Taryaq-i-Waba‘i: A review on Potent Compound Formulation of Unani Medicine with special reference to epidemic/pandemic diseases

Unani System of medicine is one among the oldest systems practiced all over the world. Hippocrates, father of medicine also known as father of epidemiology was the first who had written about the diseases which spread as epidemic or pandemic. After him Galen had mentioned the prevention and management of pandemic/epidemic diseases, and given several drugs for its management. A large number of Unani crude drug and compound formulations have been mentioned in the context of the prevention and management of Waba’i Amrad.  Mostly all the Waba’i Amrad have pyrexia with other symptoms according to the involvement of systemic organs. One of the most important formulation is Taryaq-i-Waba‘i, a poly herbal pharmaceutical preparation, in the form of Pills (Huboob), and is cited by almost all the physicians of Unani Medicine viz; Jalinus, Azam Khan, Ajmal Khan, Kabiruddin etc. in their treatises.  In Unani system of medicine, Amrad-i-Waba‘i is described under a broad term which encompasses various contagious diseases which occurs due to impairment of environmental conditions related to air, and water. This compound formulation contains four ingredients, includes Aloe, Myrrh, Crocus and rose water. It is indicated as antidote, anti-epidemic and used for the treatment of epidemic fever, poisonous bites etc. There is no any scientific study has been done on the formulation but it is used by Unani practitioners since time immemorial. So here a brief description of the compound and its ingredients on the scientific basis is being presented for further study on the basis of Amrad-i-Waba‘i.  Keywords: Taryaq-i-Waba‘i, Epidemic/Pandemic, Crocus sativus, Unani Medicine.