Baraṣ (Vitiligo) in Historical and Unani Literature: A Comprehensive Review
Baraṣ (Vitiligo) in Historical and Unani Literature
Keywords:
Vitiligo, Baraṣ, Unani Medicine, PUVA
Abstract
Baraṣ (Vitiligo) is a chronic depigmentary disorder marked by well demarcated glossy white macules due to selective loss or dysfunction of melanocytes, causing significant psychosocial morbidity despite being non-fatal. The review traces historical descriptions of Baraṣ across Unani, Ayurvedic, Greco Roman and other classical texts, and synthesizes classical Unani concepts including Fasād al Dam, Balgham i Ghalīẓ, weakness of Quwwat Mughayyira/Mushabbiha/Dāfi‘a, and prognostic signs such as bleeding on pricking with contemporary pathophysiological models (autoimmune, neural, oxidative stress, genetic susceptibility and convergence theory). Clinical classification parallels modern nosology (non segmental, segmental, mixed), while Unani subtypes (Baraṣ i Uẓmā, Baraṣ i Muntashir) emphasize depth and chronicity of humoural involvement. Diagnosis relies on clinical examination complemented by Wood’s lamp, targeted laboratory screening for associated autoimmune disorders (notably thyroid disease), and, when indicated, biopsy. Therapeutic strategies integrate Unani principles Tanqiyā i Badan, Ta’dil i Mizāj, Islāh i Haḍm, topical Jālī/Muḥammir/Musakhkhin agents, and regimental therapies with evidence based modern treatments such as topical corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, NBUVB phototherapy, and surgical grafting for stable lesions. The review highlights areas of concordance (sun exposure/psoralen use historically and in PUVA), identifies limitations in prognostication, and advocates for rigorous clinical trials to evaluate Unani single and compound formulations alongside conventional modalities. Integration of traditional Unani approaches with modern dermatological care may offer a holistic, patient centred pathway for managing Baraṣ, but requires standardized protocols and safety efficacy data.
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References
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32. Passeron T, Ortonne JP. Generalized Vitiligo. In: Vitiligo. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2010. p. 35–9. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-69361-1_4
33. Fargnoli MC, Bolognia JL. Pentachrome vitiligo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995 Nov;33(5):853–6. doi:10.1016/0190-9622(95)90422-0
34. Hann SK, Lee HJ. Segmental vitiligo: clinical findings in 208 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996 Nov;35(5 Pt 1):671–4. doi:10.1016/s0190-9622(96)90718-5 PubMed PMID: 8912558.
35. Halder RM, Grimes PE, Cowan CA, Enterline JA, Chakrabarti SG, Kenney Jr, JA. Childhood vitiligo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987 May;16(5):948–54. doi:10.1016/S0190-9622(87)70119-4
36. Dave S TD. Clinical predictors of outcome in vitiligo. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 1976.
37. Harning R, & CJ. Relation between the incidence and level of pigment cell antibodies and disease activity in vitiligo. Journal of Investigative Dermatology,.
38. Valia R. AR. Pigmentary disorders. In: Dhar S DPMR editors., editor. IADVL textbook of dermatology: Mumbai: Bhalani Publishing House; 2008. p. 749–60.
39. Koga M. Vitiligo: A new classification and therapy. British Journal of Dermatology,. 97(3),:255–261.
40. Taïeb A PM. Epidemiology, Definitions and Classification. In: Vitiligo .
41. Faria AR, Tarlé RG, Dellatorre G, Mira MT, Castro CCS de. Vitiligo--Part 2--classification, histopathology and treatment. An Bras Dermatol. 2014;89(5):784–90. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142717 PubMed PMID: 25184918.
42. Lotti T, Berti S, Moretti S. Vitiligo therapy. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2009 Dec;10(17):2779–85. doi:10.1517/14656560903357509 PubMed PMID: 19929701.
43. Husain N, Uddin Q, Kazmi M. Clinical Studies on the Treatment of Baras (Vitiligo) in Unani System of Medicine – A Systematic Review. European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences www.ejbps. 2018 May 1;5:1088–94. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6762059
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46. Khan MA. Muhit-i-Azam. Vol. 4. Lucknow: Munshi nawal Kishore Press; 1920.
47. Hakeem MA. Bustanul Mufradat. New Delhi: Idara Kitabus Shifa; 2002. 81-82,226,598-599 p.
48. Najmul Ghanī. Khazā’in al-Adwiya. New Delhi: Idara Kitabush Shifa. 162,1631,171-173,987.
49. Qarābādīn-ī Āzam wa Akmal Urdu Translation, Delhi: CCRUM, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; 7.
50. Anonymous. Qarābādīn Majīdī. Delhi: Ajanta offset and packaging limited; 1986. 155–94 p.
51. Qarābādīn Sarkārī. New Delhi: CCRUM; 2002. 83 p.
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53. Hakeem H abdul. Qarabadi-e-jadid. New Delhi: CCRUM, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; 2005. 102,103-146.
2. Gauthier Y, Cario-Andre M, Lepreux S, Pain C, Taieb A. Melanocyte detachment after skin friction in non lesional skin of patients with generalized vitiligo. British Journal of Dermatology. 2003 Jan;148(1):95–101. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2133.2003.05024.x
3. Ezzedine K, Gauthier Y, Léauté-Labrèze C, Marquez S, Bouchtnei S, Jouary T, et al. Segmental vitiligo associated with generalized vitiligo (mixed vitiligo): A retrospective case series of 19 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Nov;65(5):965–71. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2010.08.031
4. Picardo M, Taïeb A, editors. Vitiligo. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2010. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-69361-1
5. Krüger C, Schallreuter KU. A review of the worldwide prevalence of vitiligo in children/adolescents and adults. Int J Dermatol. 2012 Oct 27;51(10):1206–12. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05377.x
6. Behl PN, Bhatia RK. 400 cases of vitiligo. A clinico-therapeutic analysis. Indian J Dermatol. 1972 Jan;17(2):51–6. PubMed PMID: 5039893.
7. Howitz J. Prevalence of vitiligo. Epidemiological survey on the Isle of Bornholm, Denmark. Arch Dermatol. 1977 Jan 1;113(1):47–52. doi:10.1001/archderm.113.1.47
8. Lerner AB. Vitiligo. JAMA. 1978 Mar 20;239(12):1183. doi:10.1001/jama.1978.03280390079031
9. Sehgal VN SG. Vitiligo: compendium of clinico-epidemiological features. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 1976.
10. Dutta AK. Vitiligo: Neural and immunologic linkages; 13:26. Calcutta: Indira Publication; 1988.
11. Warrell DA., Cox TM., Firth JD. Oxford textbook of medicine. Oxford University Press; 2010. 110 p.
12. Ongenae K, Beelaert L, van Geel N, Naeyaert J. Psychosocial effects of vitiligo. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2006 Jan 22;20(1):1–8. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2005.01369.x
13. Rabban Ṭabarī AHA bin S. Firdaws al-Hikmat (Urdu). Sanabehli HMAS, editor. New Delhi: H.S. offset press; 2010. 294–297 p.
14. Rāzī ABM ibn Z. Kitab al-Hawi f’il Tibb (Arabic version). 1st ed. Vols. 23, Part II. Hyderabad: Dairatul Marif, Osmania University (Osmania Oriental Publication Bureau). 88–119 p.
15. Ṭabrī A Ḥasan A bin M. Al-Mu‘ālajat al-Buqrāṭiya (Vol-II). New Delhi: Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine; 1997. 199–200.
16. Gāzrūnī S al-D. Al-Sadīdī (Arabic). Lucknow: Maṭba Munshi Nawal Kishor. 61–62 p.
17. Majusi AIA. Kamil al-Sana (Urdu translation by Kanturi HGH). Vol. II, Part-1. New Delhi: Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine; 2010. 427–429 p.
18. Ibn Sīnā al-S al-RA ‘Ali al-H ibn ‘Abd A. Al-Qānūn fi’l Ṭibb. 1st ed. Kantoori GH, editor. Lahore: Shaikh Muhammad Basheer and Sons, Urdu Bazar. 351–353 p.
19. IH Baghdadi AHA bin A bin A. Kitab al-Mukhtarat fi’l-Tibb (Urdu Translation). IV. New Delhi: Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine; 2007. 127–130 p.
20. Jurjani AHI. Zakhira Khwarizm shahi (Urdu Translation). Khan HHH. New Delhi: Idara Kitab-us-Shifa,Kucha Chelan, Darya Ganj; 2010.
21. Antaki SDA. Tazkira Oo-lul-Albab (Arabic version), 4th ed. 2. Cairo: Azharia Press; 1924.
22. Azam Khan HM. Ikseer-e-Azam (Persian version). Vol. 4. Lucknow: Munshi Nawal Kishore Press; 1885. 475–487 p. p.
23. Husain AHM, editor. Ṭibb-i Akbar. Deoband: Faisal publications Jama Masjid. 731–732 p.
24. M.H. Q. Ghina Muna (Urdu translation). CCRUM, editor. New Delhi: Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine; 2008. 458–462 p.
25. Gāzrūnī S al-D. Al-Sadīdī (Arabic). . . Lucknow: Maṭba Munshi Nawal Kishor; 61–62 p p.
26. Standard Unani Treatment Guidelines for Common Diseases. New Delhi: Central Council For Research in Unani Medicine; 2014. 180–182 p.
27. Ongenae K, Van Geel N, Naeyaert J. Evidence for an Autoimmune Pathogenesis of Vitiligo. Pigment Cell Res. 2003 Apr 5;16(2):90–100. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0749.2003.00023.x
28. Passeron T, Ortonne JP. Physiopathology and genetics of vitiligo. J Autoimmun. 2005 Jan;25:63–8. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2005.10.001
29. HANN S and WV on the B. Autocytotoxic Hypothesis for the Destruction of Melanocytes as the Cause of Vitiligo. https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=h3bXE2W8v1IC&oi=fnd&p g=PA137&dq=Hann+SK +Chun+W.+Autocytotoxic+hypothesis+for+the+de struction+of+melanocytes+as+the+cause+of+vitiligo.+In:+Hann+SK,+Nordl und+J,+eds.+Vitiligo.+Oxford:+Blackwell+Science+Ltd%3B+2000.&ots=lkq SyB_ADj&sig=MWKDIOlXCgxtViMZkfUmVWlxU3A, editor.
30. Ezzedine K, Lim HW, Suzuki T, Katayama I, Hamzavi I, Lan CCE, et al. Revised classification/nomenclature of vitiligo and related issues: the Vitiligo Global Issues Consensus Conference. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2012 May 17;25(3). doi:10.1111/j.1755-148X.2012.00997.x
31. Taieb A EK. Vitiligo: the white armour? Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, 2013; Volume 26, Pages 286–299. 2013 May 27;26(3):316–25. doi:10.1111/pcmr.12080
32. Passeron T, Ortonne JP. Generalized Vitiligo. In: Vitiligo. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2010. p. 35–9. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-69361-1_4
33. Fargnoli MC, Bolognia JL. Pentachrome vitiligo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995 Nov;33(5):853–6. doi:10.1016/0190-9622(95)90422-0
34. Hann SK, Lee HJ. Segmental vitiligo: clinical findings in 208 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996 Nov;35(5 Pt 1):671–4. doi:10.1016/s0190-9622(96)90718-5 PubMed PMID: 8912558.
35. Halder RM, Grimes PE, Cowan CA, Enterline JA, Chakrabarti SG, Kenney Jr, JA. Childhood vitiligo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987 May;16(5):948–54. doi:10.1016/S0190-9622(87)70119-4
36. Dave S TD. Clinical predictors of outcome in vitiligo. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 1976.
37. Harning R, & CJ. Relation between the incidence and level of pigment cell antibodies and disease activity in vitiligo. Journal of Investigative Dermatology,.
38. Valia R. AR. Pigmentary disorders. In: Dhar S DPMR editors., editor. IADVL textbook of dermatology: Mumbai: Bhalani Publishing House; 2008. p. 749–60.
39. Koga M. Vitiligo: A new classification and therapy. British Journal of Dermatology,. 97(3),:255–261.
40. Taïeb A PM. Epidemiology, Definitions and Classification. In: Vitiligo .
41. Faria AR, Tarlé RG, Dellatorre G, Mira MT, Castro CCS de. Vitiligo--Part 2--classification, histopathology and treatment. An Bras Dermatol. 2014;89(5):784–90. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142717 PubMed PMID: 25184918.
42. Lotti T, Berti S, Moretti S. Vitiligo therapy. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2009 Dec;10(17):2779–85. doi:10.1517/14656560903357509 PubMed PMID: 19929701.
43. Husain N, Uddin Q, Kazmi M. Clinical Studies on the Treatment of Baras (Vitiligo) in Unani System of Medicine – A Systematic Review. European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences www.ejbps. 2018 May 1;5:1088–94. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6762059
44. Samarqandi AN. Mualajat, Sharah Asbab (Tarjuma Kabir Mukammal) Vol. III & IV. Ibn Aewaz Kirmani AN, Kabiruddin AH, editors. Delhi: Idara Kitab us-Shifa, 2075, Kucha Chelan, Darya Ganj; 2009. . 340–342 p.
45. Ali MI, Khan MMA, Shakera AR. Seminar on Bars (Leucoderma) 10th - 11th March, 1979, Hyderabad. In Hyderabad: Central Council For Research in Unani Medicine, 1979; p. 6.
46. Khan MA. Muhit-i-Azam. Vol. 4. Lucknow: Munshi nawal Kishore Press; 1920.
47. Hakeem MA. Bustanul Mufradat. New Delhi: Idara Kitabus Shifa; 2002. 81-82,226,598-599 p.
48. Najmul Ghanī. Khazā’in al-Adwiya. New Delhi: Idara Kitabush Shifa. 162,1631,171-173,987.
49. Qarābādīn-ī Āzam wa Akmal Urdu Translation, Delhi: CCRUM, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; 7.
50. Anonymous. Qarābādīn Majīdī. Delhi: Ajanta offset and packaging limited; 1986. 155–94 p.
51. Qarābādīn Sarkārī. New Delhi: CCRUM; 2002. 83 p.
52. Kabīruddīn. Bayāḍ-i-Kabīr. New delhi: Idara Kitabus Shifa; 2010. 240,282.
53. Hakeem H abdul. Qarabadi-e-jadid. New Delhi: CCRUM, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; 2005. 102,103-146.
Published
2026-06-30
How to Cite
Tarique, M., Zubair, M., Imtiyaz, S., Patel, M. F., & Naaz, N. (2026). Baraṣ (Vitiligo) in Historical and Unani Literature: A Comprehensive Review. Asian Journal of Medical Research, 15(2), 20-26. Retrieved from https://aijournals.com/index.php/ajmr/article/view/2726
Section
Review Article
