Indications and Contraindications of Phlebotomy According to Avicenna in Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb (The Canon of Medicine)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

10.30476/rhm.2024.103290.1227

Abstract

Today, phlebotomy has a limited application in modern medicine and is prescribed for only a few specific conditions. However, recent studies have explored its potential effectiveness in treating a broader range of diseases. As phlebotomy has historically been one of the most widely used therapeutic methods in traditional medicine, examining the works of ancient physicians may provide valuable insights and inspire new research on its efficacy. In his seminal work Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb (The Canon of Medicine), Avicenna—known as the prince of physicians and one of the most renowned Iranian scholars of the 10th-11th centuries AD—discussed phlebotomy in detail, including its indications for treating various disorders. Conditions such as sciatica, gout, arthralgia caused by excess blood, hemoptysis, epilepsy, cardiac arrest, melancholia, dyspnea, visceral tumors, conjunctivitis, hemorrhoids, and oligo/amenorrhea were among those for which phlebotomy was recommended. Avicenna emphasized several factors to consider before performing phlebotomy, including the patient’s age, weight, season, anemia status, satiety or hunger, stomach weakness, and pregnancy. He identified 13 major veins in the head and neck, 6 in the upper limbs, and 3 in the lower limbs as primary sites for bloodletting. This book provides a comprehensive account of the indications and contraindications of phlebotomy, reflecting its significance in traditional medical practice.

Highlights

Shahram Homayounkeshi (Google Scholar)

Majid Talafi Noghani (Google Scholar)

Keywords

References

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Journal of Research on History of Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 3
August 2025
Pages 229-238

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