Stroke from the Perspective of Persian Medicine

زمینه و هدف: سکته مغزی پس از انفارکتوس میوکارد و سرطان از اصلی‌ترین علت مرگ و میر در سراسر جهان محسوب می‌شود. هدف مطالعه پیش رو توصیف و تبیین بیماری به نام سکته در طب سنتی ایرانی می‌باشد. مواد و روش‌ها: در این مطالعه کیفی که شامل دو بخش تئوریک و میدانی می‌باشد، منابع معتبر طب سنتی مانند کتاب الماء تألیف عبدالله بن محمد الأزدی، بحرالجواهر تألیف محمد بن یوسف الهروی، القانون فی الطب تألیف ابن سینا، ذخیره خوارزمشاهی تألیف سیداسماعیل جرجانی، طب اکبری تألیف علی‌اکبر ارزانی، معالجات عقیلی و خلاصه‌الحکمه تألیف عقیلی خراسانی و اکسیر اعظم تألیف محمد اعظم خان چشتی به همراه برخی از منابع طب نوین شامل هاریسون، گایتون، آمینوف و مقالات معتبر علمی مندرج در ذیل عناوین سکته، خدر، فالج، لقوه و صرع مورد بررسی قرار گرفتند. به علاوه، در مقالات از واژگان کلیدی سکته مغزی، طب ایرانی، Traditional Medicine، Thrombosis Herbal Medicine و Stroke در بازه زمانی1900 تا 2018 در پایگاه‌های اطلاعاتی SID، Google Scholar، PubMed و Scopus استفاده شد. تجزیه‌ و تحلیل داده‌ها به شکل آنالیز محتوا از نوع استقرایی انجام شد. یافته‌ها: از دیدگاه طب ایرانی، سکته به دنبال انسداد مسیر حس و حرکت و مجاری مغز ایجاد می‌شود. دو عامل امتلایی و انقباضی می‌توانند منجر به بروز سکته گردند. نتیجه‌گیری: علت سکته مغزی در طب سنتی ایرانی، انسداد تام و کامل در جریان روح نفسانی است و در طب رایج علت را به کاهش خون‌رسانی نسبت می‌دهند. در طب سنتی ایرانی، علت سکته یک انسداد است و این انسداد در منابع طب ایرانی حتماً معادل سدشدن کامل فیزیکی نیست، بلکه می‌تواند معادل کندی و یا ایستایی حرکت باشد.Background and Aim: Stroke is the chief cause of death following cancer and myocardial infarction across the globe. The purpose of the present study is to describe and explain stroke in the context of Persian Medicine. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, reliable sources of traditional medicine including Almae by Abdolah Ibn Mohammad al-Azodi, Bahr al-Javaher by Mohammad Ibn Yousof Heravi, Ferdows al-Hekmat by Ali Ibn Rebn Tabari, the Complete Art of Medicine (Kitab Kamil as-Sina’aat-Tibbiyya) by Ali Ibn Abbas Majousi Ahvazi, Hedayat al-Mota’aalemin by Ali Ibn Ahmad Arzani, the Canon of Medicine by Avicenna, Zakhire Kharazmshahi by Syyed Ismaeel Jorjani, Tebe Akbari by Ali Akbar Arzani, Mo’aalejat-e Aghili and Kholasat al-Hekmat by Aghili Khorasani and Exir-e Aezam by Mohammad Aezam Kham Cheshti, along with some modern resources, namely Harrison’s principles of internal medicine, Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiology, Aminoff’s Clinical Neurology and scientific articles on the topics of stroke, torpidness, hemiplegy, facial palsy and epilepsy were investigated. Moreover, databases such as SID, Google scholar, PubMed and Scopus were used to explore keywords such as stroke, Iranian medicine, traditional medicine, thrombosis and herbal medicine during 1900 and 2018. The collected data was qualitatively analyzed by using inductive content analysis. Findings: From the perspective of Persian Medicine, stroke occurs following a blockage of sensory and motor pathways and channels in the brain. Contraction as well as accumulation induce stroke. Conclusions: The cause of stroke involves a complete blockage of sensual soul in Persian Medicine while it is caused by hypo perfusion in conventional medicine. A blockage is the cause of stroke from the view of Persian Medicine, which does not mean physical obstruction, but may imply slow or static movement.   Please cite this article as: Delshad E, Yousefi M, Javan R. Stroke from the Perspective of Persian Medicine. Med Hist J 2018; 9(33): 107-116

Medical uses of Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower): a comprehensive review from Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine

Background: Carthamus tinctorius L., known as Kafesheh (Persian) and safflower (English) is vastly utilized in Traditional Medicine for various medical conditions, namely dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain and mass, trauma and pain of joints. It is largely used for flavoring and coloring purposes among the local population. Recent reviews have addressed the uses of the plant in various ethnomedical systems. Objective: This review was an update to provide a summary on the botanical features, uses in Iranian folklore and modern medical applications of safflower. Methods: A main database containing important early published texts written in Persian, together with electronic papers was established on ethnopharmacology and modern pharmacology of C. tinctorius. Literature review was performed on the years from 1937 to 2016 in Web of Science, PubMed, Scientific Information Database, Google Scholar, and Scopus for the terms "Kafesheh", "safflower", "Carthamus tinctorius", and so forth. Results: Safflower is an indispensable element of Iranian folklore medicine, with a variety of applications due to laxative effects. Also, it was recommended as treatment for rheumatism and paralysis, vitiligo and black spots, psoriasis, mouth ulcers, phlegm humor, poisoning, numb limbs, melancholy humor, and the like. According to the modern pharmacological and clinical examinations, safflower provides promising opportunities for the amelioration of myocardial ischemia, coagulation, thrombosis, inflammation, toxicity, cancer, and so forth. However, there have been some reports on its undesirable effects on male and female fertility. Most of these beneficial therapeutic effects were correlated to hydroxysafflor yellow A. Conclusion: More attention should be drawn to the lack of a thorough phytochemical investigation. The potential implications of safflower based on Persian traditional medicine, such as the treatment of rheumatism and paralysis, vitiligo and black spots, psoriasis, mouth ulcers, phlegm humor, poisoning, numb limbs, and melancholy humor warrant further consideratio

Phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological profile of rose hip : a review

Background: The fruit of genus Rosa, known as "rose hip", is frequently used in different traditional medicines. Rose hips have long been used to treat kidney stones, gastroenteric ailments, hypertension and respiratory problems such as bronchitis, cough and cold. Aim: This review is focused on the ethnopharmacological uses of rose hip as well as phytochemical and pharmacological aspects. Results: Ethno-medical uses of rose hip have been recorded in many countries since a long time. Approximately, 129 chemical compounds have been isolated and identified from rose hip. This fruit contains some major active components such as flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanin, phenolic compounds, fatty oil, organic acids and inorganic compounds. Scientific studies have suggested a wide range of pharmacological activities for rose hip including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, cardioprotective, antiaging, anti H. pylori, neuroprotective and antinociceptive activities. In particular, the rose hip powder and extract have been reported to exert therapeutic effects on arthritis. Conclusion: Some of the ethnomedical indications of rose hip, such as nephroprotective and gastroproetctive actions, have been confirmed by preclinical pharmacological studies. Additional investigations on the pharmacological effects of rose hip as well as evidence from randomized controlled trials are essential to assess the therapeutic value of this natural product

Are herbal medicines effective in the treatment of ischemic stroke? : a systematic review of human-controlled clinical trials

Cerebrovascular diseases are common, and stroke constitutes the third cause of death as well as the first cause of disability all over the world. Many studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of herbal preparations on stroke. This research was designed to categorize the results of these studies. The materials presented in the databases of Cochrane, ISI, PubMed and Scopus until January 30, 2019, were searched to examine human studies written in English. Only randomized controlled trials (CRTs) were included. Four randomized controlled trials were selected to be examined in this systematic review. Six medicinal herbs were assessed in every article. Not only inclusion and exclusion criteria but also outcome measures differed between the articles. The results of these studies indicated that these medicinal plants might contribute to the management of stroke. No severe reactions had been described during the administration of herbal medicines in these six studies. Further investigations are required to examine the efficacy of herbal medicines on ischemic stroke

Exercise for dysmenorrhoea (Intervention Review)

Background: Exercise has a number of health benefits and has been recommended as a treatment for primary dysmenorrhoea (period pain), but the evidence for its effectiveness on primary dysmenorrhoea is unclear. This review examined the available evidence supporting the use of exercise to treat primary dysmenorrhoea. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of exercise for women with primary dysmenorrhoea. Search methods: We searched the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility specialised register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, AMED and CINAHL (from inception to July 2019). We searched two clinical trial databases (inception to March 2019) and handsearched reference lists and previous systematic reviews. Selection criteria: We included studies if they randomised women with moderate‐to‐severe primary dysmenorrhoea to receive exercise versus no treatment, attention control, non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or the oral contraceptive pill. Cross‐over studies and cluster‐randomised trials were not eligible for inclusion. Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently selected the studies, assessed eligible studies for risk of bias, and extracted data from each study. We contacted study authors for missing information. We assessed the quality of the evidence using GRADE. Our primary outcomes were menstrual pain intensity and adverse events. Secondary outcomes included overall menstrual symptoms, usage of rescue analgesic medication, restriction of daily life activities, absence from work or school and quality of life. Main results: We included a total of 12 trials with 854 women in the review, with 10 trials and 754 women in the meta‐analysis. Nine of the 10 studies compared exercise with no treatment, and one study compared exercise with NSAIDs. No studies compared exercise with attention control or with the oral contraceptive pill. Studies used low‐intensity exercise (stretching, core strengthening or yoga) or high‐intensity exercise (Zumba or aerobic training); none of the included studies used resistance training