Wednesday 30 January 2008

The History of medicine in ancient Persia
Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:18:00
By Hedieh Ghavidel, Press TV, Tehran

The history of medicine in Iran is as old and as rich as its civilization. In the Avesta, science and medicine rise above class, ethnicity, nationality, race, gender and religion.

Some of the earliest practices of ancient Iranian medicine have been documented in the Avesta and other Zoroastrian religious texts.

During the Achaemenid era (559-330 BCE), the 21 books of Avesta encompassing 815 chapters were an encyclopedia of science consisting of medicine, astronomy, law, social science, philosophy, general knowledge, logic and biology.

It can be inferred from these books that Zoroastrians placed great importance on personal hygiene, public health and the prevention of contagious diseases.

The best teachers of medicine and astrology were Iranian Magi and Mobeds (Zoroastrian priests) who passed their knowledge on to their pupils from one generation to the next.


According to Avestan texts, King Jamshid was the physician who initiated the custom of bathing with hot and cold water.

Iranians refrained from polluting the four elements. They would not bathe or wash dirty objects in flowing water, and urinating or spitting into water was considered a great sin.

Odorous materials were never thrown into the fire. Wild rue and frankincense were always burned inside houses to kill insects and bacteria, a custom which continues to this today.

Pahlavi text

The Persians, who lived in an empire stretching from the Indus valley in the east to the Aegean Sea in the west with considerable variation in climate and vegetation, became familiar with a vast range of medicinal plants.

The Avesta mentions several medicinal herbs including basil, chicory, sweet violet, and peppermint, while Bundahishn cites the names of thirty sacred medicinal plants.

Avestan texts list not only the various parts of plants such as roots, stems, scales, leaves, fruit and seeds used for treatment but also indicate which plant is the remedy for each disease.

According to the Zâdspram, a Pahlavi text of the ninth century AD, there are thousands of species of medicinal plants created by Ahura Mazda for the prevention of thousands of sicknesses created by Ahriman and that the best of these plants is haoma (Vedic soma).


Haoma (Ephedra Vulgaris) is indigenous to the Iranian plateau and contains a large quantity of Ephedrine which is effective in the treatment of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Garlic was used to reduce blood pressure, combat heart disease and treat infections.

Rue was once a popular remedy for earache, easing shaking fits and joint pain; it was also used to disinfect the house.

Bangha, extracted from Cannabis Indica seeds, has hallucinatory effects and was used as an anesthetic.

Frankincense was used for inhalation therapy.

Aloeswood was used in the treatment of cardiac disease and irregular heartbeat.

Many modern-day Iranian herbalists use reference books inherited from generations past, and still prescribe plants such as Borage, Sweet Marjoram, Fenugreek and Chicory as treatment.

Ancient Persian physicians believed that good health is the result of the 'right' measure of the elements of humor, and that sickness is the product of their excess or deficiency.

Therefore, the medicine of the body consists of keeping the body in good health and re-establishing balance and the medicine of the soul involves curing the body and preserving it from sin.

The Vendidad tells of three kinds of medicine practiced; medicine by the knife (surgery), medicine by herbs, and medicine by divine words, which according to the sacred text, is the best form of the three.


A Mazdean physician-in-training was required to treat and cure three non-Mazdean patients before receiving permission to treat Mazdeans.

In this way physicians were taught to treat any and all patients, whether friend or foe. Avestan scriptures did not restrict giving treatment to Mazdeans alone.

The Ordibehesht Yasht classifies physicians under five categories:

1 - Health Physician (Ashoo Pezeshk)

This physician was in charge of the well-being of the city, preventing the spread of contagious diseases by quarantining, keeping the four sacred elements of water, wind, earth and fire free from contamination, and making sure the sanitation of houses was maintained.

2 - Medical Examiner (Dâd Pezeshk)

Similar to modern-day pathologist/coroners, their duties included examining the dead, performing autopsies when required, the issuance of burial licenses and ascertaining the cause of death with an eye toward finding cures for future cases.

3- Surgeon (Kard Pezeshk)

Archeological excavations in the Burnt City in Sistan have yielded skulls that show signs of surgery. Surgical procedures, difficult and dangerous even in the present time, were much more so in the past when it was not possible to properly anaesthetize patients and medical instruments were rudimentary.

4 - Herbalist (Gyâh Pezeshk)

The origin of herbal medicine predates the development of agriculture and cultivation in Iran, yet some believe that the ancient Persians were the first to document the properties of herbs and to use plants to cure diseases.

5- Psychiatrists (Mantreh Pezeshk)


This physician used holy words and prayers to cure patients suffering from a sickness of body and soul which could not be cured with herbs.

Treatment consisted of verbal communication, the reading of poetry, listening to music and the recitation of prayers, including ones from the holy books of other nations, which were designed to console and heal the patient.

Avestan texts tell of consultation among the surgeons, herbalists and psychiatrists which indicates a form of medical association at the time.

Referring to a foreign physician when a Persian one was at hand was considered a sin, and a physician's fee for service was based on the patient's income while the fee for treating a priest was his pious blessing.

The first physician as documented by Avestan texts was Vivangahan, followed by Abtin, Atrat and Purshaspa.

Mani, Roozbeh, and Bozorgmehr are among the other notable Persian physicians named in the Avesta.

Ruins of Ctesiphone Palace

Credit for the establishment of hospital and training system must be given to the ancient Persians, as they founded the first teaching hospital in Gundishapur where medical students practiced on patients under the supervision of physicians.


The international university, founded in 271 AD by Shahpour I, was a center of learning and study in the fields of science and medicine.

The age-old school is still a center of knowledge in Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran.

Gundishapur, mentioned in Ferdowsi's (935 - 1020 AD) eternal epic Shahnameh (Book of Kings), was located near the city of Susa.

It was an important cultural and scientific center of the Sassanid era (226 - 652 AD) and scholars from various countries, one of whom was Diogenes, studied different fields including medicine at the university.

The library of the university known as the 'city of Hippocrates' consisted of eight floors and 259 halls containing an estimated 400,000 books.

Map of the Sassanid empire

The university was a gathering place for great scientists and physicians from all civilizations of the ancient world, a breeding ground for ideas and innovations.

Medical science, anatomy, dentistry, astronomy, mathematics, philosophy, military command, architecture, agriculture and irrigation were taught in Greek or Syriac and later Pahlavi in the school.

Gundishapur physicians were required to pass special examinations to obtain a license for practicing medicine.


This well-organized medical institute was operated by a director, medical staff, pharmacists and servants, and upon its portal was engraved "knowledge and virtue are superior to sword and strength."

The Sassanid ruler Khosrow Anushiravan (531 - 578 AD) who took an interest in the school and the advancement of medicine sent the Iranian physician Burzuyah to India to obtain medical and scientific books and translate them into the Pahlavi language.

Physicians examining a patient

In 550 AD, the world's first medical conference was held on Anushiravan's order in Ctesiphon. Hundreds of Mobeds and physicians from Persia and other countries attended this congress, a historical event which Ferdowsi versified in Shahnameh.

Gundishapur scholars and graduates were appointed to important governmental positions. The minister of health (Iran Dorostbod) was chosen from among the best physicians, and the minister of education (Iran Farhangbod), was an accomplished scholar of philosophy, logic, mathematics or psychology.

Iranian medicine, which combined medical traditions from Greece, Egypt, India and China for more than 4000 years, became the foundation of the medical practices of European countries during the 13th century.

Avicenna (L) and Alfarabius (R)

Among the torchbearers of ancient Persia's scientific heritage are Mohammad Zakaria Razi, Abu Nasr Farabi, Omar Khayyam and Avicenna, who used this knowledge to make further discoveries of benefit to all humankind.

Razi, known in the West as Razes (865-925 AD), considered the father of pediatrics and a pioneer of neurosurgery and ophthalmology, discovered and refined the use of ethanol in medicine.

Farabi also known in the West as Alfarabius (872-951 AD), is noted for his contributions to psychology. He wrote the first treatises on social psychology.

Avicenna (980-1037 AD), a prolific genius, introduced systematic experimentation into the study of physiology, experimental medicine, evidence based medicine, clinical trials, risk factor analysis, the idea of a syndrome and contributed to clinical pharmacology and neuropsychiatry.


Razes (L) and Khayyam (R)

Khayyam (1048-1131 AD) was a renowned astronomer who contributed to mathematics and calendar reform.

These outstanding scholars are among the many whose names will forever shine in the history of medicine and science and will always be revered by the Iranian people.

__._,_.___

Monday 28 January 2008

HEALTHY JUICE

HEALTHY JUICES



Carrot + Ginger + Apple for
Boost and cleanse our system.


Appple + Cucumber + Celery for
Prevent cancer, reduce cholesterol and improve stomach upset and headache


Tomato + Carrot + Apple for
Improve skin complexion and bad breath


Bitter Gourd + Apple + Milk for
Avoid bad breath and reduce internal body heat


Orange + Ginger + Cucumber for
Improve skin texture and moisture and reduce body heat


Pineapple + Apple + Watermelon for
To dispel excess salts, nourishes the bladder and kidney


Apple + Cucumber + Kiwi for
To improve skin complexion


Pear + Banana for
Regulates sugar content


Carrot + Apple + Pear + Mango for
Clear body heat, counteracts toxicity, decreased blood pressure and fight oxidization





Honeydew + Grape + Watermelon + Milk for

Rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin B2 that increase cell activity and strengthen body immunity


Papaya + Pineapple + Milk for
Rich in Vitamin C, E, Iron - Improve skin complexion and metabolism


Banana + Pineapple + Milk for
Rich in Vitamins with nutrition to prevent constipation



Quite interesting!

Keep Walking.....

The Organs of your body have their sensory touches at the bottom of your foot, if you massage these points you will find relief from aches and pains. Note: the heart is on the left foot.


Typically they are shown as points and arrows to show
which organ it connects to.

It is indeed correct since the nerves connected to
these organs terminate here.

This is covered in great detail in Acupressure studies
or textbooks.

God created our body so well that he thought of even this.
He made us walk so that we will always be pressing these
pressure points and thus keeping the organs active at all times.



So, keep walking...























HEALTHY JUICES



Carrot + Ginger + Apple for
Boost and cleanse our system.


Appple + Cucumber + Celery for
Prevent cancer, reduce cholesterol and improve stomach upset and headache


Tomato + Carrot + Apple for
Improve skin complexion and bad breath


Bitter Gourd + Apple + Milk for
Avoid bad breath and reduce internal body heat


Orange + Ginger + Cucumber for
Improve skin texture and moisture and reduce body heat


Pineapple + Apple + Watermelon for
To dispel excess salts, nourishes the bladder and kidney


Apple + Cucumber + Kiwi for
To improve skin complexion


Pear + Banana for
Regulates sugar content


Carrot + Apple + Pear + Mango for
Clear body heat, counteracts toxicity, decreased blood pressure and fight oxidization


Honeydew + Grape + Watermelon + Milk for
Rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin B2 that increase cell activity and strengthen body immunity


Papaya + Pineapple + Milk for
Rich in Vitamin C, E, Iron - Improve skin complexion and metabolism


Banana + Pineapple + Milk for
Rich in Vitamins with nutrition to prevent constipation



Quite interesting!

Keep Walking.....

The Organs of your body have their sensory touches at the bottom of your foot, if you massage these points you will find relief from aches and pains. Note: the heart is on the left foot.


Typically they are shown as points and arrows to show
which organ it connects to.

It is indeed correct since the nerves connected to
these organs terminate here.

This is covered in great detail in Acupressure studies
or textbooks.

God created our body so well that he thought of even this.
He made us walk so that we will always be pressing these
pressure points and thus keeping the organs active at all times.


So, keep walking...

Wednesday 23 January 2008

.
A short list of examples of Whole Food Signatures...

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and YES science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.


A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.



Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape look s like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.



A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.



Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.



Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.



Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).





Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the number of Sperm, a way to overcome male sterility.



Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.



Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries



Grapefruits, Oranges, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.



Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

Thursday 3 January 2008

Fasting Can Be a Fast Fix for Body and Soul
Fasting to enhance your health is an ancient practice, supposedly recommended by Socrates, Plato and Hippocrates. Going without food for a prescribed period also has a rich spiritual tradition, while on a far less profound level assorted fasts or "detox programs" are popular in certain fashionable circles. It's a controversial issue, so when I encountered a research study examining the effects of calorie restriction, I set off on my own quest for enlightenment on the health benefits of fasting. Here's what I learned...

ENERGY THROUGH DETOXIFICATION
"Fasting is the single greatest healing therapy I know -- with detoxification, it is the missing link in Western nutrition," I was told by Elson Haas, MD, a specialist in family medicine, nutrition and detoxification and author of The New Detox Diet (Celestial Arts). Dr. Haas is founder and director of the Preventive Medical Center of Marin, an integrated health care facility in San Rafael, California. Dr. Haas says these practices help people feel more vital, creative and open to emotional and spiritual energies.
We discussed the different types of diets, including the fast, and talked about how they work. Most stringent, said Dr. Haas, is the "water fast," which is exactly what it sounds like: no food, no juice, nothing but water -- and he doesn't recommend it. More than a day may in fact prove dangerous, though some spiritual disciplines continue to use it. Safer and more common is to diet by limiting yourself to the juices of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as herbal teas, said Dr. Haas, noting this regimen has been popularized as calorie restriction and liquid-only diets. "Fresh juices are easily digested so the nutrients they supply are quickly absorbed," he explained. "This kind of fast stimulates the body to clear wastes. Juice fasting is safer than water fasting, since it supports the body nutritionally while cleansing."
MICE ON DETOX DIETS
Where previous animal studies have shown that calorie restriction boosts longevity, a recent series of research studies adds a bit of additional weight to the health claims by fasting advocates. Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley tested different kinds of fasts on mice, alternating between fast days and the non-fast ("feast") days, when they could eat however much they wanted. Lead researcher Krista Varady, PhD, told me that certain fasting male mice showed reduced cell proliferation rates, including prostate cell proliferation, and reduced insulin-like growth factor IGF-1, which has been linked to various forms of cancer, including breast and prostate cancers.
There were four groups of mice, including a control group. One group was given nothing but water on alternate days... a second group got 50% of their normal caloric intake... and a third group ate 25% of their usual calories. The control group ate normally. Benefits correlated to fasting, with the most notably reduced cell proliferation rate seen in the most restricted -- the water-fasters. But since all three test groups showed some reduction over four weeks, Dr. Varady concluded that "the research showed that you can consume about 25% of your food on alternate days -- about one meal a day -- and still get some benefit."
FASTING MENUS
Dr. Varady's fasting mice did not eat any special food on their calorie-reduced days but humans on a "detox" program usually do -- and should, Dr. Haas emphasizes. Like most other health professionals, Dr. Haas starts a detox plan by having his patients eliminate sugar, nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and chemicals (he calls it the "SNACC" program). After a week of this, he suggests following a simple diet consisting of one piece of fruit, one daily bowl (about a half-cup dry) of cooked whole grains (millet, brown rice, amaranth, quinoa or oatmeal), plus two to four heaping bowls of steamed vegetables eaten throughout the day -- he calls this the "Detox Diet." "People who are fatigued or just feel they need protein can add three or four ounces of fish, poultry or beans without any reduction of benefits," he noted. This phase typically lasts a week or even two, and then people may slowly begin to add back more of their normal daily foods.
Other kinds of detox programs are variations of a juice fast, often involving a mix of vegetable juices and fruit juice smoothies, with optionally added protein powder. "Adding protein powder to your smoothies is especially important for those who don't want to lose weight, for athletes who don't want to lose muscle mass and for anyone with hypoglycemia or low blood sugar issues," Dr. Haas said. It's also okay to use milk made from rice, almonds or oats as a base for your smoothie, instead of fruit juice. Dr. Haas' book features a basic formula for smoothies -- one cup of liquid plus one cup of fresh or frozen fruit, plus whatever supplements you want or need to add, including ground flaxseed, wheat germ or fish oil. Also, he says he often adds green powders with grasses and algae.
THIS JUST IN
As we were going to press, a paper was presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando that seems to place another feather firmly in the fasting cap. Researchers examined the heart X-rays (called angiograms) of more than 4,000 male and female patients who participated in an ongoing study from 1994 through 2002, called the Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study. They found that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon faith) were significantly less likely to have coronary artery disease. Researchers have long known that Mormons are less likely to die of heart disease than the general population, but that's generally been attributed to the fact that they don't smoke. In this study, however, researchers controlled for the smoking factor and still found less coronary heart disease among Mormons. They devised a questionnaire to identify other healthy habits among the subjects and found that fasting was the strongest predictor of lower risk for heart disease. Mormons traditionally fast at least one day a month as part of their religion.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Fasting for the purpose of detoxifying is not without its risks -- and should never be undertaken without medical supervision. This recommendation becomes all the more important as health challenges become more complex or profound. For instance, naturopathic physician Sonja Pettersen, NMD, told me that people who have been exposed to extremely toxic chemicals such as Agent Orange, for example, in Vietnam War veterans, may encounter difficulties with stringent detoxification since toxins remain stored in fat until they are pulled out by such a program. "These should only be released under medical supervision," she warned. She also cautions that fasting is not appropriate for people with insulin-dependent diabetes, since it is so critical to keep blood sugar even.
While maintaining that commercial detox products are profit driven and are of limited general value, Daily Health News contributing medical editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, agrees that "there are benefits of incorporating some principles of a restricted diet into your daily life." His opinion is that strict and structured regimens are usually unnecessary, since maintaining a healthy system is really as simple as merely cutting back on a regular basis. "Reducing your caloric intake every other day -- or even for a week or so -- may allow your body to unburden itself a bit," he said. He says that water-only and juice-only regimens should not be instituted unless medically necessary and supervised.
Because fasting, whether in the form of calorie restriction or for detoxifying, represents such a dramatic change from the way most of us eat, it can be a challenge. Best advice: If you want to give it a go, try it for a day or so and work up to a longer period. "Detoxification can be intense and it may temporarily increase symptoms of sickness for some people," noted Dr. Haas. "But it can also be immediately helpful and uplifting."
Source(s):
Krista Varady, PhD, a research associate in the department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California at Berkeley.
Sonja Pettersen, NMD, a naturopathic physician and frequent Bottom Line contributor. She is based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Elson M. Haas, MD, a specialist in family medicine, nutrition and detoxification and author of The New Detox Diet (Celestial Arts). Dr. Haas is founder and director of the Preventive Medical Center of Marin, an integrated health care facility in San Rafael, California. www.elsonhaas.com.

AMERICA'S MOST BELOVED HEALTH RESEARCHERS CURED A 2-DAY MIGRAINE IN MINUTES
While the Wilen Sisters were appearing on a TV program, the show host told them he'd been suffering from a huge headache for two entire days.
Right on the air, he implored them to help him out. Well, he asked for it! They rubbed some lemon rind on his temples, then tied a cloth on his head, just like they tell readers in Bottom Line's HEALING REMEDIES. He did look a little unusual! But, at the end of the interview, he turned to the camera and said to everyone watching,
"I swear to you, I have no headache now!"
Read on...
Sleep Problems May Be Result of Head Trauma
Whether they end up with a minor whiplash injury or a concussion, people who suffer head injuries don't usually just get over it. It takes some time. One problem many face is disrupted sleep, with as many as 45% to 60% of people who've had head injuries reporting sleep problems that last months, sometimes years. This can lead to lingering problems including cognitive impairment and emotional distress. Typically these sleep complaints are diagnosed as insomnia -- but a recent study reveals that sleep problems following head injury may actually represent a circadian rhythm sleep disorder (CRSD). One of the most common is delayed sleep phase syndrome, characterized by an inability to fall asleep and wake up at appropriate times. As a result, people are often drowsy. The difference between insomnia and CRSD is important, since misdiagnosis of CRSD patients as insomniacs might lead to prescription of inappropriate medications.
Liat Ayalon, PhD, a sleep researcher at the University of California, San Diego, was the lead author of the study, which looked at two particular types of CRSD. People with CRSD in the study either had delayed sleep phase syndrome (meaning they fall asleep or wake up more than two hours later than considered normal) or they had irregular sleep-wake patterns in which they may want to go to sleep in the early evening, the wee hours of the morning or even midday.
"A good night's sleep is essential to the recovery from any kind of trauma," says Dr. Ayalon. Patients with untreated CRSD frequently experience continued poor quality of life, depression and cognitive impairment, as well as an exacerbation of pain and anxiety, she adds. Drugs aren't the solution. CRSD responds to a careful protocol of early-morning bright light exposure and timed intake of melatonin.
Dr. Ayalon suggests that anyone who has suffered a mild head injury and now has problems with sleep might want to consult a sleep specialist. You can prepare for that by keeping a sleep log over seven days or so, noting bed and waking times, which will help pin down the diagnosis. And she suggests that a good way to start correcting CRSD at home is by simply getting out into the morning sunlight for a little walk.
Source(s): Liat Ayalon, PhD, a sleep researcher at the University of California, San Diego.


Be well,
Carole Jackson Bottom Line's Daily Health News
IF ANYONE YOU LOVE IS SUFFERING...
"Please," said Hugh Downs at the start of his recent TV broadcast, "if anyone you love is suffering from heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, memory problems -- don't miss this!" He then proceeded to document an amazing outpouring of new cures, from a project unprecedented in the history of science...
Millions watched in awe as legendary newsman Hugh Downs introduced over 498 world-acclaimed traditional and alternative doctors -- the greatest medical team ever assembled!
Powered By Blogger