each designed to be absorbed and used by the body in a particular way.

Rex Remedies prepares all of these classical dosage forms. You can explore the full range, including Khamira preparations, Majoon preparations, and Itrifal formulations to understand how wide this category of treatment actually is.

Physical Treatments

Unani medicine also includes physical therapies like cupping (Hijama), massage with medicated oils, and wet cupping for certain conditions. These are not as widely used today but remain part of the classical system.

Surgery

In classical Unani medicine, surgery was a last resort for conditions that could not be managed any other way. Modern Unani practice largely focuses on the first two levels, diet and herbal medicine, which is where its strength lies for chronic and lifestyle-related conditions.

What Kinds of Conditions Does Unani Medicine Help With?

Unani medicine is not a system for emergency medicine or acute trauma. It is a system for managing chronic conditions, supporting overall health, and restoring balance when the body has been depleted by illness, stress, or lifestyle choices.

It works particularly well for:

• Stress, anxiety, and nervous weakness
• Heart palpitations and cardiac debility
• Chronic headaches and migraine
• Digestive problems, including constipation, acidity, and sluggish liver
• Joint pain, backache, and conditions that worsen in cold or damp weather
• Respiratory conditions, including chronic cough and asthma
• Women's health issues, including irregular periods and leucorrhoea
• General weakness, fatigue, and poor immunity
• Kidney and urinary tract conditions

Common Unani Preparation Types and What They Do

One of the things that confuses people about Unani medicine is the variety of preparation names. Here is a simple breakdown of what each one is and what it is typically used for:

Rex Remedies carries all of these preparation types. The classical Unani range at Rex Remedies covers the full breadth of classical formulations, and the patient inquiry service can help you identify which preparation is most appropriate for your specific health concern.

Is Unani Medicine Safe?

For most people, yes. Classical Unani preparations made by reputable manufacturers like Rex Remedies use natural ingredients that have been used safely for centuries. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, most Unani medicines do not carry the risk of dependency or severe side effects at normal doses.

That said, a few sensible precautions apply. Pregnant women should consult a practitioner before taking any herbal preparation. People with diabetes should be aware that many Unani preparations use a sugar or honey base. And anyone on prescription medication for a serious condition should inform their doctor before adding a traditional supplement.

The most important thing is to use products from a trusted, quality-focused manufacturer. Rex Remedies has been producing classical Unani formulations in India for decades, following the original texts and using properly sourced ingredients. Visit rexremediesltd.com to explore the full product range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is Unani medicine in simple words?

Unani medicine is a traditional healing system that originated in ancient Greece and was developed by Persian and Arab physicians over many centuries. It believes that health depends on the balance of four body fluids called humours and uses herbal, mineral, and natural preparations to restore that balance. It has been practised in India for hundreds of years and is officially recognised by the Government of India as a traditional medicine system.

Q2. What is the difference between Unani and Ayurvedic medicine?

Both are traditional Indian medicine systems, but they have different origins. Ayurveda originated in India and is based on the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Unani originated in ancient Greece, was developed through Persian and Arab scholarship, and is based on the four humours. Both use herbal preparations, but their diagnostic frameworks, terminology, and some of their ingredients differ. They often overlap in the herbs they use but approach treatment differently.

Q3. Is Unani medicine recognised in India?

Yes. Unani medicine is officially recognised by the Government of India under the AYUSH ministry, which covers Ayurveda, yoga, Unani, Siddha, and homoeopathy. There are dedicated Unani medical colleges, hospitals, and a regulatory framework governing the manufacture and sale of Unani medicines in India.

Q4. What are the most popular Unani medicines?

Some of the most commonly used classical Unani preparations include Khamira Gawzaban for heart and nervous weakness, Itrifal Ustukhuddus for headaches and brain health, Majoon-e-Najah for anxiety and nervous disorders, Jawarish Jalinus for digestive support, and various Sharbats for seasonal and general wellness. Rex Remedies stocks a wide range of these at rexremediesltd.com.

Q5. Where can I buy genuine Unani medicines in India?

Rex Remedies is a trusted Unani pharmacy in India producing classical and patent Unani formulations following traditional preparation methods. You can browse the full product range and order online at rexremediesltd.com with delivery across India. If you are not sure which product suits your health concern, the patient inquiry service connects you with the Rex Remedies team for personalised guidance.