Search

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is an inherited disease that causes widespread symptoms characterized by extreme epithelial fragility. This study examined traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) usage among EB patients referred to clinics at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences between 2019 and 2020. We enrolled the patients with EB whose diseases were approved by a dermatologist and registered in the dermatology department and Molecular Dermatology Research Center affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. A researcher-made data gathering form, including knowledge, beliefs, practice, and the experience of the safety of TCIM, was used to collect the data. Interviews were done by phone calls, and oral consent was obtained from patients or their parents. Overall, 68 patients were included in this study. In this regard, 79.4% of the patients used TCIM by themselves or their families to manage EB. Approximately, half of the patients were not aware of the effects of the herbal medicines they used. Among medicinal plants, chicory (20.6%), thyme (16.2%), and Persian cornflower (14.7%) had the most consumption. More than half of these patients believed that medicinal plants were a less harmful treatment, and 48.5% considered them effective. In conclusion, the study revealed high medicinal plant usage among EB patients, but limited knowledge about their effectiveness. Public awareness about the benefits and risks of these remedies needs to be increased.

The theory of connection between respiratory and gastrointestinal systems is a key topic in different types of traditional medicine. In this study, we discussed the history, main concepts of this theory along with related studies and its possible clinical applications. In this regard numerous scattered studies have shown a relationship between upper and lower respiratory disorders and gastrointestinal symptoms. Numerous epidemiologic, pathophysiologic and clinical evidence confirm the interrelationship and integrated functioning of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. It seems that the holistic approach that emphasizes the link between the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems in traditional Persian medicine, is in line with the theory of united mucosa that has been considered in recent years. The interaction between the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems can occur through several mechanisms, including commonalities in embryonic sources, role of identical mediators and receptors, influence of common pathogens in the lungs and gut, similarity of microbiota patterns and changes, and same inflammatory and mucosal responses. We believe that this theory can provide new insight for the approaches to respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders in the light of holistic medical knowledge. Also, further research should be conducted to identify the exact paths and mechanisms of communication between respiratory and gastrointestinal systems.

Gastrointestinal disorders are one of the most common conditions among people in many societies. On the other hand, evidence shows that the prevalence of usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased in recent years to treat many chronic and acute conditions, which might be due to testimonies of the safety, effectiveness, and affordability of CAM. In Persian medicine (PM), medical barley water (MBW) has been known as a helpful remedy for treating some digestive illnesses. This study aimed to review the properties of MBW in Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. So, Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine was reviewed with keywords related to this remedy. Furthermore, various databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and SID, were searched with the keywords “barley water," “non-alcoholic beer," and “alcohol-free beer." This study showed that Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine recommends MBW for the treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders. Avicenna prescribed barley water for the treatment of bowel obstruction disease, bowel mass, intestinal ulcers, and jaundice. Oral consumption of MBW was the most frequently used method for disease improvement. Meanwhile, recent studies have also shown the therapeutic effects of non-alcoholic beer in the treatment of various disorders, such as gastrointestinal inflammatory disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, possibly due to its anti-inflammatory effect. Given the high importance of MBW in Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine, the results of this review and recent clinical studies can introduce MBW as an effective and less harmful gastrointestinal drug. We suggest conducting further clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of MBW in managing gastrointestinal conditions.

Persian medicine is an ancient medical school that prioritizes preserving health over treatment. It is a holistic approach that considers genetics, lifestyle, and other factors to find the root cause of a disease. This study investigated the virtual course of Persian and complementary medicine from the perspective of students. We conducted a cross-sectional study. A standard questionnaire was used to collect data from 750 participants. The tool's validity was confirmed based on its content validity, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to estimate the internal consistency of this questionnaire. The questionnaire measured the effectiveness of the virtual education system in various dimensions, and the participants completed it electronically at the end of the course. SPSS 26.0 was used to analyze the collected data. The study used frequency, percentage, and mean to describe data and a desirability score was calculated for each question to evaluate course quality from participants' perspective. The results of the one-sample t-test indicate that the sample mean (57.111) is higher than the population mean (90) (p < 0.01). Based on the independent samples t-test, the mean attitude score of female students towards course is higher than that of male students (p > 0.05). The ANOVA analysis results regarding the mean attitude scores of students towards the course based on their field of study show that the mean attitude scores vary across different fields of study (p < 0.05). The result of present study emphasizes the importance of developing education in Persian medicine in universities to meet the clinical needs of the community and improve health and well-being. This can also promote the status of Persian medicine globally.

Excessive inflammation in the respiratory system could lead to life-threatening conditions. This situation is usually caused by irritants, allergens, pathogens, toxins, and pollutants, leading to airway inflammation. On the other hand, an inappropriate lifestyle can cause inflammation in different parts of the body including the respiratory tract. This study aimed to explore the recommended lifestyle modification for respiratory tract inflammation from the Persian medicine viewpoint in light of current evidence. In this review, first, we looked for lifestyle factors effective on the respiratory tract in Persian medicine sources. Then, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched to find evidence about the mentioned factors, using the following keywords: psychological stress, sleep, food, exercise, gut, constipation, cold, and airway or respiratory tract. In line with Persian medicine, current literature confirms that psychological stress, intensive physical activity, allergic foods, and cold ambient trigger the beginning of the inflammation process in the respiratory system. It could happen through different pathways such as downregulation of Th1 cytokines expression, cold-inducible RNA binding protein (CIRP) synthesizing, mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) overexpression, activating transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) channels, inducing a neutrophilic type of inflammation and damaging the airway epithelium. Mild exercise, well-being of the gut microbiota status, and reduction of sleep duration have beneficial effects on the regression of inflammation. Lifestyle modification could play an important role in the prevention and treatment of respiratory tract inflammation. Future clinical investigations should be conducted to evaluate their effects.

The function of bitter taste due to the existence of too much of its receptor on many extra-oral tissues is not only related to the oral cavity, but is effective in many physiological functions. More than ten centuries ago, Avicenna (980–1032 CE), a Persian physician, pointed to the effects and functions of various tastes in the body. In this research, we examined the heart medicines mentioned by Avicenna, relying on their taste, especially the bitter taste. The books used in the case of Persian Medicine included the following: Qanun Fi al-Teb (Canon of Medicine), Manafe-al-Aghzieh va Daf-e-Mazareha and Treatise on Cardiac Drugs. In addition, articles published in English in the last 10 years were searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and Embase. Vasodilation, inotropic effects, cardio-protection, digital like effect, reducing the accumulation of calcium and nitric oxide in the heart, antioxidant activity, improving heart metabolism and preserving mitochondrial function after MI are some of the cardiovascular effects of Avicenna`s bitter tasting heart medicines, which are also confirmed by clinical evidences in modern investigations. The findings of this research show that the function of bitter-tasting herbal drugs in the body can have beneficial cardiovascular effects, some of which have been proven in studies, and more researches is needed in this field.

Narcissus tazetta L., commonly known as narcissus, is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family. It has a wide distribution worldwide. Various ancient sources, including traditional Persian medicine, Unani medicine, Ayurveda, and Chinese medicine, have documented diverse and significant uses of this plant. Recent studies have also confirmed several pharmacological effects of narcissus. Our aim was to review the references about narcissus in Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) and compare them with conventional sources. For this purpose, TPM data were extracted from Persian medicine sources; while modern data were obtained from electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and SID. TPM sources attribute various effects to narcissus, including treatment of swellings and masses, alleviating pain, and healing of internal and external ulcers. These properties align with the antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-aging effects reported in recent studies. The integration of ancient knowledge and modern scientific research holds promise in identifying new pharmaceutical and therapeutic approaches. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to comprehend the precise mechanisms of these effects and potential side effects.

Infertility and erectile dysfunction (ED) are common health issues and exacerbate as men age. In recent years, it has been realized that cardiovascular disease (CVD) forecasts the incidence of ED; however, there is less evidence of the relationship between fertility with CVD. According to Avicenna, an eminent physician of Persian medicine, there is a connection between CVD, male sexual problems, and fertility. The aim of this study is to discuss the mentioned connection and the role of medicinal plants in mitigating CVD and as a result, male infertility. This library-based study focused on Avicenna's outstanding manuscript “The Canon of Medicine”. Scientific databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to investigate current pharmacological findings and mechanisms of action of medicinal plants mentioned in “The Canon of Medicine”. Avicenna pinpointed that CVD is responsible for insufficient production of the endogenous gaseous substance required for the erection, causing infertility. He mentioned the association between the ability to produce semen of good quality and fertility potential to improve heart function. Medicinal plants mentioned in his manuscript mainly possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, improve plasma lipid profile, reduce triacylglycerol, and show cardioprotective effects, which consequently boost fertility by improvement of sperm parameters. Expression of the association between cardiac function and male fertility demonstrates Avicenna's significant contribution to improving the sciences of male fertility and cardiology in the medieval era. In addition, the recommended medicinal plants seem to be a valuable source for identifying new remedies for the treatment of male sexual disorders and infertility.

Persian Medicine (PM) is an ancient and holistic healthcare approach that has been practiced for thousands of years. While PM is often considered to be a traditional or alternative form of medicine, it has a rich history and a wealth of knowledge that can be of great value in contemporary medical practice. It encompasses a wide range of medical practices, including herbal medicine, dietary therapy, manual intervention, and lifestyle modification. Despite its long history and widespread use, there is a lack of standardized terminology in PM, which can lead to confusion and miscommunication among practitioners and patients. The Persian Medicine standard terminology provides a framework for understanding Persian medical concepts and terminology and can serve as a bridge between traditional and modern medicine. Therefore, to systematize the use of Persian medicine standard terminology, a working group was formed in the Persian Medicine Office of the Iranian Ministry of Health. After gathering opinions from experts in Persian medicine and the English language, a set of commonly used words was identified for the project. The first step of the project includes 100 standardized terms which are presented in this paper.

This study aimed to explore potential relationships between dietary patterns aligned with cold or hot temperaments and cardiovascular parameters among healthy individuals. This randomized clinical trial was conducted in 2020 with 65 healthy volunteers. Participants were categorized into two groups, specifically as hot or cold temperaments. In the initial phase, we measured body temperature, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and conducted the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) test. Subsequently, participants received a three-day diet plan with a similar nature to their body temperament (second phase). The same measurements were repeated after three days. Following this, participants returned to a normal daily diet for three days. In the third phase, they received a diet plan of the opposite nature to their temperament for another three days, and the same battery of tests was conducted at the study's conclusion. In both the cold temperament group during the second phase and the hot temperament group during the third phase, mean body temperature, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower than in other phases (P < 0.05). Additionally, HRV indexes, including RMSSD, SDNNInd, and QT, were significantly higher during the second phase for the cold temperament group and the third phase for the hot temperament group compared to other phases (P < 0.05). Irrespective of individual body temperament, the consumption of a cold-natured diet led to a significant decrease in mean body temperature, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This effect may be attributed to the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Sleep paralysis, described as Kabus in Persian medicine (PM), is a state during sleep in which a person senses heaviness on the chest without the ability to speak or move. This study aims to review sleep paralysis from the viewpoint of Persian medicine. Five original reference books on PM were reviewed and data about the definition, etiology, and clinical features of sleep paralysis were extracted. Two main etiologies have been mentioned: evaporation of vapor to the brain and brain dystemperament due to cold reaching the brain; both of which cause weakness and dysfunction of the brain. PM recommends low-cost and available remedies for sleep paralysis such as dietary modification, oral and topical herbal medications, and manual interventions like “Fasd” (phlebotomy). Recent studies have shown the neuroprotective effect of these herbal drugs which can improve cognition and memory. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of the recommended remedies for sleep paralysis.

Topical wounds are common complications, and it is necessary to find new remedies and approaches for their treatment. In this study, Avicenna’s definitions of topical wounds and his treatment strategies are investigated and compared with contemporary findings. Data were extracted from the fourth chapter of the fourth volume of the Canon of Medicine and databases of PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar using keywords of wound healing, Avicenna, Persian medicine, etc. Avicenna tries to clarify categorizations, semiology, pathophysiology, dressing, remedies and treatment strategies for wound. Many of his descriptions—like callus and the importance of angiogenesis in wound healing—are close to current definitions. He also mentioned to strategies like using gauze in dressing, control of bleeding and swelling (inflammation), washing and clearing wounds, using suture and surgery in some cases and also prescribing tonic foods. Furthermore, the efficacy of many natural remedies mentioned by Avicenna like Boswellia sacra Flück., Hordeum vulgare L., Prangos ferulacea Lindl., Quercus persica Jaub. & Spach, Brassica oleracea L., and Plantago major L. have been evaluated and approved by contemporary investigations. These results demonstrate the impact of Avicenna’s knowledge on wounds and wound healing process. Therefore, besides historical impact, it is important as a novel natural source to find new medicaments based on this ancient knowledge.

Since the Old Testament era, medicine has drawn scientists from around the world. Persian physicians have played an undeniable role in the advancement of medicine worldwide and their books have been taught as medical textbooks in the East and the West for years. In the Islamic Golden Age (9th to 12th century AD), Abu-Sahl al-Masihi (960-1010 AD), was one of the great Persian scholars contemporary to Avicenna and Al-Biruni. He wrote several valuable works on medicine, philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy in Arabic. The two books titled Al-Mia fil-Tibb (Book of the Hundred [on Medicine]) and Ezhar al-Hekmat Allah Ta’ala fi Khalgh al-Ensan (Manifestations of God’s Wisdom in the Creation of Mankind) also known as Tashrih Badan al-Ensan (Human Anatomy) are among his important works in medicine. Particularly, in Tashrih Badan al-Ensan, Abu-Sahl detailed the structure and function of each organ within the human body. On heart anatomy, he presented interesting, and even innovative views. Despite the significance of his views on medicine among physicians of the Islamic era, his works have failed to be translated into Latin or other languages for unknown reasons, leaving him veiled in academic spheres. This paper aims to describe Abu-Sahl al-Masihi's opinions on heart anatomy.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the most common chronic diseases with a high global burden of disease. Today, the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become more popular. In general, in developing countries, easy access and low cost of traditional medicine, and in developed countries, more access to health information, the prevalence of old age and the increase in chronic diseases are the reasons for this increasing use of traditional medicine. This study aimed to determine the rate and pattern of CAM used and their relationships with demographic characteristics among asthmatic and COPD patients. This research was a cross-sectional study performed on asthma and COPD patients (n=357) referring to the Pulmonary Diseases affiliated with Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran from 2019 to 2020. Data were collected by using semi-structured questionnaires including open and closed questions and face-to-face interviews. Three hundred and thirty-nine patients (95%) used at least one type of CAM in the last year of study. About half of the patients (49.9%) used more than two types of CAM during the last 12 months. Three hundred and four patients (85.2%) used medicinal plants. Few patients reported with the use of CAM to their physician or health care providers (16.1%, 12.5%, and 16.7% of the users of medicinal plants, bloodletting, and dry cupping respectively). Relatives and friends (77.9%) were with the most common sources of recommendation of CAM to the patients. The present study showed the high prevalence of using different types of CAM, especially herbal medicines in Iranian asthmatic and COPD patients. The main incentive for using CAM was for friends and family members, not health care providers. The use of CAM is associated with age patients age, family size, habitat, education, and occupation.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition resulting from injury to the developing brain. Treatment modalities vary based on symptomatology and may range from physiotherapy to pharmacologic intervention and surgical intervention. Despite the current therapeutic strategies, outcomes remain suboptimal. In light of limited data regarding the therapeutic effects of oil-based massages on neonates with CP, this study aimed to investigate the potential neurological benefits of incorporating herbal oils into massage treatments for these infants. In this investigation, we conducted a thorough exploration of the medicinal herbs described in the paralysis section of medical and pharmaceutical sources in Persian medicine. Subsequently, we conducted an extensive literature review on the neurological effects of oils or essential oils derived from these herbs. Our search was conducted up to 2023 using pertinent keywords such as Pimpenella anisum L., anise, aniseed, Foeniculum vulgare Miller, fennel, Carum carvi L., caraway, Piper nigrum L., pepper, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, cinnamon, Nigella sativa L., black seed, Vitis vinifera L., grape seed, Olea europaea, olive, Rosa damascene, and rose flower. We specifically focused on studies related to neuroprotection, neurology, massage, and cerebral palsy, and obtained relevant information from data sources such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Our investigation revealed that massage therapy has an impact on CP and that herbal oils possess neurological properties, such as anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects, as well as enhancements in behavior, memory, learning, and cerebral function. Based on the advantageous mechanisms of action of herbal oils, we postulate that massage therapy utilizing herbal oils may offer a promising complementary approach in the management of newborns with CP. We recommend further experimental and clinical studies to establish their effectiveness.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is recognized as a major global health problem, which is associated with numerous complications. This disease is characterized by kidney dysfunction and a reduced glomerular filtration rate. Among the main causes of this disease, we can refer to hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and polycystic kidney disease. Despite the recent treatments, we are witnessing a rise in the cases of disease progression and the need for renal replacement therapy. The present study aimed to assess the causes and symptoms, as well as prevention and treatment options for Hozal-e-Kolye (kidney atrophy) in Persian medical texts and compare it with CKD. To conduct this study, the terms related to "Hozal-e-Kolye" were searched in reliable and available books of Persian medicine such as Al-Qanoon fi al-Tibb, Sharh-ol-asbab va al alamat, Zakhire -e kharazmshahi, Teb-e-Akbari and other resources. To examine the CKD, all reliable medical books, such as Harrison and Brenner, as well as PubMed, Science direct, and Scopus databases were used. Following that, a comparison was made between the extracted data on Hozal-e-Kolye and those about CKD. According to the results of this study, common points were seen between the causes and symptoms of Hozal-e-Kolye and chronic kidney disease. In Persian medicine, the treatment of Hozal-e-Kolye includes removing the causes of the disease,and then performing treatments to hydrate kidneys. These treatments can be used in CKD patients, based on the similarities between these two diseases. Considering the similarities in the causes and symptoms of Hozal-e-Kolye and CKD, these two diseases can be deemed close in nature, and accordingly, research ideas can be designed and implemented to prevent and help treat CKD.

Gender selection has emerged as a controversial issue in different countries and in this respect, a wide range of studies and international symposiums have been dedicated to this subject. A comprehensive literature review was performed without restriction on publication date as well as credible Persian Medicine (PM) resources such as "Exir-e-Azam" (The Great Elixir), "Qarabadin-e-Kabir" (Great Pharmacopoeia), and "al-Qānūn fīl-tibb” (The Canon of Medicine) were completely studied. It was found that both nutritional factors such as glucose and electrolytes and non-nutritional factors including female tract, sperm, age, the timing of sexual intercourse, maternal body mass, stress, pH, estrogen, temperature, and testosterone can be used as important indicators in the gender selection. Most recommendations provided by PM for gender selection were found to be in good agreement with those reported by modern medicine.

Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague (commonly known as ajwain) contains ingredients that attenuate menstrual problems, especially cramping. In this study, we evaluated the impact of ajwain on the pain intensity in a sample of Iranian female college students with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) in comparison to mefenamic acid (MFA). This study was an open-label, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial conducted in the university dormitories in Tehran, Iran, from September 2018 to May 2019. Seventy patients were randomly assigned to two groups of ajwain and MFA. The participants in the ajwain group were treated with a 500 mg ajwain capsule three times a day for seven days, from the 26th cycle day to the 3rd day of the menstrual cycle, for three consecutive cycle periods. The other group received MFA capsules with the first dose of 500 mg and then 250 mg every eight hours, if necessary, from the first day of the menstrual cycle. The two groups were compared in terms of the pain intensity by the visual analog scale (VAS) in pre-intervention cycle and three consecutive cycles during the study. Maximum pain intensity, mean pain, and duration of pain after the intervention were significantly reduced in both groups. The mean VAS score significantly decreased in the ajwain group compared to the MFA group post-intervention (p < 0.02). Moreover, passing blood clots was significantly reduced in the ajwain group (p < 0.03). The findings of this study suggest that ajwain may be effective in pain relief in PD without adverse effects.

Wide range of acute and chronic inflammatory ailments, side effects of their available therapies and incomplete treatment of such patients push the researches to find new and more effective drugs. To reach this aim, in the current study, we evaluate Urtica pilulifera L. (family Urticaceae) as an introduced traditional herb for treatment of inflammation in Persian Medicine (PM). In an animal study, Anti – inflammatory effects of U. pilulifera were surveyed in rats on the basis hind paw edema model which it’s inflammation induced with formalin. Sodium Salicylate (300mg/kg, ip, S.S) injection was used as a positive control group and compared with methanolic extract of U. pilulifera (20 mg/kg; i.p.) (MUP), three different doses of aqueous extract of U. pilulifera (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg; i.p.) (AUP) and a group of distilled water (6 mL/kg ; i.p.). As acute anti-inflammatory effect, AUP in doses 40 and 80mg/kg (i.p.) decreased edema significantly (p

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a major health problem in the society. Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) or Persian Medicine (PM) as a branch of complementary medicine has been practiced in Iran for many centuries. An herbal medication known as squill oxymel has been used by PM physicians for OA. Our aim is to investigate the effect of squill oxymel on OA of the knee joint. Eighty eight patients were assigned to receive a placebo or squill oxymel syrup (10 ml each morning on empty stomach) for 8 consecutive weeks. Acetaminophen tablets were considered as the rescue medicine. Ultimately, 43 patients in the placebo group and 40 patients in the treatment group completed the trial and were included in the statistical analysis. Patients were followed for 4 weeks after cessation of treatment. The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were considered as the main outcome measures. Laboratory tests including AST, ALT, BUN, Cr plus inflammatory tests including WBC, ESR, and CRP with specific tests i.e. IL6 and SOD at the beginning and the end of intervention were measured. The results showed the positive effect of treatment on the outcome of knee pain (p=0.04) and daily activity (p=0.01) of KOOS after Cessation of treatment. On the other hand, VAS decreased in both treatment and placebo groups while it showed significance intra-group and showed no significance between the two groups. After 4 weeks of cessation of treatment, the positive effect of the squill oxymel on the treatment group continued in some of the subscales of KOOS, including symptoms, knee pain and daily activities, but stopped in the placebo group. In general, both clinically and statistically significant improvement was observed after cessation of treatment. Squill oxymel syrup showed promising results in management of knee OA but future researches with larger sample size and longer duration are necessary.

This study aimed to assess the antinociceptive activity of extracts and fractions of Paeonia daurica subsp. macrophylla in BALB/c mice. Various doses of hydro-alcoholic extract (HE), hexane fraction (F-hexane), methanol (F-MeOH), and chloroform (F-CHCl3), as well as aqueous extracts (AE), were evaluated by a well-known model, a formalin-induced pain test in mice. All extracts, piroxicam 0.1 mg/kg, and negative control groups were administered 30 minutes before formalin injection. Flinching, licking, and biting reflexes were measured as painful factors compared with controls at intervals of 0 to 5 minutes, 0 to 15, and 0 to 60 minutes after formalin injection. The acute oral toxicity test of total ethanolic and aqueous extracts showed no signs of toxic effect up to a dose of 5000 mg/kg. In the formalin test at a time interval of 0 to 5 minutes, there was no significant difference between the results of the study groups. In the range of 0 to 15 minutes, the effect of AE (1 g/kg), HE (2, 3 g/kg), and F-hexane (1 g/kg) was significantly higher than the positive control group (p

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Persian Medicine-based dietary protocol (PM diet) in patients infected with COVID-19. A randomized clinical trial was performed from July 2020 to January 2021 in Tehran, Iran. Eighty patients admitted due to pulmonary dysfunction caused by COVID-19 were randomly allocated into two groups: the PM diet or the common hospital (CH) diet. Eight beds in 2 rooms were considered for each group. Patients were randomly hospitalized in these rooms and received these diets up to discharge or death. The details of the PM diet were published before (Hospital diet for COVID-19, an acute respiratory infectious disease: An evidence-based Protocol of a Clinical Trial). O2 saturation level and duration of hospitalization, the rate of mortality, duration of fever, and duration of cough were considered as the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. O2 Saturation and fever durationwere not different between groups (P-value= 0.08, 0.312, respectively). But the duration of hospitalization and the duration of cough in the PM diet group were significantly shorter than in the CH diet (P-value= 0.002, 0.009, and HR=2.02, 1.86 respectively). The mortality rate was significantly lower in the PM diet group than in the CH diet group (Odds ratio: 0.12, P-value=0.026). PM diet caused a lower mortality rate, shorter hospital stay, and better improvement in cough, but did not have a significant effect on O2 saturation and fever.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has shown increasing acceptance, popularity, and use all around the world. The International Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (I-CAM-Q) was developed to be a standard research instrument for achieving more reliable data and enabling researchers for comparing multiple studies on CAM use. This study aimed to provide a Persian translation of I-CAM-Q that also was adapted according to Iranian culture. The I-CAM-Q was translated and back-translated to Persian by a team of 2 translators and 2 traditional Persian medicine specialists. Then an internet-based specialist survey and an experts’ panel using the DELPHI method were done to perform cross-cultural adaptation. The feasibility study of the Iranian version of I-CAM-Q (i.e., I-CAM-IR) was tested upon adult population, the final changes were done to I-CAM-IR and data were gathered from 301 hypertensive patients. The related specific words such as traditional Persian medicine and “Attar” (herbalist) were added to the questionnaire for a more precise local adaptation. Meanwhile, some structural changes were made in the first two pages of the original I-CAM-Q and the questions about disclosure were added to it. This questionnaire was easily accepted by most patients during the interview. Generally, 72.4% of our hypertensive participants used CAM but only 41.8% of them disclosed this to their physicians. I-CAM-Q is a standard questionnaire that needs to be adapted to non-English speaking countries. Generally, in this study the useage of CAM among people with hypertention was high. Therefore, it is emphesised that physisians should have adequate knowledge about it. Meanwhile, conducting multicentral researches in this field will provide the basis for accumulative data about CAM use in Iran.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine is increasing throughout the world. Traditional Persian medicine, with a long history, is well known as a branch of complementary and alternative medicine and has a role in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward Persian medicine among Medical School staff were assessed in this study because of the importance of education in this field. This cross-sectional study was performed in 2020. As there was no specific questionnaire for assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward Persian medicine, data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire that was found to be both valid and reliable; the data were then analyzed statistically using SPSS software version 25. One hundred and fifty-three staff members were included in this study. The average score of performance in using treatment modalities in traditional Persian medicine was moderate, but the average score of knowledge about Persian medicine treatment modalities was low. The average score of attitude was positive, and 66.6% of people agreed with participating in the short-term course of traditional Persian medicine. The participants in this study showed moderate performance and a positive attitude towards traditional Persian medicine despite little knowledge of different Persian medicine treatment modalities. Most people expressed a desire to get acquainted with it. Therefore, it is suggested that courses be held to inform the staff about traditional Persian medicine.

The quality of sleep changes with age and a reduction in sleep duration is observed in the elderly. Mizaj (temperament) is a fundamental theory in traditional Persian medicine. It is defined as all sides of personality describing a person’s morphological, psychological, and physiological situations. Although the evidence showed that temperament and sleep quality are related, no research has evaluated this issue statistically so far. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between sleep quality and temperament. This cross-sectional study included 1,359 elderly people (aged 60) in Tabriz, Iran in 2019. An interviewer accomplished the Tabriz Older People Survey (TOPS), Temperament and Sleep Quality Test, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A p value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Our findings indicated that there was a significant relationship between global PSQI and wet temperament (p value = 0.036). In addition, hot-cold temperament was statistically related to demographical items like gender, marital status, and occupational status (p value ≤ 0.05). A similar statistically significant relationship was also seen for wet-dry temperament (p value ≤ 0.05). Moreover, the global PSQI score in female and illiterates subjects and those who lived in detached houses was high, meaning that the sleep quality was poor in these groups. According to our findings, Mizaj affects the quality of sleep in older adults. Also, living conditions of the elderly, such as gender, type of residence, level of education, and job, affect the Mizaj of the elderly people.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common causes of disability in diabetic patients. Applying a method to achieve the highest therapeutic effect in patients is desirable. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of leech therapy on diabetic neuropathy of lower limbs in comparison to gabapentin as a standard method. This randomized controlled parallel-group clinical trial was conducted among 40 patients with type II diabetes who were diagnosed with lower limb diabetic neuropathy and referred to specialized outpatient clinics in Babol, Mazandaran province, Iran from 23 September 2020 to 17 March 2021. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group was treated with leech therapy and the other group was treated with gabapentin as the standard method. The severity of neuropathy was assessed every 15 days until the 45th day. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Neuropathy Symptom Score (NSS), Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS), and Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV), and Electromyography (EMG) were used for assessing the study outcomes. The repeated measure and Friedman tests were used by SPSS.V.23. The results of our study indicated that pain (P value:0.03), numbness (P value˂0.0001), and paranesthesia (P value:0.01) significantly reduced in patients undergoing leech therapy versus patients taking gabapentin on the 45th day. The total NSS (P value˂0.0001) and total NDS (P value˂0.0001) improved significantly for patients with leech therapy over 45 days compared to the patients with gabapentin. The results of our study showed that using leech therapy for patients with diabetic neuropathy was more effective in improving clinical symptoms and the functions of lower limb muscles and nerves in comparison to gabapentin. The severity and symptoms of neuropathy greatly improved for the patients treated with leech therapy versus patients taking gabapentin.

Urinary Incontinence (UI) is a significant reason for the decline in women's quality of life. The unexpected occurrence of UI and its high costs around the world are evident. Numerous methods are used for the management of UI; however, there is no worldwide agreement on any of these methods. Traditional medicines are a source of human medical experiences and this study is a review on the books of the most famous Persian medicine (PM) physician, Avicenna, to find about his approach to UI. Keywords such as: "female urinary incontinence", "lifestyle", and “nutrition” were selected. As a library research, Avicenna’s (980- 1037 AD) "the Canon of Medicine" (Al-Qanun Fi al-Tibb), was reviewed and coded. Some other PM famous books like "the Great Continens" (Al-Hawi fi Al-Tibb) of Rhazes (865- 925 AD) and "The Comprehensive Book on Medicine" (Al-Shamil fi Al-Sana'a Al-Tibbiya) of Ibn al-Nafis al-Qarshi (1213- 1288 AD) were used as a help to interpret the codes just in case it was required. Modern literature was searched with the same keywords at electronic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Magiran. Finally, the results were compared. Recent studies care on conservative and lifestyle management in the treatment of UI. In PM, principles of lifestyle management (Setteh-e-zarurieh) is one of the main characteristics of prevention and treatment with six essential principles including weather, eating and drinking, sleep and wakefulness, movement and rest, evacuation and retention, and psychological and mental reactions. In healthy people, these six axes are designed by temperament and personal characteristics. In this manuscript, we discussed five mentioned subtypes. These managements are appropriate for designing various pieces of clinical trials to survey their effects on female UI.

Pediculosis is a growing social problem in both developed and undeveloped countries. Resistance to chemical treatments and toxicity of insecticidal compounds are reasons why alternative medications should be proposed for this parasitic infestation. This study attempted to investigate traditional anti-lice treatments, and draw together scientific insights into lice management through the study of Persian Medicine manuscripts. Lice infestation formulations were searched in seven traditional textbooks (al-Manṣuri fi al-ṭibb, al-Qanun fi al-ṭibb, Kamil al-ṣina‘ah al-ṭibbiyah, Qarabadin Kabir, Qarabadin Salehi, Makhzan al-Adviyeh, Eksir Azam) pertaining to one millennium period, from the 9th to 19th century. Twenty multi-component medications were selected for the study of ingredients and their active compounds. PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched to find pediculicidal or insecticidal evidence. In vitro studies and clinical trials reporting anti-lice and/or insecticidal activities were summarized. Formulations had four kinds of base (oil, vinegar, alcohol, or water). Oils act through occluding the respiratory spiracles of lice. Vinegar loosens the attachment between nits and hair shaft, improving the removal of nits from hair. Essential oil- and tannin-containing plants made up the majority of anti-lice components in the current study. Seventeen out of twenty-seven medicinal plants were reported to have pediculicidal and/or insecticidal activity. Considering the results, further investigation leads to the designing new treatments against pediculosis.

To develop and validate “Treatment Satisfaction with Traditional Medicines” Questionnaire (TSTMQ), a preliminary 22-item instrument was designed. Content validity ratio (CVR), content validity index (CVI), Intra-class correlation (ICC), and Cronbach alpha were measured, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA and CFA) were conducted. Data were analyzed using SPSS (17) and LISREL softwares (8.8). Finally, TSTMQ with 14 items and in three domains were confirmed after measuring CVR (> 0.62), CVI (> 0.79) and EFA. ICC for the entire questionnaire was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.95-0.99) (P

Abu Reyhan Biruni (973-1048 CE) was a Persian polymath in medieval era. He had more than 100 books and treatises on different subjects like astronomy, culture, history, mathematics and pharmacy. In medical sciences, he was one of the first persons who introduced pharmacy as a separated field from medicine. He was pioneer to define pharmacy and pharmacist similar to current definitions. It was one of the earliest definitions of pharmacy. Biruni can be introduced as a pharmacist, nor physician. He also had a book on pharmacy, Al-Saydana fi al-Tibb (Pharmacy in Medicine). This book is one of the most important works on pharmacy in medieval era. He clarifies the role of pharmacists to serve pharmaceutical services to the patients. It shows the importance of pharmacy as an independent field of medical sciences in Persia and Islamic civilization about a thousand years ago.

According to Persian Medicine (PM), humors that can replace the consumed body compounds, while contributing to health maintenance, is called ‘fine humor’ (khelt-e saleh). However, a limited number of foods and beverages have been mentioned as the producers of fine humor. These substances are particularly important in maintaining health in vulnerable populations including pregnant women, lactating mothers, the elderly, infants and children. They also play an important role in certain treatment plans during illness and injury and after recovery. The present study was designed to investigate properties of fine-humor producing materia medica, as described by PM resources. Based on the search performed in PM textbooks, 63 substances were found to have this property. The most frequent Mizaj types were hot-wet (33.34%), hot-dry (19.05%), and cold-wet (17.47%). The highest organ tropism belonged to kidneys and bladder, brain, liver, sex organs, stomach and lungs respectively. Examining drug actions indicated obesogenous (53.97%), enhancing sperm production and sexual potency (42.86%), laxative (39.69%), and tonic (33.34%) actions to be the most prevalent effects of these substances in the body. By integrating these substances into diets, health promotion for children, the elderly, and mothers during nursing and pregnancy may be achieved. Additionally, patients can benefit from a fine-humor producing nutrition both for 1) prevention of chronic diseases and 2) during disease recovery, acute phases of illness, anemia, and metabolic illnesses. Further studies are recommended to analyze the components and nutritional value, and the use of PM capability in culinary medicine.

Various therapeutic activities of Pistacia atlantica var. mutica such as hypoglycemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity were shown by several studies. Regarding these therapeutic activities, and due to advantages of nanoparticles for drug delivery systems, the anti-colitic effects of P. atlantica var. mutica oleoresin nanoparticles were studied in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats. Nanoparticles were synthesized by using ethanol and acetone as solvent. Nano precipitation method was also used for nanoparticles synthesis. P. atlantica oleoresin was orally administered to acetic acid-induced colitis rats at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Then rats were killed and their colons were dissected away for histopathological and macroscopic tests. Statistical results showed homogeneity and uniformity in size and size distribution of fabricated nanoparticles. Proposed models for size and size distribution of nanoparticles were also adequate (P value

Persian medicine introduces six essential principles to maintain health and improve the breathing of the patients with pulmonary diseases. Adherence to each of these principles plays an important role in having healthy lungs. The purpose of this study was to review the scientific evidence of the mentioned recommendations while discussing the Persian medicine recommendations. Accordingly, suggestions related to maintaining lung health were extracted from the main sources of Persian medicine. In addition, similar topics were searched in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and SID databases. Then, results were expressed separately in each aspect of the six essential principles. These recommendations which are the result of hundreds-of-years-experience of Iranian physicians could be useful; however, future experimental investigations are needed to approve their safety and efficacy along with the possible mechanisms of action.

Cupping has a long history in Iran which is one of the most widely used methods in prevention and treatment of diseases in Persian medicine. However, it still has many opponents in the Iranian conventional medical community. So, this systematic review study was conducted to survey the scientific and authoritative articles related to wet and dry cupping that have been done in Iran and the diseases for which Iranian researchers have suggested cupping. In general, the effect of wet and dry cupping on various kinds of pain (e.g. headache, musculoskeletal pain, postpartum pain, etc.), as well as the effect of wet cupping on hematological and biochemical factors of blood were among the most common studies. Also, persistence of therapeutic effects of wet and dry cupping on various diseases was satisfactory. The results of this study showed that wet and dry cupping, even alone, are effective in the treatment of many diseases, and if the objections to the use of these two treatments are reduced, more extensive and high-quality researches in this regard will be done.

As an inflammatory disease of the lung, asthma is characterized by bronchoconstriction, mucus hypersecretion, inflammatory mediator release, and eosinophil recruitment. Cupping therapy is an ancient method of treatment for a vast range of ailments. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-asthmatic effects of wet cupping therapy (WCT) in a mouse model. A total number of 35 Balb/c mice were randomly divided into five groups (n = 7): Negative and positive control groups were administered Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) and ovalbumin (OVA), respectively. The remaining three OVA-challenged groups were treated with budesonide, one session, and two sessions of WCT. Finally, eosinophil counts, the gene expressions, and the protein levels of interleukins IL-5, -13, and -33 were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice. Lung tissues were removed and kept for histopathological evaluations. Both eosinophil counts and interleukin levels in BALFs were significantly diminished following WCT. Moreover, WCT prevented hyperplastic growth of goblet cells, overproduction of mucus, and inflammation of peribronchial and perivascular areas of lung tissue of mice compared to positive control group. Interestingly, the anti-inflammatory effects of WCT against asthma were comparable to budesonide. Our data suggested that the anti-asthmatic effects of WCT were mediated by reducing eosinophil trafficking and modulating Th2 inflammatory cytokines, leading to the histological changes of the lung. This may propose WCT as an efficient therapeutic approach to mitigate inflammatory complications of asthma.

Chronic constipation is a highly prevalent digestive problem in the community, which would decrease the quality of life of individuals. There is not any conclusive drug of choice for constipation. Golqand (combined Rosa × damascena Herrm. and honey) has been introduced as an effective safe laxative in Persian medicine (PM). This study aimed to investigate the effects of Golqand in comparison with Magnesium hydroxide suspension (MOM) in chronic constipation. In this clinical trial, fifty-six patients with chronic constipation were randomly assigned to the study groups of Golqand or MOM. Patients received Golqand (20 g daily) or MOM (40 mL daily) for 2 weeks. Patients took the drug twice a day, MOM group used it in the morning (20 mL) and at night before going to bed (20 mL). The Golqand group used it 10 g before lunch and 10 g before dinner, dissolved it in lukewarm water and swallowed. Then, they were followed for the second two weeks without any medication. The primary outcome was frequency of defecation. Patients were evaluated before the study and two weeks and four weeks after the beginning study. Estimated marginal mean frequency of defecation in the MOM group in the first two weeks was significantly higher than the Golqnd group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups in the third week when treatment was discontinued (P = 0.155) but in the fourth week, the Golqand group had more count of defecation than the MOM group (P = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the two study groups in terms of treatment satisfaction and drug side effects (P > 0.05). Golqand medication can be used in the treatment of constipation with very few drug side effects and a more lasting effect than MOM drug.

The most common functional gastrointestinal problem in the world is functional constipation. "Ayarij-e-Faiqra (AF)" is a polyherbal formula that has been recommended by Persian Medicine as an efficent purgative agent . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of AF on functional constipation using a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. According to the Rome III classification, 79 adults with functional constipation were included in this trial. The diagnostic criteria were according to the Rome III classification. Patients with constipation symptoms who referred to the traditional medicine clinic of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences from April 2014 to September 2016 were randomly allocated to the AF and placebo groups. The AF and placebo groups received AF and placebo for three months, respectively and followed up for another three months. During the study, the treatment efficacy was assessed by a questionnaire. AF treatment significantly decreased most of the symptoms by 84% at the end of the first month (p < 0.05) and by 90% at the end of the third month in comparison to placbo group (p < 0.001). However, three months after the end of the intervention, the frequency of constipation symptoms in both groups was not statistically significant. Based on the satisfaction questionnaire, the treatment satisfaction score during the intervention was increased to 9 in the AF group, but no significant difference was found between the two groups three months after the intervention (p > 0.005). Although AF could be beneficial for treating functional constipation without significant side effects, changing patients’ lifestyles has great importance in this process.

Nocturnal enuresis is one of the most common chronic problems of childhood. It has a significant effect on health and quality of life of children and their families. Despite pharmacological treatments, enuresis in most children relapses after the medication is discontinued. Also available drugs have many side effects that limited their uses. So, we compared the effect of topical use of Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch. (Qost) oil as a Persian Medicine product on pediatric nocturnal enuresis in a parallel randomized double blinded study. Eighty-two patients aged 5 to 15 years who were diagnosed as monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis were allocated to receive costus oil or sesame oil topically below the navel twice a day for 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated prior to and following end of the study in terms of frequency of enuresis and any observed adverse events. The results were evaluated with valid PLUTSS questionnaire. For evaluation, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests were used. Significant p value was < 0.05. A significant decrease in mean scores of the questionnaires was noted in both groups. The results before and after the intervention were significantly different in both groups, but there was no statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups. At the end of the 4th week, the frequency and volume of enuresis showed a 46.2 percent reduction in costus oil group and a 25.5 percent reduction in sesame oil group. According to this study, the response rate based on PLUTSS questionnaire in costus oil group is 74.5%; while in the sesame oil group is 69%. No drug side effect was noticed in this study. Based on the results of this study, costus oil is effective in children with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis; however, there is no significant difference between costus oil and sesame oil.

High blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and obesity are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. With regard to the significant role of a healthy diet in the prevention and even treatment of diseases together with the high cost and side effects of drugs, finding foods effective in the treatment of metabolic disorders has been widely considered. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oxymel – an Iranian traditional syrup with vinegar base – on cardiovascular risk indicators in obese and overweight people. Candidates were selected based on a set of inclusion criteria and were divided into two groups of control and test. The control group received 250 cc of water, while the test group received 250 cc water containing 30 cc of the oxymel for 30 days. Anthropometric and biochemical indicators were measured at the beginning and end of the study. The results showed that there were no significant changes in the body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and blood glucose level. However, weight (P = 0.053) and cholesterol (P = 0.083) decreased relatively significantly in the test group compared to the control group. This study shows that consumption of oxymel has positive cardiovascular effects such as lowering the blood cholesterol level and can contribute to weight loss; however, studies with a larger sample size are recommended.

The COVID-19 disease started in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and spread across the world, including the Islamic Republic of Iran. Due to the high prevalence of this disease, it resulted in worry in many people and has led to several unnecessary visits to medical centers which may have increased the risk of infection. Preventive measures are necessary to control outbreaks and decrease disease burdens. Telemedicine such as telephone consultation is an efficient and safe platform to control disease in times of infectious epidemics by reducing the communication between people and the presence of non-infected people in medical centers. Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) as integrated medicine, is a collection of scientific principles and methods for the prevention and treatment of disease. The Nobaan’s telephone consultation system was set up by ITM specialists to provide consultations for COVID-19. A total of 43 ITM physicians have been consulting health seekers every day from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. based on national guidelines for COVID-19 and a specialized guide from academic resources of ITM. From 18 March to 17 April 2020, the doctors received a total of 2778 calls and provided a total of 11221 minutes of consultation. In total, 50% of physicians answered more than 90% of the calls and the average length of each call was 4.5 minutes. Finally, it seems except few limitations compared with face to face patient visit, this newly consultation by ITM specialist may provide considerable help to prevent and manage COVID-19 outbreak in Iran.

Indo-Iranian medicine dates back to a couple of centuries ago. The Gurkanies’ movement from Iran and Transoxiana to India introduced the Persian language to India, and the scientific language changed from Arabic and Sanskrit to this language. Iranian medicine has had a remarkable influence on the Indian Subcontinent, a sign of which is the elevated medical literature written in this language. Hakim Mohammad Azam Khan was born in 1813 AD. His ancestors were great sages of Khorasan (in north east of Iran) and then migrated to Afghanistan and India. Since he lived in the late 19th AD century, he had access to many Iranian traditional books. He provided rich sources of traditional medicine for the next generation by publishing traditional medicine books and traditional pharmacology. He wrote great books such as the Exir Azam (a comprehensive medical encyclopedia), Romouz Azam (a general book on medicine), Qarabadin Azam (Pharmacopeia). With his profound 19th century orientalist approach that emphasized safeguarding the Persian language, he created numerous works in the field of medicine, making him the most serious custodian of Indo-Iranian medicine in India. The present study reviews the scientific life of a contemporary famous author of Indo-Iranian medical literature written in Persian Language.

Premature ejaculation is one of the most common sexual disorders worldwide without a satisfying treatment. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a topical formulation of clove oil in premature ejaculation patients. Eligible patients were randomly divided into two groups to use either Syzygium aromaticum (SA) 1% gel or placebo gel 10 minutes before the intercourse for a period of 8 weeks. Outcome measurement were Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaires in addition to Intravaginal Ejaculation Latency Time (IELT). A total number of 22 (11 patients in each group) participants completed the study. At the end of the intervention, the IELT scores changed from 29.84 ± 18.59 to 97.09 ± 91.86 and 42.51 ± 13.98 to 52.45 ± 32.7 seconds in SA gel and placebo groups, respectively (p-value = 0.003). Also, the changes of PEDT scores in the SA gel group (from 14 ± 3.55 to 9.2 ± 4.56) comparing to that of placebo gel group (from 14.63 ± 3.61 to 13.5 ± 3.78) was significantly different (p-value =0.001). Moreover, results of IIEF questionnaire revealed significant improvement of “Intercourse Satisfaction” in SA gel group (p-value = 0.016). No adverse event was observed. It seems that SA gel could be beneficial in the treatment of premature ejaculation; however, it should be further evaluated in larger studies.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease and its etiology has not fully understood in conventional medicine. It also influences the quality of life as a result of its recurrence and progressive clinical course, then, it has been considered an important public health concern. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of prescription therapy based on the Persian Medicine as a complementary treatment for the mitigation of the symptoms of UC as well as improvement in the disease severity. A total of 30 UC patients with an age range of 15-70 years participated in this clinical trial. They were treated with the “Sahj” capsule containing: Curcuma longa L., Punica granatum L., and Terminalia chebula Retz. for 4 weeks. The “Sahj” capsule was prepared based on the Persian Medicine resources. The bowel frequency at day/night, urgency of defecation, general health, and blood in stool were assessed pre/post intervention and the results were compared before and after the clinical trial. The “Sahj” capsule significantly enhanced the clinical findings. There was a significant increase in simple clinical colitis activity index (SCCAI) score in response to the prescription of the “Sahj” capsule (7.73 ± 1.98 before and 4.30 ± 1.12 after the trial) in which general health condition of patients was increased by 50% after the clinical trial. Bowel frequency at day was remarkably decreased by totally 15 patients with the scores of 1, 2 and 3 were enrolled to score 0. Also, bowel frequency at night was not statically significant (p = 0.267) in spite of 7 patients were improved their score (changed their score from 2 to 1). Urgency of defecation (p 0.003) and blood in stool (p 0.0001) were significantly decreased compared with pre-intervention stage. These findings suggest an appropriate complementary treatment to reduce the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. However, further studies with larger sample size are warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of the “Sahj” capsule in the treatment of UC.

Functional bloating is one of the gastrointestinal diseases that impacts the quality of life and social activities of the patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of lifestyle modification based on Persian Medicine (PM) on functional bloating improvement. Fifty patients with functional bloating and ROME III confirmation criteria were enrolled in the study groups of control and intervention. The intervention group received lifestyle modification education based on PM perspectives, and the control group did not receive any training. The score of implementing PM recommendations by patients was evaluated by the questionnaire of “compliance with the PM principles effective on functional bloating” once every two weeks during the two months of the study. The severity of clinical Complications Associated with Functional Bloating (CAFB) was also evaluated before and after the study by visual analog scale. Primary and secondary outcomes were analyzed by t-test and ANCOVA in SPSS version 19. The qualitative data analysis was performed via Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. The severity of clinical CAFB was significantly higher in women at baseline (P = 0.027). Lifestyle modification of patients led to a gradual increase in compliance with the PM principles. By the end of the study, the mean score of compliance with the PM principles in the intervention group was significantly higher compared to the pre-intervention score (P

Persian Medicine applies various types of treatment, from changing lifestyle (known as Setteh-e-zarurieh) to using medicines and manual interventions. Manual interventions have various types and indications in Persian Medicine. Visceral manipulation is one of them, which is defined as applying techniques to the viscera or the structures that support it in the case of disturbed motility or mobility related to a visceral system and the associated elements. Herein, Persian Medicine manuscripts were searched to find available information about visceral manipulation. There are many similarities between basic principles of visceral manipulation and Persian Medicine. Persian Medicine scholars have explained about anatomy of fascia and its components many years ago, which are very close to what today’s knowledge is. Most probably, one of the very first scholars who has mentioned the idea of visceral manipulation is Avicenna (980–1037 CE). In his Canon of Medicine, Avicenna mentioned Ghamz as a treatment for liver injury. The available in vitro and animal studies support the positive effects of visceral manipulation. Persian Medicine scholars had detected nerve fibers and collagen which are fascia components. They are pioneer in this regard, too.

The term “crisis” in medical context is an important turning point or stage which occurs in some diseases and if not managed correctly, can become life threatening. Despite the use of the term in modern medicine, it was a much wider and sophisticated traditional medical concept. The first usage has been seen in the Greek writings of Hippocrates. In the Islamic Golden Age, this concept entered Persian Medicine by translation of Greek medical treatises. Great Persian Medicine scholars have paid particular attention to the concept and have written exclusive chapters about it. One of such scholars, Hakim Mohammad Azam Khan Chishti (1814-1902), an Indo-Persian physician and medical writer, wrote several comprehensive encyclopedic books - in Persian language - about various aspects of Persian Medicine including crises. In this historical review we discuss his biography and his books, especially his important book Rokn-e-Azam, which is a comprehensive work on the concept of crisis in which he collected and discussed opinions of great medical scholars from ancient times to the 19th century. Despite his fidelity, unfortunately he rarely criticized the previous literature and thus did not add an additional value to the subject else than his comprehensive review. In the recent worldwide accepted roadmap towards Integrative Medicine, studying such inclusive traditional manuscripts may give better insight and understanding of the behavior of acute and chronic diseases and their appearance, exacerbations and remissions.

Rabies is one of the most lethal diseases in human history. From the past, various drugs have been used to prevent the contraction of the disease when being bitten by a rabid animal. An insect called Ḏarārīḥ (Lytta vesicatoria), although poisonous, has in some cases been medically used. Greeks and Romans have used venomousness of this insect to treat skin diseases, but it has not been used to prevent rabies. This is a summative qualitative content analysis that focused on Persian Medicine (PM) texts from 2th to 13th AH centuries. Literature was searched during centuries 4th to 13th AH, by using this key words: ذراریح (Ḏarārīḥ), قنثاریدس (Cantharis/cantharides), and ئشفث Lytta vesicatoria and after extracting the data and analyzing them, the results were presented. In TPM texts, this insect was used to prevent rabies. This study has shown that the use of ḏarārīḥ (Lytta vesicatoria) in the prevention of rabies has been one of the innovations of the practitioners of Islamic civilization. The innovation proves that scholars in the period of Islamic civilization were not merely consumers or custodians of Roman, Greek, Indian, and Iranian knowledge, but added to it while preserving that knowledge.

Music history is as old as human history and it has been used as a way to reduce human suffering. Persian Medicine (PM) scholars as one of the oldest traditional medicines applied music for health and disease management. This study aims to introduce some of the views and recommendations of PM sages about importance and application of music in disease improvement. Definition and applications of music were collected from main PM medical text books and then databases including Science direct, PubMed, Scopus and Google scholar were searched to evaluation the efficacy of PM recommendations in conventional medicine from 1980-Jan-1 to 2020-Nov-1. PM used music and melody with several instruments to calm and soothe mind and body. Great PM scientists like Rhazes (10th), Farabi (10th) and Qutb o Din (14th), were dominant figures in terms of musical knowledge. They used music for treatment of several conditions including nervous system diseases (headache and epilepsy), sleep disorders, heart weakness and palpitation, digestive system disorders (gastrointestinal ulcer and appetite), sexual dysfunction, and also for pain management. Nowadays, some of their suggested applications are examined in research studies and are used in academic healthcare environments against several diseases. According to PM, to achieve the maximum impact of music effects in mind and body, several points should be considered including coordination of rhythm and melody with physical and mental characteristics and temperaments (Mizaj) of the listener and his/her illness. The duration of listening to the music can also be important. Attention to these points in today’s research may lead to interesting results.

In recent years, the common belief that herbal medications cause no side effects, have led to an increase in the consumption of these medications without prescription. Ginseng is one of the most commonly used herbs in the world and is a native of Eastern Asian countries such as China and Korea. It is also known to have several medicinal purposes. However, unreasonable use of this herb can bear consequences. In the current article, 28-year-old woman has consumed 4 capsules each day, which contained Ginseng roots, Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) extract, and Ziziphora (Ziziphora capitate) extract without a prescription to gain weight, which has resulted in serious side effects - including hepatotoxicity, psychologic, and gynecologic disorders. However, these symptoms were controlled with Chicory roots, Purslane and Jujube oxymel. PM focuses on the cooperation between food categories, nutritional instructions, food modulators, and medications. Regardless of their several therapeutic effects, medical herbs have been known to cause quite serious side effects if consumed unsystematically and without the surveillance of a doctor.

No Abstract