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Volume 15, Issue 3 (12-2025)                   cmja 2025, 15(3): 0-0 | Back to browse issues page

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yazdani M, latifi A, mahmoodh A. Historical Perspectives on Menstruation in Ancient Civilizations. cmja 2025; 15 (3)
URL: http://cmja.arakmu.ac.ir/article-1-1061-en.html
Historical Perspectives on Menstruation in Ancient Civilizations
Marziye Yazdani , Amirhossein Latifi *1 , Abdollah Mahmoodh
1- , seiedalatifi@yahoo.com
Abstract:   (45 Views)
Letter to the Editor: Menstruation, as one of the most important physiological cycles in women, was regarded in ancient civilizations not only as a biological process but also from spiritual, social, and medical perspectives. In ancient Mesopotamia, menstrual blood symbolized life and fertility and was sometimes associated with supernatural forces, with treatments for related disorders including herbal remedies and religious rituals. In ancient India, Ayurvedic texts considered menstruation (Artava) sacred and an indicator of women’s health, describing its characteristics based on the balance of the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), with treatments including dietary regulation, medicinal plants, and oil-based or thermal therapies. Traditional Chinese Medicine viewed menstruation as a reflection of energy balance and Qi flow, with its disturbances attributed to Yin-Yang imbalance; treatments included herbal medicine, acupuncture, and lifestyle modifications. In ancient Iran, Pahlavi and Zoroastrian texts, such as the Bundahišn, divided the menstrual cycle into three stages—Pēš-ābest, Ābest, and Daštān—addressing fertility periods, the influence of gamete sequence on fetal sex, and menstrual restrictions. These studies indicate that ancient civilizations’ perspectives on menstruation combined physiological understanding, traditional therapeutic practices, and cultural-spiritual dimensions, with ancient Iranian knowledge of reproductive physiology demonstrating notable accuracy and systematic insight.
     
Type of Study: Review Paper | Subject: Traditional medicine
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