Waram-e- Kabid Saudawi (Melancholic Hepatitis)
Introduction
The word “Hepatitis” (Waram-e- kabid) comes from two words, the Greek word “Hepar” which means ‘Liver” and the Latin word “itis” which means inflammation or swelling. Hepatitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the liver. Commonly it is caused by viral infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis. These include autoimmune hepatitis that occurs as a secondary result of medications alcohol and toxicity.
Waram-e- Kabid Saudawi (Melancholic Hepatitis) is hard swelling (waram-e-sulb) of liver having tendency of progression towards malignancy. It is caused by accumulation of thick humours in the liver, or consequent to its hot swelling (Waram-e- haar) or cold swelling (waram-e- baarid). Excessive intake of alcohol is one of the leading cause of the disease. Few drugs also play major role in causing the disease. In other words “melancholic hepatitis” is a condition where there occurs derailment in temperament of liver and due to this deranged temperament it may lead to increase in liver size and other symptoms.
It is characterized by heaviness in right hypochondrium exacerbated after food intake, cachexia, loss of appetite, nausea, hiccup, blackish discolouration of skin and hardness on palpation. It may be a prelude of ascites and may be a predisposing factor of hepatic malignancy.
According to dominating humours (Akhlat), great and eminent Unani scholars such as Razi, Majoosi, Sheikh, Akbar Arzani, Ibn Hubal, Azam Khan have classified it as:
Hippocrates (Buqrat) was the first Unani physician who described hepatitis (waram-e- jigar) with rational explanation based on humoral theories and human temperament.
According to Rabban Tabri, Waram-e- kabid (Hepatitis) is of two types.
Usool-e- Ilaaj (Principles of treatment)
Management of Waram-e- Kabid Saudawi (Melancholic Hepatitis)
The physicians of the Unani system of Medicine have been treating various forms of hepatitis since centuries. Here, plants as a whole or their parts are extensively used for the cure of liver derangements particularly melancholic hepatitis (Waram-e- jigar saudawi). Unani medicines have been used in the treatment of liver diseases for a long time and the maintenance of a healthy liver is essential for the overall wellbeing of an individual.
The available synthetic drugs to treat liver disorders particularly this condition cause further damage to the liver. Hence, Unani Herbal drugs have become increasingly popular and their use is wide-spread now a days.
These drugs are well-proven in the management of all types of hepatitis (Waram-e-jaigar), treating different causes of viral or non-viral hepatitis since centuries. Unani herbal treatment has a very high success rate in the treatment. Now a days, it has been scientifically proven that these Unani drugs are highly beneficial in the management of all types of hepatitis specially, Infective Hepatitis, Acute Viral Hepatitis, Metabolic / Toxic Liver Diseases, Chronic-persistent Hepatitis and Chronic aggressive Hepatitis, Jaundice, Cirrhosis of the Liver and Fatty Degeneration of the Liver etc.
A large number of single drugs and compound unani preparations have been documented in the treatment of melancholic hepatitis (Waram-e- jigar saudawi).
Tahaffuz (Prevention/ Precaution)
Ilaaj bil Tadbeer (Regimenal therapy)
Pharmacotherapy (Ilaj bil dawa)
Dietary Recommendations: Certain diets are recommended in melancholic hepatitis (Waram-e- jigar saudawi). These are as under.
Dietary restrictions: certain dietary restrictions are also recommended by Unani scholars. These are as under.
Note
References
http://www.nhp.gov.in/disease/digestive/liver/hepatitis
http://www.nhp.gov.in/waram-e-kabid-damwi-sanguineous-hepatitis_mtl
http://www.nhp.gov.in/waram-e-kabid-safravi-bilious-hepatitis_mtl
http://www.nhp.gov.in/waram-e-kabid-balghami-phlegmatic-hepatitis_mtl
