Mizaj assessment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients based on Persian Medicine.

OBJECTIVES: Increased incidence of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) calls for supporting complementary therapies in this field. Persian Medicine (PM) specialists present various assumptions to help patients through Mizaj (temperament) modification, but its confirmation requires scientific evidence. This study aimed at identifying the Mizaj of MS patients, and comparing it with their Mizaj before the onset of the disease, and with that of healthy people. METHODS: Forty-two MS and fifty-four healthy subjects participated in the study as case and control groups. General and brain Mizaj in patients were identified by five PM specialists before and after the onset of the disease. Mojahedi Mizaj Questionnaire (MMQ) was completed by the two groups. The validity of MMQ was assessed using Mizaj diagnosis by PM specialists as the gold standard. T-test, McNemar-Bowker, Wilcoxon, and Chi-square (χ 2) tests were used to compare the Mizaj of patients before and after the onset of the disease, and between the two groups (p<0.05). RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of MMQ for Hotness (75, 81%) and Coldness (75, 65%) were acceptable. There were no significant differences between patients and healthy subjects in terms of general Mizaj. But general and brain Mizaj of patients after developing MS inclined to coldness and dryness, although merely inclination of general Mizaj to coldness was significant (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, the Mizaj of MS patients has an inclination toward coldness and dryness; Also, MMQ can be used as a validated scale for identifying the Mizaj of MS patients in future studies.

The Role of Syndrome Differentiation in the Clinical Efficacy of Punica Granatum on Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND: The present study investigated the difference between therapeutic responses of hot and cold temperament patients (based on traditional Persian medicine) with ulcerative colitis to pomegranate peel extract. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with moderate ulcerative colitis based on Lichtiger Colitis Activity Index (LCAI) criteria were randomized to receive an aqueous extract of the Punica granatum peel (6 gram per day) or placebo for four weeks. They were assessed before and after the intervention in terms of symptoms by LCAI scoring system. The results were compared in two therapeutic groups based on the patient s' temperament (cold and hot) which were diagnosed based on a previously validated questionnaire. RESULTS: Therapeutic response was significantly higher in patients with hot temperament compared to patients with cold temperament in the P. granatum group (1.91±0.492 vs. -0.500±0.500, P=0.029). CONCLUSION: This study showed the importance of considering syndrome differentiation and temperament in interpreting the effect of P. granatum peel extract on ulcerative colitis.

Efficacy of the Punica granatum peels aqueous extract for symptom management in ulcerative colitis patients. A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of the Punica granatum peel extract on symptoms of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHOD: Patients with UC were randomized to receive an aqueous extract of the P. granatum peel (6 g of dry peel/day) or placebo for four weeks complementary to standard medications. Symptoms were assessed using the Lichtiger Colitis Activity Index (LCAI) at baseline, week 4, and week 10 (follow-up). Clinical response was defined by ≥ 3 point decrease in LCAI. RESULTS: The LCAI score was similarly reduced in both the P. granatum (-1.68 ± 3.85, P = 0.019) and placebo groups (-1.39 ± 2.41, P = 0.002). Clinical response was higher with P. granatum compared with placebo at week 4 (41.4% vs. 18.2%, P = 0.055), but not at week 10 (48.3% vs. 36.4%, P = 0.441). CONCLUSIONS: The P. granatum peel extract seems effective in complementary management of UC. Further studies in a larger sample of patients are warranted. IRCT2014040617156N1.