Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (Jul 2023)
An Analysis of the Concept of Innate Moisture in Persian Medicine
Abstract
Background and purpose: In Persian medicine, it is believed that the creation of life and its continuation depends on Innate Moisture, and natural human death occurs when this moisture ends. Despite the use of this term in medical texts, there is no acceptable understanding of this concept. The purpose of this research was to provide a systematic summary of data about Innate Moisture from the perspective of traditional physicians in different centuries, to explain that and enable more use of this concept in clinical setting. Materials and methods: The keywords in this study were as follows: Innate Moisture, Original Moisture, Moisture, al-Rotuba al-Ghrizia, al-Rotuba al-Asliyyah, Innate Humidity, and Natural Moisture in both Persian and English. We used Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis which consists of a series of overlapping steps whose main goal is to clarify the concept. Results: In medical books, Moisture is considered from two perspectives: Moisture as an accident (quality) and Moisture as a substance (moist substance). Innate Moisture is present as a moist substance in the human body. The nature of Innate Moisture is less discussed in sources, but physicians are in agreement about its role as a main basis for the continuation of human life. Conclusion: Innate Moisture can be divided into two types; original (originated from zygote) and non-original (originated from nutrition). Non-original Innate Moistures are considered as alternative for original Innate Moisture so that the original Innate Moisture is reduced less and remains as long as the natural life of the person continues.
