Understanding disease in Unani medicine: A comparative review of Su-e-Mizaj and modern pathophysiological mechanisms

Abstract

Unani medicine attributes disease to a fundamental disturbance in the balance of Mizaj (temperament), termed Su-e-Mizaj, which reflects an imbalance in the qualitative states of the body—hot, cold, moist, and dry. In contrast, modern biomedical science views disease primarily as the result of dysfunction at the cellular or molecular level, including genetic mutations, immune dysregulation, or metabolic imbalances. This comparative review aims to explore how both systems conceptualize disease onset and progression, highlighting parallels and divergences. Bridging the holistic perspective of Unani medicine with reductionist biomedical models offers a broader understanding of disease causation and opens possibilities for integrative therapeutic strategies.