Natural Treatments of Oligomenorrhea based on Persian Medicine

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 PhD Student of Persian Medicine, Student Research Committee, School of Persian and Complementary Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Persian Medicine, School of Persian and Complementary Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

4 Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Genecology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Oligomenorrhea is one of the most common menstrual disorders defined as the prolongation of menstrual intervals. This growing disorder reduce the quality of life for women of reproductive age due to complications, such as abnormal uterine bleeding, infertility, hirsutism and psycho-social consequences. Due to the complications of hormonal medications which are the common treatment of this disorder, the necessity of using complementary therapies is suggested; therefore, the present review study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic strategies of Persian medicine.
Methods: In this review study, the main sources of Persian Medicine were investigated using the synonyms of oligomenorrhea such as “Ehtebās-e-tams”, “Habs-e- heiz”, reduction and discontinuation of menstruation. Then, to find new studies, the databases such as Google scholar, PubMed and ISI were searched with the keywords of Oligomenorrhea, Amenorrhea, PCOS, Persian Medicine and Traditional Medicine and the results were compared.
Results: In texts of Persian Medicine, oligomenorrhea is referred as the "Ehtebas Tams". Therapeutic approaches to "Ehtebas Tams", like other treatments in Persian Medicine, in the first step include lifestyle modification, dietary modification, sleep and wake adjustment, exercise and bathing. The second step includes the use of emmenagogue herbal medicine which are mostly considered as phytoestrogen. These herbs are prescribed in various forms (Pill, Decoction, Herbal Tea, Vaginal Suppository, Vaginal Douche, ointment and sitz-bath). In the third step, manipulations such as wet cupping and phlebotomy are recommended as a therapeutic approach.
Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of some of these treatments in new studies such as Vitex agnus-castus, Mentha longifolia and Foeniculum vulgare, it is recommended to conduct more clinical studies based on Persian medicine therapies in addition to conventional medicine for treatment of oligomenorrhea.

Keywords


  1. Yavari M, Khodabandeh F, Tansaz M, Rouholamin S. A neuropsychiatric complication of oligomenorrhea according to Iranian traditional medicine. Iran J Reprod Med 2014; 12(7):453-8.
  2. Ghobadi A, Amin G, Shams-Ardekani MR, Kamalinejad M, Mokaberinejad R. Plants used in Iranian traditional medicine for the treatment of oligomenorrhea. Adv Environ Biol 2014; 8(23):52-5.
  3. Kazemijaliseh H, Tehrani FR, Behboudi-Gandevani S, Khalili D, Hosseinpanah F, Azizi F. A population-based study of the prevalence of abnormal uterine bleeding and its related factors among Iranian reproductive-age women: an updated data. Arch Iran Med 2017; 20(9):558-63.
  4. Shahbazian N, Falahat F. Prevalence of menstrual disorders in early puberty. Jundishapur Sci Med J 2007; 6(2):181-6. (Persian).
  5. Speroff L, Glass RH, Kase NG. Clinical gynecologyic endocrinology and infertility. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011. P. 435-620.
  6. Cardigno P. Homeopathy for the treatment of menstrual irregularities: a case series. Homeopathy 2009; 98(2):97-106.
  7. Berek JS. Novak's gynecology. 15th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012. P. 374-437.
  8. Arentz S, Abbott JA, Smith CA, Bensoussan A. Herbal medicine for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and associated oligo/amenorrhoea and hyperandrogenism; a review of the laboratory evidence for effects with corroborative clinical findings. BMC Complement Altern Med 2014; 14(1):511.
  9. Guyton A, Hall J. Textbook of medical physiology. 13th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2016. P. 1816-46.
  10. Cesta CE, Kuja-Halkola R, Lehto K, Iliadou AN, Landén M. Polycystic ovary syndrome, personality, and depression: a twin study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 85:63-8.
  11. Weiss J, Kuepker W. Obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome, cancer. Gynakol Endokrinol 2017; 15(2):116-20.
  12. Ollila MM, West S, Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi S, Jokelainen J, Auvinen J, Puukka K, et al. Overweight and obese but not normal weight women with PCOS are at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus-a prospective, population-based cohort study. Hum Reprod 2017; 32(4):968.
  13. Panay N, Kalu E. Management of premature ovarian failure. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2009; 23(1):129-40.
  14. Salari R, Yousefi M, Ghorbanzadeh H, Jafarinejad Bajestani M. A review of medicinal herbs with estrogenic, progesteronic, and testosteronic properties. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2016; 19(36):19-30. (Persian).
  15. Costantini S, Colonna G, Castello G. A holistic approach to study the effects of natural antioxidants on inflammation and liver cancer. Cancer Treat Res 2014; 159:311-23.
  16. Kim HU, Ryu JY, Lee JO, Lee SY. A systems approach to traditional oriental medicine. Nat Biotechnol 2015; 33(3):264-8.
  17. Gorji A. Pharmacological treatment of headache using traditional Persian medicine. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2003; 24(7):331-4.
  18. Tansaz M, Mokaberinejad R, Bioos S, Sohrabvand F, Emtiazy M. Avicenna aspect of premature ovarian failure. Iran J Reprod Med 2013; 11(2):167-8.
  19. Azam Khan M, Aksir A. The institute of medical history-Islamic and complementary medicine. Tehran, Iran: Iran University of Medical Sciences; 2010.
  20. Ibn-e-sina (Avicenna H). Al-Qanun fit-tib [The Canon of Medicine]. Beirut: Alaalami Beirut Library Press; 2005.
  21. Arzani MA. Tebbe Akbari. 1st ed. Iran, Qom: Jalaleddin; 2008.
  22. Kermani N. Sharḥ al-asbāb wa-al-‘alāmāt. Qom: Mu’assasat Iḥyā’ Ṭibb Ṭabī‘ī, Jalaledin Publication; 2008.
  23. Choopani R, Emtiazi M, Tansaz M, Khodadoost M. Semiology and diagnosis in Iranian traditional medicine. Tehran: Farazandish Sabz Publication; 2009.
  24. Al-ahwazi A. Kamel al-sanae al-tibb. Qom: Institute of Natural Medicine’s Revival, Jalal-aldin Publication; 2007.
  25. Jorjani E. Zakhire kharazmshahi. Qom: Ehya Teb Institute; 2013. P. 201, 377, 911-8. (Persian).
  26. Nazem Jahan MA. Eksir-e-Azam. Tehran: Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine; 2009. P. 704-53. (Persian).
  27. Dehghan S, Athari SS, Sadr S, Gorji Z, Choopani R. Uterine asthma: a type of asthma described in traditional Persian medicine. Ind Am J Pharm Sci 2017; 4(11):4312-6.
  28. Mokaberinejad R, Zafarghandi N. Etiology and semiology of amenorrhea in the traditional Iranian medicine. J Islam Iran Trad Med 2012; 3(1):19-30. (Persian).
  29. Elahi A, Fereidooni A, Shahabinezhad F, Tafti MA, Zarshenas MM. An overview of amenorrhea and respective remedies in Traditional Persian Medicine. Trends Pharm Sci 2016; 2(1):3-10.
  30. Mokaberinejad R, Zafarghandi N, Naseri M, Davati A, Biyous S, Tansaz M, et al. Anatomical causes of amenorrhea of Avicenna's view and comparison with modern medicine. Med Hist J 2012; 3(9):157-71. (Persian).
  31. Rohani M, Badiee Aval S, Taghipour A, Amirian M, Hamedi SS, Tavakkoli M, et al. Diagnostic model in polycystic ovarian syndrome based on traditional Iranian medicine and common medicine. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2017; 20:35-45.
  32. Mirza S, Naaz SA, Alim SM. Management of polycystic ovarian syndrome (Keesa-e-. Khusyatur Rehm): Unani perspective. Am J Pharm Health Res 2016; 4(1):24-45.
  33. Morris S, Grover S, Sabin MA. What does a diagnostic label of ‘polycystic ovary syndrome’really mean in adolescence? A review of current practice recommendations. Clin Obes 2016; 6(1):1-18.
  34. Siahpoosh MB. Six essential principles of Iranian traditional medicine for maintaining health from the Quran’s point of view. Quran Med 2012; 1(4):101-7. (Persian).
  35. Gilani MK. Hefz al-Sehat Naseri. In: Choopani R, editor. Tehran: Almaee Press; 2009. P. 136-83. (Persian).
  36. Nejatbakhsh F. Principles of nutrition in diseases based on principles of Iranian traditional medicine. Tehran: Choogan; 2013. P. 609-63. (Persian).
  37. Zahravi K. Al-tasrif liman ajiza an al-talif. Kuwait: Kuwait Institute for the Advancement of Science, the Scientific Culture Management; 2004.
  38. Aghili MH. Makhzan-al-Advia. In: Rahimi R, Shams-Ardekani MR, Farjadmand F, editors. Tehran, Iran: Tehran University of Medical Sciences; 2009. (Persian).
  39. Tunakabuni D. Tuhfat al-mu’minin. Tehran: Research Center of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Nashre Shahr Press; 2007.
  40. Hosseinkhani A, Asadi N, Pasalar M, Zarshenas MM. Traditional Persian Medicine and management of metabolic dysfunction in polycystic ovary syndrome. J Tradit Complement Med 2018; 8(1):17-23.
  41. Fabricant DS, Farnsworth NR. The value of plants used in traditional medicine for drug discovery. Environ Health Perspect 2001; 109(Suppl 1):69.
  42. Mani H, Chudasama Y, Hadjiconstantinou M, Bodicoat DH, Edwardson C, Levy MJ, et al. Structured education programme for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomised controlled trial. Endocr Connect 2018; 7(1):26-35.
  43. Moran LJ, Brown WJ, McNaughton SA, Joham AE, Teede HJ. Weight management practices associated with PCOS and their relationships with diet and physical activity. Hum Reprod 2017; 32(3):669-78.
  44. Morrow-Baez K. Thriving with PCOS: lifestyle strategies to successfully manage polycystic ovary syndrome. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield; 2018.
  45. Droujinine IA, Perrimon N. Defining the interorgan communication network: systemic coordination of organismal cellular processes under homeostasis and localized stress. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2013; 3:82.
  46. Mohebbi-Kian E, Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi S, Bekhradi R. Efficacy of fennel and combined oral contraceptive on depot medroxyprogesterone acetate-induced amenorrhea: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Contraception 2014; 90(4):440-6.
  47. Mokaberinejad R, Zafarghandi N, Bioos S, Dabaghian FH, Naseri M, Kamalinejad M, et al. Mentha longifolia syrup in secondary amenorrhea: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trials. DARU J Pharmaceut Sci 2012; 20(1):97.
  48. Bergmann J, Luft B, Boehmann S, Runnebaum B, Gerhard I. The efficacy of the complex medication Phyto-Hypophyson L in female, hormone-related sterility. A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical double-blind study. Res Complement Natl Class Med 2000; 7(4):190-9.
  49. Yavari M, Rouholamin S, Tansaz M, Esmaeili S. Herbal treatment of oligomenorrhea with sesamum indicum L.: A randomized controlled trial. Galen Med J 2016; 5(3):114-21.
  50. Kort DH, Lobo RA. Preliminary evidence that cinnamon improves menstrual cyclicity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2014; 211(5):487e1-6.
  51. Bashtian MH, Emami SA, Mousavifar N, Esmaily HA, Mahmoudi M, Poor AH. Evaluation of fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-graceum L.), effects seeds extract on insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Iran J Pharm Res 2013; 12(2):475.
  52. Najafipour F, Rahimi AO, Mobaseri M, Agamohamadzadeh N, Nikoo A, Aliasgharzadeh A. Therapeutic effects of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) in women with Hyperandrogenism. Int J Curr Res Acad Rev 2014; 2(7):153-60.
  53. Jalilian N, Modarresi M, Rezaie M, Ghaderi L, Bozorgmanesh M. Phytotherapeutic management of polycystic ovary syndrome: role of aerial parts of wood betony (Stachys lavandulifolia). Phytother Res 2013; 27(11):1708-13.
  54. Farzaei MH, Bahramsoltani R, Ghobadi A, Farzaei F, Najafi F. Pharmacological activity of Mentha longifolia and its phytoconstituents. J Tradit Chinese Med 2017; 37(5):710-20.
  55. Asghari MH, Babaei E, Moloudizargari M, Fallah M, Mahmoodifar F. A comparative study on the analgesic properties of five members of Lamiaceae family using two pain models. Res J Pharm 2018; 5(1):31-9.
  56. Aleebrahim-Dehkordy E, Tamadon MR, Nasri H, Baradaran A, Nasri P, Beigrezaei S. Review of possible mechanisms of analgesic effect of herbs and herbal active ingredient. J Young Pharm 2017; 9(3):303-6.
  57. Rahimi R, Ardekani MR. Medicinal properties of Foeniculum vulgare Mill in traditional Iranian medicine and modern phytotherapy. Chinese J Integrat Med 2013; 19(1):73-9.
  58. Poojar B, Ommurugan B, Adiga S, Thomas H. Evaluation of antiurolithiatic property of ethanolic extract of fennel seeds in male wistar albino rats. Asian J Pharm Clin Res 2017; 10(8):313-6.
  59. DalBó S, de Aguiar Amaral P. Medicinal plants that can cause changes in blood pressure and interactions with antihypertensive agents. Am J Ethnomed 2017; 4(1):2-8.
  60. Azadbakht M. Phytoestrogens. J Med Plants 2007; 1(21):1-10. (Persian).
  61. Kasim-Karakas SE, Mishra S. Botanical treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome. Complement Alternat Ther Aging Popul 2011; 10(20):317-32.
  62. Akdogan M, Tamer MN, Cure E, Cure MC, Koroglu BK, Delibas N. Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism. Phytother Res 2007; 21(5):444-7.
  63. Begum W. Treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome by wet cupping–a case report and review of literature. J Ayurveda Holistic Med 2015; 3(3):41-5.
  64. Akhtari E, Mokaberinejad R, Tajadini H. Treatment of menstrual disorder, depression and sexual dysfunction in a 27-year-old woman with polycystic ovary syndrome based on Iranian traditional medicine. Asian J Clin Case Rep Tradit Alternat Med 2017; 1(1):43-50.
  65. Nazari M, Taghizadeh A, Orafaei H, Rakhshandeh H, Bazzaz MM, Shokri J, et al. Nausea and vomiting in Iranian traditional medicine based on Avicenna's viewpoint. Electron Physician 2015; 7(2):1047-53.
  66. Feyzabadi Z, Javan R, Mokaberinejad R, Aliasl J. Comparing Insomnia treatment in Iranian traditional Medicine and Modern Medicine. Med Hist J 2016; 6(19):185-208. (Persian).