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

Association of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer with Temperament from the Perspective of Traditional Persian Medicine: A Case-Control Study

Background

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common type of cancer in the world. In traditional Persian medicine (TPM), various types of temperament (Mizaj) are considered to diagnose, treat, and prevent a variety of illnesses. The present study aimed to evaluate the temperament of patients with NMSC in comparison with a control group.

Methods

A case-control study was conducted in 2018 at the Dermatology Clinic of Shahid Faghihi Hospital affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Shiraz, Iran). A total of 110 patients, aged ≥20 years with confirmed NMSC (case group), and 181 individuals without NMSC (control group) were enrolled in the study. The temperament of the participants in both groups was evaluated using Mojahedi's Mizaj questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The results showed that the odds ratio of developing NMSC was 2.62 (95%CI: 1.42-4.83, P=0.002) times higher in individuals with dry temperament than other types of temperament. Moreover, the odds ratio of patients with a history of chronic skin ulcers and other types of cancer was 35.7 (95%CI: 11.9-107.15, P<0.001) and 5.22 (95%CI: 1.43-19.06, P=0.012) times higher, respectively, than the control group.

Conclusion

Temperament is associated with NMSC, particularly the dry temperament type, and should be considered a risk factor.

Non-Pharmacological Treatments of Psoriasis in Persian Medicine a Narrative Review

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that has no definitive cure. In this review study, the main sources of Persian Medicine (PM) such as the Canon of Medicine (by Avicenna) and Al-Havi (by Rhazes) were assessed to identify non-pharmacological treatments for psoriasis. Several treatments that are recommended for this disease include nutritional advice, lifestyle modifications, and manipulation therapy such as wet cupping (Hijamah), leech therapy, and phlebotomy (Fasd). These recommendations may help to prevent recurrence and be useful in improving psoriasis. The efficacy of PM recommendations to improve psoriasis should be evaluated in future studies.

Correlation between gastrointestinal symptoms and adherence to traditional Persian medicine dietary recommendations in patients with vitiligo; a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Vitiligo is a chronic disease associated with the depigmentation of regions of the skin secondary to structural or functional damage to melanocytes. This damage results from interactions between the immune system and oxidative stress. In traditional Persian medicine (TPM), the concept of 'Barass' or 'Pissi' encompasses a group of skin diseases including vitiligo, for which there has been an emphasis on the preventive and therapeutic role of dietary modifications.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 200 vitiligo patients and 200 controls were enrolled with a random sampling method. The participants included patients with vitiligo referred to the Dermatology Clinic of Shahid Faghihi Hospital (Shiraz, Iran), with the control group being comprised individuals who referred to this clinic for cosmetic purposes. Questionnaires comparing the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms and the rate of adherence to TPM dietary recommendations were filled by all participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0.

RESULTS

The case group was significantly less adherent to TPM recommendations than the control group (8.25 ± 27.16 vs. 31.8 ± 10.47; p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference between both groups in the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) scores (14.09 ± 14.84 vs. 12.62 ± 11.71; p = 0.105). In the case group, the level of adherence to the recommendations of TPM was significantly lower among patients with lower education levels (R=-0.194; p=0.017). Furthermore, there was a significant negative relationship between the length of the disease and adherence to TPM dietary recommendations (R=-0.247; p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the level of adherence to TPM recommendations was significantly lower among patients with vitiligo than the control group. Hence, further studies are suggested to identify the probable role of dietary habits in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.