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ʿIlāj bi’l-Yad: Surgical Wisdom in Unani Medicine


⚔️ Post #11: ʿIlāj bi’l-Yad (Surgery in Unani Medicine)

Assalāmu ʿAlaikum dear readers,
Welcome back to Tibbology Times! After exploring Drug Therapy (ʿIlāj bi’l-Dawā’), Dietotherapy (ʿIlāj bi’l-Ghidhā’), and Regimenal Therapy (ʿIlāj bi’l-Tadbīr), today we turn to another vital branch of Unani healing — ʿIlāj bi’l-Yad (Surgery).

This method deals with manual and surgical interventions for conditions that cannot be managed by medicine or regimen alone. Unani physicians saw surgery as a last resort, but when necessary, it was practiced with great skill and precision.

🔹 Historical Roots

  • Al-Zahrāwī (Albucasis) — Known as the “Father of Modern Surgery,” his book Kitāb al-Taṣrīf described over 200 surgical instruments and detailed procedures for cauterization, lithotomy, fracture management, and wound care.

  • Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna) — In Al-Qānūn fi’l-Ṭibb, he emphasized surgery as an extension of medicine, guided by anatomy and physiology.

  • Early Unani Surgeons — Practiced bloodletting, abscess drainage, fracture reduction, cauterization, tonsillectomy, and even dental surgeries.

🔹 Principles of ʿIlāj bi’l-Yad

  • Surgery as a Last Option – Performed only when diet, medicine, and regimen fail.

  • Knowledge of Anatomy – Essential for safe and effective operations.

  • Use of Instruments (Alat-e-Jarāḥat) – Specially designed tools for cutting, cauterizing, and suturing.

  • Asepsis & Wound Care – Herbal antiseptics, honey dressings, and oils were used for healing and preventing infection.

  • Pain Management – Early use of herbal sedatives and cooling agents for comfort.

⚔️ Common Surgical Practices in Unani Medicine

  • Fasd (Venesection / Phlebotomy) – Removal of impure blood for balancing humors.

  • Hijāmah bi’l-Sharṭ (Wet Cupping with Incision) – Therapeutic bloodletting for pain, hypertension, and toxins.

  • Kay (Cauterization) – Using heated metal to stop bleeding, treat tumors, or sterilize wounds.

  • Jabr al-ʿIẓām (Fracture Reduction & Bone Setting) – Realignment of broken bones with splints.

  • Istisqāʾ Treatment – Surgical removal of fluid in cases of dropsy.

  • Dental & Oral Surgeries – Extraction, cauterization, and tonsil removal.

🔹 Comparison: Unani Surgery vs Modern Surgery

Aspect Unani (ʿIlāj bi’l-Yad) Modern Surgery
Approach Last resort after diet, drugs, and regimen Often primary treatment for severe conditions
Instruments Basic but innovative (scalpels, cautery, forceps) Advanced tools, robotics, laparoscopy
Anesthesia Herbal sedatives, cooling agents Local, regional, and general anesthesia
Asepsis Herbal antiseptics, honey, oils Sterilization, antibiotics
Scope Bloodletting, cautery, fractures, minor surgeries From minor to highly complex surgeries

✨ Summary

ʿIlāj bi’l-Yad (Surgery) represents the practical and manual skill of Unani medicine. While Unani scholars prioritized diet, drugs, and regimens, they acknowledged that some diseases require surgical intervention. Their contributions laid the foundation for modern surgical science, especially through the works of Al-Zahrāwī.

💡 Stay tuned!
In Post #14, we will explore ʿIlāj bi’l-Rūḥ (Psychotherapy in Unani Medicine) — the fascinating branch that addresses mental, emotional, and spiritual health.


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