One of the unrivalled features of Tibb is recognition of each person’s uniqueness. This is called temperament and is very important when it comes to diagnosing illness conditions and designing subsequent treatment.
Knowing one’s Temperament further allows individuals to make positive choices that will benefit health whilst providing insight into physical and emotional make-up.
Temperament is identified by evaluating a person's physical appearance, behavioral tendencies as well as personality traits:
Physical appearance:- Look at the person’s frame: if the person is medium to large, they are either Sanguinous or Phlegmatic. An individual who is lean, will be Bilious, and a bony, thin person will most likely be Melancholic.
- Feel the person’s skin: A soft, warm and moist skin is Sanguinous. Someone with cool, soft and moist skin is Phlegmatic. Warm and dry skin is Bilious, and dry, rough, cold skin is Melancholic in nature.
- Look at the way a person walks: someone who walks anxiously or sometimes deep in thought is Melancholic. Someone with a macho walk is Sanguinous, a slow pace is Phlegmatic and someone with a fast and firm stride is Bilious;
- Listen to the way a person talks: Clear speech belongs to a Sanguinous person, slow and soft speech is Phlegmatic, someone who talks sharply and loudly is Bilious, and someone who speaks softly and quickly is Melancholic.
- Look at the person’s eyes: Sanguinous and Phlegmatic people have moderate to large eyes, Bilious people have moderate to small eyes, and Melancholic people tend to have small, sunken eyes.
- Ask about the person’s sleeping patterns: if a person sleeps soundly for 6 to 8 hours a night, they are most likely Sanguinous. People who sleep deeply and need at least 8 hours a night are most likely Phlegmatic. Bilious people need 5 to 6 hours of sleep, but do not sleep deeply, and Melancholic people have interrupted sleep and tend to suffer from insomnia.
- Ask the person what kind of weather they feel most comfortable in: Sanguinous people like cold and dry weather, like winter and autumn. Phlegmatic people like hot and dry weather, like summer. Bilious people prefer cold and wet conditions, like rainy days in winter, and Melancholic people like hot and wet conditions, like rainy days in summer.
- Also ask the person what kind of drinks they like more: Sanguinous and Bilious people prefer cold drinks, while Phlegmatic and Melancholic individuals prefer hot drinks.
- Ask the person about their appetite as well: Sanguinous and Bilious have a healthy appetite, whereas Phlegmatic individuals have a steady, slow appetite and Melancholic people have variable, irregular appetites.
- When you talk to someone, try to observe the way in which they talk to you. Someone who talks easily and who is outgoing is most likely Sanguinous. Someone who is more introverted and calm is Phlegmatic. A Bilious person is very energetic and dominant, whereas a Melancholic individual is more thoughtful and analytical when answering questions
