JOURNAL OF ISLAMIC AND IRANIAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
Year:2011 | Volume:2 | Issue:1 (5)|Papers Count:19

“Advieh-e Jadideh” (Novel drugs) is a term used by Aghili Khorasani to introduce some of the single drugs of his pharmacopoeia. He defined this term as drugs originated abroad with no history of use in Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM). Study of this issue has some historical points like mercantile aspects of traditional pharmacy. However, the current investigation tries to clarify the approach of traditional physicians in encountering with western system of pharmacy and medicine. To this end, the term “Advieh-e Jadideh” was searched through Aghili’s pharmaceutical books, i.e., Makhzan ul-Advia and Gharabadin-e Kabir and then the nature, source of preparation, and scientific name of these drugs were investigated. The results show that the term was used for 27 drugs in the books, out of which the scientific name of 16 were determined. The nature of most of the drugs was determined to be hot and dry and in determination of the nature of the drugs there were some controversies in some cases. Determination of the nature of the drugs was mostly based upon the use of them in foreign treatment systems. However, the common methods of comparison and experience were also employed. Out of the drugs, seven were originated from America, six from a region near Venezuela, and others were from China and other countries. The study shows that using other treatment systems along with the ITM was acceptable for Aghili Khorasani. The attempts to determine the nature of the drugs indicate the possibility of their integration into the drug system of ITM. With respect to the similar case ITM experience in dealing with modern medicine, it is suggested that by evaluation of the temperament of novel drugs and determination of the traditional mechanism of their effectiveness, the possibility of integration and simultaneous use of ITM with modern medicine be assessed.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, autoimmune, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It generally strikes at the early adult years and is the most common cause of neurologic disability in young adults. The disease usually influences quality of life to a marked degree. Currently approved drug therapies for MS have different adverse effects and immunosuppressants and interferon b are still mainstays of the conventional management. The drawbacks of the current drug therapies for MS urge researchers to develop more effective drugs with fewer adverse effects.Indian hemp, Cannabis sativa L. is an indigenous herb to Asia, with a long history of use in different diseases. The plant was historically known as Ghennab in Iran and has been used in Iranian traditional medicine. Some Iranian physicians have described the botanical properties and its therapeutic effects in their books. As a conventional use, at present some MS patients take Cannabis to remove the spasticity and pain associated with this condition. Moreover, Cannabis has recently received much attention because of detection of an endogenous cannabinoid system in some parts of the human brain and the immune system, represented by two cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Clinical studies suggest that activation of these receptors can relieve the clinical signs of MS, particularly neuropathic pain and spasticity. Also, it is suggested that this can decrease inflammation and possibly slow down progression of the disease. The current study briefly introduces the plant and reviews the history of Cannabis and new pharmacological evidence that support the use of the plant in MS disease.

Passing time and sometimes imprecise transcription or understanding of ancient texts may cause some mistakes in ancient medical books. This may even lead to some problems in the name or identity of the author or his/her works. In the current study, by careful evaluation of "Al-Hawi" by Rhazes, we extracted the name of 110 physicians and 286 books. The study showed that out of the names, the name of 28 physicians and 20 books were not cited in any medical book or there were mistakes in their identity. For instance, in "Al-Hawi", Rhazes quote from Majhul (unknown) person or book in 208 cases. The study demonstrated that Majhul was an Iranian physician who lived in the 6th century A.D. and was related to the Sassanid Jondishapur University or he was another Iranian scientist, Bedighures, who lived in the first half of the 7th century A.D. We gathered the quotations of Rhazes from the book in the 24 volumes of Al-Hawi and the 40 paragraphs obtained were carefully assessed. According to the results, it seems that the author of the book “Teb-e Ghadim” was Iranian who with high probability lived in early 9th century and had many innovations.

Nowadays, traditional medicine and ethnobotany are the two important issues that have attracted interest in many countries. Traditional medicine deals with past studies and experience and ethnobotany relates to the native botany of a region. In recent years, these topics have received particular importance in many countries, including European countries. Considering the scarcity of information on effects of medicinal plants, traditional medicine and ethnobotany can play an important role in discovering the unknowns. Considering the various geographical conditions in our country, different ecosystems and flora exist in Iran. As there is growing need in today's world for new herbal drugs and considering the industrialization of this sector, we should pay more attention to the herbal sources of the country from this viewpoint. In the current study, the plants of some parts of Kashan were collected, systematically identified, and studied in two consecutive years.Furthermore, the traditional uses of these plants were recorded through interviewing local people. These plants were mostly used in the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases by local people. It was shown that most plants grow in the area were medicinal. Therefore, further evaluation of the plants is recommended.

Studies have shown that application of complementary and alternative medicine is increasing in many countries. Statistical analyses have been performed to investigate how prevalent complementary and alternative medicine is employed and what the purpose of its application is. The results of these analyses explain the prevalence and variety of complementary and alternative medicine application among populations of different societies and have an important role in future programs of health systems. In this report, we address the results of some studies carried out in some countries.

Religious texts, especially those of the Islam, are important and valuable sources that guide people in health maintenance and treatment of disease, and should receive particular attention.Since these sources originate from the words of the Almighty God, the Prophets, and the Emams, they have firm foundations. It is evident that paying attention to and understanding these texts can be helpful in attempts to improve health and treat diseases. In Islamic texts such as the Holy Quran, Teb-ol Nabi, Nahjol Balagheh, Teb-ol Sadegh, and Teb-ol Reza, there are several topics on health and treatment of disease. Each of these topics requires through and careful investigation.The current study introduces few cases on health topics in Islamic texts to emphasis the importance of considering these resources in health maintenance and treatment of diseases.It is obvious that understanding of practical and clinical use of the recommendations require systematic basic and clinical studies. We hope that in future paying attention to these religious resources can help man to improve his health and quality of life.

Esfarzeh is a name used for two species of Plantago genus, belonging to Plantaginaceae family. In the Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) texts, Esfarzeh is called Bazreghatuna, and have different therapeutic effects including treatment of hoarseness of chest, pharynx, and tongue, warm palpitation, constipation caused by bile, abdominal cramps, gastric and intestinal ulcers, arthralgia, solid edema and warm edema, trichoptilosis, thinness caused by warmth, and gastric participatory headache. In modern medicine, esfarzeh is only used in treatment of constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer, and recently in diabetes and hypercholesterolemia. The side effects mentioned in ITM for oral taking of complete seed powder of the plant include severe sorrow, dyspnea, inability to breath, and sometimes death, which are compatible with the signs of anaphylactic shock in modern medicine. However, there is a suitable background for evaluation of other therapeutic effects mentioned in ITM for esfarzeh to support or reject the ideas on the basis of modern findings. Furthermore, the mechanisms proposed for side effects in ITM can be evaluated.