Approach of Persian medicine to health and disease

Abstract

Persian medicine (PM), as a holistic, whole system phenomenon of theory and practice that is sparsely known of among the international community, is an ancient human science with a history of several millennia. The philosophical, traditions and wisdom-based view of PM (also known as Iranian medicine and humoral medicine) comprises some of its most notable and indeed, defining features. The principles of health maintenance and disease prevention are highly regarded and come first in PM, with the principles of treatment (lifestyle modifications, nutrition, herbal medicines, etc.) possessing secondary importance. These principles are overlaid by the foundational concepts of balancing temperament (Mizaj) and body humors in PM. The natural temperament of an individual is a state of moderation that leads to good health, though any imbalances can give rise to disease and illness. With the recent revival of PM as a specialized academic discipline in Iran, research and discourse may help to the introduction of this ancient knowledge to the global community, ultimately with the goal of providing effective treatment strategies or options on a transnational scale. This has critical importance in providing and understanding culturally attentive care for patients who identify strongly with the traditions of PM. This article will introduce concepts relating to the origin of illness, and provide an overview of education, training and regulation, and research directions in PM as a means of knowledge dissemination within medical literature.