Acta Scientific Medical Sciences (ASMS)(ISSN: 2582-0931)

Review Article Volume 10 Issue 1

Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Integrative Review with Insights from Unani Medicine

Aisha Perveen and Fouzia Bashir*

Department of Tahaffuzi wa Samaji Tib, SUMER, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India

*Corresponding Author: Fouzia Bashir, Department of Tahaffuzi wa Samaji Tib, SUMER, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India.

Received: December 04, 2025; Published: January 20, 2026

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impairments in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviours. Its global prevalence has risen significantly, reflecting enhanced diagnostic capability and environmental and genetic influences. Conventional biomedical sciences view ASD as a complex interplay of genetic, epigenetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors.

Unani medicine, with its holistic framework emphasizing mizāj (temperament), akhlāṭ (humours), arwāḥ (vital forces), quwā (faculties), and aʿḍāʾ (organs), offers a unique perspective for understanding developmental disorders. This review integrates contemporary biomedical insights with Unani concepts, highlighting potential etiological parallels, symptom interpretations, and therapeutic possibilities such as ilāj bi’l-ghidhā, ilāj bi’l-tadbīr, and ilāj bi’l-dawā.

 Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Unani Medicine; Mizāj; Akhlāṭ; Regimenal Therapy; Ilāj bi’l-Tadbīr

References

  1. World Health Organization. “Autism spectrum disorders: Key facts” (2023).
  2. Rosen T., et al. “ASD from a systems biology perspective”. Nature Reviews Neuroscience1 (2021): 5-23.
  3. American Psychiatric Association. “Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders”. (5th, text rev.) (2022).
  4. Modabbernia A., et al. “Environmental risk factors for autism”. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica4 (2017): 361-381.
  5. WHO. “Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025”. Geneva: World Health Organization (2025).
  6. Lord C., et al. “Autism spectrum disorder”. Lancet10146 (2018): 508-520.
  7. Kulliyat-e-Nafisi Part 1. New Delhi: Idara Kitab-ul-Shifa 268 (1954).
  8. Sina Ibn-. Alqanoon Fi'l Tib. Vol-I. (Urdu Translation by Kantoori, GH). New Delhi: Idara Kitab-us-Shifa (2010): 167-171.
  9. Razi Z. Kitab- al -Hawi New Delhi: Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (2001).
  10. Frith U and Happe F. “Autism spectrum disorder”. Current Biology19 (2005): R786-R790.
  11. Green D., et al. “Motor impairment in autism”. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorder6 (2009): 843-863.
  12. Lai MC., et al. “Autism”. Lancet9920 (2014): 896-910.
  13. Bauman M and Kemper T L. “Neuroanatomy of autism”. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology7 (2005): 537-549.
  14. Just M A., et al. “Brain connectivity and language processing in ASD”. Brain1 (2007): 134-149.
  15. Baxter A J., et al. “The epidemiology and global burden of autism”. Psychological Medicine3 (2015): 601-613.
  16. Chaste P and Leboyer M. “Autism risk factors: Genes, environment, and gene-environment interactions”. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience3 (2012): 281-292.
  17. Chung W S and Chen Y. “Synaptic pruning and autism”. Science6477 (2020): 827-828.
  18. Ecker C., et al. “Brain anatomy in autism”. Biological Psychiatry4 (2015): 350-358.
  19. Hertz-Picciotto I and Delwiche L. “The rise in autism and the role of environmental exposures”. Epidemiology1 (2009): 84-90.
  20. Pardo C A and Eberhart C G. “Neuroinflammation in autism”. Journal of Neuroinflammation1 (2007): 1-11.
  21. Hyman S L., et al. “Nonpharmacologic management of autism”. Pediatrics1 (2020): e20193447.
  22. Di Martino A., et al. “Functional connectivity in ASD”. Nature Communications 5 (2014): 5730.
  23. Dawson G., et al. “Early behavioural intervention and brain plasticity in autism”. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry11 (2010): 1097-1111.
  24. Rossignol DA and Frye R E. “Evidence linking oxidative stress and ASD”. Translational Psychiatry 4 (2014): e382.
  25. Navarro F., et al. “Maternal inflammation and fetal brain”. Journal of Reproductive Immunology 114 (2016): 1-4.
  26. Rossignol D A and Frye R E. “Mitochondrial dysfunction in ASD”. Molecular Psychiatry 17 (2012): 290-314.
  27. Estes M L and McAllister A K. “Maternal immune activation and neurodevelopmental disorders”. Science6228 (2015): 933-938.
  28. Masi A., et al. “Cytokine abnormalities in autism”. Molecular Psychiatry2 (2017): 232-241.
  29. Coury D L., et al. “Gastrointestinal conditions in autism”. PediatricsS2 (2012): S160-S168.
  30. Kang DW., et al. “Reduced fecal microbiota diversity in ASD”. PLoS ONE7 (2013): e68322.
  31. Luna RA and Foster JA. “Gut microbiome and ASD”. Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease 26 (2015): 26878.
  32. Courchesne E., et al. “The emerging role of the cerebellum in autism”. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 21 (2020): 67-83.
  33. Onore C., et al. “Immune dysfunction in autism”. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology1 (2012): 1-12.
  34. Cryan J F and Dinan T G. “Mind-altering microbes: The gut microbiota-brain connection”. Nature Reviews Neuroscience10 (2012): 701-712.
  35. Hsiao E Y. “Gastrointestinal issues in autism”. Cell1-2 (2014): 123-127.
  36. De Angelis M., et al. “Dysbiosis and metabolic markers in autism”. BMC Microbiology 13 (2013): 91.
  37. Adams J B., et al. “Nutritional and metabolic treatments for autism”. Nutritional Neuroscience6 (2010): 431-451.
  38. Arzani A. Tibbe Akbar [Hkm M. Hussain trans], (YNM). Deoband: Faisal Publications 757-758.
  39. Vohra S., et al. “Integrating complementary medicine in pediatric neurodevelopment”. Child Neurology Open 3 (2016): 1-11.
  40. Kabiruddin M. Kulliyate Qanoon - Tarjuma wa Sharah. New Delhi: Aijaz Publishing House 1,2 (2006): 43, 154, 190.
  41. Nardocci F., et al. “Effects of sensory integration therapy”. Autism Research2 (2019): 304-316.
  42. Field T. “Massage therapy research review”. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice4 (2014): 224-229.
  43. Sowa M and Meulenbroek R. “Effects of physical exercise on ASD”. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders2 (2012): 46-57.
  44. Jurjani Ismail. “Zakhira Khwarazm Shahi”. CCRUM publication (1135).
  45. Cramer H., et al. “Yoga for children with ASD: A review”. BMC Pediatrics 15 (2015): 1-9.
  46. Levy SE and Hyman SL. “Complementary medicine in ASD”. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America1 (2015): 117-143.
  47. Rehman S and Siddiqui M K. “Unani neurotonics and behavioural disorders: A review”. Hamdard Medicus1 (2010): 30-45.
  48. Ahmad S and Akhtar MS. “Neuropharmacological effects of Withania somnifera: A review”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology3 (2007): 379-386.
  49. Russo A and Borrelli F. “Bacopa monnieri in cognition”. Phytomedicine4 (2005): 305-317.
  50. Koul B and Taak P. “Pharmacological profile of Lavandula stoechas”. Journal of Herbal Medicine 14 (2018): 100-109.
  51. Hosseinzadeh H and Noraei NB. “Antidepressant effect of saffron”. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology8 (2009): 1510-1516.
  52. Kianpour M., et al. “Nigella sativa and neurological disorders”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 249 (2020): 11226.

Citation

Citation: Aisha Perveen and Fouzia Bashir. “Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Integrative Review with Insights from Unani Medicine”.Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 10.2 (2026): 40-47.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Aisha Perveen and Fouzia Bashir. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.




Metrics

Acceptance rate30%
Acceptance to publication20-30 days
Impact Factor1.403

Indexed In





Contact US