Unani and Ayurvedic dietetics: A comparative review of traditional nutritional sciences

Abstract

Background: Unani and Ayurvedic medicine are traditional holistic systems emphasizing the role of diet in maintaining health and managing disease. Unani, rooted in Greco-Arabic traditions, focuses on humoral balance, while Ayurveda, from Indian philosophy, centers on Tridosha equilibrium. Both promote individualized dietary practices based on constitution and environmental factors.Objective: This review compares the principles, classifications, and applications of dietetics in Unani and Ayurveda, highlighting shared and distinctive approaches to nutrition and health.Methods: A comparative analysis of classical Unani and Ayurvedic sources, supported by modern interpretations, examined key dietary concepts Ilāj bi’l Taghdhiya in Unani and Pathya in Ayurveda focusing on their classifications, therapeutic roles, and individualized recommendations to identify similarities and differences.Results: Unani categorizes foods by effects on humors, digestibility, and chyme quality, while Ayurveda classifies them based on Rasa (taste), Virya (potency), and Vipaka (post-digestive effect). Both systems emphasize mindful eating, seasonal adjustments, and avoidance of incompatible food combinations (Viruddha Ahara). Unani focuses on temperament (Mizāj), whereas Ayurveda prioritizes constitutional type (Prakriti).Conclusion: Unani and Ayurveda offer individualized dietary frameworks that promote preventive and therapeutic care, enriching holistic approaches to nutrition.