Compound Unani formulations used in Zeeq-un-Nafas (Bronchial Asthma) with their therapeutic importance: An overview

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in modern society and there is increasing evidence to suggest that its incidence and severity are increasing. There is a high prevalence of usage of complementary medicine for asthma. Current estimates suggest that 300 million people worldwide suffer from Bronchial asthma. This disease is very well recognized since ancient times in Unani system of medicine. Various ancient Unani Scholars and Physicians have use different Arabic terms like Rabu (short inspiration and prolonged expiration), Buhar, Dama, Intesab-un-Nafas and Zeequn Nafas under the caption of bronchial asthma. They also described the etiopathological factors, clinical features, types, and various complications of bronchial asthma that are presented in detail in their concerning treatises. Unani physicians have been treating this disease for thousands of years and they have mentioned various single as well as compound drugs viz; Kakra Seenghi (Pistacia integerrima) Arusa (Adhatoda vasica), Ajmod (Apium graveolens), Aslussoos (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Bazrul banj (Hyoscyamus niger), Biskhapra (Trianthema portulaca), Doodhi (Euphorbia hirta), Nil(Indigofera: tinctoria), Qinnab (Cannabis sativam) etc. and the compound formulations in the forms of - Kushta, Majoon , Hubb, Sharbat, Arqiyat, Joshanda, Khenshanda, Laooq ,Tiryaq, Sikanjabeen, Rub, Roghaniyat for its treatment. The relevance formulations have been described in this review paper with their ingredients and usage also to provide the benefit to the students and researchers for their further researches