September/October 2026 Vol 40.5Concept of Urolithiasis in Unani Medicine: Traditional Approaches and Contemporary Insights
Authors: Wasim Ahmad MD, Muhammad Murshid VN MD, Sabba Saltanat MD, Shahevar Sayyed MD
Abstract:
Background: 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.
Aims and Objectives: 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.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted by scrutinizing classical Unani texts and contemporary scientific knowledge. Classical texts like Ka¯mil us Sana??T, Al Qa¯nu¯n fit Tibb,Zakhi¯ra Khw¯arzim Sha¯hi, Kita¯b Al Miah, Ghina Muna, Kitab al Mukhta¯ra¯t fit Tibb, Kita¯b ut Taisi¯r, and Kita¯b al Kulli¯ya¯t 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 ??ourolithiasis??? and Hi¯s?a¯t al Kulya. Manuscripts were assessed from both theoretical and clinical perspectives on urolithiasis, and these were featured in the study.
Conclusion: Unani medicine, rooted in humoral theory, emphasizes health and disease based on the Kayfiyat (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??Ts empirical observations. This paper explores the Unani perspective on Urolithiasis, showcasing its clinical relevance even today. (Adv Mind Body Med. [E-pub ahead of print.])
