In addition to a person’s congenital temperament, Persian Traditional Medicine also describes the temperament of different ages, referring to the changes and natural states that the human body is traditionally believed to experience throughout life. According to this traditional framework, the qualities of the body are not considered exactly the same from childhood to old age. As a person grows and passes through different stages of life, changes in physical development, strength, metabolism, and the condition of different organs are traditionally associated with changes in the body’s qualities.
It is important to understand that the temperament of age is different from a person’s inborn or congenital temperament. A person is traditionally believed to be born with a particular temperament that remains the main basis for identifying his or her individual temperament. At the same time, the natural characteristics associated with a particular age can influence the body’s condition temporarily or gradually throughout life. Therefore, a person may have one congenital temperament while also experiencing the characteristic qualities traditionally associated with his or her current age.
According to Persian Traditional Medicine, these age-related states are divided into four major periods of life. Each period has its own traditionally described qualities of hotness, coldness, moisture, and dryness, and these qualities are associated with the physical and developmental characteristics of that stage. Understanding these four periods can provide a clearer picture of how age is viewed within the traditional Iranian medical system.
At ACPFOOD, we aim to introduce readers to the traditional concepts of Persian Traditional Medicine and provide information about the traditional characteristics of herbs, foods, spices, and other natural products. Understanding the relationship between age and temperament can help readers become more familiar with one of the important principles of this traditional medical system.
The following sections explain each of these stages and the traditional temperament associated with them in greater detail:
- Childhood and the period of growth
- Youth and the period of maturity
- Adulthood and the period of stability
- Old age and the period of decline
1. Growth and Development Stage
The growth and development stage traditionally extends from birth to approximately 15 years of age. According to Persian Traditional Medicine, this is the period in which the body experiences its greatest degree of growth and development. During these years, the body’s natural heat and moisture are considered to be dominant, supporting growth, development, and the formation and strengthening of the body’s organs and tissues. For this reason, the age-related temperament of this stage is traditionally described as hot and moist.
It is important to understand that the description of this stage as hot and moist refers to the temperament of age, not the individual’s congenital temperament. For example, if a child has a naturally cold temperament, such as the Phlegmatic temperament, this does not mean that his or her congenital temperament changes simply because childhood is traditionally considered a hot and moist period. Rather, it means that compared with the stages of life before and after it, this period is traditionally characterized by greater heat and moisture.
The dominance of heat and moisture during the growth period is traditionally associated with the body’s ability to develop rapidly. Children experience continuous changes in height, weight, muscles, bones, organs, and other parts of the body, and Persian Traditional Medicine considers these developmental processes in relation to the qualities of heat and moisture. As the child gradually approaches the end of this stage, growth becomes more complete and the body begins to move toward the characteristics traditionally associated with the next period of life.
Therefore, when discussing the temperament of different ages, it is important not to confuse the natural qualities of an age with the individual temperament of a person. A child may have any of the four congenital temperaments while still experiencing the general hot and moist qualities traditionally attributed to the growth and development stage.
2. Youth Stage
The youth stage traditionally begins at around 15 years of age and continues until approximately 30 years old, although some traditional sources may extend this period to the age of 40. Compared with the previous growth and development stage, the body’s rapid growth gradually decreases and eventually reaches a state of relative stability. Instead of continuous and rapid development, the body enters a period in which its structure and physical abilities become more established.
According to Persian Traditional Medicine, this stage is traditionally characterized by the predominance of heat and dryness. As the moisture associated with the earlier growth period gradually decreases, heat and dryness are believed to become more dominant in the body. This is why the age-related temperament of youth is traditionally described as hot and dry.
The transition from the first stage to youth is therefore considered an important change in the temperament of different ages. During childhood, heat and moisture are traditionally associated with growth and development, while during youth, heat remains strong but moisture gradually decreases. This change is traditionally associated with the body’s transition from rapid growth toward greater physical maturity and stability.
It is important to remember that the hot and dry quality of youth does not mean that every young person has a hot and dry congenital temperament. A person’s inborn temperament remains an individual characteristic and may be different from the temperament traditionally associated with his or her age. For example, a young person may have a naturally cold temperament, such as a Phlegmatic temperament, while still experiencing the general hot and dry qualities traditionally attributed to the youth stage.
Within the traditional Iranian medical framework, understanding this distinction is important because age-related qualities and congenital temperament are considered separately. The age-related qualities describe the general condition traditionally associated with a particular period of life, while congenital temperament describes the person’s individual constitution.
3. Adulthood or Old Age Stage
The adulthood or old age stage is traditionally considered to begin at around 40 years of age and continue until approximately 60 years old. During this period, the body’s growth and development are considered to have completely stopped. Unlike childhood and youth, when the body is developing and becoming stronger, this stage is traditionally viewed as the beginning of a gradual decline in physical strength and vitality. However, this decline does not mean that the body’s strength disappears completely. Rather, physical abilities and the body’s natural processes are traditionally believed to gradually become weaker compared with the earlier stages of life.
According to the traditional framework of the temperament of different ages, this period is generally described as cold and dry. The heat that is traditionally considered dominant during childhood and youth gradually decreases, while dryness becomes more prominent. This change is associated with the gradual reduction in physical strength and the body’s movement away from the active growth and development characteristic of the earlier stages.
There is, however, some difference of opinion among traditional Persian physicians (Tabibs) regarding the moisture component of this stage. Some traditional sources describe adulthood and old age as cold and dry, while others consider this period to be cold and moist. Therefore, the classification of this stage is not presented identically in all traditional sources, and this distinction is worth mentioning when discussing age-related temperament.
It is also important to distinguish this age-related temperament from a person’s congenital temperament. Someone who reaches this stage does not necessarily develop a cold and dry congenital temperament. Rather, according to Persian Traditional Medicine, the body naturally experiences the qualities associated with this age while the person’s original temperament remains an individual characteristic. For example, a person with a naturally hot temperament may still experience the general age-related changes traditionally associated with adulthood and old age.
This stage can therefore be understood as a transition between maturity and the later stages of life, when physical strength gradually begins to decline while many of the body’s functions continue to operate. Understanding these traditional concepts helps explain why age is considered an important factor when discussing the temperament of different ages in Persian Traditional Medicine.
4. Degeneration or Senility Stage
The degeneration or senility stage is traditionally considered to begin at around 60 years of age and continue until the end of life. According to Persian Traditional Medicine, this is the stage in which the body’s physical strength and vitality gradually become significantly weaker. Unlike the earlier stages, which are associated with growth, maturity, and relative stability, this period is traditionally characterized by a more obvious decline in the body’s functions and abilities.
According to the traditional concept of the temperament of different ages, coldness and moisture become strongly dominant during this stage. The heat and dryness associated with the earlier periods of life are traditionally believed to decrease, while coldness and moisture become more prominent. This change is considered one of the major characteristics distinguishing senility from the previous stages of life.
These traditional changes are associated with gradual alterations in both physical and mental functions. For example, as people become older, they may notice changes in their digestion, reduced physical strength and activity, decreased ability to perform demanding activities, and changes in memory. Persian Traditional Medicine traditionally considers these changes as part of the body’s gradual transition into the qualities associated with old age and senility.
However, an important point is that the temperament of age is not necessarily identical in every person. The four general stages described in Persian Traditional Medicine represent a traditional framework for understanding the natural changes associated with aging, but individual differences can be significant. A person’s congenital temperament, lifestyle, diet, environment, physical condition, and other factors may influence how these age-related changes are experienced.
Interestingly, many people notice significant changes in their physical and mental condition before reaching the traditionally defined senility stage. For some people, these changes may become noticeable around 30 to 33 years of age. They may observe that their digestion is no longer the same as it was during their younger years, physical activities become somewhat more demanding, recovery may take longer, or occasional forgetfulness begins to appear. From the perspective of Persian Traditional Medicine, these observations can be considered when discussing the gradual changes that occur throughout the different stages of life.
Therefore, the concept of senility in Persian Traditional Medicine does not simply refer to reaching a particular chronological age. It also concerns the gradual changes in the body’s strength, functions, and qualities that may become increasingly noticeable over time. Understanding these changes alongside a person’s congenital temperament provides a broader perspective on how traditional Iranian medicine views aging and the temperament of different ages.
Important Point About Congenital and Age Temperament
When discussing the temperament of different ages, the distinction between heat and cold is traditionally considered more important than the difference between moisture and dryness. According to this traditional perspective, what matters most is the gradual change in the body’s natural heat throughout life. In particular, the period around 40 years of age is considered significant because the body’s heat is traditionally believed to begin decreasing, and a person may notice more pronounced changes in physical strength, digestion, mental state, and overall vitality. Therefore, it is essential to distinguish between congenital temperament, which is considered a person’s individual and inborn temperament, and age temperament, which represents the qualities traditionally associated with a particular stage of life.
The interaction between these two types of temperament is also an important concept in Persian Traditional Medicine. If a person has a hot congenital temperament and is simultaneously in a stage of life that is traditionally considered hot, the combination of these two qualities may create an unfavorable condition according to this traditional framework. This is one reason why people with naturally hot temperaments are traditionally believed to experience more challenges during the first decades of life. For example, people with Choleric or Sanguine temperaments may traditionally be more prone to irritability, digestive complaints, and skin problems during their younger years, particularly before the age of 20 to 30.
According to this traditional perspective, people with hot congenital temperaments may experience another interesting change as they move beyond their hottest age-related period. After approximately 30 to 40 years of age, as age-related heat gradually decreases, their natural qualities are traditionally believed to become more balanced. This period may be associated with greater intellectual development, maturity, and personal flourishing. In contrast, during the earlier years, the combination of a hot congenital temperament with the traditionally hot qualities of youth may make it more difficult for some individuals to maintain emotional and physical balance.
People with cold congenital temperaments, on the other hand, are traditionally believed to experience the opposite pattern. During the early stages of life, their congenital coldness is combined with the warmth traditionally associated with childhood and youth. According to Persian Traditional Medicine, this combination may create a more favorable balance and allow people with cold temperaments to flourish more easily during their younger years. However, as they approach 40 years of age, when age-related heat is traditionally believed to decline, the combination of congenital coldness and increasing age-related coldness may become less favorable. As a result, these individuals may traditionally experience more noticeable changes in their physical strength, mental abilities, and general vitality after this age.
This interaction between congenital and age temperament is therefore an important part of understanding the traditional concept of aging. It illustrates why the same stage of life may be experienced differently by different people. According to this framework, a person’s congenital temperament does not change, but the qualities associated with age change throughout life and interact with the person’s original temperament.