Iranian Traditional Medicine

Iranian traditional medicine (ITM), also referred to as Persian traditional medicine (PTM), is one of the most ancient medical systems in the world.

While many people in the world resort to heavy diet plans and non-surgical and surgical weight loss procedures, Persian traditional medicine strongly focuses on prioritizing health maintenance and disease prevention over treatment. Iranian traditional medicine experts recommend that people should maintain health by adopting appropriate habits on diet, sleeping hours, mood, and other health-related issues.

It is based on the concept of four senses of humor: phlegm (Balgham), blood (Dam), yellow bile (Safra’), and black bile (Sauda’), a theory developed by scholars like Rhazes and Avicenna.

Mizaj (Temperament) in Iranian Traditional Medicine

Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) is a holistic medical approach based on an individual’s unique temperament, known as “Mizaj”. Mizaj describes the person’s physical and mental characteristics, influenced by certain symptoms in the body and mind. Each individual has a specific Mizaj that defines their overall physical and mental traits, typically linked to the balance of warmness and humidity in their bodies. Mizaj is classified into four qualities: warmness (garmī), coldness (sardī), dryness, and wetness. It is a spectrum, so while no two people share exactly the same Mizaj, they may exhibit similar traits. Mizaj is believed to be determined during the embryonic stage, and parents’ temperaments can influence their child’s Mizaj.

As the Mizaj develops, one or two of the four qualities may become dominant, forming one of nine types: warm, cold, wet, dry, warm and dry, warm and wet, cold and dry, cold and wet, and moderate (where no quality is dominant).

Temperaments are neither inherently good nor bad- when balanced, they reflect a healthy physical and mental state. Since everyone has a unique Mizaj, their lifestyles and health needs will vary, and this is the core of ITM’s approach to well-being and disease treatment.

To maintain health, individuals should adopt a lifestyle that aligns with their Mizaj, ensuring that their natural warmness and humidity levels stay within a certain range and avoiding conditions that could lead to an imbalance.

Mizaj extends beyond humans and is believed to apply to all objects, situations, and states in the world.

Determining Temperament in Iranian Traditional Medicine

The tempers, or amzajeh, are classified into nine categories: moderate, warm, cold, wet, dry, warm and dry, warm and wet, cold and dry, cold and wet.

Some identifying behavioral and physical characteristics help to determine one’s temperament, such as body shape and size, body parts, complexion, hair, skin, activity, mental traits, sensitivity, sleep, and waste.

For example, individuals with wet Mizaj tend to be sturdy, large-boned, and prone to gaining weight, while those with dry Mizaj are thinner and less prone to gaining weight. People with wet Mizaj also typically have larger features (faces, fingers, etc.), while those with dry Mizaj have smaller features. Moreover, a rosy complexion indicates warm and wet Mizaj, while a yellowish tone suggests warm and dry. Light skin is associated with cold and wet Mizaj and darker skin with cold and dry Mizaj.

Other physical traits include hair type: dry Mizaj people have coarse, curly hair, while warm Mizaj individuals have thick, fast-growing hair, and cold Mizaj people have thin, smooth hair that grows slowly. Wet Mizaj people tend to have soft, moist skin, while those with dry Mizaj have dry skin. Warm Mizaj people tend to feel warmer and more energetic, while cold Mizaj individuals feel colder and less energetic.

In terms of personality, individuals with warm Mizaj are often extroverted and energetic, while cold Mizaj people are more introverted and patient. Warm Mizaj people may experience more stress, while cold Mizaj individuals are more prone to melancholy or depression. However, external factors like upbringing or spiritual practices can influence one’s behavior, meaning personality traits may not always align with one’s Mizaj.

Mizaj also affects sensitivity to environmental factors (like foods, and drinks): individuals with warm Mizaj are sensitive to heat, people with cold Mizaj are sensitive to cold, dry Mizaj people are sensitive to dryness, and wet Mizaj individuals are sensitive to humidity. Sleep patterns vary too- excessive sleep indicates wetness, while a tendency to need less sleep is linked to dryness.

In people with warm Mizaj, bodily waste, like urine and sweat, often has stronger odors and colors, while cold Mizaj individuals’ waste tends to be milder.

Attari or Iranian Traditional Drug Store

Herbal remedies, spices, and plant-based treatments used in ITM are often sold in a specialized store known as Attari. These herbal drug stores are regulated by the government.

Shopping for Iranian Traditional Medicine

As a tourist or expat going to traditional herbal and medicine markets in Iran, you may be surprised by what you can see and how cheaply you can buy the food and herbal medicines that are on sale. Iran has 8,000 medicinal plants, of which 2,000 grow exclusively inside the country, here we are familiar with some of them.

Rosa damascene is cultivated in central Iran and is known as Gole Sorkh. In Iranian traditional medicine, flowers, petals, and hips are administered to treat insomnia. Coriandrum sativum is an herb which is currently cultivated in Iran. It is popularly referred to as Geshniz in Persian. In addition to the extensive use of Coriander leaves in Iranian recipes, various parts of this plant such as seed, leaf, flower, and fruit have been used in Iranian traditional medicine.

Saffron stigma (Crocus sativus), is the world’s most expensive herb. It is cultivated in the northeast of Iran and called Zafaran in Persian. Saffron stigma has traditionally been administered to prevent insomnia.

Salvia leriifolia, which is known as Noruzak, is endemic to the Khorasan province of Iran. It has traditionally been used for its various health benefits. It is generally thought that it can relieve pain, decrease blood sugar, and treat inflammation and insomnia. Salvia reuterana, which is commonly known as Mariam Goli Esfahani in Iran, has been mostly found in the highlands of the center of Iran. The aerial parts of this herb have been used in Iranian traditional medicine owing to its sedative and anxiolytic effects.

Turmeric is a plant that has a very long history of medicinal use, dating back nearly 4,000 years. In Southeast Asia, turmeric is used not only as a principal spice but also as a component in religious ceremonies. Because of its brilliant yellow color, turmeric is also known as “Indian saffron”. Modern medicine has begun to recognize its importance.

The Iranian Traditional Medicine Clinics

There are many traditional medicine clinics in different cities of Iran (like Tehran, Mashad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, Kashan, Kerman, Kermanshah, Hamadan, Tabriz, Ardabil, etc.) that deal with treating various diseases including neurological diseases, psychiatry diseases, women’s diseases, and infertility using traditional Iranian-approved methods.