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Acne is the most prevalent skin disease in the world and antibiotics as its standard treatments have limited and also adverse effects. Cedar (Ziziphus spina-christi) has medicinal properties like antibacterial activity and is used topically for treatment of some kinds of skin problems in Persian medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluation the efficacy of topical cedar solution of acne vulgaris. Eighty patients aged between 15–45 years with mild to moderate acne vulgaris were conducted in this randomized, double blind trial. The participants were allocated to receive the topical cedar solution plus clindamycin 1% or topical placebo plus 1% clindamycin solution for six weeks. Patients were evaluated at the beginning of the study, second, sixth and eighth weeks after intervention for the acne severity index (ASI) and total acne lesions counting (TLC). Data was analyzed by SPSS software with Mann–Whitney U test. From 105 subjects 68 people completed the study (33 persons in cedar group and 35 persons in placebo group). The mean and standard deviation of the age was 26.1 ± 7.5 years and 22 subjects (32.4%) were male. TLC and ASI in the sixth and eighth weeks in cedar group were significantly less than in placebo group (p < 0.001). Topical cedar solution had no serious side effects. The topical cedar solution plus clindamycin 1% was more effective and safe than placebo plus 1% clindamycin for the treatment of acne vulgaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oligomenorrhoea treatment with hormone therapy and Metformin is not usually well tolerated and is associated with a broad range of side effects. In Persian medicine, the management of oligomenorrhoea can be done with fennel and dry cupping. A clinical trial was conducted on 61 patients with oligomenorrhoea. The patients randomly received treatment for 6 months in two groups: fennel infusion plus dry cupping (Group A); versus treatment with Metformin (Group B). On the days between the two periods, the patients' BMI, pain levels and side effects were assessed. Thirty-one patients (mean age: 26.68) in Group A, and 30 patients (mean age: 28.90) in Group B were enrolled. The mean numbers of days between the two periods after 3 and 6 months in Group A was, respectively, 32.59 and 30.69, versus 40.66 and 431.22 in Group B. The mean pain severity dropped significantly in Group A. Fennel seed infusion plus a dry cupping uses a safe and effective therapeutic intervention in the management of oligomenorrhoea. IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women. Some common clinical manifestations of this syndrome include menstrual disorders such as oligomenorrhoea and amenorrhoea. The recommended therapeutic interventions include oral intervention, as well as metformin, which are associated with an increased risk of vascular thromboembolism, digestive complications such as nausea, and dizziness, and vitamin B12 deficiency. Therefore, the use of complementary medicine in controlling and treating PCOS is considered a valuable intervention in conventional medicine. In Persian traditional medicine, medicinal fennel (with the scientific name of Foeniculum Vulgare Mill) is commonly used in this regard. The practice of dry cupping during the monthly period that ends with ovulation is also recommended. What do the results of this study add? The present study concludes that fennel seed infusion plus a dry cupping therapy is effective and safe in reducing the days between two menstrual periods and manages oligomenorrhoea. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? A clinical study is suggested for assessing the effect of fennel seed infusion plus dry cupping on oligomenorrhoea, with a large sample size and a longer follow up time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Arnebia euchroma ointment has been used in Iranian Traditional Medicine for burn wound healing. The aim of this study is to evaluate wound healing efficacy of A. euchroma ointment on wounds induced after fractional CO2 laser in rats. Material and methods: In this study, after anesthetizing two bilateral burn wounds were induced on dorsal skin of the rat using fractional ablative CO2 laser. After applying laser, A. euchroma ointment, petrolatum, and silver sulfadiazine cream were used topically on wounds twice daily for 10 days. Digital photographs were captured from the wound surfaces every day. At the end of the study, two blinded dermatologists observed the photograph of 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th days after laser injury and assessed erythema, crusting/scabbing, epithelial confluence, and general wound appearance to determine the efficacy of wound healing. These wound-healing parameters were assessed using the 5-point scales. Results: This study showed significantly less erythema and crusting ( P = 0.024 and P = 0.004, respectively) on 9th day and higher epithelial confluence and general wound appearance scores on 7th ( P = 0.037 and p = 0.016, respectively) and 9th days ( P = 0.008 and P = 0.016, respectively) in A. euchroma ointment compared with other groups. Conclusion: This study showed A. euchroma ointment has good healing effects on post-laser wounds in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and depression are common causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Co-morbidity and interactions between these two disorders have been historically considered by the Iranian traditional medicine (ITM), as well as conventional medicine (CM). Comparing these two approaches could lead to the better understanding of the connection between these two conditions. Materials and Methods: In this review, we found 147 relevant articles published during 1964-2014, which were indexed in databases such as PubMed and Scopus. Correspondingly, 21 key textbooks of ITM including the Canon of Medicine, Al-Adviat-ol-Ghalbiah, Al-Havi, Kamel-o-Sana'a, Exir and House of Wisdom (Kholasat-ol-Hikmah) were reviewed for related concepts. Results: Regarding the interactions between CVD and depression, findings of CM mainly focus on the following factors: 1. Cardiovascular side-effects of antidepressant agents 2. Depression as a predictor of CVD disability 3. Depression as a mimicker of CVD symptoms (i.e., non-cardiac chest pain) 4. Prevalence of the co-morbidity of CVD and depression 5. Possible common biological pathways of depression and CVD (e.g., alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, cardiac rhythm disorders, and hemorheologic, inflammatory or serotonergic changes) On the other hand, ITM literature mainly emphasizes the definition of the following factors: 1. Pathophysiological pathways, using the concept of Breath (Rouh) dysfunction as the main co-existing/causal biological factor contributing to bilateral causality in CVD and depression 2. Symptoms used for the accurate prediagnosis, treatment modality and assessment of the prognosis of both diseases 3. Preventive recommendations in the normal population 4. Therapeutic options in the prodromal or clinical phase of both diseases Conclusion: According to the results of this study, recent evidence about CVD and depression interactions in CM literature are correspondent with ITM textbooks. However,the holistic view of ITM could offer more effectual methods for the clinical management of CVD and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) stomach is the important organ in the body. Its disorders can affect other organs such as liver, heart and also can cause depression. Stomach distemperaments can cause some disorders. The purpose of this study was to provide a diagnostic method of stomach distemperament for clinical practice., Methods: In this study authoritative ITM books such as Canon of Avicenna, Zakhirah-E-Kharazm Shahi by Hakim Esmail Jorjani, Kamel al -Sina'ah al-Tibbiyah by Ali ibn al-'Abbas al-Majusi were assessed and symptoms and signs of stomach distemperament were collected., Results: Stomach has some normal temperament. The imbalance in temperament and humor can cause distemperments. There are 12 types of stomach distemperament and based on symptoms and signs a primary protocol is designed for diagnosis of stomach distemperament., Conclusion: There is no available guideline for gastric distemperamet diagnosis protocol. As a result, the presented protocol should be considered for use in clinical practice., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.

Background: Hand Eczema (HE) is a dermatological disorder with frequent relapses and multiple causes such as atopic, allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. The management is complex because of the wide range of different pathogenesis. Efficacy of some of available treatments is not well established and it can affect patients' quality of life significantly., Methods: Reports on HE such as diagnosis, pathophysiology, pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapy that described in medieval Iranian medicine, were gathered and analyzed from selected medical and pharmaceutical textbooks of Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM). The search of databases such as PubMed, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, Science direct, Scopus, Google scholar, Web of science, Sid, Iran medex, Irandoc, was performed to reconfirm the efficacy of ITM remedies in conventional medicine from 1980-Jan-1 to 2015-Dec-30., Results: According to their opinion, HE is highly associated with liver function. This disorder was categorized into two main types as wet and dry ones. Most Iranian textbook explained signs of HE, as excessive skin itching, redness, burning and dryness. Treatments recommended by Iranian scientists were lifestyle modification, dietary intervention and performing the rules of prevention as well as herbal therapy and special manipulations., Conclusion: Iranian practitioners believed that, six essential principles, diet therapy and medicinal plants have high impact on treatment of HE. These remedies based on Iranian scholar's experiences might be useful for further studies to the management of HE.