Diagnostic Protocol of Warm and Cold Uterine Temperaments Based on Persian Medicine: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Objective: Uterus is an important body organ in women responsible for purifying blood and carrying fetus. In Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM), identifying the uterine temperament (mizaj) is necessary for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this organ’s diseases. Many gynecological disorders in TIM including infertility, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, hypermenorrhea, vaginitis, cervicitis, urinary incontinence and pelvic pain are related to uterine distemperament (Su-e mizaj). Therefore, their appropriate treatment depends on the correct diagnosis and treatment of uterine distemperament. Criteria for uterine distemperament in TIM resources are qualitative with no method for precise measurement of its symptoms. This study aims to develop a standard diagnostic protocol of uterine temperament and distemperament for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Methods: This is a qualitative study using hybrid concept analysis including three phases: theoretical, fieldwork, and final analytical. In the theoretical phase, TIM resources were reviewed. In the fieldwork phase, experts in TIM and patients were interviewed to extract concepts related to uterine temperaments and distemperaments. Results: In the final analytical phase, major and minor criteria for determination of uterine temperament were presented. Then, we had a several meetings with a panel of experts in TIM in order to design the protocol which led to the development of a standard diagnostic protocol of warm and cold uterine temperament/distemperament. Conclusion: The proposed protocol is an important step towards harmonizing the methods of diagnosis and treatment in TIM, and can be used for treatment or research purposes.

Urtica pilulifera L. seed extract promotes folliculogenesis and alleviates the diminished ovarian reserve in the Balb/c mice model: An experimental study

“…In recent studies, the most common temperament found in patients with infertility complaints was cold and wet. It was also confirmed that the temperament of the uterus is related to the hot/cold temperament of the body and pelvic width (14,15). Folk remedy emphasizes the hot (harr) property of U. pilulifera, suggesting that it can potentially increase the quantity of semen and enhance sexual libido and arousal in both males and females.…”

Experimental and Computational Approaches for the Classification and Correlation of Temperament (Mizaj) and Uterine Dystemperament (Su’-I-Mizaj Al-Rahim) in Abnormal Vaginal Discharge (Sayalan Al-Rahim) Based on Clinical Analysis Using Support Vector Machine

“…Warm-wet uterine dystemperament prevalence was the highest (78.78%-74.74%) in AVD participants. Dystemperament of the uterus holds significant importance in uterine diseases; hence diagnosis and treatment depend upon the determination of individual and organ temperament [4]. A study found dry dystemperament of the uterus in all menopausal transition participants [17].…”

“…An individual's temperament is maintained and preserved by humour (Akhlat) [2]. ere are four types of temperaments, namely, warm, cold, wet, and dry, in Unani medicine [4], and they are related to four humours, namely, sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, and melancholic [1,2]. Each organ also has its specific temperament in addition to general body temperament [3,5].…”

“…e most common cause of disease of an individual organ is dystemperament, which is represented by various symptoms of that individual organ. Numerous gynaecologic disorders are conceptually associated with the dystemperament of the uterus, including dysmenorrhoea, menstrual disorders, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), abnormal vaginal discharge, and infertility [4].…”

A Review of Cold-Wet Mizaj and Phlegm Dominance Indices in Persian Medicine

“…Individuals with cold-wet Mizaj or the related coldwet dystemperament are prone to diseases such as joint pain and inflammation, headaches, sinusitis, infectious and febrile diseases, lung disorders, digestive disorders and weakness, weight gain (leading to conditions like cardiovascular disorders, fatty liver, and diabetes), dysmenorrhea, infertility, and mental disorders (30,(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41). Moreover, many symptoms of this dystemperament are consistent with conditions of unknown etiology in conventional medicine, including weakness and fatigue.…”