• ANISURRAHMAN

Istifragh or tanqiya-e-badan (body waste clearance) is an important therapeutic modality, prevalent in Unani System of Medicine, applied to treat various chronic diseases. Brain, like other parts of the body, needs to maintain homeostasis to function properly, and that requires continuous removal of toxic wastes. Brain possesses specific waste disposal system. The glymphatic system serves as a brain waste disposal system. BBB also facilitates the efflux of toxic metabolites out of the brain.The brain’s waste consists of metabolites, and proteins such as amyloid- beta, tau and alpha- synuclein proteins etc., which can form aggregates that are deleterious to brain. Sleep deprivation , aging and many other brain pathologies (i.e. stroke, ischemia, tumour, injury etc.) may disrupt glymphatic function. Some non-pharmacological therapeutic modalities such as exercise, sleep, sleeping posture, intermittent fasting and dietary regimens (omega-3 fatty acids, resveratrol etc.) are powerful drivers of glymphatic transport. Unani herbal drug, Ustukhuddus (Lavandula stoechas L.) is also used for istifragh-e-dimagh or tanqiya-e-dimagh in Unani System of Medicine since long time.This review addresses current scientific knowledge regarding understanding and significance of Istifragh-e-dimagh with special reference to prevention and / or treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases.

Istifragh; Istifragh-e-dimagh; Glymphatic system; Alzheimer’s disease; Ustukhuddus (Lavandula stoechas L)

"Current Understanding and Significance of Istifragh-e- Dimagh (Brain Waste Clearance)- A Review", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 7, page no.d162-d169, July-2021, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2107408.pdf

"Current Understanding and Significance of Istifragh-e- Dimagh (Brain Waste Clearance)- A Review", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 7, page no. ppd162-d169, July-2021, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2107408.pdf