Umbilical displacement: a mini review

Abstract

Background: Umbilical displacement is a known disorder in folk medicine of different cultures. The various causes, clinical signs and symptoms are attributed to this disorder and different diagnostic and therapeutic methods are mentioned. Methods: To follow the aim of the study, Persian medicine literature, Google Scholar, Google, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched with no limit of the publication date and the article type (original papers and literature reviews). The searched terms were Navel, Umbilicus and other synonyms in Persian, Turkish, Russian, German, Chinese and Indian language, Dislocation, Sliding, Displacement, Deviation, Falling, Ptosis, Folk medicine and combination of these words. We also corresponded with several experts in traditional medicine via LinkedIn. All available descriptive evidence related to umbilical displacement was retrieved, and the contents were presented as categories including the disorder name, attributed signs and symptoms, and the diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Results: This disorder is called “Taharok-e-Sorre” in Persian medicine, “Nawikkatin” in Erbil (Iraq), “Dharan or Nabhi Sarakna” in Hindi, “Göbek düşmesi” in Turkish, Bēn tún in Chinese and “Cirro” in the people of Mayan community and Spanish, and “смещен пупок” in the folk medicine of the Kurgan Bashqir. Hard work, pregnancy, childbirth, fear, lifting heavy objects, rapid and sudden movements, trauma or fall and slipping of the foot are said to be causes of umbilical displacement. Umbilical displacement is associated with several symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, anorexia, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion: In this mini-review, umbilical displacement was expressed from the viewpoint of different cultures. New cases of umbilical displacement has been reported in new articles, and the pathology of umbilical displacement has been explained from the perspective of Persian medicine.