Description, Etiology and Therapeutic approaches of Thu’lul in Selected Persian Medical Texts (from the 3rd to the 13th centuries AH): A Historical Content Analysis Study
Tārīkh-i pizishkī (i.e., History of Medicine),
Vol. 18 (1405),
4 April 2026
,
Page 1-14
https://doi.org/10.22037/mhj.v18i.52139
Abstract
Background and Aim: Warts are among the common skin diseases. Despite the availability of multiple therapeutic approaches, none of the existing treatments demonstrate definitive and consistent efficacy in all patients. In Persian Medicine sources, various perspectives have been presented regarding the causes, types and therapeutic measures for this condition; however, limited research has systematically investigated these perspectives. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the characteristics, causes and therapeutic measures for warts in selected Persian Medicine texts.
Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative content analysis approach. The required data were extracted and collected from authoritative Persian Medicine texts dating from the 3rd to the 13th centuries AH, using the Noor Comprehensive Library of Medicine and printed sources. The data were subsequently coded, categorized and analyzed using MAXQDA 2020 software.
Ethical Considerations: Throughout all stages of the study, research ethics principles, including respect for the authenticity of the texts, scientific integrity and fidelity in the reporting and analysis of the material, were observed.
Results: In Persian Medicine texts, warts are predominantly referred to by the term “Thu‘lūl”. Persian Medicine scholars described Thouloul either as an independent disease or under diseases affecting various organs and generally attributed its development to the presence of thick melancholic or melancholic-phlegmatic matter. The therapeutic measures described included lifestyle modification, maturation of the morbid matter, body cleansing, temperament adjustment, the use of oral and topical medications and, in some cases, manual procedures. The predominant therapeutic approach was based on consideration of the cause, type and location of the lesion and generally began with general measures, cleansing and temperament adjustment; when necessary, topical treatments and manual procedures were employed.
Conclusion: The results show that Thu‘lūl is well recognized in Persian medicine and numerous therapeutic approaches have been provided for it according to its cause, type and site of occurrence.
- Thu‘lūl
- Wart
- Persian Medicine
- History of Medicine
- Content Analysis
How to Cite
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