The Concept of Alzheimer’s Disease in Unani System of Medicine: A Historical Perspective

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible progressive brain disorder which slowly affects memory and thinking skills and also the ability to carry out the simple tasks. Unani system of medicine has a history of clinical experience and rich traditional knowledge in the management of neuro-degenerative disorders. Unani Physicians, like Ali Ibn-e-Abbas Majusi (۹۳۰-۹۹۴ AD), in his book Kamilus sana; Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Zakariya Razi (۸۵۰-۹۲۵ AD), in Al Hawi; Sheikh-ur-Rais Ibn-e-Sina (۹۸۰-۱۰۳۷), in his book Al-Qanoon fit tib; Ibn-e-Hobal Baghdadi (۱۱۲۲-۱۲۱۳), in Kitab-al-Mukhtarat fit tib; Abul Hasan Ahmed bin Muhammad Tabri (۱۱th century), in Al Moalijat-e-Buqratiya; Azam Khan (۱۹th century), in his book Rumooz-e-Azam have described conditions called Fasad-e-Zikr and Nisyan which are characterized by the loss of memory, resembling Alzheimer’s disease. They have not only mentioned its etiology and pathogenesis but also designed a specific line of treatment. These references can be traced up till Buqrat (Hippocrates) ۳۷۷-۴۶۰ B.C. and Jaalinoos (Galen) ۱۳۰-۲۰۰ AD.

Keywords:

Alzheimer Disease , Dementia , Unani Medicine , Memory Disorders , Fasad-e-Zikr , Nisyan