Radiation- induced diarrhea(RID) is a common side effect of radiation regimens. It negatively affects the quality of life and integrity of cancer treatment. Therefore, must be treated vigorously. However, the optimal ways of prevention and effective management for all patients is still unclear.[1]The aim of this study is conforming this disease with diarrhea in Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) and suggesting a compound derived from Plantago Ovata for treatment of the disease. TPM manuscripts like Canon were investigated for diarrhea and its treatments.
Diarrhea in TPM is increasing of bowel movements with loose or watery stools or disposal as blood, mucus, bile, pus. origin of diarrhea is stomach, liver, intestines. One of the causes of diarrhea with intestinal origin is presence of inflammation(warm swelling or rash) in internal surface of intestines. This type of diarrhea is very similar to RID. Plantago Ovata is one of medicinal plants for treatment of this disease with long history of use that is mentioned in TPM references.[2]
Having cold and moist nature, Plantago Ovata (Psyllium, Esfarzeh) has been traditionally considered as an anti inflammatory drug and therefore, it is prescribed in gastric and intestinal ulcers, abdominal cramps and proctitis. It would be useful to treat diarrhea if seeds of this plant are roasted and mixed with rose oil and soaked in water until its mucilage is extracted and then drunk.[2,3] This traditional formulations with this method of preparation is our suggestion for treatment of RID.
It is imperative that clinical trial researches be performed to prove therapeutic effect of Plantago Ovata in RID.
Keywords: Plantago Ovata, Radiation- induced diarrhea, Traditional Persian Medicine, treatment
References:
[1] Stacey R ,Green JT. Ther Adv Chronic Dis (2014); 5(1): 15–29.
[2] Avicenna. Canon of mdicine. New Delhi, India:Jamia Hamdard; 1998.
[3] Aghili MH. Makhzan Al-Advieh. Tehran, Iran:Secretariat of the Council of the Cultural Revolution; 1992. [In Persian].