Qūbā (Dermatophytosis): Conceptual Framework, Clinical Manifestations, and Therapeutic Management in Unani Medicine

Background: Qūbā is a well-documented dermatological disorder in the Unani System of Medicine, described extensively in classical Greco-Arab medical literature. The Unani understanding of Qūbā is grounded in the theory of Akhlāṭ-i-Arbaʿa (Four Humours), which explains health and disease as a result of balance or imbalance among the humours. Classical physicians such as Hippocrates, Zakariya Razi, Ibn Sina, and Ismail Jurjani provided systematic accounts of Qūbā, encompassing its etiology, clinical features, classification, and principles of management based on humoral pathology. Objective: The objective of this review is to present a structured and comprehensive overview of Qūbā from a Unani perspective, highlighting its humoral basis, clinical spectrum, and traditional management strategies, while correlating classical concepts with contemporary medical understanding. Methods: Classical Unani texts were reviewed to analyze descriptions related to the definition, etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and classification of Qūbā. Emphasis was placed on the role of morbid humours, particularly Sawdā (black bile), and the principles of treatment advocated by eminent Unani scholars. Relevant modern medical literature was also consulted to establish conceptual correlation. Results: According to Unani doctrine, Qūbā arises due to derangement of humoral equilibrium, primarily involving Sawdā along with thin, irritating humours. These morbid materials are diverted toward the skin by the body’s natural protective force, resulting in characteristic cutaneous manifestations. Clinically, Qūbā presents with itching, burning, scaling, and sometimes discharge, depending on the dominant humour. In modern medical terminology, Qūbā closely corresponds to dermatophytosis, a superficial fungal infection of keratinized tissues caused by dermatophytes. Conclusion: Qūbā represents a classical example of a skin disorder with a well-defined humoral explanation and a holistic therapeutic approach in Unani medicine. Understanding its classical framework provides valuable insight into individualized management and facilitates meaningful correlation with modern dermatology.