Impotence and Iranian traditional medicine

In recent years، alternative medicine is increasingly used among physicians and researchers. Lack of success in controlling chronic diseases such as diabetes، cardiovascular diseases and cancer by conventional medicine، and public acceptance of alternative medicine، due to the use of herbal and natural medicines instead of chemicals، are the major reasons for this trend. Iranian traditional medicine is a school based on humeral medicine. There is difference between diagnostic model of traditional medicine and that of conventional medicine. In this approach، diagnosis and treatment are based on identifying the temperament and returning it to health state، if it is not in the normal state. Then we should consider the causes of deviation of temperament from health state. Male erectile dysfunction is a common disorder that Iranian traditional medicine has offered some effective treatments for it. Erectile dysfunction is inability to achieve or maintain an erection to engage in sexual intercourse. Before 1992، erectile dysfunction was equal to impotence which included orgasm dysfunction and premature ejaculation، as well. Nowadays، there are effective remedies including oral، local or infusional treatments for erectile dysfunction. These treatments، however، have a lot of side effects and do not result in complete cure. In Iranian traditional medicine، impotence is known as weakness of Baah and its treatment is based on involving chief organs (heart، liver and brain) and returning them to health temperament. Most of these remedies involve prevention and regimen. Although there are a lot of discrepancies between conventional and traditional treatments، the traditional interventions can be investigated in clinical trials. This research aimed to facilitate further research for those without familiarity with basics of Iranian medicine in this connection