EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Zeequn Nafs/Dama, known in conventional medicine as Bronchial Asthma, is a Balghami (phlegmatic) disease characterized by the accumulation of thick, viscid Balgham (phlegm) in the lung airways, leading to 'Usr al-Tanaffus' (difficulty in breathing). Individuals with a Balghami Mizaj are more susceptible to this ailment. According to conventional medicine, Bronchial Asthma ranks among the most common chronic syndromes globally. In 2019, the Global Burden of Disease study estimated that 339.4 million people worldwide were affected by BA, spanning all ages and regions. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, chest pain, cough and wheezing, with occasional flare-ups. Management typically involves rescue inhalers (salbutamol) and controller inhalers (steroids) to prevent symptoms. Severe cases may necessitate long-acting inhalers (formoterol, salmeterol, tiotropium), inhalant steroids, albeit with associated side effects. In the Unani system, numerous single and compound drugs are available for managing Zeequn Nafs. Unani formulations with properties like Munzij Balgham (Concoctive), Mulattif (demulcent), Munaffis Balgham (Expectorant), Moharrik (Stimulant), Muqai (Emetic) and Muhallil (Resolvent) aim to Tadeel mizaj (Correct temperament) and Tanqia-e-mawad (Cleanse viscous humor). This review paper comprehensively discusses various aspects, risk factors, pathogenesis, prevention, and management of Bronchial Asthma.

 Keywords: Zeequn Nafs; Bronchial Asthma; Unani System; Prevention; Management

1. Khan HMA. Akseer Azam (Urdu translation). Volume 1. New Delhi: Idara Kitab-ul-Shifa (2011): 258-268.
2. Khan HA. Haziq. New Delhi: Idara Kitab-ul-Shifa (2002): 202-203.
3. Baghdadi ABH. Kitab Al-Mukhtarat Fil Tib. Volume 3. New Delhi: CCRUM (2004): 161-163.
4. Ibn e Sina. Kulliyate Qanoon (Urdu translation by Kabeeruddin). Lahore: Shaikh Mohammad Basheer & Son’s; 1 (1932): 93.
5. Razi ABMBZ. Kitab Al-Hawi (Urdu translation). Volume 4. New Delhi: CCRUM (1998): 9-39.
6. Jameson JL., et al. “Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine”. 20^th Volume 1. USA: The Mc Graw-Hill companies (2018): 1957-1969.
7. World Health Organisation. Chronic respiratory diseases (2021).
8. World Health Organisation. Asthma (2021).
9. “India State - Level Disease Burden Initiative CRD Collaborators: The burden of chronic respiratory diseases and their heterogeneity across the states of India: The global burden of disease study 1990 – 2016”. Lancet Global Health 12 (2018): e1363-e1374.
10. Jindal SK., et al. “Indian Study on Epidemiology of Asthma, Respiratory Symptoms and Chronic Bronchitis in adults (INSEARCH)”. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 9 (2012): 1270-1277.
11. Al Tabri ABSR. Firdaus ul Hikmat. New Delhi: Idara Kitab-ul- Shifa (2010): 195-197.
12. Ibn e Sina. Al-Qanoon Fil Tib. (Urdu translation by Ghulam Hasnain Kantori). Volume 3. Part I. New Delhi: Idara Kitab-ul-Shifa (2010): 709-714.
13. Arzani HA. Tib-e-Akbar. (Urdu translation by Hakeem Mohammad Husain). Deoband: Faisal Publications; YNM: 302-305.
14. Kabeeruddin H. Makhzan-ul-mufradat. New Delhi: Idara Kitabus Shifa (2007): 76-77, 215-216, 242.
15. Standardisation of single drugs of Unani medicine.1st Ed. Part II. New Delhi: CCRUM (1992): 276-81,301-06.
16. Standardization of single drugs of Unani medicine. 1^st Edition. part V. New Delhi: CCRUM (2006): 53-56.
17. Kumar S., et al. “Pharmacological properties and their medicinal uses of cinnamomum: a review”. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology12 (2019): 1735-1761.
18. Rao PV and Gan SH. “Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant”. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2014): 642942.
19. Fahad M., et al. “Medicinal and pharmacological role of traditional Asian Food condiment: Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume”. International Journal of Advances in Pharmacy Medicine and Bioallied Sciences1 (2018): 22-30.
20. Ranasinghe P., et al. “Evaluation of pharmacodynamic properties and safety of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Ceylon cinnamon) in health adults: study protocol for a phase I clinical trial”. MOJ Bioequivalence & Bioavailability 2 (2017): 28-32.
21. Khan ZJ., et al. “Therapeutics, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Tukhm-e-Katan (Linum usitatissimum)”. International Journal of Advances in Pharmacy Medicine and Bioallied Sciences 5 (2017): 111.
22. Umer K H., et al. “Therapeutics, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Alsi (Linum usitatissimum Linn): An important Unani drug”. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 5 (2017): 377-383.
23. Ma Xiaojuan., et al. “The Effects of Uygur Herb Hyssopus officinalis on the Process of Airway Remodeling in Asthmatic Mice”. Evidence - Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2014): 710870.
24. Taher M., et al. “Cinnamtannin Bl activity on adipocyte formation”. Medical Journal of Malaysia 59 (2004): 97-98.
25. Fathiazad F and Hamedeyazdan S. “A review on Hyssopus officinalis: Composition and biological activities”. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 5.17 (2011): 1959-1966.
26. Eteraf-OskoueiT and Najafi M. “Traditional and Modern Uses of Natural Honey in Human Diseases: A Review”. Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences 6 (2013): 731-742.
27. Aumeeruddya MZ., et al. “Pharmacological activities, chemical profile, and physicochemical properties of raw and commercial honey”. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology 18 (2019): 101005.
28. Parjapati ND., et al. “A Hand Book of Medicinal Plants”. Jodhpur: Agrobios (India) (2009): 144,248,318.
29. Khare CP. “Indian Medicinal Plants: An illustrated Dictionary”. Berlin: Heidelberg Springer (2007): 150-151,320-321,376-377.
30. The Unani Pharmacopeia of India. Part-I. Vol-I. New Delhi: Ministry of Health and Family welfare. Govt. of India. Dept. of AYUSH (2007): 26-27, 50-51.
31. The Unani Pharmacopeia of India. Part-I. Vol. II. New Delhi: Ministry of Health and Family welfare. Govt. of India. Dept. of AYUSH (2007): 97-98.
32. Nadkarni KM. Indian Materia Medica. Volume 1. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan Pvt. Ltd (2009): 328-30,673-74,743-46.