Unani
From RationalWiki
This topic is a pseudoscience, and is not accepted by the scientific community as a valid discipline.
Although it may use scientific terminology, it does not use scientific methodology.
Remember: just because it sounds right doesn't mean it's actually right.
- Not to be confused with punani.
Unani is a form of alternative medicine which is based on some unscientific beliefs - which, of course, is why Unani is alternative medicine. It originated in ancient Greece and was later used in the Islamic empires of the Near East during the Middle Ages.[1]
Unani is based on the belief that the human body contains four "elements" called fire, water, earth, and air. This concept originates from the theory of Four Humours imagined by the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. Imbalances in the "elements" were believed to be the cause of illness. While this belief has no scientific basis, contemporary adherents still try to propagate these beliefs as science.
Worryingly, Unani has quite a large infrastructure in south Asian countries such as India and Pakistan, and it is taught in government-recognized universities. It also has a limited presence in the Western world.[2][3]
[edit] Footnotes
| Alternative medicine articles on RationalWiki | ||
|---|---|---|
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