Demographic study of sinusitis in patients visiting govt. Unani hospital srinagar and ayush centres in Kashmir

Sinusitis is the symptomatic inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which may be due to infection, allergy or autoimmune causes. It usually occurs due to a viral infection and resolve over the course of 10 days. It is a common disease affecting more than 24 million people annually. Its prevalence is escalating in different geographical locations of the world, especially in cold regions. The best way to prevent sinusitis is to educate the people about risk factors and preventive strategies. The present study was planned with an objective to know the prevalence of sinusitis and to determine the ratio of diseases in respect of Mizaj [Temperament] of the patients attending Govt. Unani Hospital Srinagar and AYUSH Centres in Kashmir. The study was an observational multi-centric cross-sectional hospital based survey. A total of 11514 patients of any age group and sex, attending the out-patients departments of these centres, irrespective of the treatment seeking for were screened after obtaining approval from Institutional Ethical Committee. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire which was based on the demographic profile and risk factors of sinusitis was administered to collect the relevant data. The results showed that overall prevalence of sinusitis was 1.11%. The mean age of patients was 34 years and 70% of patients were suffering from chronic maxillary sinusitis. The study revealed that 20% of patients have positive family history of sinusitis. The history of allergy and cold exposure was found in 30% of patients. The prevalence was highest in patients having Balgami [phlegmatic] temperament. It can be concluded that by knowing ones temperament, the risk for developing sinusitis can be predicted and preventive strategies may be adopted at individual and mass levels

Perception of health promotion in Unani medicine

The Unani system of medicine is an age-old, time-tested system of medicine dating back 5000 years to Greece. Like any other form of medical science, Unani medicine strives to find the best possible ways by which a person can lead a healthy life with the least or zero sickness. Unani scholars believe that diseases can be kept at bay by using clean and fresh water, breathing clean air and consuming fresh food. Likewise, a balance should be maintained between the mind and the body so that the metabolic process can take place easily and the body waste evacuated. Unani medicine believes in promotion of health, prevention of diseases and cure through regimental and diet therapies

Holistic concept of bahaq wa bars and their management in Unani [Grego-Arabic] system of medicine

A comprehensive description of Amraze jild [skin diseases] is available in classical Unani literature. Ancient Greco-Arabic scholars have described Bahaq wa Bars [pityriasis and vitiligo] in detail along with etiopathogenesis, clinical features, complications, and management in their treatises. According to Razi, Ibn Sina, and Majoosi, Bahaq was Bars are chronic skin ailments that are characterized by white discoloration [hypopigmentation] of skin but with a precise difference. While in case of Bahaq, these patches are located superficially on skin, in Bars these are located deep into the skin. These are humoral diseases occurring because of accumulation of excess or morbid Balgham [phlegm] beneath the skin leading to the weakness of quwate mughaiyarah [augmentative faculty] of skin. Ancient Unani scholars have been treating these ailments successfully since antiquity. They have mentioned and practised a compendium of single as well as compound herbo-mineral formulations for the treatment of Bahaq wa Bars. In this paper, authors have tried to elucidate the holistic concept of these skin aliments along with the treatment as mentioned in classics of Unani medicine