Medicinal plants and foods with metaphorical concepts in Rumi’s “Masnavi Manavi”: The psychosomatic approach to human health

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanity, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Objective:Masnavi Manavi” is one of the most valuable texts of Persian literature. In this book, Rumi (Mevlana) with a unique method and in the form of moral stories teaches life lessons, mystical truths and even therapeutic advices to people. The aim of this study is to highlight the medicinal plants and foods that had been applied both in somatic and spiritual concept in “Masnavi Manavi’ poems.
Materials and Methods: For this purpose, a library-based, descriptive and analytical method was used.
Results: Some medicinal plants and food terms such as rose-water, vinegar, honey, oxymel, common reed, grape, onion, garlic and wheat are mentioned in this study to show Rumi's metaphorical and therapeutic approach as a doctor who treats both soul and body. In fact, Rumi's intention to apply these terms was to express his ideas and views about the inseparability of physical and spiritual aspects in human health and well-being.
Conclusion: Rumi focus in “Masnavi Manavi” moral stories is the soul health and consider body as carrier of the soul. Therefore, because of this psychosomatic approach to human disease, he selects the most suitable herbs and foods for explaining spiritual and somatic medicine.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Adam A, Crespy V, Levrat-Verny MA,
Leenhardt F, Leuillet M, Demigné C,
Rémésy C. 2002. The bioavailability of
ferulic acid is governed primarily by the
food matrix rather than its metabolism in
intestine and liver in rats. J Nutr, 132:
1962-1968.
Afshari M, Gholamrezaei Kohan F, Khanjani
N. 2011. Medicine in “Masnavi Manavi”.
Darmangar, Summer and Autumn 8: 20-35.
[In Persian]
Asemani Y, Zamani N, Bayat M, Amirghofran
Z. 2019. Allium vegetables for possible
future of cancer treatment. Phytother Res,
33: 3019-3039.
Barati F, Nasiri A, Akbari N, Sharifzadeh G.
2016. The effect of aromatherapy on
anxiety in patients. Nephrourol Mon, 8:
e38347.
Benisi-Kohansal S, Saneei P, SalehiMarzijarani M, Larijani B, Esmaillzadeh A.
2016. Whole-grain intake and mortality
from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and
cancer: A systematic review and doseresponse meta-analysis of prospective
cohort studies. Adv Nutr, 7: 1052-1065.
Bicknell H. 2012. The Divan of “Hafiz”.
Floating Press.
Biskup I, Gajcy M, Fecka I. 2017. The
potential role of selected bioactive
compounds from spelt and common wheat
in glycemic control. Adv Clin Exp Med,
26: 1013-1019.
Boskabady MH, Gholamnezhad Z, Khazdair
M-R, Tavakol-Afshari J. 2020. Chapter 25
- Antiinflammatory and
immunomodulatory effects of saffron and
its derivatives. In: Koocheki, A, KhajehHosseini, M. eds. Saffron. Woodhead
Publishing, 405-421.
Boskabady MH, Shafei MN, Saberi Z, Amini
S. 2011. Pharmacological effects of rosa
damascena. Iran J Basic Med Sci, 14: 295-
307.
Delfino V, Calonico C, Nostro AL,
Castronovo LM, Duca SD, Chioccioli S,
Coppini E, Fibbi D, Vassallo A, Fani R.
2021. Antibacterial activity of bacteria
isolated from Phragmites australis against
multidrug-resistant human pathogens.
Future Microbiol, 16: 291-303.
Ekhtiari Z. 2002. Sama in Maulavi's poems.
Journal of language and literature faculty of
letters and humanities, 35: 125-147. [In
Persian]
Ekhtiari Z. 2009. The source of mystical love
in Ibn Sina's works. Journal of language
and literature faculty of letters and
humanities. [In Persian]
Ekhtiari Z. 2015. A research on the language
and culture of Khanik people. Mashhad:
Nashr Mohaghegh. [In Persian]
Fakhar M, Montazeri M, Darabinia M,
Banimostafavi ES, Rafiei A. 2017. An
overview on therapeutic effects of garlic
and onion in traditional medicine and
islamic narrations. J Relig Health, 5: 70-81.
Gholamnezhad Z, Koushyar H, Byrami G,
Boskabady MH. 2013. The extract of
Crocus sativus and its constituent safranal,
affect serum levels of endothelin and total
protein in sensitized guinea pigs. Iran J
Basic Med Sci, 16: 1022-1026.
Hamidi S, Gholamnezhad Z, Kasraie N,
Sahebkar A. 2022. The effects of selfefficacy and physical activity improving
methods on the quality of life in patients
with diabetes: A systematic review. J
Diabetes Res, 2022: 2884933.
Hosseinzadeh H, Nassiri-Asl M. 2013.
Avicenna's (Ibn Sina) the Canon of
Medicine and saffron (Crocus sativus): a
review. Phytother Res, 27: 475-483.
Medicinal plants as metaphor in “Masnavi Manavi”
AJP, Vol. 13, No. 6, Nov-Dec 2023 699
Kaya M, Arıcı N. 2014. Mevlana stories and
gestalt therapy. MIJE, 4: 102-112.
Khaqani Sharvani AB. 1989. Diwan, by the
efforts of Dr. Ziauddin Sajjadi. Third
edition ed. Tehran: Zovar. [In Persian]
Khazdair MR, Boskabady MH, Hosseini M,
Rezaee R, Tsatsakis AM. 2015. The effects
of Crocus sativus (saffron) and its
constituents on nervous system: A review.
Avicenna J Phytomed, 5: 376-391.
Kim TK, Fabisiak A, Brzeminski P, Reiter RJ,
Slominski AT. 2022. Serotonin, melatonin
and their precursors and metabolites and
vitamin D(3) derivatives in honey.
Melatonin Res, 5: 374-380.
Laksmidewi A, Mahadewi N, Adnyana IMO,
Widyadharma IPE. 2019. Instrumental
balinese flute music therapy improves
cognitive function and serum dopamine
level in the elderly population of west
denpasar primary health care center. Open
Access Maced J Med Sci, 7: 553-558.
Mahmoodi M, Hosseini-zijoud SM,
Hassanshahi G, Nabati S, Modarresi M,
Mehrabian M, Sayyadi A, Hajizadeh M.
2013. The effect of white vinegar on some
blood biochemical factors in type 2 diabetic
patients. J Diabetes Endocrinol, 4: 1-5.
Mahdavi-Roshan M, Salari A, Emaminejad S,
Parvinroo S, Ashouri A, Alizadeh I. 2021.
The effect of oxymel syrup on some
cardiovascular risk factors in overweight
and obese people: a randomized controlled
trial study. Trad Integr Med, 6: 204-215.
Mileva M, Ilieva Y, Jovtchev G, Gateva S,
Zaharieva MM, Georgieva A, Dimitrova L,
Dobreva A, Angelova T, Vilhelmova-Ilieva
N, Valcheva V, Najdenski H. 2021. Rose
flowers-a delicate perfume or a natural
healer? Biomolecules, 11: 127.
Mirheydar H. 1996. Maaref e giahi (herbal
knowledge). Tehran: Daftare Nashre
Farhange Eslami. [In Persian]
Mohebitabar S, Shirazi M, Bioos S, Rahimi R,
Malekshahi F, Nejatbakhsh F. 2017.
Therapeutic efficacy of rose oil: A
comprehensive review of clinical evidence.
Avicenna J Phytomed, 7: 206-213.
Maulana JM, Hashempour Sobhani T. 2002.
“Masnavi Manavi”. Tehran: Rozaneh. [In
Persian]
Nassiri-Asl M, Hosseinzadeh H. 2016. Review
of the pharmacological effects of Vitis
vinifera (grape) and its bioactive
constituents: an update. Phytother Res, 30:
1392-1403.
Nicastro HL, Ross SA, Milner JA. 2015.
Garlic and onions: their cancer prevention
properties. Cancer Prev Res (Phila), 8: 181-
189.
Nimrouzi M, Zarshenas MM. 2018. Anorexia:
highlights in traditional Persian medicine
and conventional medicine. Avicenna J
Phytomed, 8: 1-13.
Orhan Hİ, Yılmaz İ, Tekiner İH. 2022.
Maulana and sekanjabin (oxymel): a
ceremonial relationship with gastronomic
and health perspectives. J Ethn Foods, 9:
12.
Ousaaid D, Mechchate H, Laaroussi H, Hano
C, Bakour M, El Ghouizi A, Conte R,
Lyoussi B, El Arabi I. 2021. Fruits vinegar:
quality characteristics, phytochemistry, and
functionality. Molecules, 27: 222.
Rezaee R, Hosseinzadeh H. 2013. Safranal:
from an aromatic natural product to a
rewarding pharmacological agent. Iran J
Basic Med Sci, 16: 12-26.
Rezaei R, Aliakbari P. 2013. An introduction
to medical terms and themes in Rumi's
Masnavi. jiitm, 4: 209-222. [In Persian]
Rumi JM, Nicholson RA. 2001. The mathnawi
of Jalaluddin Rumi. Tehran: Soad
Publication.
Saadati A, Mohammadi M. 2019. Investigating
medical motifs in Masnavi stories. Res Hist
Med, 8: 237-252.
Samad A, Azlan A, Ismail A. 2016.
Therapeutic effects of vinegar: a review.
Curr Opin Food Sci, 8: 56-61.
Sanā'ie, M i Ā. 2018. Hadiqa al-Haqiqah. In:
Yahaghi, M J, Zarghani, S M. eds. Tehran:
Nashr Sokhan. [In Persian]
Santos HO, de Moraes W, da Silva GAR,
Prestes J, Schoenfeld BJ. 2019. Vinegar
(acetic acid) intake on glucose metabolism:
A narrative review. Clin Nutr ESPEN, 32:
1-7.
Seki T, Morimura S, Shigematsu T, Maeda H,
Kida K. 2004. Antitumor activity of riceshochu post-distillation slurry and vinegar
produced from the post-distillation slurry
via oral administration in a mouse model.
Biofactors, 22: 103-105.
Shabab S, Gholamnezhad Z, Mahmoudabady
M. 2021. Protective effects of medicinal
plant against diabetes induced cardiac
disorder: A review. J Ethnopharmacol, 265:
113328.
Sheikh A. 2005. Love sickness and the healing
Ekhtiari et al.
AJP, Vol. 13, No. 6, Nov-Dec 2023 700
of Rumi. J R Soc Med, 98: 240-243.
Shewry PR, Hey SJ. 2015. The contribution of
wheat to human diet and health. Food
Energy Secur, 4: 178-202.
Singh DKM, Ajinkya S. 2012. Spirituality and
religion in modern medicine. Indian J
Psychol Med, 34: 399-402.
Sohaib M, Al-Barakah FNI, Migdadi HM,
Husain FM. 2022. Comparative study
among Avicennia marina, Phragmites
australis, and Moringa oleifera based
ethanolic-extracts for their antimicrobial,
antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. Saudi
J Biol Sci, 29: 111-122.
Sparham D, Tasdighy S. 2018. Conceptual
metaphors of love in Mowlavi’s Masnavi.
Literary Text Research, 22: 87-114.
Sun YE, Wang W, Qin J. 2018. Antihyperlipidemia of garlic by reducing the
level of total cholesterol and low-density
lipoprotein: A meta-analysis. Medicine
(Baltimore), 97: e0255.
Tabatabaee KS, tabatabai SH, hasanzade
mirali A. 2022. Mystical manifestation of
medicine and self-purification in Divan-e
Shams. Journal of Poetry Studies (boostan
Adab), 14: 255-284.
Tabei SZ, Zarei N, Joulaei H. 2016. The
impact of spirituality on health. Shiraz EMed J, 17: e39053.
Tian W, Zheng Y, Wang W, Wang D, Tilley
M, Zhang G, He Z, Li Y. 2022. A
comprehensive review of wheat
phytochemicals: From farm to fork and
beyond. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf, 21:
2274-2308.
Zargaran A, Zarshenas MM, Mehdizadeh A,
Mohagheghzadeh A. 2012. Oxymel in
medieval Persia. Pharm Hist (Lond), 42:
11-13.
Zhu L, Zhang D, Yuan C, Ding X, Shang Y,
Jiang Y, Zhu G. 2017. Anti-Inflammatory
and antiviral effects of water-soluble crude
extract from Phragmites australis in vitro.
Pak J Pharm Sci, 30: 1357-1362.
Zolfaghari B, Kazemi M, Nematbakhsh M.
2015. The effects of unripe grape extract on
systemic blood pressure and serum levels
of superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde
and nitric oxide in rat. Adv Biomed Res, 4:
109.