One of the most fascinating forms of ancient wellness is Unani tibb. This form of Arabic medicine incorporates many influences and principles from early Persian and Greek medicine. Ibn Sina, a Persian scholar, brought a wealth of medical knowledge together in a five-volume encyclopaedia entitled ‘The Canon of Medicine’, which he completed in 1025. Like ancient Greek medicine, Unani practice is based on the concept of ‘humours’ in the body, which must be kept in balance to prevent illness. Balancing the four humours – blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile – is fundamental to Unani medicine, and the techniques used to achieve this range from dietary adjustments to aromatherapy and even surgery.
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