Majoon Falasfa: A Boon from Unani Medicine for Elderly

Abstract

Geriatric medicine or clinical gerontology, as a branch of medical sciences specifically deals with health problems as well as care and treatment of older people. Old age can’t be healed but it can be promoted, prevented and extended which is in fact a basic principle of preventive medicine. There is clear consensus that elderly population comprises a collection of biomedical factors which influence an individual’s physiological state in a way that reduces his or her capacity to withstand environmental stresses. The outcome of this contributes to an increased demand for medical and social care and is associated with increased economic costs. Hence, it has become a matter of increasing urgency to look for ways to maintain and improve the functional abilities of ageing people, to help them cope independently in the community and ultimately, to raise the quality of their lives. Unani medicine counts a number of single and compound drugs like Asgand (Withenia somnifera), Amla (Emblica officinalis), Zanjabeel (Zingiber officinale), Garlic (Allium sativa), Zafraan (Crocus sativa), Kalonji (Nigella sativa), Elva (Aloe barbadensis), Tiryaq Wabai, Majoon Lana, Majoon Falasfa, etc. for the preservation and promotion of health of elderly persons. Some of the drugs studied in recent years demonstrate promising effect. Majoon Falasfa, a polyherbal sugar based semisolid preparation of Unani system of medicine, is one with beneficial effects in neurological, digestive, urinary and various chronic and debilitating disorders, especially in geriatric population and has such a reputation that it has been called as Madaat-ul Hayat, i.e., elixir of life. This paper is an attempt to highlight the role of this ancient compound formulation in geriatric population.

Keywords: Geriatric medicine, elderly, Unani medicine, majoon falasfa