Reviving Humoral Medicine
with Dr. Hani El Batal
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The Six Essentials for Life
In treating the patient, the physician seeks to preserve the innate hotness and the original innate wetness by regulating the Six Essentials. If the patient does not adhere to these Six Essentials because they are unaware of their benefits, and does not follow the physician’s prescribed treatment, recovery usually does not occur.
Foods and Drinks According to One's Temperament
For a person with a moderate temperament:
They may eat, in moderation, whatever they wish of hot and cold, wet and dry foods.
For a person with a hot, wet, sanguine temperament:
They should eat cold, dry foods.
For a person with a hot, dry, yellow bile-dominant temperament:
They should eat cold, wet foods.
For a person with a cold, wet, phlegmatic temperament:
They should eat hot, dry foods.
For a person with a cold, dry, black bile-dominant temperament:
They should eat hot, wet foods.
This also includes taking the appropriate medicines according to the predominant temperament.
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The Air Surrounding Our Bodies
The surrounding air should be clean and free from such things as smoke, dust, and mold.
For a person with a cold, dry, black bile dominant temperament:
The air should be hot and wet. If this is not possible, the air conditioner should be set to hot, together with the use of a humidifier. The house should be lightly sprayed with rose water mixed with amber.
For a person with a hot, dry, yellow bile-dominant temperament:
The air should be cool and wet. If this is not possible, the air conditioner should be set to cool, together with the use of a humidifier. The house should be lightly sprayed with rose water.
For a person with a cold, wet, phlegmatic temperament:
The air should be hot and dry. If this is not possible, the air conditioner should be set to hot. The house should be lightly sprayed with orange blossom water.
For a person with a sanguine temperament:
The air should be cool and dry. If this is not possible, the air conditioner should be set to cool. The house should be lightly sprayed with water in which sandalwood has been dissolved.
Likewise, smoke such as charcoal smoke, hookah smoke, or cigarette smoke should not be allowed in the house. The windows should be kept closed to prevent dust from entering, and mold should be removed from the walls of the home, and so on.
Psychological Activity and Rest
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Severe anger increases the heat of the temperament. Therefore, a person with a hot temperament should avoid it so as not to develop bleeding in the head or elsewhere, paralysis, or other illnesses.
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Severe sadness increases coldness. Therefore, a person with a cold temperament should avoid it so as not to develop a heart attack, a stroke, or other illnesses.
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For this reason, physicians recommend, in many illnesses:
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Sitting in green surroundings.
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Listening to the sound of birds.
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Smelling pleasant fragrances.
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Bathing.
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Wearing white clothing.
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Applying suitable perfumes.
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Combing the hair and applying fragrant oils to it.
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Looking only at things that bring happiness.
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This is because these practices refresh the innate hotness, strengthen the faculties, and help one avoid the things that cause anger, sadness, worry, and distress.
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Physical Activity and Rest
Exercise should be performed for one hour, with moderate movements, until the skin stretches, becomes flushed, and the body begins to perspire.
Excessive rest cools the body, while excessive physical activity warms it.
Therefore, one's temperament should be taken into consideration.
Retention and Evacuation
Natural retention is the retention of food in the body for a period of time until it is transformed into the substance of the organs.
Abnormal retention is the retention of substances that should be expelled, such as urine, stool, and corrupted humors.
As for evacuation, it is the elimination of what should naturally be expelled, such as urine, stool, and other waste, or the elimination of corrupted humors through:
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Phlebotomy (bloodletting)
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Cupping (ḥijāmah)
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Purgatives, for example
This is followed by:
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Anointing the body with olive oil
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Applying oils that dissolve cold, wet phlegmatic substances, such as:
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Costus oil
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Chamomile oil
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And others
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