Mizaj – A Unique Concept of Unani and Key Component in Disease Diagnosis and Treatment-A Review

Abstract

In Unani Medicine human being suffering in any disease is not considered alone in symptoms and causes but also considered in total manifestations by body, mind and spirit of an individual during a disease. As an individual we all are unique and this uniqueness is defined on the basis of human mizaj (temperament) and this has been a source of fascination for thousands of years. The genesis of mizaj goes way back to ancient Greece. In Tibb, temperament is regarded as a measure of equilibrium of homeostasis which exists at diverse levels of complexity in the body, starting at the simple cell, and passing through tissue and organs and complex organ systems, to the whole person, and how he or she interacts with the external environment. This unique holistic approach is based on identification of individual temperament through general assessment of an individual. Understanding mizaj is not only essential for preventive care but also forms the basis of personalized treatment in Unani medicine.