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RISE OF SINGLE ORGANOPATHY THEORY

FROM AYURVEDA SYSTEM- A SHORT REPORT
FROM PAKISTAN’S PERSPECTIVE

Article in WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES · November 2016

DOI: 10.20959/wjpps201612-8219

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 WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
Ahmed et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
SJIF Impact Factor 6.041

Volume 5, Issue 12, 323-328. Review Article ISSN 2278 – 4357

RISE OF SINGLE ORGANOPATHY THEORY FROM AYURVEDA

SYSTEM- A SHORT REPORT FROM PAKISTAN’S PERSPECTIVE

Azhar Hussain Tahir1, Maria Tanveer1, *Ali Ahmed1, 2, Azmat Arshad 1, Dr. Gul
Shahnaz 1

1
Department of pharmacy, Quaid I Azam University Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan.
2
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore.

A number of Centuries ago, in Indian subcontinent, a few native

Article Received on
13 October. 2016, healers invented and proposed a new way of treatment which was
Revised on 03 Nov. 2016, named as Ayurveda. The medical system of Ayurveda is based on
Accepted on 23 Nov. 2016
DOI: 10.20959/wjpps201612-8219 three basic central elemental substances, which were; Air, bile and
phlegm. In accordance with these herbalists, a disturbance in the
equilibrium of these three bodily humors paves way for the
*Corresponding Author
precipitation of a disease. In some instances, an imbalance is initiated
Ali Ahmed
M.Phil. (Pharmacy due to a mild increase or decrease in one or more than one of humor
Practice) Quaid I Azam aformentioned.[1,2] The removal of such an imbalance later became
University Islamabad known as treatment and mitigation. One of the oldest and most famous
45320, Pakistan
books of Ayurveda is “Sushruta Samhita”. Once the medical system of
University of Veterinary
Ayurveda started to decline, it made its way to Greece and
and Animal Sciences
Lahore, UVAS, Lahore. intermingled with their native medical systems.[2,3] In Greece,
Ayurveda flourished and reached its epitome through rigorous research
of native medical scholars. In Greece, Asclepius was the first one to initiate treatment through
Ayurveda.[4,5] The people of Greece started to consider themselves as the inventors of the
Ayurveda system of medicine. The medical system of Greece flourished in the time period of
“Hippocrates.” After” Hippocrates numerous other medical scholars worked to promote the
practice of Greek intermingled form of Ayurvedic medical system.[3,6] It was Galen who
revolutionized and influenced evolution of Greek medical system in the direction towards
what it looks like today. He is accredited with setting the foundation of modern day version
of Islamic traditional system of medicine. Due to generosity of Hippocrates, the Ayurveda
system of medicine became famous across the world and numerous intellectuals began
researching upon it.[7] Subsequently, the system was modified and adopted by a number of

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Ahmed et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

countries over the world. It is believed that Ayurveda constituted the base of dominant
medical systems including Chinese medicine, Irani medicine, Egyptian medicine, Hindi
medicine, Rohi medicine, Arabic medicine, Jewish medicine.[8,9]

Avicenna, a renowned scholar in the field of Medicine, wrote 153 books of which one was
Al-Qanun-fi-ul-tibb (law of Medicine and his work initiated tremendous improvements in
existing medicinal ways.[9] The death of Avicenna saw the dark age of medicine and for a
number of years research in medicine came to a standstill.[1,5] Hakeem Mohammad Ajmal
promoted research in the field but with his death and the rise of allopathic concept of
medicine from the west, together became responsible for reducing Greek medicine from a
widely practiced system of medicine to just an Islamic concept of treatment.[10-12]

The Basis of Ideology of Single Organ Theory

Herbalist Amjad Deen
During the time when the world was witnessing the downfall of Ayurvedic system of
medicine, Pakistan saw the birth of the legendary herbalist Amjad Deen in 1885. He proposed
that “variation in functions of vital organs is the cause of disease” this single line of Amjad
later become the base of the ideology of Single Organopathy, stating that imbalance of
humors within an organ leads to the birth of a disease. At the time, herbalist Amjad Deen had
named it (Nazaria afaal ul aaza) theory of organ’s functions” and in accordance with the
principles of this theory, disease precipitation occurs due to a subsequent increase or decrease
in the normal physiological function of an organ. He named the increase in the function of an
organ as Tehreek and decrease as the Tehleel. Consequently, Amjad Deen’s signature way of
treatment was to produce tehleel in an organ demonstrating tehreek and vice versa through
the use of appropriate medicaments. In an effort to promote his practice, Amjad Deen started
the publication of a monthly Herbal Magazine under the name of khadim ul hikmat/“servant
of herbal medicine”[13] The magazine sparked a sensational way of promoting Amjad’s way
of practice (practice according to amjad’s own concept of tehleel and tehreek). He wrote a
number of books on diverse subjects including General principles of herbalism, latest
knowledge of medicine, book of pathology, book of shocks and therapeutics of modern
herbalism. Amjad Deen founded The Shahdra College of Medicine in Shahdra, Lahore,
Pakistan, which at that time was considered as a pioneer institute of medicine and later
became one of the most influential herbal colleges of Pakistan. The college followed a

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Ahmed et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

versatile curriculum with diverse subjects pertinent to medicine; its building is still present
now. In his book “therapeutics of modern herbalism “on page 29, Amjad Deen states:
“Nor is any way of treatment completely wrong and devoid of effect, nor is any medicinal
system completely free of side effects and ambiguities”.

The books of Amjad Deen are completely non-existent except a few; all have been lost in the
trial and tribulations of time, thus, making it impossible to benefit from his research and
study.[1]

Herbalist Dost Mohammad Saber

Whenever, the theory of Single Organopathy is discussed, the name of Herbalist Dost
Mohammad Saber receives special attention. In the World of Herbalism he is considered as
the “philosopher” and “researcher”. He was a master of “knowledge of pulse”. His real name
was Dost Mohammad. At the time Saber Sahab studied at the Lahore College of Medicine,
alongside herbalism a bit of western allopathic system was also taught. After finishing
college, he started practicing allopathic system of treatment. Saber sahib started to seek other
ways of treatment when he was left unsatisfied with allopathic ways. He started extensive
research on traditional systems of medicine and devoted considerable time in mastering it.[13]
Hence, the theory of “single organopathy” came into existence. Saber sahib upon knowing
that in Lahore, herbalist Ahmed Deen Shahid Rohi was practicing a new way of treatment,
decided to pay him a visit in Shahdra[1,11,14] Saber Sahib expressed his desire to come under
the supervision upon visiting Ahmed Deen, which was readily accepted. Within a few days,
Ahmed Deen granted the designation of Lab in Charge to Saber Sahib due to his passion in
medicine. Saber Sahib detected anomalies in certain areas of research conducted by Ahmed
Deen. He spent considerable time focusing upon such ambiguities and wanted to find a way
to remove them. One day upon encountering a patient of severe cholera in his clinic he was
presented with an opportunity to apply his way treatment. At first, he applied his mentor’s
treatment strategy upon the patient but it went in vain when no betterment was observed in
the patient’s condition. When the patient’s condition became worse, Saber was forced to
apply his way of treatment. He applied Greek medicine and the patient went cold, he then
administered a medicament of warm temperament which led to drastic improvement in his
condition. Thus, through utilization of a combination of both dry and warm medicament,
Saber treated the patient. Saber explained that the patient had not been suffering from a
decreased functioning of organ but the condition had been quite the opposite. Saber named

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Ahmed et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

this condition as “stagnation of function”. After immense thought and research, he realized
that, cholera is indeed a disorder of stomach involving a stagnant function. Thus, a new
theory was developed which stated that disease is not the result of only increase or decrease
in the function of an organ but is also due to stagnancy of its normal physiology. Saber
dedicated day and night in researching the mechanisms underlying increase, decrease, and
stagnancy and devised a new method of treatment to counteract such conditions. He
conducted more research and realized that the three main reasons for birth of a disease are
increase, decrease and stagnancy in functioning of organs.[10] The three stated conditions
were then associated with three vital organs namely; heart, liver and brain. Such views
constituted the base of Saber’s version of Theory of Single Organopathy.[1,2,9] This theory
provides ease for diagnosis for theory followers Through feeling a patient’s radial and ulnar
artery, Saber was able to determine which of his organs were experiencing increase, decrease
or stagnancy of function and was able to provide specific treatment depending upon the
underlying state of the vital organs. This was an unprecedented innovation in the field of
Greek medicine characterized by a prime focus on three vital organs and associated concepts
of increase, decrease or stagnancy of their function. Saber wrote 18 books highlighting the
concept of Single Organopathy and these books contain a treasure of knowledge surrounding
this ideology.[14] These books provide guidance for those who seeks knowledge. Herbalist
Rehmat Ali Rahat reviewed these books extensively and give us single organopathy arba
(arba= 4th,) from single organopathy salasa (salasa = 3rd) (in single organopathy 3rd, 3 organs
were considered as vital organs while in single organopathy 4th, 4 organs were considered as
vital organs (brain, liver, heart and spleen) by Rehmat Ali Rahat. Nowadays, thousands
herbalists are practicing successfully the concept of simple organopathy 4th (arba).

Herbalist Rehmat Ali Rahat

Rehmat Ali Rahat is considered the creator of Theory of Single Organopathy Arba and is
quite famous amongst pioneers of Herbalism in Pakistan. He initiated the publication of two
monthly magazines under the titles of “single organopathy” and “national herbal system”
respectively.
He wrote books like “explanation of theory of single organopathy”, “General principles of
physiology” etc. He also completed the uncompleted book “is aging curable” of Sabir.

Rehmat Ali Rahat wrote extensively on Medicine particularly on the concept of single
organopathy. The existing version of Single organopathy is known as single organopathy

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arba and Rehmat Ali Rahat is accredited to be its inventor.[1,8] The ideology of single
organopathy arba (arba means 4 organs are considered as vital in simple organopathy arba) is
based on the concepts proposed by Rehmat Ali Rahat. In addition, another herbalist,
Mohammad Shafeeq Sahab, made numerous contributions to the concept of single
organopathy arba. A Friend and student of Mohammad Shafeeq Sahab, Mohammad Ashraf
Shaker, who had enjoyed supervision of Rehmat Ali Rahat, Herbalist Mohammad Shabbir,
and Mohammad Shafeeq, also contributed tremendously to the system of medicine.
Mohammad Ashraf in an effort to describe the theory in easy text, wrote several books. His
collection of famous books includes “shaker’s tried formulas”, “treatment of different
diseases (vol.1 & 2)”, “Reality – single organopathy fourth”, “treatment by foods & diet”,
“key for success clinic”, “knowledge of herbs”.[1]

The work of Shakir Sahab is widely acclaimed and followed by numerous herbalists. His love
for writing is apparent from the fact that he only practiced medicine for 4 hours each day,
spending the rest in writing books. The success of both the theory of single organopathy arba
and research conducted by Mohammad Shakir is reflected by the fact that on first Sunday of
every month numerous herbalists, allopathic practitioners and homeopathic specialists would
visit him to gain an insight into his knowledge.[10,14,15]

REFERENCES
1. Shakir, A., Reality- theory of single organopathy. 2nd ed. 2009, Lahore: Shakir
publisher.
2. Sigerist, H.E., A history of medicine: Early Greek, Hindu, and Persian medicine. 1987:
New York: Oxford University Press.
3. Hoshangabad, M.P.D.G., "the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine" G.o.I. 17,
Editor. 1827; 587.
4. Pati, B. and M. Harrison, The social history of health and medicine in colonial India.
2008: Routledge.
5. GHAZNAVI, ILAJ-E-NABVI AUR JADEED SCIENCE. 1 ed. Vol. 3. 2012.
6. Multani, D.H.c., Taj-ul-hikmat (practice of medicine). 2016, Lahore: Daniyal publisher.
7. Abdullah, H.M., Herbs of Pakistan and India. 42th edition ed. 2016, Lahore, Pakistan:
sulemani publisher.
8. Zillurrahman, S., Unani medicine in India during 1901--1947. 1994.
9. Magner, L.N., A History of medicines 1992 CRC Press.

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10. Student, F.T.J.s.y., History of herbal medicine. 2012: Daniyal publisher Lahore.
11. Conrad, L.I. and W.I.f.t.H.o. Medicine, The western medical tradition: 800 BC to AD
1800. Vol. 1. 1995: Cambridge University Press.
12. Abdullah, H.M., Kanz-ul-mujarebat 92th edition ed. 2016, Lahore, Pakistan: Sulemani
publisher.
13. Multani, H.S., “Research on flu”. 2nd edition ed. 2013, Lahore, Pakistan: noori
kutbkhawna.
14. Shakir, A., Treatment of different diseases 3rd edition ed. Vol. vol. 1. 2016, Lahore:
Shakir publisher.
15. Shakir, A., Principles for clinics 4th ed. 2016, Lahore: Shakir publisher.

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