Taqashure Jild: Its similarities and differences with psoriasis.

Area of Science:

• Unani System of Medicine
• Dermatology
• History of Medicine

Background:

• Taqashure jild (TJ) is an Arabic term for skin scaling or sloughing.
• Numerous Unani skin diseases exist, with TJ being a strong candidate for conditions resembling psoriasis.
• Classical Unani literature describes TJ as a distinct ailment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the potential correlation between Taqashure jild (TJ) and psoriasis.
• To analyze the historical descriptions of TJ within the Unani system of medicine.

Main Methods:

• Review of classical Unani medical texts including The Canon of Medicine, Continens Liber, Hippocratic Treatments, and The Complete Book of the Medical Art.
• Analysis of disease descriptions focusing on symptoms and etiology.

Main Results:

• Taqashure jild (TJ) is consistently described as a condition involving scaling, roughness, and increased skin thickness.
• The etiology is attributed to abnormal melancholic humor (Sawda Ghayr Tabiiyya) in classical Unani literature.
• The described characteristics align with the clinical presentation of psoriasis.

Conclusions:

• Taqashure jild (TJ) from the Unani system of medicine is a probable historical equivalent of psoriasis.
• Understanding these historical classifications aids in comparative dermatology and the history of medical thought.