Parameters to Quantify Temperament of Organs (Mizaj-e-Aa‘za)

Abstract

Every single entity present on the face of the earth has been furnished with a property specific to its function that was termed as Temperament by the great Greek scholars and used synonymously with the Arabic word Mizaj. It is the key concept of Unani System of Medicine and all the principles related to human health, diseases afflicting them, and their treatment revolves around it. The human temperament has been further discussed in detail with respect to various factors like the species, race, regional changes, seasonal changes, etc. In addition to it, the mizaj of every organ in the state of health is also taken in consideration by the physicians explaining that each individual and its every organ has a temperament that is most appropriate and best suited for its functions and condition according to its power of endurance. According to their temperament, all the organs of the body have been classified as Aa‘za-e-Mo‘tadila, Aa’za-e-Harra, Aa’za-e-Barida, Aa’za-e-Ratba and Aa’za-e-Yabisa in comparison to each other. Though the Unani philosophers have described the mizaj of organs attributed to various causes; however, they have not explained the parameters of its quantification. Since, the parameters related to these causes are still insufficient to assess the temperament of an organ, therefore, the details of these parameters have been taken under consideration to discuss here in this paper.