Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2018, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (03): 457-464.

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Persian medicine non-pharmacological therapies for headache:phlebotomy and wet cupping

Akramo Sadat Atyabi, Fatemeh Nejatbakhsh, Hoorie Mohammadi Kenari, Fatemeh Eghbalian, Mohammad Hossein Ayati, Laila Shirbeigi   

  1. Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences;Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences;Department of History of Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences;
  • Online:2018-06-15 Published:2018-06-15

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To describe the common causes of headache as well as the different methods of Phlebotomy(Fasd) and wet Cupping(Hijamat) based on Persian Medicine.METHODS: In this study, we searched Google Scholar, Science Direct, Pub Med and Scopus to get any in vitro or clinical evidence of the efficacy and possible mechanisms of phlebotomy or wet cupping on different types of headaches. Also different types of headaches, according to PM, under the title of "Sodaa"; extracted from famous Persian medical text books with key words including "Sodaa","Bayze" and "Shaqiqe".RESULTS: According to PM, diseases(dystemperament) are created by abnormal alteration in temperament. Temperament is a monolithic quality yielded by interaction between opposing qualities of four elements that are coldness, hotness, dryness and wetness. Headaches are caused by dystemperament(sue-Mizaj) in brain or in total body that are divided into simple and corporal. Common forms of the latter type are Vaporal and Migrant headache(Bokhari and Rihi). Each of these headaches is treated either through phlebotomy or wet cupping.CONCLUSION: In Persian Medicine, Fasd and Hijamat are easy and economical methods for treatment of headache with reasonable results. By describing the precise areas and indications of phlebotomy and wet cupping, this study provides the first step for future clinical trials in this field.

Key words: Headache, Phlebotomy, Cupping therapy, Sodaa, Persian Medicine

Cite this article

Akramo Sadat Atyabi, Fatemeh Nejatbakhsh, Hoorie Mohammadi Kenari, Fatemeh Eghbalian, Mohammad Hossein Ayati, Laila Shirbeigi. Persian medicine non-pharmacological therapies for headache:phlebotomy and wet cupping[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2018, 38(03): 457-464.