Diagnosis and Management of Dysmenorrhea in Unani (Greeko-Arab) System of Medicine

Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecologic disorder among the female adolescents that affects more than half of women of 18-25 years and is one of the leading cause of their recurrent short-term absenteeism in schools and workplaces. Dysmenorrhea refers to painful menstruation and the painful cramps in the lower abdomen is associated with one or more symptoms like sweating, lower backache, fatigue, diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and in severe cases syncope etc. Pain is often not completely relieved by conventional medicines and the medicine has also its own side effects on the human body therefore, it is need of time to understand the traditionally documented therapeutic options, which has no adverse effect on the human body. Unani physicians have described the various causes and management of dysmenorrhea under the heading of waje rehm / dard rehm/ usre tams in the unani literatures. They have also mentioned some herbal drugs and unani compound formulations in unani classical literatures for treatment of usre tams (dysmenorrhea). The review article focuses on the unani concept about dysmenorrhea, its diagnosis and management in unani system of medicine. It also highlights some of the herbal drugs and unani compound formulations used in the management of dysmenorrhea.