Impact of COVID-19 on Social Awareness and Public Health Strategies of Traditional Persian Medicine in Iran
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted substantial changes in global healthcare, particularly influencing the role of Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM). This study explores the integration and impact of TPM during the COVID-19 crisis in Iran, where TPM was applied alongside conventional treatments. Research from 2019 to August 2022 is classified into four categories: clinical trials, herbal treatment recommendations, perspectives from traditional medicine scholars in the duration of Islamic era, and questionnaire-based studies. Findings demonstrate that TPM interventions, including the use of herbal remedies and personalized approaches based on humoral theory, have contributed effectively to the management of COVID-19 symptoms, including respiratory distress and other viral manifestations. Significant outcomes from clinical trials, case reports, and phytochemical studies highlight the efficacy of specific TPM therapies. Additionally, Iran’s scientific output in complementary and alternative medicine research has increased, elevating its international standing. The study underscores the pandemic’s role in revitalizing societal trust in TPM, as evidenced by high patient satisfaction and increased use of TPM during the pandemic. This surge in reliance on TPM has led to a deeper integration of traditional medicine within Iran’s healthcare system, marking a significant shift in its historical trajectory. The findings suggest that the global health crisis may have long-term implications for the acceptance and utilization of TPM in modern medical practice.
Al-Tawfiq JA-Y SS, Rigamontie D. Changes in healthcare managing COVID and non–COVID-19 patients during the pandemic: striking the balance. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2020;98:1-3.
Previdi IL, Vega CV, Otero NH, Guzzi Vasques A, Colón GA, et al. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnancy, Birth Experiences, and Mental Health: Voices from Women in Puerto Rico. Matern Child Health J 2024, ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-024-04026-x.
Hays R. The relevance of medical history to current practice. Aust J Gen Pract 2024;53:157-160.
Abdoli M, Mahlooji K, Mozaffarpur SA, Zargaran A . The cardiac auricles, Eur Heart J 2017;38:313-314.
Taherkhani D, Davati A, Majdzadeh R, Eemaratkar E. Investigating the rate of the use of persian traditional medicine services in Tehran. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2023;37:100.
Dehghan M, Ghanbari A, Ghaedi Heidari F, Mangolian Shahrbabaki P, Zakeri MA. Use of complementary and alternative medicine in general population during COVID-19 outbreak: A survey in Iran. J Integr Med 2022;20:45-51.
Mayberry J. "Islamic Medicine": A true discipline for the 21st century or quackery? Med Leg J 2022;90:32-340.
Jeon SR, Kang JW, Ang L, Lee HW, Lee MS, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine [CAM] interventions for COVID-19: An overview of systematic reviews. Integr Med Res 2022;11:100842.
https://www.isna.ir/news/99101511002/%D8%AC%D8%B2%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-. (Available on: 12/23/2024).
Mahroozade S, Mohammadi Kenari H, Eghbalian F, Ghobadi A, Yousefsani BS. Avicenna's points of view in epidemics: some advice on coronavirus 2 (COVID-19). Complement Med Res 2021;28:175-176.
Iranzadasl M, Karimi Y, Moadeli F, Pasalar M. Persian medicine recommendations for the prevention of pandemics related to the respiratory system: a narrative literature review. Integr Med Res 2021;10:100483.
Azimi M, Hasheminasab FS. Evaluating the efficacy and safety of the myrtle (Myrtus communis) in treatment and prognosis of patients suspected to novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2020;21:978.
Borujerdi R, Adeli SH, Mohammadbeigi A, Aliasl F, Asghari A, et al. Effects of Iranian Polyherbal Syrup (Zufa syrup) on oxygen saturation and clinical symptoms in suspected patients with COVID-19: a triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Med Gas Res 2022;12:44-50.
Hashem-Dabaghian F, Ali Azimi S, Bahrami M, Latifi SA, Enayati A, et al. Effect of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L.) syrup on olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 infection: A pilot controlled clinical trial. Avicenna J Phytomed 2022;12:1-7.
Hasheminasab FS, Azimi M, Khodadoost M, Choubani B, Shakeri N, et al. Efficacy of the barley-based remedy, a Persian medicine formula, in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalized patients: An open-labeled randomized controlled trial. Adv Integr Med 2022;9:185-190.
Karimi M, Kazemi AH, Asadi A, Zarei A, Zargaran A, et al. warm cupping of the posterior thorax in combination with standard conventional therapy for ARDS in COVID-19 patients in ICU: a case series. J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2022;15:194-200.
Karimi M, Zarei A, Soleymani S, Jamalimoghadamsiahkali S, Asadi A, et al. Efficacy of Persian medicine herbal formulations (capsules and decoction) compared to standard care in patients with COVID-19, a multicenter open-labeled, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res 2021;35:6295-6309.
Setayesh M, Karimi M, Zargaran A, Abousaidi H, Shahesmaeili A, et al. Efficacy of a persian herbal medicine compound on coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19): a randomized clinical trial. Integr Med Res 2022;11:100869.
Siahpoosh M. Clinically improvement in a case of COVID-19 with gastrointestinal manifestations through using natural therapy based on persian medicine: a case report. Trad Integr Med 2020;5:114-117.
Tavakoli A, Molavi Vardanjani H, Namjouyan F, Cramer H, Pasalar M. Efficacy of Persian barley water on clinical outcomes of hospitalized moderate-severity COVID-19 patients: a single-blind, add-on therapy, randomized controlled clinical trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2022;26:1033-1041.
Varnasseri M, Siahpoosh A, Hoseinynejad K, Amini F, Karamian M, et al. The effects of add-on therapy of Phyllanthus Emblica (Amla) on laboratory confirmed COVID-19 Cases: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Complement Ther Med 2022;65:102808.
Badr P, Etemadpour F, Chini R, Khalili Moghadam N. The potential of topical phytopharmaceuticals for the management of COVID-19-associated cough from the perspective of traditional persian medicine. Iran J Med Sci 2022;47:389-390.
Namiranian P, Sadatpour O, Azimzadeh Jamalkandi S, Hossein Ayati M, Karimi M. Antiviral activity of medicinal plants against human coronavirus: a systematic scoping review of and experimentations. J Tradit Chin Med 2022;42:332-343.
Shahrajabian MH, Sun W, Soleymani A, Cheng Q. Traditional herbal medicines to overcome stress, anxiety and improve mental health in outbreaks of human coronaviruses. Phytother Res 2021;35:1237-1247.
Yakhchali M, Taghipour Z, Mirabzadeh Ardakani M, Alizadeh Vaghasloo M, Vazirian M, et al. Cinnamon and its possible impact on COVID-19: The viewpoint of traditional and conventional medicine. Biomed Pharmacother 2021;143:11222110.1016/j.biopha.2021.112221.
Alam MA, Gani MA, Shama G, Sofi G, Quamri MA. Possible role of unani pharmacology in COVID-19 - a narrative review. Rev Environ Health 2021;36:391-396.
Alam MA, Quamri MA, Sofi G, Ayman U, Ansari S, et al. Understanding COVID-19 in the light of epidemic disease described in Unani medicine. Drug Metab Pers Ther 2020;35:20200136.
Moslemifard M, Gorji N, Ghadimi R, Kamalinejad M, Shirafkan H, et al. Hospital diet for COVID-19, an acute respiratory infectious disease: An evidence-based Protocol of a Clinical Trial. Caspian J Intern Med 2020;11:466-478.
Soleymani S, Naghizadeh A, Karimi M, Zarei A, Mardi R, et al. COVID-19: General Strategies for Herbal Therapies. J Evid Based Integr Med 2022;27:2515690x211053641.
Dabaghian FH, Marufizadeh M, Khoshdel S, Hoseyni Yeka A, Khanavi N. Evaluation of medical plants and herbal products used in Iranian volunteers during the Covid-19 outbreak. J Islam Iran Trad Med 2020;11:255-236.
Mosleh G, Badr P, Zaeri M, Mohagheghzadeh A. Potentials of antitussive traditional persian functional foods for COVID-19 therapy. Front Pharmacol 2021;12:624006.
Kalantar-Hormozi A, Habibzadeh Z, Yavari M, Mousavizadeh SM, Hassanpour SE, et al. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on plastic surgery activities and residency programs in a tertiary referral centre in Iran. Eur J Plast Surg 2021;44:817-823.
Ramazani E, Emami SA, Tayarani-Najaran N, Sahebkar A, Tayarani-Najaran Z. Antiviral plants in view of avicenna's the canon of medicine and modern medicine against common cold. Adv Exp Med Biol 2021;1328:99-121.
Sabetkish N, Rahmani A. The overall impact of COVID-19 on healthcare during the pandemic: A multidisciplinary point of view. Health Sci Rep 2021;4:e386.
Zakeri MA, Dehghan M. The impact of the COVID-19 disease on the referral and admission of the non-COVID-19 patients. Int J Health Plann Manage 2021;36:209-211.
Fadaizadeh L, Jamaati H, Varahram M, Taheri MJ, Sanaat M. Follow-up of coronavirus infected patients using telemedicine in a referral pulmonary center. Tanaffos 2020;19:356-363.
NeJhaddadgar N, Ziapour A, Zakkipour G, Abbas J, Abolfathi M, et al. Effectiveness of telephone-based screening and triage during COVID-19 outbreak in the promoted primary healthcare system: a case study in Ardabil province, Iran. Z Gesundh Wiss 2022;30:1301-1306.
Molavi VH, Heydari ST, Dowran B, Pasalar M. A cross-sectional study of Persian medicine and the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran: Rumors and recommendations. Integr Med Res 2020;9:100482.
Mahlooji K, Abdoli M, Tekiner H, Zargaran A. A new evidence on pulmonary circulation discovery: A text of Ibn Luqa (860–912 AD). Eur Heart J 2021;42:2522-2523.
Abdoli M, Mahlooji K. Paradise of wisdom: indian medical concepts in a persian islamic medical text. Acta medico-historica Adriatica: AMHA 2022;20:251-260.
https://www.scimagojr.com/countryrank.php?category. [Available on: 12/23/2024].
| Issue | Vol 11, No 1, 2026 -In Press- | |
| Section | Historical Article | |
| Keywords | ||
| Covid-19 Pandemic History of medicine Persian medicine Traditional medicine | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
