Scientific Evaluation of the Prescribed Herbs by Avicenna for the Management of Post Hemorrhoidectomy Complications

Abstract

Hemorrhoidectomy is an impressive surgery that relieves discomfort in patients who suffer from grade 3 or 4 hemorrhoids. This review is designed to investigate useful herbs for managing post-surgery complications by presenting an overview of Avicenna’s view compared to new scientific evidences. The herbs with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-bleeding, antispasmodic, and wound-healing properties may be important for managing patient discomfort. Avicenna’s most frequently prescribed herbs were selected using Bavasir as a keyword (traditional term for hemorrhoids) from volumes 2 and 5 of the Canon of Medicine textbook, and they were investigated in scientific databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library to obtain researches that confirmed their efficacy. Among the different herbs, Hypericum perforatum and Portulaca oleraceae were the most supported in scientific databases. Other herbs including Anethum graveolens, Cocos nucifera, Ferula assa-foetida, Myrtus communis, Ocimum basilicum, and Plantago major were next in order, while Artemisia absinthium, Solanum melongena, and Trigonella foenum-graecum exhibited few related pharmacological effects. The results established Avicenna’s claims regarding the importance of these herbs in post hemorrhoidectomy complications. Although there were many in vitro and/or in vivo researches on the selected herbal medicines, there were no obtained clinical studies on patients after their hemorrhoidectomy surgeries. So, the aforementioned herbs, especially H. perforatum and P. oleraceae, are recommended for future clinical studies. Among the different classes of compounds, flavonoids were the most responsible phytocomponents for displaying pharmacological effects.[GMJ.2017;6(3):166-184] DOI:10.22086/gmj.v0i0.774