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- Title
A comparative study on the principles of cancer prevention between traditional Iranian medicine and classic medicine.
- Authors
Zeinalian, Mehrdad; Eshaghi, Mahdi; Asgari, Sedigheh; Naji, Homayoun; Masoud Marandi, Seyed Mohammad
- Abstract
Objectives: Cancer with a rising prevalence is one of the three leading causes of mortality in most human communities. A significant part of health budgets in all countries is allocated to cancer treatment, promoting the global movement towards cancer prevention. Materials and Methods: In this review article, the most recent reliable articles on cancer prevention and risk factors were searched in classic and traditional medicine literature. Results: So far, many cancer-related risk factors have been identified and various preventive recommendations have been proposed by international organizations such as World Health Organization. Some of the most important risk factors for cancer include smoking and alcohol consumption, hyper-caloric and low-fiber diets, obesity, physical inactivity, environmental and industrial pollution, some viral infections and hereditary factors. The exact review of traditional Iranian-Islamic medicine resources showed that preventive rules, known as the six essential parameters [Sitteh-e-Zarurieah], have included all identified cancer-related risk factors. These preventive rules are air [Hava], body movement and repose, sleep and wakefulness, food and drink, evacuation and retention and mental movement and repose [A'raz-e-Nafsani]. The associated risk factors in classic medicine include smoking and air pollution, sedentary lifestyle, sleep disturbances, improper nutrition, alcohol consumption, chronic constipation and psychoneurotic stressors, respectively. These rules are comprehensive enough to include many other harmful health-related factors, the role of which has been confirmed in the occurrence of different diseases except cancer. Conclusion: As the results indicated, cancer prevention in Iran will be more successful if six essential rules of traditional Iranian-Islamic medicine are promoted among populations and health policymakers.
- Subjects
CANCER prevention; TRADITIONAL medicine; COMPARATIVE studies
- Publication
Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, 2015, Vol 5, p153
- ISSN
2228-7930
- Publication type
Article