Diagnostic Protocol of Warm and Cold Uterine Temperaments Based on Persian Medicine: A Qualitative Study
Authors:   Department of Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Saeidi Atefeh , Mokaberinejad Roshanak ,   Department of Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Bioos Soodabeh ,   Department of Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Darvish –Mofrad-Kashani Zahra ,   Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran., Tabarrai Maliheh ,   Department of Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Mojahedi Mortaza ,   Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research Center, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Mahroozade Somaye ,   Department of Traditional Medicine and Medical History, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran., Baery Nasrin ,   Institute of Medical History Studies, Islamic and Complementary Medicine, Faculty of Iranian Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran., Yousefi Seyde Sedighe ,   Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran., Qaraaty Marzieh ,   Clinical Research Development Unit, Shahid Sayad Shirazi Educational and Medical Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran., Saberi Mohsen ,   Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran., Ebadi Abbas ,   Department of Social Medicine, Research Center for Medicine, Quran and Hadith, School of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Mashhadi Maryam ,   Department of Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Tansaz Mojgan ,   Department of Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Published: March 2022

Objective: Uterus is an important body organ in women responsible for purifying blood and carrying fetus. In Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM), identifying the uterine temperament (mizaj) is necessary for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this organ’s diseases. Many gynecological disorders in TIM including infertility, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, hypermenorrhea, vaginitis, cervicitis, urinary incontinence and pelvic pain are related to uterine distemperament (Su-e mizaj). Therefore, their appropriate treatment depends on the correct diagnosis and treatment of uterine distemperament. Criteria for uterine distemperament in TIM resources are qualitative with no method for precise measurement of its symptoms. This study aims to develop a standard diagnostic protocol of uterine temperament and distemperament for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Methods: This is a qualitative study using hybrid concept analysis including three phases: theoretical, fieldwork, and final analytical. In the theoretical phase, TIM resources were reviewed. In the fieldwork phase, experts in TIM and patients were interviewed to extract concepts related to uterine temperaments and distemperaments. Results: In the final analytical phase, major and minor criteria for determination of uterine temperament were presented. Then, we had a several meetings with a panel of experts in TIM in order to design the protocol which led to the development of a standard diagnostic protocol of warm and cold uterine temperament/distemperament. Conclusion: The proposed protocol is an important step towards harmonizing the methods of diagnosis and treatment in TIM, and can be used for treatment or research purposes.