Gastrointestinal Headache; a Narrative Review

There are studies reporting primary headaches to be associated with gastrointestinal disorders, and some report resolution of headache following the treatment of the associated gastrointestinal disorder. Headache disorders are classified by The International Headache Society as primary or secondary; however, among the secondary headaches, those attributed to gastrointestinal disorders are not appreciated. Therefore, we aimed to review the literature to provide evidence for headaches, which originate from the gastrointestinal system. Gastrointestinal disorders that are reported to be associated with primary headaches include dyspepsia, gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), constipation, functional abdominal pain, inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD), celiac disease, and helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection. Some studies have demonstrated remission or improvement of headache following the treatment of the accompanying gastrointestinal disorders. Hypotheses explaining this association are considered to be central sensitization and parasympathetic referred pain, serotonin pathways, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, systemic vasculopathy, and food allergy. Traditional Persian physicians, namely Ebn-e-Sina (Avicenna) and Râzi (Rhazes) believed in a type of headache originating from disorders of the stomach and named it as an individual entity, the "Participatory Headache of Gastric Origin". We suggest providing a unique diagnostic entity for headaches coexisting with any gastrointestinal abnormality that are improved or cured along with the treatment of the gastrointestinal disorder

سبب‏ شناسی بیماری سرطان و کلیات درمان آن بر اساس منابع طب سنتی ایران

In industrialized countries, cancer is the second cause of death and in Iran is the third. So, one of the research priorities of all communities is according to the methods of prevention and treatment of cancer. This study is an analytical review of the etiology, prevention and treatment of cancer from the viewpoint of Iranian Traditional Medicine. Persian physicians believed that human body was composed of four substances that named humorous (blood, phlegm, bile, black bile) and imbalance of them causes different types of diseases. From the perspective of Iranian Traditional physicians, Ignition and combustion phenomena humors is the starting point for the onset of cancer. Based on this insight, preventive and therapeutic strategies have been proposed. They are believed abnormal black bile, have the power of influence, aggression and high dispersion. However, stimulating interventions had been avoided in the cancers of internal organs. The goal of treatment and recurrent inhibition are reduction of carcinogenic substance, improving body action and Inhibition of Invasive behavior of disease.سرطان در کشورهای صنعتی، دومین و در ایران سومین علت مرگ و میر محسوب می‏شود. بنابراین توجه به روش‏های پیشگیری و درمان سرطان با توجه به روند فزاینده بروز و بار بیماری یکی از اولویت‏های پژوهشی تمام جوامع به شمار می‏رود. این مطالعه یك بررسی مروری تحلیلی بر اساس منابع طب سنتی ایران درباره تعریف سرطان، سبب‏شناسی، علامات و کلیات درمان آن می‌باشد. از دیدگاه حکمای طب ایرانی سرطان نوعی ورم است که به سبب تغییرات اخلاط بدن ایجاد می‏شود و طی آن اخلاط بدن در اثر افزایش غیر طبیعی حرارت بدن (احتراق)، به ماده سودای غیر طبیعی تغییر ماهیت می‏دهد و در نتیجه عدم دفع و پاک‌سازی این مواد و تجمع آن در بخش‏هایی از بدن ورم سرطانی بروز می‏کند. پدیده احتراق و سوختن اخلاط در بدن از دیدگاه حکمای طب سنتی ایران نقطه آغازین شروع بیماری است و بر اساس همین بینش راه‌کارهای پیشگیرانه و درمانی ارائه شده است. به عنوان مثال یکی از مهم‏ترین توصیه‏ها، اجتناب از اقدامات مهیج بیماری است و اصول درمان بر پاک‌سازی بدن از عامل مسبب، تقویت و اصلاح مزاج استوار است

Therapeutic effects of acupuncture on blood glucose level among patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized clinical trial

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effects of acupuncture with sham acupuncture on levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) under treatment with metformin. Method: Eighty participants with T2DM were allocated randomly to treatment (n = 40) and control (n = 40) groups. In addition to metformin therapy, patients in the acupuncture group received acupoint stimulation with even manipulation at 15 acupoints, and needles were retained for 20 minutes. The sham-acupuncture group was treated with very small needles inserted at a very shallow depth (3–5 mm) without manipulation at non-acupoints 1 cm around the actual acupuncture points. Both groups were treated for 14 sessions during 10 weeks of treatment. The FPG level was measured before treatment as well as after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 12 weeks of treatment. The HbA1c percentage was assessed once before treatment and once 12 weeks after treatment initiation. Results: Levels of FPG and HbA1c in both groups were reduced significantly in comparison with baseline measurements (both P < .01). However, acupuncture treatment led to a significant reduction in the FPG level as compared with sham acupuncture after 4 weeks or 10 sessions of treatment [mean difference (MD) = 10.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.74 to 18.6, P = .019], after 6 weeks or 12 sessions of treatment (MD = 10.53, 95% CI = 2.22 to 18.83, P = .014) and after 12-week follow-up (MD = 8.8, 95% CI = 0.66 to 16.94, P = .034). Acupuncture treatment reduced the HbA1c level significantly in comparison with that in the sham-acupuncture group (MD = 0.27, 95%CI = 0.08 to 0.47, P = .007). Conclusion: Our study revealed that acupuncture (as a type of Chinese therapy) combined with metformin (as a conventional hypoglycemic medication) had a greater effect on glycemic control than that elicited in the placebo control group. Consequently, acupuncture could be used as adjuvant therapy among patients with T2DM. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus type 2, Acupuncture, Glycated hemoglobi

Liver tonics: review of plants used in Iranian traditional medicine

Considering the fact that liver is one of the most important organs in our body, it deserves special attention and protection. Among various recommended supplements, complementary and alternative medicines particularly herbal remedies have received much attention owing to their truly healing properties. This review profits from Iranian traditional medicine and presents advantageous herbal guide directions for liver protection. According to credible Iranian medical literature such as Al Qanun Fil Tibb, Al-Havi and Makhzan-al-Aadvia, a wide spectrum of plants have been found to be useful for cleansing and protecting the liver. Some herbs such as ghafes (Agrimonia eupatoria), kasni (Cichorium intybus), anar (Punica granatum), darchin (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), za'feran (Crocus sativus), gole-sorkh (Rosa damascena) and zereshk (Berberis vulgaris) appeared to get strong consideration and were well documented as outstanding liver tonics. We conducted a comprehensive review of available Iranian medical resources such as scientific information database and medical sciences databases which cover all in vitro and in vivo studies of medicinal plants as liver tonics and hepatoprotective candidates. Literature survey was accomplished using multiple databases including PubMed, ISI web of knowledge, and Google Scholar

Effects of Herbal combination (Melissa officinalis L. and Nepeta menthoides Boiss. & Buhse) on insomnia severity, anxiety and depression in insomniacs: Randomized placebo controlled trial

Background: Insomnia is a prevalent disorder leading to psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. Methods: This study investigates the effect of a combination of herbs (Melissa officinalis L. and Nepeta menthoides Boiss. & Buhse) on anxiety and depression for insomniacs and on insomnia severity. This study is a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total number of 67 participants met the inclusion criteria who were diagnosed as cases of insomnia. The patients were randomized into the herbal treatment or placebo groups. The herbal treatment group received a combination of Melissa officinalis and Nepeta menthoides Boiss. & Buhse. The primary outcomes were insomnia, depression and anxiety. We used per-protocol analysis. Results: The all outcomes of herbal treatment were significantly improved compared with placebo in the ISI, BAI and BDI scores after four weeks’ treatment (p value: 0.008, 0.005 and <0.001 respectively). Conclusion: A combination of Melissa officinalis L. and Nepeta menthoides Boiss. & Buhse may improve insomnia and its comorbid depression and anxiety. Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Melissa officinalis, Nepeta menthoide

Effect of MS14® on physical activity of multiple sclerosis patients : a randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial

Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder with an increasing global prevalence and severe complications. MS14® is a Persian-medicine-derived natural product with herbal and marine origin which has shown beneficial effects in the management of MS complications. In this study, its effect on physical activity of MS patients was investigated. Methods: A triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted. Participants used either MS14 capsule or placebo 3 times a day for 3 weeks. At baseline and end of the study, physical activity indices were assessed using international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). Secondary outcome measures were Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), timed 10 m walk, Ashworth scale, and Timed Get up and Go. Results: A total number of 80 MS patients completed the study. At the end of study, improvement of general physical activity (p-value=0.047) and Timed 10 m walk index (p-value=0.003) in the MS14 group was significant when compared to placebo. No serious adverse effects were observed in this study. Conclusion: Considering the improvement of some physical activity indices, MS14® is seems to be a safe natural product which could be considered as a supplementary treatment in MS patients. Future larger trials are suggested to further evaluate its efficacy