Phlebotomy (Venesection) in Traditional Medicine of Iran; (Case Study: Gonabad)

Background: In traditional medicine, there is another curative and preventive approach in addition to wet cupping (bloodletting) and cupping, that has been used for a long time, but is nowadays less commonly used and unknown to most people. This traditional treatment is called phlebotomy in folk medicine. In the city of Gonabad, in addition to the term “phlebotomy ", it is also called "Rag Zadan". The aim of this study is to identify how to treat the pain and suffering of patients who practice phlebotomy to cure physical and mental diseases. Materials and Methods: The data of the present study is the result of field studies by the author, anthropological studies and fieldwork (in-depth interview and observation technique with native healers or " rag zan" in Gonabad city). To collect these data, all of the field study, documentary based and library research methods have been used. Local healers are expert at practicing this treatment through the experience they have learned from their ancestors. Interview with Gholamreza Hajian, one of these healers as a native indigenous person, has been one of these methods. Results: Different areas of the body are considered as the spot of venesection while practicing phlebotomy for treating and curing various pains. Usually, the organs of the various regions of the body such as the neck, forehead, back and below of the knee, or the so-called local term (kase che), are used to heal a variety of pains, including hemorrhoids, back pain, varicosis, hypertension and the treatment of some infertility. Pain such as low back pain, leg pain, gout, migraine, eye jaundice, male sexual disability, irregularity of the woman's Menstruation, breathlessness, colic (enteralgia) of women, Lok or so-called "Seghl", are other examples of these Diseases.The mentioned rag zan also considered hygiene issues and used onion to disinfect the lancet (bistoury). Conclusion: The phlebotomy treatment method is still common in the Gonabad city. Many patients from different parts of Khorasan and even Iran experience this type of treatment. Research on this treatment method in other parts of Iran can be the starting point for discovering new ways of treating some diseases.