Physiological perspective of Hirsutism in Unani Medicine: An Overview and Update

Unani Medicine (Greeko Arabian Medicine) is bestowed with a vast literature of gynaecologicaland endocrine afflictions like hirsutism. Hirsutism is characterized by excessive terminal hair growth in female like male. Despite various treatment modalities available such as mechanical, cosmetic and pharmacological, not a single remedy is effective competently to ameliorate it. Although many studies have been conducted on hirsutism, majority of the published work concerning management with herbs shows considerable shortcomings.Therefore the aim of this article is to review the ancient physiological concept of hirsutism present in Unani system of Medicine in the light of available new information and to appraise the effects of herbs on hirsutism with an objective to update the current knowledge. Rigorous literature search was done to understand the physiology and management of hirsutism described in ancient Unani literature. Literature was also searched on PubMed/Google Scholar in order to achieve high quality evidences.Herbs like Pudina, Daarchini, Neem, Kalonji, Saunf, Soy, Nut grass andSaw Palmettomay modulate the underlying endocrine and metabolic disturbances responsible for hirsutism directly or indirectly by anti-androgenic, estrogenic, hypolipidaemic, hypoglycemic and insulin sensitizing properties, but the evidences are weak.