Progresses and challenges in the traditional medicine information system: A systematic review

Context: Traditional medicine information system (TMIS) is a substructure founded on the targeted application of technology. It also serves as a tool supporting the decisions in traditional medicine (TM). However, due to following a different approach in the treatment process, the TM has faced some challenges. Aims: To review the universal progresses and challenges in TMIS. Methods: This study was conducted using systematic search and review. The resources were retrieved through searching the key words related to the TMIS in the available databases including Science Direct, WOS, ProQuest, PubMed and IEEE. The findings were classified in to two distinct categories of progresses and challenges relating to the TMIS. Results: As many as 28 studies conducted from 2000 to 2017 were included in this research. The majority of the studies were related to 2010 or after 2010 conducted in China. Progresses identified in this TMIS were categorized into four types including the development of the database, universal standardization of the TM, development of the clinical data warehouse, and application of information technology in the TM. The challenges were classified into four distinct categories, namely the lack of treatment protocols in TM, the necessity of developing a universal unified terminology, the necessity of creating a medical ontologies and the necessity of ensuring the data quality. Conclusions: Information technology forms a significant aspect of the TM modernization. To develop both the TMIS and the knowledge sharing tools, it is necessary to remove the problems and challenges involved in the data record process in the TM. Keywords Author Keywords:challenges; herbal medicine; information systems; opportunity; traditional medicine KeyWords Plus:WESTERN HERBAL MEDICINE; CHINESE MEDICINE; KNOWLEDGE; MECHANISM; PRODUCTS; DATABASE; STAT

The role of herbal medicines in health care quality and the related challenges

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the use of herbal medicines. Quality control and safety are two critical principles to be considered in the production process of herbal medicines. This review study aimed to investigate the condition of the countries other than Iran in terms of observing the safety principles, quality control, and meeting the standard of herbal drug use. In this systematic review, references were selected using the search terms "health-care quality" and "challenges of herbal medicine usage" from the databases "Web of Science" and "PubMed" published between 2000 and 2019. To select the resources among the selected literature, confirmation was accomplished by two researchers and Cohen�s kappa coefficient (κ). The selected papers were classified based on publication year, journal, country, reference standards, regulation, toxicity evaluation, quality control, efficacy, safety, and adverse effects in herbal medicine. From 1532 retrieved papers, 27 papers with an estimated Cohen�s kappa coefficient of 0.81 were confirmed and included in the study. Based on the analysis, the main findings of the papers were thematically classified into seven subcategories as follows: reference standards in herbal medicine, regulation of herbal medicinal products, toxicity evaluation for herbal products, quality control of herbal medicine, efficacy, adverse effects of herbal medicine, and safety. Given the significance of the effects of herbal medicines on health care quality, it is essential to codify guidelines on the proper use of these drugs

Digesters in traditional Persian medicine

Background: Functional gastrointestinal diseases are common in general populations and comprise more than 40% visits to gastroenterologists. Treatment options of gastrointestinal diseases have been limited. There are a few medications for functional gastrointestinal diseases and some of medications are not available in the market or in the place where the patient lives. Traditional Persian medicine (TPM) is a branch of alternative and traditional medicine based on individual viewpoint and humoral theory, focuses on lifestyle modification and uses natural products to manage the patients. Methods: In this study, a set of compound drugs known as digesters (jawarishes) and other applications are described based on main TPM text books. Results: Jawarishes have different formulations containing various medicinal herbs used for better food digestion and improved gastric functions and also used for other disorders including reinforcing the brain, heart, liver and some therapeutic approaches. Conclusions: By reviewing medieval Persian pharmaceutical manuscripts, we can conclude that many herbs are effective in different systems of the body and improve gastric functions. Zingiber officinalis and Piper nigrum are mixed together to get various formulations. The variety of jawarishes formulations and their different clinical applications can indicate continuity of their use

The weight of Mizaj (temperament) indices in Persian Medicine: A Delphi study

Background: Mizaj is an individualized viewpoint in Persian Medicine (PM) that is used for the prevetion of diseases and also treatment. Evaluating Mizaj in the two domains of hotness-coldness, and wetness-dryness, 10 criteria have been introduced, most of them are qualitative. To achieve valid and reliable questionnaires, the weight of these criteria must be determined in assessing the Mizaj. Methods: In a cross-sectional study with Delphi method, 10 indices were extracted from PM references and sent to PM experts via e-mail. They were asked to score the weight of each index in determining the Mizaj from 0 to 10. The scores ranked and comparing previous preliminary studies, criteria of major and minor were proposed. Results: Out of 147 invited PM experts, 122 completed the tables. Based on scores, physical functions, physique, and responsiveness of organs obtained the highest scores in the field of hotness-coldness. In wetness-dryness muscle/fat mass and sleep/wakefulness received the highest scores from the viewpoint of experts. Conclusion: Physical functions, physique (Anthropometry), responsiveness of organs and psychic function can be used as major criteria in Mizaj assessment methods in the hotness-coldness field. In the field of wetness-dryness, muscle/fat mass, sleep/wakefulness, tactile condition and physique (anthropometry) can be considered as major criteria

Effect of oregano oil (Origanum Vulgare L.) on chronic rhinosinusitis: A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial

341-349According to new investigations, oregano oil nasal spray can be used to treat patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) effectively. The current study examines the incremental effect of oregano oil and the use of Persian medicine lifestyle modification (PML). 75 adult patients with CRS participated in this study; the clinical trial was done in Otolaryngology Clinic of the Fifth Azar Hospital from January 30 to June 25, 2018. A kit including saline bottle, identical PML instruction, and identical nasal sprays containing either oregano oil (intervention group), fluticasone (control group) or sesame oil (placebo group) was given to all participants for 4 weeks. The reduction of mean change in SNOT-22 scores were 51.52 (95% CI, -55.79 to -47.24), 21.60 (95% CI, -25.48 to -17.71) and 11.84 (95% CI, -13.18 to -10.51) points for those in the oregano, fluticasone and placebo group, respectively. The mean difference of oregano to fluticasone and oregano to placebo group were 29.92 (-35.78 to -24.05) to 39.68 (-45.54 to -33.81) point, respectively, in favor of the oregano group. This study shows that oregano oil results in clinically meaningful benefits beyond those of fluticasone and sesame oil for patients with CRS without nasal polyps. Nonetheless, its generalization should be explored further

Persian Medicine Standard Terminology

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

Mizaj assessment and data analysis methods in Amirkola health and aging project (AHAP cohort)

Background: One of the principles of Persian medicine (PM) is the individualized approach that is presented with the concept of Mizaj. In this viewpoint, Mizaj is determined for every person based on 10 criteria, which is a result of the Mizaj of the main organs, including the brain, liver, and heart. There is no standard diagnostic tool for Mizaj assessment in the elderly. The purpose of this study is to explain the method of Mizaj assessment and data analysis in the elderly in the second phase of the Amirkola health and aging project (AHAP) in Iran. Methods: In this study, a novel Mizaj assessment method in two phases is presented. In the first phase, 1541 elderly were assessed by a PM expert and typical diagnoses were determined. At the second phase, an expert panel including 5 PM experts evaluated the cases. The paraclinical and metric data of the elderly whose Mizaj agreed in the expert panel was used to assess its correlation with Mizaj. Conclusion: In the lack of valid and reliable questionnaires to assess the personalized viewpoint of PM, a new expert-based method has been introduced that can be used in similar studies. The result of the Mizaj assessment in this way will be used to obtain objective values for the Mizaj assessment

The role of herbal medicines in health care quality and the related challenges

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the use of herbal medicines. Quality control and safety are two critical principles to be considered in the production process of herbal medicines. This review study aimed to investigate the condition of the countries other than Iran in terms of observing the safety principles, quality control, and meeting the standard of herbal drug use. In this systematic review, references were selected using the search terms "health-care quality" and "challenges of herbal medicine usage" from the databases "Web of Science" and "PubMed" published between 2000 and 2019. To select the resources among the selected literature, confirmation was accomplished by two researchers and Cohen’s kappa coefficient (κ). The selected papers were classified based on publication year, journal, country, reference standards, regulation, toxicity evaluation, quality control, efficacy, safety, and adverse effects in herbal medicine. From 1532 retrieved papers, 27 papers with an estimated Cohen’s kappa coefficient of 0.81 were confirmed and included in the study. Based on the analysis, the main findings of the papers were thematically classified into seven subcategories as follows: reference standards in herbal medicine, regulation of herbal medicinal products, toxicity evaluation for herbal products, quality control of herbal medicine, efficacy, adverse effects of herbal medicine, and safety. Given the significance of the effects of herbal medicines on health care quality, it is essential to codify guidelines on the proper use of these drugs.</jats:p