The Relationship Between Temperament and Primary Dysmenorrhea From Persian Medicine Point of View

Abstract

Objectives: Persian medicine (PM) encompasses preventive medicine, as well as disease control and treatment fields. PM believes in the existence of cold and hot natures in humans (Mizaj). A person›s temperament is mostly related to the recognition of the most appropriate diet and way of life in order to promote health. Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine the correlation between uterine temperament and primary dysmenorrhea. Materials and Methods: This research which is a cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 105 students within the age range of 18 to 35 years old who lived in dormitories of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences for 3 months during 2017. These students were selected by random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software, version 24 by the chi-square, biserial rb , and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: The frequency of cold-dry temperament in patients with dysmenorrhea was higher than that of other temperaments (26.2 %). In addition, no significant correlation was found between the intensity of pain and body temperament (P = 0.421) or between the intensity of pain and uterine temperament (P = 0.508). However, there was a meaningful relationship between the duration of pain and body temperament (P = 0.049) and between the duration of pain and uterine temperament (P = 0.027). Conclusions: Generally, the duration of menstrual pain was longer in patients with cold temperament compared to those with hot temperament. Accordingly, adherence to traditional Iranian medicine recommendations in dealing with cold temperament can be effective in reducing the duration of pain in these patients.

Keywords

• dysmenorrhea
• temperament
• complementary therapies
• nature