Unani Mizaj Herbalism
Unani Mizaj Herbalism is a Islamic / Unani — mizaj temperaments body system as transmitted through the lineage Unani medicine classifies bodily constitution and illness through mizaj (temperament) and the four humours (akhlat). This visual map uses organ-oriented anchors to represent a pharmacological and humoral classification, not an anatomical atlas.. This page lists every point in the system with sourced placements and links to cross-tradition correspondences curated for The Body Spiritual.
Open in interactive explorerPrimary sources
- Ibn Sina, The Canon of Medicine (Arabic critical text; Book 1, Fen 1, Doctrines, English trans. O. Cameron Gruner, 1930) — Documents the four humours and the hot/cold, moist/dry qualities used in mizaj classification; Book 1, Fen 1, Doctrines.
- Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi, Kitab al-Hawi (Arabic medical compendium, modern critical editions) — Documents humoral pathology and temperament reasoning across the al-Hawi medical discussions; book and page numbering varies by edition.
- H. H. R. Khane, Principles of Unani Medicine (New Delhi: National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language, 2005)
Known lineage variants
- Humour quality and mizaj terminology vary across Ibn Sina, al-Razi and later Unani schools. All body loci here are target-organ projections of a substance/humour classification, not anatomical locations; clinical use requires qualified Unani practitioners.
Related systems
No other systems share this tradition label.
Points
- Dam — blood humour — sanguine, warm and moist humour
- Balgham — phlegm — phlegmatic, cold and moist humour
- Safra — yellow bile — choleric, hot and dry humour
- Sawda — black bile — melancholic, cold and dry humour
Frequently asked
What is Dam — blood humour?
In Unani medicine, dam is one of the four akhlat and is conventionally described as hot and moist. The heart/chest anchor is a target-organ projection for a substance and humour classification, not an anatomical map.
What is Balgham — phlegm?
Balgham is the phlegmatic humour, conventionally cold and moist in Unani humoral doctrine. The lung and upper-torso anchor is a target-organ projection of the classification, not a claim about where a humour physically resides.
What is Safra — yellow bile?
Safra names yellow bile and the hot-dry choleric pole in Unani descriptions. Its liver-side placement is an editorial target-organ projection rather than an anatomical map.
What is Sawda — black bile?
Sawda names black bile and the cold-dry melancholic pole. The lower-abdominal/splenic anchor is a target-organ projection used to make a humoral classification visible, not an anatomical claim.