An Overview of Waja uz Zahr (Low Back Pain) and its Management in Unani System of Medicine

Abstract

There is a comprehensive description of waja ul mafasil (bone and joint diseases) in classical Unani literature. Almost all ancient Unani Scholars have described waja uz zahr under the broad heading of waja ul mafasil in detail along with its clinical features, etiopathogenesis, complications and management in their treatises. In Unani system of medicine, low back pain (Waja uz Zahr) is described as a disease in which pain arises from internal and external muscles, ligaments surrounding the lumbar and lumbosacral region. According to the Ibne Sina and Zakaria Razi the most common causative matter of waja uz zahr is kham balgham (ghair tabyee balgham), which is formed due to defective metabolism of second and third stages of digestion, i.e. hazme kabidi and hazme urooqi. LBP (low back pain) is the most prevalent musculoskeletal condition and the most common cause of disability in developed nations. Almost everyone has at least one episode of low back pain during their lives. Waja (pain) can be alleviated by removing its cause or can be relieved by substances producing cold and analgesia, but the first is the real alleviating factor. Unani system offers a very effective treatment for this disease.