A Systematic Review of COPD from the Perspectives of Greco-Arabic and Modern Medicine.

CONTEXT: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has heightened concerns about respiratory system disorders. In Unani Medicine's literature, chronic bronchitis, referred to as Iltihab al-Shu'ab Muzmin, is significant within the realm of respiratory disorders.

OBJECTIVE

The study intended to examine the perspectives of Greco-Arabic physicians, from Raban Tabari to Azam Khan, as well as that of Western physicians, exploring the definitions, signs, symptoms, pathophysiology, diagnosis, principles of treatment, and preventive measures for chronic bronchitis.

DESIGN

The research team performed a narrative review by reviewing important Unani classical textbooks and by searching scientific databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar from their dates of inception until August 2023. The search used the keywords chronic bronchitis, Iltihab al-Shu'ab Muzmin, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, Unani, and Greco-Arabic.

SETTING

The study took place at the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Patna, India.

RESULTS

The alignment between the symptoms that Unani physicians categorize as Su'al (cough) and Iltihab al-Shu'ab Muzmin (chronic bronchitis) is evident.

CONCLUSIONS

Unani philosophers have described risk factors, clinical features, pathology, and principles of management, showing farsightedness a thousand years ago. Contemporary Unani practitioners may obtain guidance from the work of the system's stalwarts.