Journal of - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

Graeco-Arabic Concept of Narfarsi (Eczema)
Md. Nafis IQBAL, Anis A ANSARI, Khalid Z. KHAN
ally caused by Khilte Haad which is bilious in nature”
[3].
Similar description is present in the manuscripts of renowned
Unani physician, like Abul Mansoorul Hasan Qamri
(990AD) quoted:
يف ضرعت بيهلو ةكح اهنإف يسرافلا رانلا امأو“‏
اقيقر ءام ةئلتمم تاخافن اهدعب ثدحي قرحلا ةديدش ءاضعألا
‏)ىنم ىنغ(‏ ‏«.هتدحو مدلا ةرثك هببسو
“Narfarsi is a Waram (inflammation) associated with
Khujli (itching) and Sozish (burning) on touching” [4].
Ahmad Al Hasan Jurjani (1200AD), Ibne Hubul Baghdadi
(1234AD) and Ibnul Qaf Maseehi (1233AD), had also
described the disease in their manuscripts [5,6,7].
Nafees Bin Auz Al Kirmani (1448AD), described the
disease as:
لك لاقي نافدارتم نامسا اهنإ ‏:ةيسرافلا رانلاو ةرمجلا“‏
ببسب ةشيركشخلل ثدحم قرحم طقنم لاكألا رثب امهنم
سنج نم رثب هعم ناك امب ةيسرافلا رانلا تصخ امبرو قرحلا
نفعتلا ةليلق ةيوارفص ةدام نم طيقنتو يعس هيف ةلمنلا
‏(يسيفن تاجلاعم)”ءادوسلا ةليلقو
“Jamra and Narfarsi are often used as synonymous terms.
The corrosive substance is supposed to cause itching and
burning and hence it is termed as Narfarsi. Sometime there
is formation of blisters which slowly spread and cause irritation.
It is believed that there is involvement of such a Safravi
Madda (bilious substance) that does not get infected” [8].
As quoted by Dawood Antaki (1541-1599AD):
نألو سرفلا يف هترثكل كلذب يمس ‏:يسراف ران“‏
ةرمح رانلا قرح هبشت هيف ةنئاكلا روثبلاو راشتنالا
رهظو لكآت وأ انايحأ رادتساو اطوطخ لاطتسا امبرو ابهلتو
ةركذت)‏ ‏«.قيقر مد ريسي عم يوارفص طلخ هتدامو ‏.ةعرسب
‏(بابلألا يلوأ
“The name Narfarsi is given to this disease because it
is more prevalent in Faras, and there is intense itching and
burning in the lesion” [9]
Akbar Arzani (1721AD), Haider Ali Khan (1294Hijri)
and Mohammad Azam Khan (1813-1902AD) also described
the disease in their valuable texts [10,11,12].
Going through the manuscripts of the period after Ibne
Sina, it can be inferred that most of the Unani physicians
of the later period has followed the path of Ibne Sina and
described the disease merely with little language difference.
Definitions of Narfarsi by ancient scholars
The word “Eczema” is derived from a Greek Word
“Ekzein” which means to boil out [13-15]. In Unani system
of medicine, the eczema is known as “Narfarsi,” “Chajan”
and “Akota” [16].
ISHIM 2011-2012
Abul Mansoorul Hasan Qamri (990AD), author of
“Ghina Muna” describes that Narfarsi is a Waram (inflammation)
associated with Khujli (itching) and Sozish (burning)
on touching” [4].
Ahmad Al Hasan Jurjani (1200AD), author of “Zakhirae
Khawarizm Shahi” describes, that Narfarsi are the vesicles
associated with intense burning and itching [5].
According to Abul Hasan Ahmad Bin Mohammad Tabri,
Narfarsi is the disease in which large blisters are formed
accompanied with severe burning and pain. In this disease,
skin becomes Ghaleez (thick), disease does not spread itself
in skin, rather it spreads locally at its own place. ‘Raqeeq Khilt’
that is responsible for the causation of the disease becomes
dissolve (Tahleel) and ‘Ghaleez Khilt’ remain in the body [16].
Akbar Arzani, and Ahmad Al Hasan Jurjani, renowned
Unani scholars described in their respective manuscripts
that Narfarsi is a skin disease characterized by the appearance
of vesicles formation associated with itching and
burning [17].
Ghulam Jilani, defines Narfarsi (eczema) as a type of
skin disease in which, there is burning sensation on the lesion
as it is burning of fire [18]
Pathogenesis of Narfarsi in Graeco-
Arabic literature
There are so many pores in the skin through which dissolution
occurs; therefore, whenever Tabiyat fails to find any
normal route for elimination of wastes, it disposes the wastes
towards the skin. Thus, the wastes appear in various forms,
mostly in blisters and abscesses. Hence, the skin is a major
organ to receive the wastes from muscles and vessels [19,20].
Narfarsi is a humoral disease in which “Lateef Safravi
Mavad” are disposed of towards the skin which appear in
the form of yellowish blisters with severe burning and itching.
The itching and burning is due to “Laze aur Ha-d nature
of Safra”; along with Safra, some ‘Ghaleez Mavad’ are also
accumulated. Being Lateef Safra usually dissolute with ease
leaving behind the ‘Ghaleez Mavad’ which are responsible
for its chronicity and infectivity. Further ‘Lateef Mavad’ are
thrown out more superficially, where as ‘Ghaleez Mavad’
are not thrown so superficial thus they stay in deeper parts
of skin and disease process is continued. Putrefaction seldom
occurs in the lesions of Narfarsi [3,8,13].
Etiology of Narfarsi in the light of
Graeco-Arab Medicine
Eminent Unani physicians gave detail description of
etiology of the disease in their valuable texts. They have
narrated the following causative agents for this disease.
77