AVICENNA'S PERCEPTION OF BLOOD PROPERTIES COMPARED WITH CURRENT BIOMEDICAL KNOWLEDGE

Background and Objective: Blood is one of the most vital fluids in the human body, and is used to diagnose health and disease. Persian scholars especially Avicenna have used four characteristics of color, smell, taste and qiwam (viscosity) to define and distinguish between normal and abnormal Blood. Examining these specifications and their equivalents in modern literature, can be an introduction to verifying statements of ancient scholars and reviewing their writings, to better elucidate the pathophysiology of diseases and treatment. Method: The present study is a concept analysis using integrated review of texts based on the Broome 2000 model. Results: According to Persian scholars, aberration of any of the characteristics of normal Blood from the normal range indicates that components have been added to or eliminated from Blood. According to Persian scholars, Blood consists of four components, namely Dam (sanguine/Blood), Balgham (phlegm), Safra (yellow bile) and Sawda (black bile) in specific proportions. Any change in terms of quantity or quality of any of the four components leads to abnormality and alterations in normal Blood characteristics. Conclusion: Among the four mentioned characteristics, color and qiwam (viscosity) are more conformable to current knowledge. Persian scholars provided precise and thorough explanations about normal and abnormal Blood in discussing physiopathology of diseases, which indicates their mastery of the topic of Blood and Blood diseases. Hence, the holistic and comprehensive approach of Persian Medicine (PM) can be used in dealing with diseases that directly or indirectly affect the physical and biochemical properties of Blood.