مجله طب سنتی اسلام و ایران
سال شانزدهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 62، تابستان 1404)

This study aims to investigate the historical medicinal applications of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) in classical Persian medical texts. Key sources analyzed in this comparative study include Al-Hawi fi al-Tibb by Muhammad ibn Zakariyyā al-Rāzī, Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb by Avicenna, Al-Abnyia 'an Haqa'iq al-Adwiya by Abu Mansur Muwaffaq Harawi, Zakhireye Khwarazmshahi by Sayyid Isma'il Jurjani and Makhzan al-Adwiya by Aqili Khorasani. Conducted through a qualitative, historical-analytical approach, the research extracted data on plant parts used, methods of administration, target ailments, and the temperamental characteristics of Fennel. Findings indicate that Fennel, characterized by a warm and dry temperament in Persian medicine, held a prominent status and was traditionally employed to treat gastrointestinal, respiratory, and visual disorders, as well as to promote lactation, regulate menstruation, and eliminate toxins. Differences in the emphasis on specific uses across the sources reflect the diverse perspectives and clinical experiences of Persian medical scholars. Comparative analysis with modern pharmacological evidence may provide a foundation for the scientific and clinical application of Fennel in complementary medicine and traditional pharmaceutics.

 Medical Professions rank among the most stressful occupations in the world. Herbal remedies are one of the safe therapeutic modalities in traditional medicine. While there is some evidence supporting the use of two herbal medicines—rose essential oil and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) for alleviating anxiety and stress, no study has yet been conducted to simultaneously examine their effects on stress reduction. Therefore, the present study was designed to compare the effect of rose essential oil and lemon balm on stress reduction among gynecology residents.

The present study was a crossover clinical trial conducted on 20 gynecology residents. Participants were selected by random sampling from among 35 students who met the inclusion criteria and were divided into two groups: lemon balm tea and rose essential oil aromatherapy. The daily intervention continued for 14 days. After the completion of the first intervention phase and a one-week washout period, the second phase of the intervention was performed by switching the members of the groups. Data were collected using the standard Beck Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 20.

The mean anxiety score of participants prior to the intervention was 17±2.63. Following intervention, the anxiety score in the infusion group was 16.85±2.46, while in the rose essential oil group, it was 15.80±3.38. No statistically significant difference was observed within either group before and after the intervention. Furthermore, an independent t-test analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the mean anxiety scores between the two groups after the intervention.

The findings of this study indicate that neither lemon balm infusion nor aromatherapy with rose essential oil produced a satisfactory effect on reducing stress among obstetrics and gynecology residents. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies be conducted with longer intervention durations and dosage adjustments of the herbal medicines.

This study explores the ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants in Chardavol County, Ilam Province, with the primary aim of documenting the region’s indigenous knowledge and botanical heritage. By investigating the intricate relationships between plants and local communities, the research seeks to preserve and transmit this traditional wisdom to future generations.

A cross-sectional ethnobotanical survey was conducted from November 2024 to March 2025 across Chardavol County. Data collection involved structured interviews with local herbalists and traditional healers, utilizing standardized questionnaires. Quantitative indices such as Use Report (UR), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) were employed to assess the prevalence and consensus regarding medicinal plant usage.

The findings revealed the use of 93 plant species from 38 botanical families in the treatment of various ailments. These plants are predominantly employed for disorders related to the digestive and respiratory systems, inflammatory conditions, joint pain, prostatic conditions, and urinary tract infections. Common modes of preparation include decoctions, herbal infusions, and poultices. Frequently used plant parts include leaves, flowers, roots, and fruits, valued for their bioactive compounds. Notably, the families Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Apiaceae emerged as the most widely utilized in traditional medicine throughout the region.

This study underscores the significance of preserving and revitalizing the medicinal plant practices in Chardavol, highlighting the vital role of such knowledge in the broader understanding of human-plant relationships in Iran. The insights gained here may serve as a scientific foundation for the integration of traditional remedies into both conventional and modern healthcare systems, not only in Iran but also in culturally comparable regions.

Yūḥannā ibn Māsawayh, despite being a renowned ophthalmologist, pharmacist, and translator from the Islamic period, is a figure shrouded in debate and ambiguity among scholars due to contradictory historical reports and uncertainties surrounding his attributed works. Catalogers have noted numerous medical works in his name. Yūḥannā served as a key reference for doctors and pharmacists of the era, with notable scientists like Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī, Muhammad ibn Zakariyyā al-Rāzī, Ibn al-Jazzar, Ibn al-Bayṭār and Hubaysh-i Tiflisi frequently quoting and referencing his works in their books including Al-Saydanah, Al-Hawi, Al-Iʿtimād, Al-Jāmi li-Mufradāt al-Adwiya and Kifāyat al-Tibb. Remarkably, his fame extends beyond the Islamic world. The attribution of three influential medieval pharmaceutical treatises to an unknown individual named “Mesue” likely inspired by Yūḥannā ibn Māsawayh's name—showcases the global recognition of this Islamic period scholar, regardless of the correctness of the attribution of these treatises.

The manuscript "Kitabcheh Vabā'iyyah" (Treatise on Cholera) was written by Mirza Mahmoud Khan Doctor, son of Abdul-Karim, known as Mo'tamid al-Hukamā (Trusted Physician), one of the physicians trained at Dār ul-Funun in modern medicine during the Qajar era (1796–1925). Two lithograph and typographic Persian editions of this manuscript were published in Kerman and are preserved in the National Library and Archives of Iran under the national bibliography number 1119352 in the Digital Resources System. This research adopts an analytical-critical approach using library-documentary methods. After reviewing and correcting the "Kitabcheh Vabā'iyyah", the collected data were analyzed to achieve the research objectives. The treatise is divided into two main sections: first, the preventive measures and conditions to be observed before the outbreak of cholera, and second, a brief description of the disease along with the necessary measures and treatments to be applied during infection. The symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of cholera are discussed in detail. This study attends to both scientific and literary correction of the manuscript.

The importance of animals, especially domestic animals, in human life, along with the care humans have devoted to them and the necessity of maintaining the health of these animals led to the emergence of zoology and veterinary medicine. Due to the importance of this science and the veterinary profession, numerous sources have been written throughout history, such as books of miracles and works by doctors and pharmacists. Alongside the formal discipline of veterinary medicine, similar to various scientific fields, the profession of veterinary practice and its foundational knowledge have developed and gained popularity among the general populace. The purpose of this research is to introduce veterinarians and to examine their social status, to study the treatment methods of veterinarians in folklore and literary texts, and, given the importance of livestock in human life in the past, to reveal the value of the work of veterinarians. Data was collected using a library method and a descriptive-analytical approach. The results show that due to the importance of animals in human life in ancient times, veterinarians were considered an important class of therapists and were referred to for the treatment of many animal diseases such as fractures and dislocations, infectious wounds, eye diseases (sores, blindness, etc.), lameness, stomachache, etc. In some cases veterinarians even treated some shared diseases of humans and animals.

The amount and type of income of groups such as physicians across different historical periods, viewed from both economic as well as a social perspectives, reveal significant historical realities. The current study not only examines the income status of physicians during the Abbasid Caliphate but also investigates how these conditions related to their lifestyle and job stability. The research findings indicate that factors such as specialization, skill proficiency, reputation, family background, location of practice, the number of patient referrals, and the financial status of patients directly influenced the financial status and income of physicians during this period. Corresponding to these income differences, variations and diversity in the lifestyles of physicians are also evident during this period. On the other hand, factors affecting the job security and stability of physicians, such as ethical commitment, validation of professional skills and competencies, societal demand, government support, and quality of education and training, were considered important components in the continuation and sustainability of their income. This research employs a descriptive-analytical method and utilizes library resources, especially books on historical figures and philosophers, to investigate the aforementioned issues.