Introduction
Unani dietotherapy (Ilaj bil Ghiza) is the use of food as medicine. In Unani medicine, diet is considered one of the most important therapeutic tools. Foods are classified by their temperament (Mizaj) — hot, cold, wet, or dry — and are prescribed or restricted based on the patient’s humoral imbalance.
For the student, Ilaj bil Ghiza demonstrates the central role of diet in Unani therapeutics.
For the patient, dietary modification is often the first and most important step in treatment.
For the practitioner, knowledge of the temperament of foods and their effects on the humors is essential for effective prescription.
Classification of Foods
Foods are classified by their temperament into hot, cold, wet, and dry categories. Hot foods include ginger, pepper, and meat. Cold foods include cucumber, melon, and yogurt. Each humor can be balanced by foods of opposite temperament.
Therapeutic Fasting
Fasting (Sawm) allows the body to eliminate excess humors and restore balance. The duration and strictness of the fast depend on the patient’s strength and the nature of the disease.
Conclusion
Unani dietotherapy is a sophisticated system of dietary treatment based on the classification of foods by their temperament and their effects on the humoral balance.