Tārīkh-i pizishkī i.e., Medical History

Each medical school has its own perspective on health and wellness. Prerequisite for proper knowledge of each school is familiarity with the principles and foundations and specific views of that school.

The Iranian School of Medicine considers the duty of the sage and physician in the first step to maintain the health and well-being of the patient after treatment in the next step is necessary. According to the sages and physicians of traditional Iranian medicine, there are six essential principles for maintaining health and well-being called "essential set", which are fully explained and discussed in the teachings of traditional Iranian medicine. According to them, if every person observes these six principles and applies them in his life, he will not get sick and his health will be maintained. "Essentials" are: "1- Air 2- Movement and stillness 3- Sleep and wakefulness 4- Food and drink 5- Vomiting and congestion 6- Mental disorders" ...

Introduction: Nowadays, hypertension is a global public health issue. Since the number of hypotheses could be raised based on the principles of Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) for hypertension, in this study high blood pressure causes according to this principles will be reviewed. But because of the variety of factors involved in this disease, the aim of this study is to discuss the major determinant of hypertension from the perspective of Iranian traditional medicine.

Methods: In this qualitative study, reliable resources of traditional medicine that had the highest overlap of hypertension symptoms with modern medicine were investigated. Following to taking note of the relevant materials, the extracted texts were analyzed based on content analysis approach.

Results: This study revealed that based on the principles of Iranian Traditional Medicine, hypertension is not an independent disease but is in fact a complication of some diseases that occur on the heart, vessels or fluid inside the vessels. For example, hot dystemperament of the heart with increasing cardiac output, dry dystemperament of blood vessels with lumen diameter reduction and change in blood quality with increasing in its viscosity can cause hypertension. The main cause of hypertension or increase intravascular volume, after reviewing the definitions and symptoms associated with Imtila (fullness) diseases seems to be correspond to a variety of this disease called  “Imtila bi hasbil auiya” which means “Filling” in which humors amount will be raised and filled body spaces such as vessels.

Discussion: Given that hypertension, based on the findings of this study, could be a manifestation of Imtila diseases, we hoped that by investigating the causes of those diseases could find better strategies for prevention and treatment of hypertension in the near future.

In Iranian Traditional Medicine, many instructions regarding a healthy lifestyle and also to diagnose and treat patients are determined based on the individual’s Mizaj (Temperament). Due to the effects of the Mizaj on several aspects of human’s physical and psychological conditions, Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) literature identified various indices to determine basic Mizaj. This study is a review on four ITM text books in order to compare their views on how to determine the basic Mizaj. The four main sources include: Al-canon fe-tebb, Zakireh-karazmshahee, Kamelo-sanaate-tebiah, Almansoori fe-tebb. The identification indices of temperament have been extracted from these books and thoroughly studied. Based on the results, the four sources have common remarks on indices and altogether Al-canon fe-teb has explained them in a more organized and broad way. Lack of controversy, paying special attention to the wide range of the indices particularly in normal Mizaj state and focusing on the sum of these factors to determine the final Mizaj were the important common findings between the studied resources .There are also several aspects that were not mentioned in the reviewed chapters including a lack of specification on the method of examining some indices and the age period in which the basic Mizaj should be determined and the ranking of the indices in order to determine the basic Mizaj. We propose further studies to clarify these aspects as well. Moreover; in order to make the identifying factors practical in ITM healthcare system, we suggest planning organized studies to evaluate the credibility of these indicators.

Background and scope: Abdullah Ahmadieh is one of the most influential physicians in the Iran's contemporary era. He played a major role in the revival of Traditional Iranian Medicine in modern times. Although he graduated in conventional medicine, but was very interested in the Traditional Iranian Medicine, and had a great mastery in diagnostic methods of traditional medicine. In this study, we have tried to vote on the doctor Ahmadieh’s view about the therapeutic effects of descurainia Sophia. Furthermore, we review general properties of the plant seed in traditional medicine resources and compare it with conventional medicine.

Methods: In this study, we reviewed the related books with titles of ''Raz-e-Darman'', ''Giahan-e-Darooei'', ''Makhzan-al-advieh'' and Databanks SID, IRANMEDEX, PUBMED, MAGIRAN, GOOGLE SCHOLAR and SCOPUS.

Findings: The book “raze darman"(secrets of treatment) comprises his valuable reports about his personal experiences on the patients who had visited. Ahmadieh used both single herb and compound herbal medicines for treatment of the patients. Descurainia sophia is one of the medicinal herbs which he emphasized on the usefulness and therapeutic effects. Descurainia Sophia seed contains high amounts of minerals, various amino acids, fatty acids, phenolic compounds and Flanvnoids. New researches have proved the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anthelmintic effects of descurainia Sophia. Descurainia Sophia in the form of syrup is a commonly used beverage in Iran and is used as a cooling and laxative agent.

Discussion and Conclusion: According to many health benefits, cheapness and public acceptance, this seed can be administered as a primary or adjunctive for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. However, this aim is fulfilled after perfect randomized clinical trials by researchers interested in the field of traditional medicine.

Objective: Recent studies indicate an increase in referral of patients to Iranian traditional medicine.The aim of this study is to compare the characteristics of patients receiving traditional medicine with control group received modern medicine.

Material and Methods: This was a case–control study.  Totally 202 patients (100 routine and 102 traditional medicine) enrolled. For all of them a questionnaire was filled. Questionnaire consisted of questions about demographic information, motivational advantages and disadvantages of their received medicine

Results: In 65.7% in traditional group expressed their satisfaction high or very high this rate was 31% in routine practice. Mean disease duration was 61/5 and 22/3 months in traditional and modern medicine respectively. This difference was significant. In both groups, the most frequent motivation of patients to their visit were their believe to efficacy of their received medicine, but there was no significant differences in this regards. In 19.6% of traditional medicine group and in 67% in modern medicine group believed that their cost is huge. 66% of modern medicine group believe that their method have high complication whereas no one believe to it in traditional medicine group. There were 26.5% and 31% male in traditional and modern medicine group respectively, also 41.2% and 36 % had high school diploma respectively. There were no significant difference regarding job and economic status.

Conclusion: Regarding new tendency toward the traditional medicine and positive view of community to it, this medicine needs proper management and scientific orientation for better use of its advantages and avoiding its probable misuses.

One of the most common diseases that modern medicine still has not found complete cure for various types of that is intestinal ulcer, including inflammatory bowel disease. Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) has different mechanisms and is effective in the treatment of many diseases. Therefore, in this study we reviewed the causes, diagnosis and treatment of this disease in ITM. For this purpose valid and available traditional medicine books were reviewed. In ITM intestinal ulcers were known as Sahj and ghorhe. Main Causes include abnormal humor (bile, phlegm and melancholy) passing through the intestines, dry stool, eating and drinking physic drugs and toxins. For treatment, production and passing of abnormal humors should be avoided and should help to wound healing using herbs contain mucilage. For the treatment of upper intestinal tract, oral medications and for lower intestine enema are used. According to Efficacy of Iranian medicine in treatment of different diseases for hundreds of years it seems that with more researches can arrive to good result for prevention and treatment of many diseases like intestinal ulcers.

Amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea are the most prevalent menstruation disorder in the world and also in Iran. In Iranian traditional medicine amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea and also hypomenorrhea have been known just as ”Ehteebas tams”. From the perspective of Iranian traditional medicine, Amenorrhea enables to induce numerous complications on brain, respiratory system, uterus and other organs.

Uterus complication of amenorrhea consists of infertility, uterus strangulation (Ekhtenagh rahem), uterus inflammation (varam rahem) and Anatomical changes of the uterus (Mayalan rahem).

In this paper, uterine diseases due to amenorrhea and their mechanism is studied. Investigation of these disease complications and its effects on body and uterus in Iranian traditional medicine emphasize on treatment importance and causing of regular and normal menstruation.

Introduction: Utilizing of indigenous knowledge, can prepare some simple and accessible strategies for preventing and treatment of diseases. So, in this study, the Iranian traditional medicine’s view about prenatal care and its approach to common complications of pregnancy is considered.

Methods: In this qualitative research, relevant sections of prenatal care of Qanon, Tib- Akbari, Exir- aazam, and some other traditional books were studied. Recommendations for protecting the health and therapeutic orders for common complications of pregnancy were collected and presented after content analysis.

Results: In Iranian traditional medicine, prenatal care is described as two major categories, a) general measures to protect the health and b) strategies for common problems during pregnancy. In each category, some simple recommendations and available treatments using herbal medicines are listed. Measures of general health care for pregnant women, such as avoiding sadness, anger and fear, avoidance of flatulent, bitter and spicy foods, moderately bathing and exercise are expressed. Problems such as nausea, vomiting, Pica, constipation and dyspepsia can be controlled with quince, pomegranate, mastic gum, manna and sweet almond oil.

Conclusion: Simple and available recommendations of Iranian traditional medicine for prenatal care will be applicable if they are approved for safety during pregnancy with scientific and accurate studies.

There is an increasing trend to CAM therapies worldwide. Cupping is one of the oldest medical practices which are very common intervention in Asian societies like China and Iran. There are 5 way for removing extra blood from the body in the resources of Iranian traditional medicine. Wet cupping is more common in Iranian culture. Despite the general acceptance of the bloodletting in our society, unfortunately, there is very limited information about side effects and precautions of this method among the people, even academics. Cupping is divided into two groups. Cupping with scarification and Cupping without scarification. The dry cupping is without bloodletting.  Cupping with scarification and bloodletting works in the way that the morbid matters evacuated through the scarified skin, and cupping without scarification deviates the morbid matters from the compromised organs.  In Iranian traditional medicine, wet cupping is recommended for 2 groups. Wet cupping in the health state is just for preventing the overwhelming of the blood humor in the susceptible individuals. In disease states, the wet cupping is a treatment for diseases in them, the patients confront with the abundance of the blood humor. Therapeutic effects of wet cupping considered as cleansing the morbid matters especially when there is abundance of sanguine humor with or without the other humors. The people who are under 2 years of age and above 60 years old are not suitable for bloodletting. Wet cupping is contraindicated in the people who are emaciated and anemic. The primary conditions for prescription of the wet cupping are determine based on the patient's physical and mental status, age, habits and environmental conditions. Specific requirements will be determined based on the type of disease and the symptoms of organ involvement.