Overview

Unani and Greco-Arab medicine refer to the same tradition. The word reflects the important Greek foundations of the tradition, particularly the medical philosophy associated with Hippocrates and Galen. However, Unani medicine developed far beyond its Greek origins through the extensive contributions of Arab, Persian, Central Asian, South Asian and other physicians and scholars.

Unani should therefore not be understood as meaning “purely Greek medicine.” It is a medical tradition with Greek foundations that was extensively developed, refined and expanded across the Islamic world and South Asia. Unani is the commonly used name, including in official and international usage, while Greco-Arab describes the tradition’s origins more completely.

In both of these expressions, Tibb simply means medicine or the practice of medicine, and the qualifying word identifies the tradition or source:

Tibb-e-Unani means Unani medicine, which is in essence Greco-Arab medicine.
Tibb-e-Nabawi refers to the health guidance, practices and remedies attributed in transmitted reports to the blessed life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

In its broadest sense the term refers to a practitioner of medicine and is not inherently restricted to one system. Historically, its usage has varied by time, place and medical tradition. Conceptually, a practitioner of Greco-Arab/Unani medicine, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine or another recognized system may be described as a physician or medical practitioner.

The exact professional title depends on the nomenclature and regulatory framework of the relevant system and country. In Pakistan today, Tabib is also the formal term for practitioners of Unani medicine (Tibb-e-Unani) registered with the National Council for Tibb.

The title is mainly associated with Tibb-e-Unani. The word comes from the Arabic root h-k-m, associated with wisdom, judgment and hikmah. Traditionally it conveyed more than the ability to treat disease: it implied a physician with learning, wisdom, clinical judgment and a deeper understanding of the principles of medicine.

The distinction between Tabib and Hakim should not be overstated as though they were universally standardized professional grades; their meanings and usage have varied historically and geographically. The difference between a general physician and a specialist is also not unique to Unani medicine: modern and traditional systems alike distinguish practitioners with general training from those who develop advanced expertise in a particular field.

The professional title Hakim should also be distinguished from الحكیم Al-Hakim, one of the Divine Names of Allah SWT, which carries a specific theological meaning. Some therefore prefer other titles for human practitioners. This is a matter of nomenclature and theological interpretation, not a scientific classification of medical practitioners.

A practitioner may be called a Mualij because of the therapeutic role they perform, whether their practice is Unani, biomedical, Ayurvedic or another recognized system. The word describes the function of treating patients; it does not specify a degree, specialty or academic qualification, and may not necessarily be equated technically with “General Physician” or “GP.”

Vaidya is the standard term. Vaid is a shorter form of the same word, and Kabiraj is used in Bengali and some other regional dialects.

A Vaidya is trained in Ayurveda’s principles of diagnosis, treatment, diet and lifestyle. Ayurveda is a medical system that developed in South Asia over thousands of years.

Patients in China use Yisheng for any medical doctor, whether trained in Western or traditional medicine. Zhongyi means Chinese medicine, and is also used for its practitioners.

A TCM practitioner is trained in diagnosis, treatment, diet and lifestyle, using approaches such as herbal formulas and acupuncture.

In contemporary South Asian usage, “doctor” is commonly used as a broad professional term for qualified healthcare practitioners who diagnose and treat patients. However, the title “doctor” and possession of a doctoral research degree are not synonymous. Professional healthcare degrees, which combine years of academic study with supervised clinical training (for example, five years of study and a one-year house job), and academic doctorates are different types of qualification.

A PhD is awarded for original research of high merit, and its holder is also addressed as doctor.

The term is closely associated with Hk. Muhammad Said’s vision of bringing these traditions together with contemporary medical sciences in an integrated curriculum. In Pakistan, BEMS is the Greco-Arab qualification within this wider field.

Natural-medicine programs of comparable length and clinical depth abroad are generally described as naturopathic medicine, and their graduates are known as Naturopathic Doctors (ND) where the law provides for the title. Like BEMS, these programs combine an integrated curriculum with research-based correlation to modern medical sciences. In Pakistan, BEMS is regulated by the National Council for Tibb.

In Pakistan, the National Council for Tibb has recommended “Natural Medicine Doctor” as the professional title for qualified BEMS graduates. This is a Council recommendation only, and the title remains subject to applicable law and the approval of the Federal Government.

Abroad, regulated long-duration naturopathic medical programs lead to titles such as Naturopathic Doctor (ND) where the law of that jurisdiction provides for them.

A practitioner who also completes an M.Phil and a Ph.D in Eastern Medicine adds a research and academic specialization.

BEMS is a distinct professional degree, recognized by the Higher Education Commission, with practitioners registered by the National Council for Tibb. It does not by itself confer the registration or scope of practice of an MBBS or any other separately regulated profession.