Drugs Indicated for The Management of Ziabetus Shakri (Diabetes Mellitus) in Unani Medicine- An Overview

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, due to absolute or relative deficiency of insulin, causing abnormalities of carbohydrates, proteins & lipid metabolism and significant disturbances of water and electrolytes. According to WHO worldwide prevalence of Diabetes mellitus was estimated to be 371 million in 2012 and it may arise up to 750 million by the year 2030. At first Unani Physicians Galen suspected that this odd illness was caused by a kidney complaint (Sue mizaj kulya). Ibn- Sina alone has been credited with two additional discoveries; first the mention of further symptoms besides the triad (polydipsia, polyurea & marasmus) known as antiquity namely physical, mental and sexual weakness and the occurrence of carbuncle and gangrene, secondly the alleged discoveries of sweetness of diabetic urine. Growing diabetic population and the complications associated with Diabetes Mellitus stimulate the search for new drug targets and more efficient drugs with less adverse effect from the natural sources. The present paper deals with brief introduction focusing of common single drugs having hypoglycaemic activity used for the treatment of Diabetes mellitus in unani medicine throughout the Indian Sub Continent