Epilepsy (Ṣar'): A Holistic Approach

One of the oldest neurological conditions known to science, epilepsy (Ṣar‘) affects almost 50 million people globally, with low- and middle-income nations being disproportionately affected. It is characterized by frequent, unprovoked seizures and has been documented in philosophical and medical traditions throughout history. According to Unani medicine, epilepsy, which literally translates as "to fall suddenly," is a disorder caused by obstruction in the brain and an imbalance of humors (Akhlāṭ), especially phlegm and black bile, which affects the flow of vital spirit (Rūḥ-i-Nafsānī). In-depth clinical observations of epilepsy were made by classical scholars like Buqrāt, Jālīnūs, Ibn Sīnā, Al-Razi, and Ajmal Khan. They recognized the condition's natural origin, brain involvement, aura, systemic associations, and episodic nature—concepts that are similar to current neurological understanding. Unani literature emphasizes individualized diagnosis through clinical signs, pulse, and urine examination and categorizes epilepsy according to humoral predominance, site of origin, and systemic involvement. Evacuation (Tanqiya), temperament correction (Taʿdīl-i-Mizāj), regimenal therapies, diet therapy (Ilāj bi’l Taghdhiya), and pharmacotherapy (Ilāj bi’l Dawā) are all part of the holistic management approach used in Unani medicine. For both long-term prevention and acute seizure management, a variety of single and compound formulations are advised. Numerous Unani medications, such as Nigella sativa L., Anacyclus pyrethrum, Ferula asafoetida, Terminalia chebula, and Cannabis sativa, have shown encouraging anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects in recent scientific studies, offering preliminary scientific validation to traditional claims. This review demonstrates the breadth of Unani perspectives on epilepsy and emphasizes the potential of an integrative approach that connects contemporary neuroscience with traditional knowledge. In order to close the treatment gap and advance all-encompassing, culturally aware epilepsy care, clinical evidence may be strengthened through carefully planned trials and formulation standardization.