Development of Mizāj Scale according to Nine Types of Tab‘i Mizāj (Normal Temperament)

Abstract

The concept of Mizāj (temperament) is central to Unani medicine, serving as a framework for understanding physiological functions, supporting disease diagnosis, and informing therapeutic strategies. This article examines the prevalent use of a four humoral classi>ication for normal temperament (Tab‘i Mizāj)—Damawī, Balghamī, Ṣafrāwī, and Sawdawī—among Unani practitioners in the Indian subcontinent. Classical Unani texts by scholars such as Razi, Ibn Rushd, and Ibn Sina describe nine temperament types based on four qualities (Kayfiyat Arb’a): Harārat (hotness), Burūdat (coldness), Rutūbat (moistness), and Yabūsat (dryness), with one type, Mu’tadil, reflecting balance and the others showing non-moderate but non-pathological variations. The reliance on the four humoral model may lead to inconsistencies in education and clinical practice, as it diverges from classical descriptions that emphasize single qualities (Mufrad Kayfiyat) and Ajnās-e-Ashra parameters. This study proposes a diagnostic scale that assesses active and passive qualities separately to identify all nine temperament types, aiming to align with traditional Unani principles. The scale, derived from classical texts, seeks to enhance diagnostic clarity for diet, lifestyle, and treatment recommendations. Further evaluation and clinical studies are needed to validate the scale’s reliability and facilitate its integration into Unani practice.