The relationship between heart and stomach in Iranian traditional medicine: a new concept in cardiovascular disease management

Abstract

In Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) the heart and the stomach are organs deemed to be related, in terms of clinical manifestations and the etiologic basis of disease. Persia's renowned physicians, Rhazes (Al-Rāzī: 865–925 A.D.) and Avicenna (Ibn Sīnā: 980–1037 A.D.), considered the association (moshārekat) between heart and stomach in a number of ailments. According to their manuscripts, in some gastric conditions the stomach has serious effects on the heart. These conditions include ‘dystemperament’ (sū’-e mizaj, the abnormal character of the organ) and the appearance of an abnormal humour (khilt-e radi) in the stomach [ 1 Avicenna (Ibn Sīnā) H. Canon of Medicine (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb). Part III. Alamy Le- Al-Matbooat institute, Beirut2005: 52-53 Google Scholar , 2 Rhazes (Al-Rāzī) M. Al-hāwi fi al-Tibb. Beirut: Dār Al-Ehyā’ Al-Torās Al-Arabi; 2002. p. 527–34. Google Scholar ]. In the context of mainstream medicine, these abnormalities are usually seen in gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), dyspepsia and some forms of acid peptic disorders.