Beyond Nutrition – Revisiting Unani Principles of Ilāj bi’l Taghdhiya in Neurological Disorders

Abstract

The Unani system of medicine attributes a central role to diet ( Ghidhā ) in sustaining health and treating disease, recognizing it as one of the six essential prerequisites ( Asbāb Sitta Ḍarūriyya ) for life. Classical Unani scholars emphasized that dietary substances influence the body by maintaining humoral balance and regulating innate heat and moisture. This study undertakes a literary review of classical texts and modern resources to elucidate the principles of dietary recommendations in diseases of the Central Nervous System ( Amraḍ Dimāgh wa A‘ṣāb ). Foods have been classified according to multiple parameters such as essence, quality, quantity, nutritive value, digestibility, rate of descent, and excretion. Each type of diet exhibits distinct physiological effects, thereby guiding its use in prevention and therapy. The findings underscore that dietary recommendations in Unani medicine are not confined merely to caloric or nutrient content but extend to the temperament and qualitative attributes of food, enabling individualized prescriptions. The study suggests that dietotherapy ( ‘Ilāj bi’l Taghdhiya ) remains highly relevant in contemporary times, and integrating these traditional principles with current nutritional science can enhance preventive strategies and provide complementary insights for patient-specific dietary interventions. Thus, the role of diet in Unani medicine extends beyond sustenance to therapeutic modulation, highlighting its enduring significance in holistic healthcare.