Successful Management of Diabetic Foot Gangrene with Unani Medicine

Abstract

Diabetic foot gangrene is a severe complication of diabetes mellitus with high morbidity. Surgical intervention is often required but may not be feasible in high-risk patients. Unani formulations may provide an alternative. A 62-year-old female with type 2 diabetes mellitus and multiple comorbidities presented with necrosis of the first, third, and fourth toes of the left foot. She had previously undergone surgical amputation of the little toe, but due to her poor general condition, further surgery was not performed. She was treated with Naqū‘-i-Shāhatra (a Unani polyherbal infusion), ‘Arq Mako ( Solanum nigrum L. distillate), ‘Arq Kāsnī ( Cichorium intybus L. distillate), and topical Marham Kāfūr , with daily wound cleansing using Nīm decoction. After 12 weeks of therapy, a significant reduction in pain, swelling, discharge, and necrosis was observed, with complete healing of gangrenous lesions. No adverse events were reported. This case highlights the potential role of Unani formulations in the conservative management of diabetic foot gangrene.