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Retention and Evacuation

In the Persian medicine viewpoint, there are two groups of substances in the body, substances that must be maintained in the body to maintain health, substances that must be eliminated from the body. Retention” means to save and keep needed materials in the body in its appropriate level and “evacuation” means to purge and dispose of anything that qualitatively or quantitatively harms the body. Urination and defecation, exhalation, sweating, and menstrual bleeding are among the most important ways of the evacuation of body waste products. Any long-term disturbance in one of the processes leads to the accumulation of waste products in the body that in turn cause various diseases and especially chronic disease.

Excessive evacuation causes weakness, dryness and thinness of the body, sleep disorders and other diseases, on the other hand, excessive retention causes loss of appetite, obstruction, obesity and heaviness of the body, headaches, dizziness and other diseases.

Dr. Razie Nabi Meybodi

Editor and translator: Dr. Fatemeh Alizadeh Vaghasloo

Movement and stillness (exercise and rest)

From the viewpoint of Persian medicine’s great scholars (Hokama), including Avicenna (Ibn Sina), the first step in maintaining health is management of exercise. The  best  way  to  excrete  waste  products,  caused  by  food maturation  and  digestion ( that  are  not  excreted  through urine  or  stool  and  are  gradually  accumulated  in  the  body) is  by  doing  exercise.  The  moderate  and  temperament-related physical activity enhances natural heat (Hararat-e-Gharizi), matures and dilutes waste substances and excretes them by sweating. Exercise should be in moderation. During exercise, if the breathing and sweating go excessive, the physical activity must be stopped.

According to Persian medicine’s viewpoint, conditions are mentioned for exercise, which if they are not observed, it will endanger health.

– The best time to exercise in the spring is around noon, in the summer is at the morning, and in the winter is in the evening; the intensity of exercise should be lighter in spring and summer and heavier in autumn and winter.

– Exercise time should be adjusted with eating time. Do not exercise when you are hungry and immediately after eating; it is also best to empty the bowels and bladder of urine and feces.

– People with hot and dry temperaments should not exercise excessively; On the contrary, people with cold and wet temperaments should exercise more than others.

– Drinking cold water during or immediately after exercise is not recommended.

– One of the best ways to relieve fatigue and muscle cramps after exercise or strenuous physical work is massaging with a proper oil after a warm bath.  For hot area, violet oil and for cold area, chamomile and dill oil are recommended.

If the fatigue is due to walking, putting the feet in warm water is also useful for relieving fatigue.

Dr. Razie Nabi Meybodi

Editor and translator: Dr. Fatemeh Alizadeh Vaqasloo

Psychological and mental reactions

In Persian medicine’s view point, psychological and mental reactions (Araz-e-Nafsani), play an important role in maintaining human health. they can have a very quick and profound effect on the health of individuals, even stronger and longer than the effect of food and drink and other principles of health (climate, sleep, exercise,…).  Psychological reactions include anger, sadness, joy and happiness, fear and horror, and embarrassment. fear and depression lead to reduction of the body strength and slowness of the refreshing process after natural disaster; while moderate happiness boosts the strengths and increase the life expectancy.By knowing the temperament and quality of each person’s mental states, the effect of these states on the body can be predicted and evaluated and provide the basis for improving and controlling the person’s emotions and mental states. For example, in a person whose temperament is cold and dry, Grief has adverse effects and can even lead to illness in the person and if he has a melancholic dystemperment, cold emotions such as sadness and fear could aggravate its symptoms. For this person, behaviors that are accompanied by a little excitement are appropriate and it is necessary for this person to be exposed to these situations sometimes. Instead a person with a hot and dry temper or choleric dystemperment, should try to be less in a situation that causes excitement or anger.

Dr. Razieh Nabi Meybodi

Editor and translator: Dr. Fatemeh Alizadeh Vaqasloo