Psychosomatic Disorders & Unani Management

DR.SHAIKH NIKHAT, MD MEDICINERESEARCH OFFICER (UNANI)

REGIONAL RESARCH INSTITUTE OF UNANI MEDICINE , MUMBAICCRUM, MINISTRY OF AYUSH, NEW DELHI

drnikhat.unani@gmail.com

Meaning of Psychosomatic disorders

• Any physical illness aggravated by a mental factor (emotions, stress or internal conflict)

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

DEFINITION

• Depression is a "whole-body" illness• It involves your body, mood, and thoughts. • It affects the way you eat and sleep, the way

you feel about yourself, and the way you think about things.

WHAT IS STRESS?

Feel like you are Losing It?

Researchers define stress as

• Stress is the nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it.– Can be external or internal.– May affect a person physically, mentally and/or

emotionally.

WHAT IS ANXIETY?

Researchers define Anxiety disorders

• Everyone feels anxious .It’s a normal emotion. • Many people feel nervous when faced with a

problem at work, before taking an important decision.

• Anxiety disorders means such distress that it interferes with your ability to lead a normal life or

We all r suffering from Stress, Depression, Anxiety

from childhood to old age

Factors responsible for the psychosomatic disorders

• FAMILY• FERINDS• SCHOOL• BUISNESS • OFFICE WORK• HOUSE HOLDING WORK• MARIATAL / NON MARIATAL STATUS • (LOTS OF ISSUES)

CAUSES OF PSYCHOSOMATIC DISEAS

Symptoms of psychosomatic disorders

• Changes in Thinking• Changes in feeling• Changes in Behavior• Changes in Physical Well-being (Diseases)

Symptoms of psychosomatic disorders

• Sad, empty mood • Anxious • Irritable• Short tempered • Hopelessness / helpless • Loss of interest• Headaches • Fatigue

• Decreased concentration

• Diminished memory • Change in appetite • Weight loss/gain • Suicidal or morbid

thoughts • Easily irritated • Digestive disorders

Diagnoses for psychosomatic disorders

(Key point)

1. intensity of the symptoms.2. the duration of the symptoms.3. the specific cause of the symptoms

MANAGING STRESS BYCOUNSELING

• Focus on the present• Cope With problems• Time Management• Take good care of yourself.• Stop negative thoughts • Speak up (Sharing)• Do something you enjoy

Medication (Anti depression, anti psychotic, anti anxiety, sedatives etc)

Adverse effects

Long term use of Anti psychotic medicine

• Withdrawal symptoms• Organ damaged• Systemic illness

Under standing Psychosomatic disease in

Unani system

Quwa (Forces / faculties)• Quwwate nafsania

(psychic faculties) – uzwe raees (epicenter) - Brain

• Quwwate haivania (vital faculties) – uzwe raees (epicenter) - Heart

• Quwwate tabiyya (physical faculties) –uzwe raees (epicenter) - Liver

Quwat-e-Nafsaniya (psychic faculties)

• Brain is seat and center for Quwat-e-Nafsaniya (psychic faculties),

• Quwat-e-Nafsaniya is concerned with intellectual, sensory and motor functions of the body

• two main faculties • quwae mudrikah (perceptive/ cognitive faculties)• quwae muharrikah (motor faculties).

Quwae Mudrikah (perceptive/ cognitive faculties)

internal• Al hiss mushtarak (composite

sense)• Al khayal (imagination)• Al wahimah (apprehension)• Al hafizah (reminiscence)• Al mutasarrefah (ideation)• Example (dosti aur dushmani)

external

• Any disturbances in these faculties

• Specially Quwwate Nafsania (psychic faculties)

and its subordinate faculties responsible for

Infe-alat-e-Nasfasnia (hamm-worries and Ghamm –Sorrows)

leads to psychosomatic disorders

(Infe-alat-e-Nasfasnia like hamm aur gham ) = Stressaffects not only brain but almost all vital organs (liver, heart, stomach, spleen etc)• Unani physicians says that

stress affects mainly to the heart• Becoz heart is the origin of

all faculties of the body.

Example of Heart & Brain• Quwwate nafsania buys its matter

from roohe qalb or roohe haivaniya.• then it matured in brain and becomes

roohe nafsaaniya (Psychic force)• roohe nafsaaniya in a usable form for

quwate nafsaniya• Since heart is the origin of all

faculties of the body. • This may be the reason that in most

of psychiatric diseases cardiovascular symptoms especially palpitation is also present.

GIT related Complaints

• Some patients are coming with Gastritis, diarrheas, Acidity

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or spastic colon (chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits).

• Diarrhea or constipation• As physicians we are treating

symptomatically

EFFECTS ON IMMUNE SYSTEM

• Recurrent infections,• weight loss, • Tuberculosis etc• Treating by anti infectious medicine

, Anti bacterial, Anti viral etc• Nut we should have to know why

this patient is suffering from recurrent infections

• We know Cortisol levels are inversely proportional to immunity.

• We have to find out stress – an important cause.

EFFECTS ON CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

• Some patients present with

• tachycardia,• hypertension,• hyperlipidemia, • It may be due to High

cortisol level due to stress.

Stress worsens may cause skin conditions such as

• Some patients present with

• Allergic reactions, psoriasis, eczema, acne.

• We are treating these conditions by local medicines , ointments etc.

• Unani scholars also says that • Stress is reaction of people to the

problems • Problems may be: the work, own

(personal), environment, surroundings.• Reaction may be positive or negative,

More or less

• Reactions /respond of people to the particular problems depend on the Mizaj of that person

Safravi & Saudavi Mizaj person’s are prone for the PSD

Because Safra has hararat & Yabusat (Heat & Dryness)

& Sauda has Baroodat & Yabusat (Cold &

Dryness) The common condition in

Psychosomatic diseases is extreme level of dryness

Extreme Dryness is common which

leads to Psychosomatic

Disorders

Extreme Cold & Dryness (Sue

Mizaj Sauda)

Extreme Heat & Dryness (Sue

Mizaj Safra)

Disturbances in Asbab-e-Sitta Zarooriyah

Hawa-Muheet(Atmospheric

Air)

Makoolat wa Mashroobat

(Foods & Drinks)

Harkatwa Sukoon-e-Badni

(Physical Movements & Rest)

Harkat wa Sukoon-e-Nafsani

(Mental Movements & Rest)

Noam wa Yaqza (Sleep &

Wakefulness)

Approach through Unani System

• Preventive measures: prevent health of a healthy person

• Curative measures: treat the diseases person

As a preventive measures

• U have to adopts the healthy lifestyle (Asbab Sitta Zarooriya)

• Ilaj Bil Ghiza • Ilaj Bil Tadbeer

As a curative measures•Elimination of the existing causes •Correction of the Sue Mizaj •Strengthening the heart and mind•Ilaj Bil Dawa

U have to adopts the healthy lifestyle (Asbab Sitta Zarooriya)

• Adaptive changes must be introduced to make the patient comfortable and happy.

• living in clean, well ventilated house• Sound Sleep• Dress colors (specially wear green, whit - cooling

effects color)• Visiting hill stations, parks, etc• Viewing plays, movies etc.• Hearing pleasant religious recitation.• Being in the company of religious people,• Listening to interesting stories• Reading books,• Participating in mentally challenging games, quiz• Participating in competitions ,debates, etc.

There are certain prohibitions too

• Avoid living in small congested houses,

• Avoid black red colors• Over exertion, anxiety, worry,

starving, being lonely and insomnia etc

DIET THERAPY (ILAJ BIL GHIZA )• EAT TO BEAT STRESS• Good nutrition (fruits, vegetables etc)• Good diet plan (Breakfast, lunch & Dinner)• Increasing ‘immune system enhancing’ nutrients• Avoiding certain foods which is harmful to health:• Tea, coffee, cocoa, energy drinks• Fast foods• Excessive Sugar• Alcohol• Soft drinks etc

Milk

• a glass of warm milk to reduce stress.

• rich in calcium, complete diet• Researchers have found calcium

can reduce muscle spasms and soothe tension, reduced anxiety

All berries & Oranges (strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries)

• highest levels of an antioxidant

• sharper cognition. • Rich in vitamin C -helpful in

combating stress. • Researchers studies shows

regular intake of vitamin C reduces levels of cortisol

Almonds (Badaam)

• Rich source of vitamins• Vitamin E to boost the

immune system• Vitamin B sharp the

memory

Cashew - Kajoo

• It is great snacks• Good source of zinc• Research shows that low

levels of zinc produces anxiety and depression.

Pistachios (Pista)

• Researches shows that Pista may reduce the stress

• Reduces Adrenaline and raises blood pressure

Avocados

• One of the best ways to reduce high blood pressure is to get enough potassium

• Sharp the memory• Immunity boosting

Garlic (Lahsun)

• It is powerful antioxidants.• Cleanser • Its neutralize free radicals

(particles that damage our cells, cause diseases)

• Main constituent is allicin which reducing cholesterol, heart disease and boost the immune system etc.

Menthol (Pudina)

• It is also antioxidant• Reduce stress and anxiety,• Help in alertness (physically

and mentally)- Muharrik

Spinach (Palak)

• It is rich in magnesium • If magnesium reduces , it may

trigger headaches, fatigue etc• Magnesium helps regulate

cortisol levels.

Gourd (Karela)and cucumber (Kheera)

• Gourd and cucumber are recommended for those patients, who suffering from chronic stress.

• Diuretics

Oily fish (Salmon)

• Keep cortisol and adrenaline in control

• Omega-3 fatty acids, may prevent from stress and protect from heart disease.

• Study shows to eat fish at least twice a week sharpen the memory power.

Combat Stress Physically

• Exercise, Walking, Playing etc

• Body releases endorphins, which fight the stress,”

Combat Stress Psychologically(4 Golden rules)

• Erase any negative thoughts • Adopt a positive attitude • Listen to your emotions • Relax your mind

REGIMENAL THERAPIES • Munzij wa mushil

(purgation) therapy• Takmeed, Tikor, Pashoya

(fomentation) • Taareeq (Sweating)

NUTOOL (POURING OF OIL)

• It has psycho-neuro-immunologic effects

• It releases Serotonin-(Anti stress) key neurotransmitter for feeling good

• it improve the cerebral circulation,

• cerebral function, • Anxiolysis• It suppress of noradrenaline,

PHARMACO THERAPY

(single drugs)

Malkangni (Celastrus paniculatus)

Matricaria recutita (Babuna)

Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) Badranjboya

Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)

Withania Somnifera, (Asgand Nagoori ),Ashwagandha

Emblica officinalis (Amla)

Lactuca scariola (Tukhme Kahu)

Lavandula Stoechas ( Ustakhudoos)

COMPOUND FORMULATIONS

• Itrifalat (Itrifal ustukhuddos)• Jawarishat (jawarish Jalinoos)• Sharbat (Sharbat Ahmed shahi)• Haboob (tablets) (Habbe Shifa)• Inhalations (Sabzam)

Local Applications

Simple formula for healthy life

Follow the Unani principles and live a healthy life

(mentally as well as physically)

Management of psychosomatic disorders