دانشگاه شهید بهشتی مجله تاریخ ایران 2008-7357 18 2 2025 09 23 Pediatric Health Preservation Strategies in Safavid Iran تدبیر حفظ‌الصحه اطفال در ایران عصر صفوی 209 235 106103 10.48308/irhj.2025.240325.1425 FA جواد علیپور سیلاب استادیار گروه تاریخ، دانشکده حقوق و علوم اجتماعی، دانشگاه تبریز، تبریز، ایران. Journal Article 2025 06 07 One of the neglected topics in Iranian social history studies is the examination of health preservation and treatment practices among different age groups, particularly children. This study aims to explore the strategies employed to maintain health and treat various diseases in children during the Safavid era. It is an interdisciplinary research combining history and medicine. Data were collected through a library-based approach, mainly from medical manuscripts, and analyzed using a descriptive-analytical method.<br />The findings reveal that, unlike most historical sources and travelogues, medical texts provide valuable information regarding children’s health in the Safavid period. In line with the humoral medical system, both cognitive (etiological) and behavioral (preventive and therapeutic) approaches were employed to address childhood diseases. Given the physical vulnerability of newborns, hygienic and caregiving measures played a crucial role in preserving their health. Infants were susceptible to various diseases; therefore, preventive measures and medicinal treatments -often external- were recommended according to illness type, physical condition, and age. Considering the contemporary importance of understanding historical pediatric practices, identifying and analyzing physicians’ perspectives across different periods can be beneficial and practical.<br /><strong>Introduction </strong><br />One of the fascinating yet relatively underexplored topics in the fields of social and medical history is the study of health preservation strategies and methods of disease prevention and treatment throughout the human life cycle, from prenatal development to the end of life. This field of research not only provides a clear picture of healthcare and medical practices in historical periods but also offers valuable insights into cultural and social perceptions of the body, hygiene, and health. Among the various life stages, early childhood (from birth to approximately seven years of age) holds particular significance, as any neglect or insufficient attention to children’s health during these critical years often results in premature death or the emergence of various physical disabilities and chronic conditions.<br />A significant portion of infant and child care was traditionally undertaken by mothers, often under the guidance of midwives and based on prevailing customs, rituals, and popular beliefs. In addition to these domestic practices, physicians played a considerable role by providing valuable recommendations on preventive measures and therapeutic approaches tailored to the specific needs of this age group. These recommendations were not only rooted in clinical experience but also grounded in the dominant theoretical framework of Iranian medicine, namely, the humoral system. According to this paradigm, diseases were believed to arise from an imbalance in the body’s humors, and the goal of treatment was to restore balance through various corrective and regulatory methods.<br />Given the physiological characteristics and temperaments of children, the direct administration of many medications was considered difficult or even potentially harmful. Consequently, a substantial part of therapeutic interventions focused on adjusting the constitution and physical condition of the mother or wet nurse, as their health and breastfeeding quality were believed to directly influence the well-being of the child. Furthermore, popular beliefs and folk practices, alongside formal medical teachings, played an important role in shaping caregiving methods and approaches to disease diagnosis and treatment. This convergence of formal medical knowledge, lived experience, and popular beliefs offers a multidimensional perspective on healthcare and medical practices during the Safavid period.<br /> <br /><strong>Materials and Methods</strong><strong>   </strong><br />This study is interdisciplinary, combining historical and medical perspectives. Data were collected using a library-based research method, with most material derived from medical sources preserved in manuscript form. Findings are presented using a descriptive-analytical approach.<br />Research on pediatric medicine in historical periods, particularly in the Safavid era, has been largely neglected. Existing studies address the topic only briefly and superficially. For example, the article " Considerations in the Childhood History of the Safavid Era " (Shahidani & Eslahi, 2021: 111-147) examines the advantages and disadvantages of the lives of court children and the social conditions of non-court children in Safavid Iran. However, it does not address child health care measures or pediatric diseases. Another study, "A Critical Analysis of Neonatal Care Measures from the Perspective of Baha’ alDawlah Razi(915-860AH)" (Latifi &… 2023: 14-21), focuses exclusively on the views of Bahāʾ al-Dawla Rāzī, a Safavid-era physician, regarding infant care measures. This article mainly covers immediate postnatal care and briefly touches on some infant ailments, but it neglects the variety of diseases, historical context, and popular aspects, which represent limitations of the study. Elgood (1978), in a chapter titled "Nutrition, Rearing, and Pediatric Medicine" in his book: Safavid medical practice, surgery and gynaecology in Persia between 1500 A. D. and 1750 A. D., provides some information on infant care and breastfeeding, mostly referencing pre-Safavid sources.None of these works comprehensively addresses child health preservation, caregiving practices, or treatment methods for various pediatric diseases. Accordingly, this study adopts a holistic approach to answer the question: What measures were employed in Safavid Iran to preserve child health, and how were pediatric diseases treated?<br /> <br /><strong>Results and Discussion </strong><br />The investigation of pediatric health practices and therapeutic interventions during the Safavid era reveals a healthcare framework deeply rooted in humoral theory yet demonstrating notable coherence and attention to the specific needs of children. Despite the absence of modern microbiological knowledge, vaccination, and advanced pharmaceutical practices, Safavid physicians and caregivers placed considerable emphasis on preventive measures and holistic care. The prominence given to natural breastfeeding, the careful selection of wet nurses, and the regulation of their diet highlight an understanding of the interconnectedness between maternal health, nutrition, and child development. These practices, although grounded in premodern medical concepts, align with contemporary findings in pediatrics and psychology, which continue to underscore the critical role of nutrition and maternal well-being in shaping infant growth and temperament.<br />Furthermore, the attention to non-pharmacological caregiving practices—such as lullabies, gentle rocking, and oil massage—demonstrates an early awareness of the connection between emotional stability and physical health. While these methods differ from modern evidence-based medical interventions, they reflect similar objectives: reducing infant stress, promoting healthy sleep patterns, and ensuring psychological comfort as an integral component of overall health. The integration of these practices suggests that, even in a historical context dominated by humoral theory, there was an implicit recognition of psychosomatic health principles.<br />Another significant aspect of pediatric healthcare during the Safavid period was the emphasis on disease prevention and early diagnosis. Historical medical texts describe efforts to identify a wide spectrum of conditions, including neurological disorders, infectious diseases, and ailments affecting the eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, and gastrointestinal tract. Treatment approaches were adapted to children’s physiological vulnerabilities, often favoring topical and mild remedies, as well as dietary adjustments aimed at restoring humoral balance. Because of children’s delicate constitutions, therapeutic interventions frequently targeted the mother or wet nurse rather than the child directly, illustrating a systemic view of health that extended beyond the individual patient to their immediate caregiving environment.<br />The coexistence of formal medical knowledge with popular beliefs also shaped pediatric care. Folk etiologies of disease and culturally embedded preventive practices coexisted with scholarly medicine, resulting in a hybrid medical culture that addressed both the physical and social dimensions of child health. These dynamics indicate that pediatric care in the Safavid period was not merely reactive but incorporated structured preventive measures and psychosocial support strategies.<br />Although infant mortality remained higher than in societies with access to modern scientific knowledge and infrastructure, the Safavid approach to pediatric medicine underscores the long historical roots of many child health principles considered essential today, such as nutrition, hygiene, maternal support, and emotional well-being. The findings of this study, therefore, provide an important foundation for comparative historical research, demonstrating that the safeguarding of child health has deep cultural and intellectual continuity. Understanding these early frameworks offers valuable insights into how past medical systems conceptualized vulnerability and resilience in children and how these ideas continue to inform aspects of pediatric care in the modern era.<br /> <br /><strong>Conclusions </strong><br />The study of social and medical history, especially in Safavid Iran, reveals that preserving the health of infants and young children was a central concern shaped by cultural, social, and medical knowledge systems. The humoral theory dominated medical understanding, framing disease as an imbalance of bodily fluids and guiding both preventive and therapeutic practices. Care primarily focused on mothers and wet nurses, emphasizing nutrition, hygiene, and psychological well-being to protect the vulnerable child.<br />From birth and even during pregnancy, attention was given to milk quality, the temperament of the wet nurse, and avoiding harmful environmental factors. Treatments were administered cautiously due to the children’s physical sensitivity, favoring mild, topical remedies and preventive care to strengthen the child’s resistance. The use of herbal poultices, oil massages, and dietary management was a common strategy. Despite the absence of modern microbiological knowledge and vaccination, the emphasis on hygiene, nutrition, and emotional care demonstrates an early understanding of comprehensive child health. These historical health practices reflect a sophisticated approach within the humoral framework and provide valuable insights into societal attitudes toward vulnerable groups.<br />This analysis not only enriches our understanding of Safavid medical heritage but also offers lessons for contemporary child health policies, underscoring the enduring cultural and historical foundations of pediatric care. از جمله موضوعات مغفول در حوزه مطالعات تاریخ اجتماعی ایران، مطالعه و بررسی تدابیر صحی و درمانی در بین گروه‌های مختلف سنی به‌ویژه اطفال است. بر همین اساس، پژوهش حاضر درصدد پاسخ‌گویی به این سؤال است که در جامعه ایران عصر صفوی، از چه تدابیری برای حفظ صحت و از چه روش‌هایی برای درمان انواع بیماری‌های اطفال استفاده می‌شد؟ پژوهش حاضر مطالعه‌ای میان‌رشته‌ای در دو حوزۀ تاریخ و پزشکی است. متناسب با ماهیت موضوع، داده‌ها و مطالب لازم براساس روش کتابخانه‌ای و از طریق مراجعه به انواع منابع، به‌ویژه نسخ خطی طبی گردآوری شده است. شکل ارائۀ مطالب به‌ صورت توصیفی-تحلیلی است. یافته‌های پژوهش نشان می‌دهد که برخلاف منابع تاریخی و سفرنامه‌ها، منابع طبی اطلاعات ارزشمندی درباره وضعیت اطفال در عصر صفوی به دست می‌دهند. متناسب با نظام طبی مبتنی بر اخلاط چهارگانه، رویکرد شناختی (علت‌شناسی) و رفتاری (تدابیر مراقبتی و روش‌های درمانی) در مقابله با انواع بیماری ارائه شده است. با توجه به ضعف بدنی در هنگام تولد، مراعات تدابیر مراقبتی و بهداشتی نقش مهمی در حفظ صحت طفل داشت. بدن طفل در معرض ابتلا به انواع بیماری‌ها قرار داشت. ضمن توصیه به مراعات تدابیر پیشگیرانه، متناسب با نوع بیماری، وضعیت بدنی و سن طفل، کاربرد انواع دارو در اشکال مختلف و اغلب به شکل استفاده خارجی تجویز می‌شد. با توجه به نیاز جامعه امروز برای آشنایی با تدابیر صحی و مراقبتی اطفال، شناسایی و تبیین دیدگاه‌های اطبا در دوره‌های مختلف تاریخی می‌تواند سودمند و کاربردی باشد. https://irhj.sbu.ac.ir/article_106103_70fbe348570ce85d9f627e1145d41b4e.pdf