A Greco-Arabic tradition that took root in India centuries ago. For visitors from the Gulf, Central Asia and North Africa, its language — tibb, mizaj, hijama — often feels familiar.
- Roots: Hippocrates, Galen, Ibn Sina
- Arrived in India: Medieval period
- Practitioner degree: BUMS
- Regulator: NCISM
On this page
From Greece to Delhi
Unani comes from Yunan, the Arabic and Persian name for Greece. The system begins with the ideas of Hippocrates and Galen, which Arab and Persian physicians such as al-Razi (Rhazes) and Ibn Sina (Avicenna), author of the Canon of Medicine, developed into a great medical tradition.
Unani physicians — hakims — came to India in the medieval period and flourished under royal patronage in Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad and elsewhere. India now has one of the largest networks of Unani colleges, hospitals and practitioners in the world.
Unani is recognised under the Ministry of AYUSH. Practitioners train for the BUMS degree (Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery) and register with NCISM or a state board. There are national institutes in Bengaluru and research institutes in Hyderabad and elsewhere.
The core ideas
Dam (blood), balgham (phlegm), safra (yellow bile) and sauda (black bile).
Each person has an individual temperament — hot, cold, moist or dry in varying degrees — that guides diet and routine.
Asbab-e-sitta zarooriya: air, food and drink, movement and rest, sleep and wakefulness, emotional state, and retention and elimination.
Regimenal therapies (ilaj bil tadbeer)
Alongside diet and preparations prescribed by the hakim, Unani uses a group of hands-on therapies known as ilaj bil tadbeer. You may meet hijama (cupping, dry or wet), dalak (massage), riyazat (exercise), hammam (therapeutic bathing) and takmeed (fomentation). Each is chosen by the hakim after a consultation.
Hijama in particular should only be performed by a registered practitioner in hygienic conditions with single-use equipment. We check this for every centre.
Therapies you may meet
Cupping therapy, dry or wet, performed by a registered practitioner with single-use equipment.
Unani massage, from gentle to vigorous, chosen according to your temperament.
Therapeutic bathing with warm water and steam, part of the Unani regimenal therapies.
Warm or cold compresses, dry or moist, applied to the body.
Wet cupping is not suitable for everyone, including people taking blood thinners or with certain blood or skin conditions. The hakim screens you first; tell them every medicine you take.
Official sources
- Ministry of Ayush, Government of India
- National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM)
- Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine
Rules, registrations and visa terms change. Where this page and an official source differ, the official source applies.
Questions guests ask
Is halal food available?
Yes, centres in Delhi NCR and elsewhere can usually arrange halal food. Tell your concierge and we will confirm it with the centre in writing before you book.
Can a female practitioner treat me?
Yes, where you prefer it. We ask for women hakims and therapists on request.
Is hijama in India done by doctors?
At the centres we work with, hijama is performed or supervised by a registered Unani practitioner. Ask your concierge for the practitioner’s registration details.
