Concept of Urolithiasis in Unani Medicine: Traditional Approaches and Contemporary Insights

Urolithiasis is a common condition that leads to serious health complications. Urinary stones have afflicted humans for millennia, with records dating back to 4800 BC. Preventing renal stone recurrence remains a common human health concern. Renal stones have been linked to an increased risk of chronic end-stage renal disease, renal failure, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, and hypertension. Although conventional medicine provides multiple treatment options, Unani medicine offers an alternative approach, focusing on herbal remedies and holistic therapeutic practices.

This paper explores the Unani perspective on urolithiasis, examining its conceptualization and therapeutic approaches. It provides an overview of urolithiasis pathophysiology, associated risk factors, preventive measures, differential diagnosis, and its management.

A systematic review was conducted by scrutinizing classical Unani texts and contemporary scientific knowledge. Classical texts like Kāmil us Sana', Al Qānūn fit Tibb, Zakhīra Khw̄arzim Shāhi, Kitāb Al Miah, Ghina Muna, Kitab al Mukhtārāt fit Tibb, Kitāb ut Taisīr, and Kitāb al Kullīyāt were surveyed and examined. Conventional databases, including PubMed, Elsevier, Scopus, Benthem Science, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, were explored and scanned using the terms "urolithiasis" and Hīṣāt al Kulya. Manuscripts were assessed from both theoretical and clinical perspectives on urolithiasis, and these were featured in the study.

Unani medicine, rooted in humoral theory, emphasizes health and disease based on the Kayfiyāt (qualities): hot, cold, dry, and wet, rather than molecular explanations. The holism-based principles already validated through diverse research data demonstrate a rational approach to treatment with practical relevance. While modern medicine may differ in methodology, it can benefit from Unani's empirical observations. This paper explores the Unani perspective on Urolithiasis, showcasing its clinical relevance even today.

Bladder calculi, Botanical medicine, Renal stone, Urolithiasis, Unani medicine.