Traditional Persian Medicine Textbooks Research Articles

An Evaluation of Traditional Persian Medicine for the Management of SARS-CoV-2.

A new coronavirus causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged and with it, a global investigation of new antiviral treatments and supportive care for organ failure due to this life-threatening viral infection. Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) is one of the most ancient medical doctrines mostly known with the manuscripts of Avicenna and Rhazes. In this paper, we first introduce a series of medicinal plants that would potentially be beneficial in treating SARS-CoV-2 infection according to TPM textbooks. Then, we review medicinal plants based on the pharmacological studies obtained from electronic databases and discuss their mechanism of action in SARS-CoV-2 infection. There are several medicinal plants in TPM with cardiotonic, kidney tonic, and pulmonary tonic activities, protecting the lung, heart, and kidney, the three main vulnerable organs in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some medicinal plants can prevent “humor infection”, a situation described in TPM which has similar features to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pharmacological evaluations are in line with the therapeutic activities of several plants mentioned in TPM, mostly through antiviral, cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Amongst the primarily-introduced medicinal plants from TPM, rhubarb, licorice, garlic, saffron, galangal, and clove are the most studied plants and represent candidates for clinical studies. The antiviral compounds isolated from these plants provide novel molecular structures to design new semisynthetic antiviral agents. Future clinical studies in healthy volunteers as well as patients suffering from pulmonary infections are necessary to confirm the safety and efficacy of these plants as complementary and integrative interventions in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Acne in Traditional Persian Medicine

Background: Acne Vulgaris is a common skin condition in 35%-90% of youth. Although traditional methods of treating acne in Iran seem to be common and high demand, a few studies about this issue have been accomplished. This study aimed to find out how much definitions and recommendations about this condition in Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) are similar to contemporary medicine. Methods: Seven main reference books from TPM were selected. The equivalents of acne in TPM were found and comparison of the definitions and recommendations of TPM and CM were extracted. Two diseases called Namlah and Bosoor-Labanieh were most similar to acne. These keywords were searched in TPM Books by using “Noor software”. Results: In TPM references, two diseases of “Namlah” and “Bosoor-Labanieh” are very similar to acne. The cause of these diseases in TPM textbooks has been explained as the effort of the body for the disposal of wastes through the skin and accumulation of them below it. The treatments are lifestyle modification, drug therapy, and manual interventions. Conclusion: Interventions of TPM have been experienced by Iranian physicians of the Old Testament over hundreds of years. There are meaningful similarities among TPM texts in descriptions and advice. In addition, there are remarkable similarities in the disease characteristics and some of the recommendations for acne in TPM and CM. The effectiveness and cost-benefit of the recommended TPM therapeutics and methods can be considered and evaluated as hypotheses for the case and group studies and clinical trials.

The Impact of Spleen Disorders in the Pathogenesis of Anemia from the Viewpoint of Persian Medicine

Spleen is one of the main components of reticuloendothelial system and plays an important role in controlling of red blood cell quality with elimination of old and damaged cells. Physicians of Traditional Persian Medicine believed that spleen has a high incorporation with the liver, and liver has a main role in blood production. So its pathologic changes influence the production of hematologic elements in both aspects of amount and quality. In this study, chapters related to spleen disease in several Traditional Persian Medicine textbooks and available databases were reviewed. Further the relationship between anemia and spleen diseases were derived and evaluated. After interviewing two experts about the findings and reaching data saturation, the results were compiled and explained. Spleen dysfunction and diseases can lead to anemia, because of intercommunity with liver. This happens with different mechanisms such as: enlargement, cold distemperment, asthenia and crisis. Although there are many studies so far about anemia, but role of the spleen in the development of anemia is still not well known. Considering the role of the spleen in developing anemia, the drugs used in Persian medicine for spleen-originated anemia may provide an appropriate solution to treat the disease.

Life Style Management of Pediatric Obesity based on Traditional Persian Medicine: A Narrative Review

Obesity is a major risk factor for many diseases in children. Considering the widespread pandemic of pediatric obesity, developing more strategies for life style management of this disorder is essential. Therefore it was decided to conduct a more comprehensive study for prevention and treatment children obesity based on Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM). In this review we searched the most important TPM textbooks (such as Al-Havi, Al-qanun fit-tib, Kamel al Sanaeh), Classical Medicine (CM) text book (Krause's Food and the Nutrition Care Process), and scientific databases such as Data sources included (Medline, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar) the period from 2000 to 2017 in terms of obesity management. The keywords Saman Mofrat, Setteh-e-Zarurieah, lifestyle, pediatric, children and obesity have been used in this search. Based on TPM the six essential principles (Setteh-e-Zarurieah) must be observed in management of pediatric obesity that these essential factors are as follows: air, food and drink, sleep and wakefulness, evacuation and retention, body movement, mental movement and repose. Unhealthy lifestyle for example irregular sleep, constipation, overeating and wrong nutritional habits, insufficient physical activity, and emotional excitement, such as sadness and anxiety are plays an important role in obesity that confirmed by classical medicine. Moreover, TPM has a particular attention to the type of nutrients and their temperament and the children’s digestion ability. So, further clinical trials should be performed to confirm the long-term efficacy of healthy lifestyle in pediatric obesity management.

Health Recommendations for the Elderly in the Viewpoint of Traditional Persian Medicine

Background: Old age is one of the most important and longest periods of life in human beings. Identifying the effective factors in maintaining and promoting health in the elderly can prevent chronic diseases in this age group. Objective: This study aimed at presenting traditional Persian medicine (TPM) measures for maintaining the elderly’s health. Methods: This review article was conducted on traditional Persian medicine textbooks and Noor software to investigate the viewpoints of Iranian and Islamic scholars concerning maintenance of elderly’s health. Results: The elderly’s age range has been expressed differently in the traditional medicine. However, in most cases, those aged 40 to 60 years and above 60 have been considered as middle-aged and old aged, respectively. Temperament of both age groups are cold and dry, but the elderly suffer from the predominance of wetness in their main organs, which is the sign of attenuating their innate heat compared with the middle age groups. The elderly should use hot and wet foods and drink more frequently and avoid cupping and bloodletting. They should not be isolated and rest alone for long times. Visiting the elderly regularly warrants their mental and physical health; however, frequent and long-time visits may disturb their privacy and should be prohibited. Also, they are recommended not to omit their dinner and sleep early. Frequent intercourses may jeopardise their health and are not recommended. At last, a regular moderate physical activity to maintain their stamina and physical conditions in addition to a healthy diet and good relationship with family and friends should always be considered for this group. Conclusion: Health recommendations cited in traditional Persian medicine sources are usually safe, useful, and practical; thus, using them in everyday life routines of the elderly seems to be beneficial and improve their quality of life. However, rigorous and well- designed clinical trials should be tailored to prove the real efficacy of the aforementioned health measures in quality and life span of the elderly.

Breastfeeding: A Review of Its Physiology and Galactogogue Plants in View of Traditional Persian Medicine.

The beneficial effects of breastfeeding for the infant and mother are well recognized. Many natural products are reputed to be galactogogue agents in major Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) textbooks. The aim of this study is to review those medicinal plants that are reported to be effective in increasing breast milk in TPM and to compare the data from TPM texts with the findings of modern pharmacological and clinical research. Data on the medicinal plants used to increase breast milk were obtained from major TPM textbooks. A detailed search in PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases was performed to confirm the effects of medicinal plants mentioned in TPM on lactation in view of the identified pharmacological actions. Foeniculum vulgare, Anethum graveolens, Pimpinella anisum, Nigella sativa, and Vitex agnus-castus are among the most effective galactogogue TPM plants. Many pharmacologically relevant activities have been reported for these herbs. The use of traditional knowledge can pave the way toward finding effective phytopharmaceuticals for increasing breast milk.

Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Asthma: A Traditional Persian Medicine Perspective.

To search major Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) textbooks for medicinal plants used to treat asthma. The conformity of the TPM findings on the anti-asthmatic efficacy of plants with the findings of pharmacological studies was also explored. Major TPM textbooks were hand searched to find medicinal plants used for the treatment of asthma. Scientific names of TPM-suggested plants were determined using botanical databases and were used for a multidatabase electronic search in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases. Then, the antiasthmatic effectiveness of TPM-recommended plants was verified in view of the findings from modern pharmacological investigations. According to the main TPM texts, Adianthum capillus-veneris, Boswellia oleogumresin, Crocus sativus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hyssopus officinalis and Ruta graveolens were the most efficacious medicinal plants for the treatment of asthma. This finding was confirmed by pharmacological studies which showed counterbalancing effects of the above-mentioned plants on inflammation, oxidative stress, allergic response, tracheal smooth muscle cell constriction and airway remodeling. The strong ethnobotanical background of plants used in TPM could be a valuable tool to find new anti-asthmatic medications. In this review, TPM-suggested anti-asthmatic plants were found to possess several mechanisms relevant to the treatment of respiratory diseases according to the information retrieved from modern pharmacological studies. This high degree of conformity suggested further proof-of-concept trials to ascertain the role of these plants in the routine management of asthmatic patients.

Traditional Persian topical medications for gastrointestinal diseases.

Drug delivery across the skin is used for several millennia to ease gastrointestinal (GI) ailments in Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM). TPM topical remedies are generally being applied on the stomach, lower abdomen, lower back and liver to alleviate GI illnesses such as dyspepsia, gastritis, GI ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal worms and infections. The aim of the present study is to survey the topical GI remedies and plant species used as ingredients for these remedies in TPM. In addition, pharmacological activities of the mentioned plants have been discussed. For this, we searched major TPM textbooks to find plants used to cure GI problems in topical use. Additionally, scientific databases were searched to obtain pharmacological data supporting the use of TPM plants in GI diseases. Rosa × damascena, Pistacia lentiscus, Malus domestica, Olea europaea and Artemisia absinthium are among the most frequently mentioned ingredients of TPM remedies. β-asarone, amygdalin, boswellic acids, guggulsterone, crocin, crocetin, isomasticadienolic acid, and cyclotides are the most important phytochemicals present in TPM plants with GI-protective activities. Pharmacological studies demonstrated GI activities for TPM plants supporting their extensive traditional use. These plants play pivotal role in alleviating GI disorders through exhibiting numerous activities including antispasmodic, anti-ulcer, anti-secretory, anti-colitis, anti-diarrheal, antibacterial and anthelmintic properties. Several mechanisms underlie these activities including the alleviation of oxidative stress, exhibiting cytoprotective activity, down-regulation of the inflammatory cytokines, suppression of the cellular signaling pathways of inflammatory responses, improving re-epithelialization and angiogenesis, down-regulation of anti-angiogenic factors, blocking activity of acetylcholine, etc.