Overview
As heat is the dominant quality associated with your temperamental combination, an increase in heat from the Six Lifestyle Factors will negatively affect you to the greatest extent. An increase in moistness and dryness will also affect you, but to a lesser extent, whereas an increase in the quality of coldness will have the least negative effect on you.
An increase in heat can be as a result of:
summer |
very hot weather and environment
|
hot food and drink
|
anger |
strenuous exercise
|
not enough sleep |
The illnesses that this combination are inclined to are those associated with the dominant Bilious Temperament:
Migraine |
Stress |
Bronchitis
|
Overactive thyroid |
Hay fever |
Endometriosis
|
To a lesser extent this combination will also be inclined to illnesses of the Sanguinois Temperament:
Congestive headache
|
High blood pressure |
Diabetes
|
Urinary tract infection |
Rheumatoid arthritis |
Pre-menstrual tension. |
Health Maintenance through the Lifestyle Factors of Tibb
Good health is achieved by maintaining your ideal temperament. An excess of heat in each of the lifestyle factors will most negatively affect you, faster than changes in the other qualities. You need to be aware of this at all times and control the level of heat in your body.
Food and Drink
Ideally your combination should eat mostly Cold & Moist foods, followed by Cold & Dry foods, less of Hot & Moist foods, and the least amount of Hot & Dry foods.
Listed below are the four different diet charts
Additional dietary advice:
- Stick to the above diet especially in summer and spring.
- This is also an optimal diet if you live in coastal areas.
- Drink at least 2-3 litres (8-12 glasses) of water per day.
- Avoid refined foods.
- Eat simply and avoid eating a lot of different types of foods in the same meal.
- When emotional or upset, sit down, take a few deep breaths or drink a glass of water.
Environmental Air & Breathing
- Fresh air and a cool, properly ventilated environment are most ideal.
- Avoid exposure to the sun, or hot climates.
- During summer especially it is important to keep cool at all the times.
- Air-conditioners are acceptable.
- Recommended breathing exercises include Tibb Deep Rhythmic breathing, the Tibb Mental/Emotional breathing exercise, the Tibb Slow and Deep breathing exercises:
The Tibb Deep Rhythmic Breathing Exercise
This exercise is prescribed for all temperamental types. Try doing it on a regular basis, preferably in the early morning.
- Select a protected time and space.
- Sit on the floor in a squatting position with hands on thighs or in the ‘lotus’ position, keeping a straight back in both cases. If neither position is possible, then lie on the floor or sit in a comfortable chair,
- Draw a breath through the nose.
- Hold the breath as long as possible.
- Gaze upwards, and exhale forcefully through the mouth – the mouth should be opened in an ‘O’ shape.
- Repeat to a maximum of 15 times
The Tibb Mental/Emotional Breathing Exercise
This exercise is also prescribed for all temperamental types. It creates harmony in the two hemispheres of the brain. Do this exercise early in the morning or late afternoon.
- Select a protected time and space, free from interruptions.
- Sit on the floor in a squatting position with hands on thighs or in the ‘lotus’ position, keeping a straight back in both cases. If neither position is possible, then lie on the floor or sit in a comfortable chair,
- Your right index finger should be used to close the left nostril. Take a long, deep breath through your right nostril, and hold for 15 to 20 seconds,
- Release the finger closing the nostril and close the right nostril with the right thumb.
- Breathe out through the left nostril forcefully. This counts as one complete breath.
- Repeat the same process starting with the opposite nostril.
- Start by doing 5 breaths, and slowly build up to 10;
- After completing the exercise, rest for at least 5 minutes in the same position.
The Tibb Slow and Deep Breathing Exercise
This exercise has a calming effect and therefore is ideal in meditation exercises for all temperamental types, especially for people with a dominant/sub-dominant bilious temperament.
- Close your eyes and focus on your breathing.
- Take slow and deep breaths, breathing out through the nose, distending and filling the stomach.
- Continue breathing this way for 5 minutes.
Physical Exercise
- Excessive movement and strenuous exercise is not advisable.
- Exercises in the early morning and late afternoon.
- Yoga is advised.
- Include in your choice of physical exercise, the Tibb Walking Exercise:
The Tibb Walking Exercise
- This is a gentle exercise recommended for all temperamental types. It can be done anywhere – in a small room or outdoors. If safety or space concerns exist, as may be the case with elderly people, then you may ‘walk on the spot’ for the same periods of time.
- Warm up by walking normally, swinging the arms gently. Do this for about 2 minutes initially.
- Then walk briskly, raising the legs and swinging the arms firmly. Do this for about 5 minutes.
- Then cool down by walking normally, as in the warmup. Do this for about 2 minutes.
- Do these exercises daily but increasing the time for each session weekly to a maximum of 25 minutes per session.
Sleep
- A good night’s sleep for 6-8 hours is advisable.
- Lack of sleep (less than five hours on a continuous basis) and late nights will negatively affect you.
Emotions & Feelings
- Extreme emotions of anger, excitability, irritability, excessive speech and suppression of anger are the emotional excesses of your temperamental combination and should be management managed with breathing and meditation exercises.
- A 5 -10-minute relaxation break after lunch is beneficial.
- The following meditation exercises are advised together with the Tibb Slow and Deep Breathing exercise, the Tibb Heart Meditation exercise and the Tibb Pineal Body Meditation Exercise.
The Tibb Slow and Deep Breathing Exercise
This exercise has a calming effect and therefore is ideal in meditation exercises for all temperamental types, especially for people with a dominant/sub-dominant bilious temperament.
- Sit on the floor in a squatting positions with hands on thighs or in the ‘lotus’ position, keeping a straight back in both cases. If neither position is possible, then lie on the floor or sit in a comfortable chair.
- Close your eyes and focus on your breathing.
- Take slow and deep breaths, breathing out through the nose, distending and filling the stomach.
- Continue breathing this way for 5 minutes.
The Tibb Heart Meditation
- Sit in a relaxed state in a calm environment, with your eyes closed.
- Put the head down, close the eyes, concentrate on the heart and breathe in deeply.
- Hold breath for a while and breathe out slowly in the same manner.
- Continue this exercise every day and night before going to bed, for 10 – 15 minutes.
The Tibb Pineal Body Meditation
- Sit in a relaxed state in a calm environment, with your eyes closed.
- Concentrate on the area between the eyebrows and breathe deeply.
- Hold breath for a while and breathe out slowly in the same manner.
- Continue this exercise for 10 – 15 minutes.
Elimination
- A regular high-fibre diet should be adopted to keep your colon clear.
- Laxatives should be considered.