Abstract

Dr. Salim Yunus Khan*, Dr. Sharique Zohaib, Dr. Qutbuddin Shaikh Bhaiyya, Dr. Sameeroddin Gayasoddin Shaikh and Dr. Amjad Kha Saleem Kha Pathan

ABSTRACT

In ancient times many physicians based their medical practices on their theory of bodily humors or fluids. In the classic form of the theory physicians regarded health as depending upon the balance of four humors in the body: blood, phlegm, yellow bile (choler) and black bile. Blood was the source of vitality, choler or yellow bile was the gastric juice crucial for digestion, phlegm was a lubricant and coolant, and black bile functioned to darken other fluids. Unani philosophers contemplated that human body is composed of three basic components; solid (body organs), liquid (humours), gaseous (pneuma). The liquid substances of the body are collectively called as Akhl?? (humours). Every humour serves some specific and general functions. Basically, these are approximate principle for nutrition of organs. Black bile is one among the humours responsible for the health and the disease in the body. A right proportion of black bile keeps the body healthy, but disproportion of it causes deadly diseases. It is a fact that everything in the body is directly, or indirectly related with the four humours. In present study, a comprehensive explanation of black bile is given. Much emphasis is given on the genesis of normal and abnormal black bile. All factors responsible for alteration in black bile are enumerated thoroughly in the study. In this article author summarized the concept of Black bile in Unani scholor and various theories of Black bile and their effect on the human health.