Diqq al-Shaykhūkha and Sarcopenia: A Historical and Conceptual Review of Muscle Wasting in Old Age

Background: Age-related decline in muscle mass and function is a significant contributor to morbidity in the elderly. In modern medicine, this condition is recognized as sarcopenia. Classical Unani literature describes a comparable condition termed Diqq al-Shaykhūkha, characterized by progressive weakness and wasting in old age. Objective: To explore the historical and conceptual understanding of Diqq al-Shaykhūkha in Unani medicine and to compare it with the modern biomedical concept of sarcopenia. Methods: A narrative and historical review was conducted. Classical Unani texts, including works of Ibn Sīnā, Rāzī, and Jurjānī, were analyzed for descriptions of aging and wasting disorders. Contemporary literature on sarcopenia was retrieved from databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords. A comparative thematic analysis was performed. Results: The analysis revealed substantial similarities between Diqq al-Shaykhūkha and sarcopenia in terms of age of onset, progressive muscle wasting, associated weakness, and contributing factors such as inadequate nutrition and reduced physical activity. While Unani medicine explains the condition through concepts like diminished Harārat Gharīziyya and increased dryness, modern medicine attributes it to multifactorial mechanisms including aging, inflammation, and hormonal changes. Preventive strategies in both systems emphasize diet and physical activity. Conclusion: Diqq al-Shaykhūkha can be regarded as an early conceptualization of age-related muscle wasting analogous to sarcopenia. Recognizing this relationship highlights the continuity of medical knowledge across traditions and supports the integration of historical insights into contemporary geriatric research.