1- Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
2- Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran , reyhanehnarenjkar@gmail.com
Abstract: (242 Views)
Objective: Angina is a term used to describe chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the flow of oxygen and blood to the heart is reduced. This condition develops when the arteries supplying blood to the heart become narrowed due to the buildup of fatty deposits. Angina pain often arises during physical exertion or emotional stress and generally subsides with rest. The pain may feel like a tightening or burning sensation in the chest and can spread to the neck, jaw, shoulders, arms, or back. Sometimes, it may even resemble heartburn. In traditional medicine, various medicinal plants have been used to treat chest pain or angina. This review aims to identify the most important medicinal plants utilized for this condition.
Methodology: This study was conducted as a systematic review. We searched for relevant articles in reputable scientific databases, including Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using keywords such as "medicinal plants," "pain," "thorax," "chest pain," "herbal medicine," and "traditional medicine." Studies were included if they were original research articles, reviews, or clinical trials written in English or Persian that examined the effects of medicinal plants on angina or chest pain. Exclusion criteria were studies lacking sufficient data for scientific evaluation, duplicate articles, irrelevant studies, and those published in languages other than English or Persian.
Results: A wide range of medicinal plants has been recognized in traditional Iranian medicine for their potential to relieve chest pain. These include garlic, coriander, asafoetida, cumin, ajwain, parsley, pomegranate, ginger, green pumpkin, orange, banana, guava, apple, turmeric, borage, lavender, aloe vera, almond, basil, and alfalfa. These plants are among the most important medicinal herbs in Iran for treating chest pain
Conclusion: This review demonstrates that traditional Iranian medicine employs a diverse array of medicinal plants as effective remedies for reducing chest pain, especially angina. The medicinal plants mentioned are believed to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, soothing, antispasmodic, and circulation-enhancing properties, which help alleviate symptoms associated with chest pain. Further research is needed to better understand their mechanisms of action and optimal usage, potentially contributing to the integration of traditional remedies with modern medical treatments for chest pain.
Received: 2024/09/9 | Accepted: 2025/02/28 | Published: 2025/02/28