1. The document discusses Huqna therapy, which is a method of administering medication rectally through enemas, as described by Ibn Sina. 2. Ibn Sina classified different types of Huqna based on their therapeutic purpose, such as purgative, astringent, resolvent, and others. He provided details on the medicinal preparations and drugs used for each type. 3. Administering medication rectally provides faster absorption and a more rapid therapeutic effect compared to oral administration, due to avoidance of first-pass metabolism in the liver. Rectal administration also reduces side effects associated with oral drugs like nausea.

1. Huqna Therapy according
to Ibn Sina
Prof. Abdul Latif
Former Chairman Professor ,Department
of Ilmul Advia, Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College ,
AMU,Aligarh (India)
abdullatifamu@gmail.com

2. Ibn Sina
Abu Ali al-Hassan ibn Abdallah Ibn Sina, born in
980 at Afshana, near Bukhara Uzbekistan, died
in 1037 at Hamadan, Iran. Encyclopaedist,
philosopher, physician, mathematician,
astronomer. The most famous scientist of Islam
and one of the most famous of all races, places,
and times; one may say that his thought
represents the climax of mediaeval philosophy.

3. Kitab al-Qanoon fil aTibb
Very few people in this world had the fortune that every stroke of
their pen became everlasting. The words and their meaning they
created were bestowed with life-force. Of these illustrious
personalities was Ibn Sina Bukhari (980-1037).
Ibn Sina’s claim to fame was not only as a medical writer, rather
his books on such versatile subjects as philosophy, chemistry,
physics, biology, poetry, literature, philology, ethics, politics,
psychology and Music are bursting with pearls of wisdom. Total
number of medical and non-medical works he authored, some
sources indicate are 456, whereas some say they were 238. No
matter what it can be said with certainty that he authored more
than 200 books.

4. Huqna, Ehteqan or Enema or Clyster
or Clysma
The importance of medication through Huqna of Unani system of
medicine is increasing with different names day by day as part of
liquid treatment through rectal route these days. Huqna is used
as part of liquid treatment by rectal route in different names in
all systems of Therapies such as Basti – Panchkarama in
Ayurveda, Enema or colonic hydrotherapy common in Europeans
& Americans. Through Huqna medicated liquids like water, oil,
milky substances/ drugs filtered infusion or
decoctions/solutions/ emulsion are easily administration into
body through the rectum. It is written by Ibn Sina (1037-980 AD)
as “Moalijah Fazilah’- to expel out morbid matter or waste
matter from the body. So, it’s a an excellent therapy.

5. However, Huqna (enema/clyster) is a
process which is applied for the removal of
superfluities from the stomach and
intestine. In this process liquefied drugs or
some medicinal preparations are injected
or introduced into the lower bowel per
rectum by an instrument.

6. History in brief
The first mention of the enema/huqna in medical
literature is in the Ancient Egyptian Ebers
Papyrus (c. 1550 BC). The god according to
Egyptian mythology invented the enema.
The first recorded apparatus was the Enema (Huqna) Syringe;
Lieberman gives credit to Ibn Sina as the first to describe the
enema syringe.

7. Enema comes from Greek ἔνεμα (énema), from
ἐνίημι (eníēmi), "(I) inject".
In medieval times appear the first illustrations of
enema equipment, a clyster syringe consisting
of a tube attached to a pump action bulb made
of animal bladder and the 15th century Simple
piston syringe clysters came into use. Beginning
in the 17th century enema apparatus was
chiefly designed for self-administration at
home.

8. In the 19th century many new types of
enema administration equipment were
devised, including the bulb enema. In the
late 20th century the microenema was
invented, this being a disposable squeeze
bottle with contents that cause the body to
draw water into the colon, e.g., sodium
biphosphate (popular in the United States)
or glycerin (popular in Japan).

9. The Roman king who too was a physician writes a
treatise on ‘Huqna” in which he has mentioned
all the details. Hippocrates (460 B.C.), Aristotle
1stA.D. have used Huqna for the treatment of
various diseases. The Arab doctor Abul Hasan
Nooh Ibn Mansur al Qamri, Razi (850-924), Abul
Qasim Zoahravi (936), Ibn Sina (980-1037), and
Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) have penned down their
diagnosis and have drawn the attention of people
to this style of treatment.

10. There is no doubt that this style of
treatment was common practice in the
ancient times in the places like Africa,
Babylonia and Egypt, and also by
Indian hakims like Shareef Khan, ,
Aazam Khan, Najmul Ghani, Ajmal
Khan (1864-1927) and Ali Gilaani have
also used this system in their practice.

11. Huqna medication
The purpose and scope of Huqna: To treat the diseases or
cleansing of colon or evacuation through rectal route:
In children medicines administered through the rectum
are more effective than those given orally. Medicines
can be sent to the womb and the abdomen through
this. In case of child birth the passage is broadened
through the rectum and sometimes in case of
abdominal surgery the intestines are cleared before it
is done through this method. It is also very affective
for injecting food into the body. This is specially in
extreme weakness when it is very difficult for the
patient to chew and digest food.

12. Classification of Huqna:
1. Purgative Huqna (Huqna Mus’hilah): This Huqna used for the
purpose of clearing and stimulating the bowel for evacuation of
feces and also meant for. It is also used to detoxify the body as
whole.
A. Strong purgative Huqna (Huqna Qavi Mus’hilah)
In this system strong medicines are used to clean the intestines like
hot water, soap water, Aab barg Sanna makki and Usaara Rewand.
B. Laxative Huqna (Huqna Lai’yana):
High potency medicines are not used in this for the purpose is only
to clear the passage so castor oil, Olive oil etc are used in this
Huqna.
C. Ordinary Huqna (Huqna Mutwa’sitah):
Medicines of medium potency of drugs having the property of
expelling of feces are used in it because the purpose this is just to
clear the passage and also to clean the intestine.

13. 2. Astringent Huqna (HuqnaQabiz wa habiz):
In this category medicines for easy of breath like “Mazoo Phitikiri”
Dammul Akhwain, Gule Surkh, and bekhe Anjebar are used.
This is used for the large intestines and rectum like “Hulba”
Haasha, mint, Babuna, Nakhuna, Khatmi, Mako and Maghzfuloos
Khiyar Shamber.
3. Resolvent Huqna (HuqnaMohalilah):
It is used in intestinal and anal inflammation. The drugs used:
Hulba, Hasha, Pudina, Nakhoona, Babuna, Khatmi, Khayar
Shambar and Mako.
4. Carminative Huqna (Huqna Kasirah):
This is used to dissolve the gas in the intestines and to dissipate
and emit it. The head of the medicines like Anisoon, Baadiyan,
Zeera siyah (Kamoon) and ajwain desi are penetrated into the
rectum.

14. 5. Nutritional Huqna (Huqna Mughziah: Nutrient Huqna is
usually done when patient suffering throat diseases like
Diphteria,acute tonsillitis or unconsciousness condtions of
patients where oral intake is not possible so it is used ot insert
the food in the stomach, intestines after cleaning of rectum
that intestine free from excreta.
6. Moderative Huqna (Huqna Muadilah wal Mizaj): This
Huqna is used to treat for ill temperament of the body
including intestine and other abdominal viscera. The drugs
depend upon the nature of temperament and disease.
It is used in the chronic diseases of abdomen. The drugs used
are: Aab-e-Tarbooz, Aab-e-Nilofer, Aab-e-Khayar etc.

15. 7. Emmolient Huqna (Huqna Mumalisah):
It is used in inflammation of intestine and mucus memberane.
Mucillagenous drugs are used in this Huqna e.g. Loab-e-Reshay
khatmi, Loab Isabghol and Loab beehedana.
8. Narcotic Huqna (Huqna Mukhaaddirah)
The water extract of Ajwain Khorasani, karafs,Opium(full dose)
and ice water are injected through the anus in case where there is
unease in the stomach and pain in the large intestines and rectum
for inflammation and in painful condition.
9. Sedative Huqna (Huqna Musakinah):
In this Huqna sedative / Narcotc Opium (light dose) and Yebrooj
are injected through the anus in case where there unease in the
stomach and there is pain in the large intestines.

16. 10. Antiseptic Huqna (Huqna Da’afe Ta’afun):
It is used for various types of infections where antiseptic and
antibacterial drugs are used as Aab-e-Neem (Extract of Neem),
Shahad (Honey) & Kafoor etc such anti-septics are injected to
remove the intestinal infections.
11. Antispasmodic Huqna:
It is used for spasmodic pains. The drugs used in this Huqna are
mostly Loabiyat (Mucilagenous liquids), Ajwain-e-Khurasani etc.
12. Anthelmentic/Vermicidal Huqna (Huqna Qatil Deedan Ama):
It is used for the intestinal worms. The drugs used are: Aab-e-Bao
Badang, Aab-e-Sheih-e-Armani, Aab-e-Barg Shaftalu.
13. Antipyretic Huqna (Huqna Da’afe Humma):
It is used for various types of fevers through Huqna. The drugs used
are: Afsanteen, Sat-e-Gilo, Khaksi, Banafsha, Karanjwa and Cincona.

17. 14. Aphrodisiac and Spermatogenic Huqna (Huqna Muqauvi Bah-
wa-Muzaiyad Mani)
In this Huqna Muqauvi Bah-wa-Muzaiyad Mani (Aphrodisiac and
Spermatogenic) drugs are used through rectal route.
15. Anabolic Huqna (Huqna Musamin Badan): In this Huqna
Musamin Badan (Anabolic) drugs, liquid preparations oils, Salab
Misri, Khorma, Maghz chilgoza, Maghz Pista, Chiraunji, Pure Ghee,
Todri, Pambadana are injected through the anus for increasing of
body weight and protein.
16. Huqna for Labour Pain:
Naturally inducing labour is safe as long as pregnant or overdue.
There are concerns about castor oil, which is primarily a strong
laxative. While bowel spasms may cause contractions, they may
also do nothing more than, well, stimulate the bowel of both
mother and baby. This type of Huqna must be carried out in
presence Obstetrician.

18. It is a painless process. The
medicine pushed through the
greater intestines affects not only
the colon, kidney and the urinal
bladder but are also very effective
for the diseases of the heart, brain,
and liver.

19. Huqna Apparatus
The first recorded apparatus was the enema syringe.
Now a box or a bottle made from glass or plastic or stainless steel and a rubber
tube is attached to the bottom of bottle of box. This rubber tube is greased and
then inserted into the Anus of patient.
The box or bottle containing the medicated liquids /infusion or decoctions
should be on a higher level for it to reach the entry point.

20. Method of Use
It is not that the Huqna should be given in any position that the
patient might be in, it is always better to make the patient comfortable
so that it is easy to inject and he suffers the minimum or no pain. The
intestines should be in at least such a good condition that it can be
easily injected and that the patient can also hold it for some time. So
the patient should be placed on the right edge of the bed lying on his
right side and the knees should be bent towards the stomach. The leg
side of the bed should be slightly raised. The temperature of the fluid
being injected should be checked because it will cause harm if it is too
hot. The point being inserted should be greased and then 8 to 10
centimeter should be inserted in the rectum with the help of the
finger. The bottle containing the liquid should be at least one meter
above the patient and the Huqna should be given slowly for 7 to 8
minutes. Then it is removed and the patient covered. The patient
should now be asked to hold it.

21. The patient should either keep both his
buttocks pressed but this often leads to
unease so it is better to should wait for
the time when the patient feels the need
to defecate and that he can hold no more.
He should then go to the toilet or if he is
unable then a placed pot properly
beneath the buttock. Once the process is
overall the instruments should be
sanitized and stored

22. Methodology of Huqna

23. Faster absorption and speedy action in
rectally Administered drugs in comparison
of oral route
Faster action due to a higher bio-availability. Drugs administered
per rectal (PR) have a faster action than via the oral route and a
higher bio-availability-that is the amount of effective drug that is
available is greater as it has not been influenced by upper
gastrointestinal tract digestive processes. So, it is a more effective
route for delivering medication, through rectal administration also
reduces side-effects of some drugs, such as gastric irritation,
nausea and vomiting. Rectal medications are given for their local
effects in the gastrointestinal system (e.g., laxatives) or their
systemic effects (e.g., analgesics when oral route is
contraindicated).

24. Children in case of fever aged between 3
months and 6 years were treated with
paracetamol in a dose of 15--20 mg/kg by
either oral elixir or rectal suppository. The
rectal route was found to have an equal
antipyretic effect and offers a practical
alternative in those children for whom the
oral route is not possible

25. Conclusion
Huqna is the best treatment of ancient Unani Physician, Hippcrates,
Galen, Ibn Sina, Razi, Hakim Gilani, Hakim Sharif Khan, and Hakeem
Ajmal Khan are used this method of treatment and mentioned this
method in their books. This treatment became more popular by Ibn
Sina, he used this method and also mentioned the same in his books
and creates the interest in his students.
However, drugs administered per rectal route have a faster action than
via the oral route and a higher bio-availability-that is the amount of
effective drug that is available is greater as it has not been influenced
by upper gastrointestinal tract digestive processes. Rectal absorption
results in more of the drug reaching the systemic circulation with less
alteration on route. As well as being a more effective route for
delivering medication, rectal administration also reduces side-effects
of some drugs, such as gastric irritation, nausea and vomiting