A Comprehensive Unani Perspective on Cholera (Haiza)

Cholera, a life-threatening diarrhoeal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, remains a major public health concern in low-resource settings. In the Unani system of medicine, cholera referred to as Haiza is recognized as a severe and acute intestinal illness primarily caused by indigestion or the consumption of contaminated or spoiled food. The disease manifests through the expulsion of toxic substances via vomiting and diarrhoea, with the dominant humor - safrawi (bilious) or balghami (phlegmatic) determining the route of elimination. Unani scholars identify poor dietary habits, excessive food intake, and environmental contamination as key causes, with outbreaks commonly occurring during summer and autumn. Clinical symptoms include foul-smelling watery stools, vomiting, dehydration, weak pulse, and spasms. This paper presents an integrative analysis combining contemporary biomedical insights with traditional Unani medical interpretations. We explore the aetiology, clinical manifestations, and epidemiological determinants of cholera, alongside a detailed exposition of Unani concepts of Haiza, including causation, symptomatology, and classical treatments. The synthesis highlights the potential of integrative models in understanding and managing epidemic diseases within socio-cultural contexts and applicability of antient unani approach in recent time.