Assessment of Phlebotomy in Liver Diseases in Iranian Traditional Medicine

Phlebotomy is one of the effective treatments in traditional medicine; the reasonable use of which leads to improvement of patient whereas unreasonable use deteriorates the condition. Since liver is one of the important organs in the body، enough knowledge about the role of phlebotomy in treatment of its disease is essential. The indications and contradictions of phlebotomy in liver diseases has been investigated in this article according to the basic traditional medicine books such as Cannon by Avicenna (980 – 1037)، Kitāb Kāmil al-Sinā‘ah al-Sibbīyah by Alī ibn al-‘Abbās al-Majūsī (died 994) and Zakhīrah-i Khvārazm’Shāhī by Ismā‘īl ibn Muhammad al-husayn al-Jurjānī (1042–1136) and Eksir-e-Azam by Hakim Mohammad Azam Khan Chashty (died 1902). Regarding the use of phlebotomy، liver diseases can be classified to seven categories. The important indications for phlebotomy in liver disease include the diseases due to blood humor and the important contraindication is in the diseases pertaining to the phlegm humor. Since the phlebotomy of each vessel induces several organs simultaneously، thus in case it is indicated for other diseases except liver، its effect on liver must be noted to avoid harm to liver.