Heat Therapy: Concept, Mechanism and Application in Unani Medicine

Application of heat either generalised or localised is among various means employed in Unani medicine for promoting health, preventing as well as treating diseases. The concept of hotness (Ḥarārat) and application of physical heat have been in vogue during different periods of human civilization and it exists even today with certain modifications. Unani medicine offers various methods for the application of mild to moderate heat that includes Turkish bath (Ḥammām), massage (Dalk), cupping (Ḥijāma), sitz bath (Ābzan), inducing diaphoresis (Ta‘rīq), douche (Naṭūl), vapour bath (Inkibāb) and footbath (Pāshoya). Heating modalities are commonly used by Unani physicians for relieving pain and stiffness, relaxing muscles, increasing blood circulation, liquefying the sticky and adherent humours lodged in the peripheral tissues and reducing inflammation. Application of severe heat also finds a place among various modes of treatment mentioned in Unani medicine. Cauterisation (Kayy) is the mode that is employed for the stoppage of bleeding, removing putrefactive matter and destroying lesions. Unani medicine offers classical methods and instruments for heat therapy used for centuries for the promotion of health, prevention and management of diseases. Heat therapy has been found considerably effective in managing certain health problems and diseases.