Search JIM Advanced Search

Journal of Integrative Medicine ›› 2018, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (2): 77-83.doi: 10.1016/j.joim.2018.02.004

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The medieval Persian manuscript of Afyunieh: The first individual treatise on the opium and addiction in history

Abdolali Moosavyzadeh a, Farzaneh Ghaffari b , Seyed Hamdollah Mosavat c, Arman  Zargaran d, Azarakhsh Mokri e, Soghrat Faghihzadeh f, Mohsen Naseri g#br#   

  1. a Department of Iranian Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran 33191-18651, Iran
    b School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 15167-45811, Iran
    c Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71356-44144, Iran
    d Department of History of Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 16687-53961, Iran
    e Psychiatry Department and National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14176-53761, Iran
    f Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan 45371-38791, Iran
    g Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran 14179-53836, Iran

  • Received:2017-11-18 Accepted:2018-01-10 Online:2018-03-10 Published:2018-02-05
  • Contact: Mohsen Naseri; E-mail: naseri@shahed.ac.ir

According to historical evidence, the abuse of opium has been reported all over the globe—specifically throughout Eastern nations—since the sixteenth century. Before that, opium had mostly been applied as medication. Reference has been made in traditional Persian medical literature to the method of cultivation, properties, side effects and toxicity. In sixteenth century Iran, during the reign of the Safavids, opium abuse began. It was from then that prominent Persian scholars started to think of solutions to this societal problem. One of the most famous scholars was Imad al-Din Mahmud ibn Mas’ud Shirazi, who composed a book concerning addiction—Afyunieh, a comprehensive book on the topic of opium and all issues of opium. Furthermore, he recommended methods for reducing opium dose as well as substitution with other medications that had a narrower range of side effects, in order to eradicate dependency upon opium and opium-derived materials. This is most likely the first book that comprehensively addressed opium and discussed drug rehabilitation methodology, in traditional Persian medical literature. In this historical review, the authors have introduced the book Afyunieh, which presents methods for treating addiction to and giving up opium; the text comprises a synthesis of the author’s opinions, professional experience and references to the work of other famous physicians.

Key words: Persian medicine, Opium addiction, Imad al-Din Mahmud

[1] Maryam Azimi, Hanieh Niayesh, Mahboobeh Raeiszadeh, Sedigheh Khodabandeh-shahraki. Efficacy of the herbal formula of Foeniculum vulgare and Rosa damascena on elderly patients with functional constipation: A double-blind randomized controlled tria. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2022, 20(3): 230-236.
[2] Jafar Abolghasemi, Mohammad Ali Farboodniay Jahromi, Mohammad Hossein Sharifi, Zohreh Mazloom, Leila Hosseini, Nasrindokht Zamani, Majid Nimrouzi. Effects of Zataria oxymel on obesity, insulin resistance and lipid profile: A randomized, controlled, triple-blind trial. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2020, 18(5): 401-408.
[3] Toktam Sadat Firoozeei, Majid Barekatain, Mehrdad Karimi, Arman Zargaran, Shahin Akhondzadeh, Hossein Rezaeizadeh. Lavender and dodder combined herbal syrup versus citalopram in major depressive disorder with anxious distress: A double-blind randomized trial. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2020, 18(5): 409-415.
[4] Fatemeh Sadat Hasheminas, Seyed Mehdi Hashemi, Azizallah Dehghan, Fariba Sharififar, Mohammad Setayesh, Pegah Sasanpour, Mojtaba Tasbandi, Mahboobeh Raeiszadeh. Effects of a Plantago ovata-based herbal compound in prevention and treatment of oral mucositis in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy: A double-blind, randomized, controlled crossover trial. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2020, 18(3): 214-221.
[5] Sajjad Sadeghi, Farzaneh Ghaffari, Ghazaleh Heydarirad, Mehdi Alizadeh. Galen’s place in Avicenna’s The Canon of Medicine : Respect, confirmation and criticism. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2020, 18(1): 21-25.
[6] Mohadeseh Ostovar, Abolfazl Akbari, Mohammad Hossein Anbardar, Aida Iraji, Mohsen Salmanpour, Salar Hafez Ghoran, Mojtaba Heydari, Mesbah Shams. Effects of Citrullus colocynthis L. in a rat model of diabetic neuropathy. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2020, 18(1): 59-67.
[7] Zienab Mahmoudpour, Javad Shokri, Mohammad Kamalinejad, Neda Meftah, Soraya Khafri, Seyyed Ali Mozaffarpur, Hoda Shirafkan. The efficacy of a Persian herbal formulation on functional bloating: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2019, 17(5): 344-350.
[8] Mohammad Ansaripour, Mohsen Naseri, Mohammad Mahdi Esfahani, Iraj Nabipour, Fatemeh Rakhshani, Arman Zargaran, Roya Kelishadi. Periconceptional care and offspring health at birth and long term, from the perspective of Avicenna. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2019, 17(2): 80-86.
[9] Ali Khiveh, Mohammad Hashem Hashempur, Mehrdad Shakiba, Mohammad Hassan Lotfi, Afsaneh Shakeri, SeidKazem Kazemeini, Zohre Mousavi, Marzie Jabbari, Mohammad Kamalinejad, Majid Emtiazy. Effects of rhubarb (Rheum ribes L.) syrup on dysenteric diarrhea in children: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2017, 15(5): 365-372.
[10] Majid Nimrouzi, Mehdi Pasalar. Role of dietary and lifestyle modifications in reflex epilepsy based on traditional Persian medicine. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2017, 15(1): 8-10.
[11] Fatemeh Atarzadeh, Majid Nimrouzi, Gholamreza Amin. Blistering disease in viewpoint of Avicenna. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2016, 14(6): 412-414.
[12] Majid Nimrouzi, Vahid Tafazoli, Babak Daneshfard, Manijhe Zare. Optimal fluid intake in daily diet: Avicenna’s view. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2016, 14(4): 241-244.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed   
[1] Wei-xiong Liang. Problems-solving strategies in clinical treatment guideline for traditional Chinese medicine and integrative medicine. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 1-4
[2] Zhao-guo Li. Discussion on English translation of commonly used sentences in traditional Chinese medicine: part one. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 107-110
[3] Jun Hu, Jian-ping Liu. Non-invasive physical treatments for chronic/recurrent headache. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 31
[4] Xue-mei Liu, Qi-fu Huang, Yun-ling Zhang, Jin-li Lou, Hong-sheng Liu, Hong Zheng. Effects of Tribulus terrestris L. saponion on apoptosis of cortical neurons induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation in rats. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 45-50
[5] . Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals: Writing and editing for biomedical publication (Chinese version, part two). Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1001-1005
[6] Daniel Weber, Janelle M Wheat, Geoffrey M Currie. Inflammation and cancer: Tumor initiation, progression and metastasis,and Chinese botanical medicines. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1006-1013
[7] Hong Liu , Guo-liang Zhang, Li Shen , Zhen Zeng, Bao-luo Zhou, Cheng-hai Liu, Guang Nie . Application and evaluation of a pseudotyped virus assay for screening herbs for anti-H5Nl avian influenza virus. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1036-1040
[8] Zhao-guo Li . A discussion of English translation of 1995 and 1997 Chinese National Standards of Traditional Chinese Medical Terminologies for Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1090-1096
[9] Rui Jin, Bing Zhang. A complexity analysis of Chinese herbal property theory: the multiple formations of herbal property (Part 1). Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2012, 10(11): 1198-1205
[10] Hui-min Liu, Xian-bo Wang, Yu-juan Chang, Li-li Gu. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of integrative medicine therapy for treatment of chronic severe hepatitis. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2012, 10(11): 1211-1228