AGEING GRACEFULLY WITH THE HELP OF UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE: A REVIEW

Old age encompasses the late portion of life; the age after youth and middle age, commonly with reference to deterioration. Old people usually have inadequate reformative capabilities and are therefore more susceptible to diseases, injuries and illness than the younger ones. In developed countries however, most people in their early 70s are still healthy and are able to take care of themselves. But after 75, they become progressively fragile, along with serious mental and physical debilitation. But in developing countries, this age is quite less as compared to the developed countries. These changes can lead to a reduced quality of life. But there are some measures, which when adapted, can slow the ageing process. In other words follow up of certain regimes; lifestyle, diet etc., can help a person to get older in a healthier way. In Unani classical literature, some measures are mentioned, by which these changes can be delayed and a healthier lifestyle can be maintained even at the old age. These measures are more about the prevention of disease and maintenance of health rather than the cure such as taking healthy diet suitable for old age people and performing suitable exercises etc. Old age and the disease which are common in old age and the preventive measures for delay of deterioration of health in old age are some of the factors that are being discussed in this paper.