What Is Phlegmatic Temperament

Persian Traditional medicine considers people’s temperament to make any decision, whether it is related to their treatment or diet. One of the most well-known types of temperament is Phlegmatic. In this article, we will get acquainted with the concept of temperament and phlegmatic temperament, as well as their characteristics. After reading this article, you can almost guess whether your temperament is phlegmatic or not? It is necessary to consult a Persian traditional medicine specialist to diagnose the temperament correctly.

What Is The Meaning Of Temperament?

Temperament literally means to blend. Each compound is composed of all four elements (fire, air, water, and earth), and the difference in the amount of these elements in the objects distinguishes them from each other and causes them to have different temperaments. The amount and ratio of each of these elements will determine the temperament of the compound. For example, in phlegmatic people, the element of water prevails over other elements.

Types Of Temperaments

Human temperament is divided into two general categories:

1. Inborn temperament (congenital): this is the temperament with which a person is born.
2. Acquired (incidental) temperament: incidental temperament is created by a change in inborn temperament. These changes can be caused by factors such as season, age, gender, place of residence, mental and psychological states, and so on.

Important note: The criterion for identifying a person’s temperament is her or his inborn temperament, so the following information are related to this type of temperament.

What Are Humors

we have 4 kinds of fluids which are secreted inside the body.

• Choler or yellow bile (Choleric temperament– hot and dry). Element= Fire
• Blood (Sanguine temperament– hot and moist). Element= Air
• Phlegm (phlegmatic temperament- cold and moist). Element= Water
• Black bile (melancholic temperament– cold and dry). Element= Earth

Humors influence health, disease, temperament, and personality. For example, in Phlegmatic temperaments, phlegm humor is secreted more than someone with Choleric temperament. Or in Melancholic temperaments, black bile humor is secreted more than someone with Sanguine temperaments.
If the balance between the humors and their quantity or the quality of each is disturbed, it causes disease in the body, or in other words, it causes one humor to dominate the others in the body, which must be treated.

Phlegmatic Temperament

Phlegm is part of the body’s immune lymphatic system and is made of water. That is why Phlegmatic people have cold and moist temperament. What are the characteristics of phlegmatic people? The way to diagnose a person’s temperament and phlegm is usually to observe the appearance and physical characteristics of the person.

Phlegmatic people have light skin color and blond hair. Another way to diagnose them is that they have fat belly and sides. Other signs include bloating and having cold stomach. Visual impairment is sometimes caused by cold and moist temperaments, which is why these people generally wear glasses.

Excessive sweating is another sign. These people feel very uncomfortable in cold weather and they have cold sweats in hot weather. They sleep too much. Premature physical fatigue and having wet hands and feet. Cross-sectional and regional pain in the lower back, legs, and knees.

The place of accumulation of cold in the body variable in phlegmatic temperament. Sometimes this cold may manifest itself in the back and cause rheumatism. The predominance of phlegm in the body’s digestive system can also cause the abdomen to enlarge and increase appetite. Cold stomach also causes delayed digestion of food, bloating, and burping. Bad breath may also be a result of coldness in the stomach.

What Are The Characteristics Of Phlegmatic People?

1. They have large bodies and mostly overweight.
2. They have white, soft, cold, and wet skin when touched.
3. They have sparse and thin hair.
4. They have a wet mouth and rarely get thirsty.
5. They are heavy sleeper and sleep for long time.
6. They feel languid and lethargic.
7. They like to eat sweets, spices, and foods with warm temperaments.
8. They get bothered in winter.
9. They are prone to rheumatic diseases and digestive problems.
10. They have trouble eating foods with cold temperaments.
11. Have a weak pulse. They are low in energy and inactive and slow.
12. They don’t get angry soon.
13. They are forgetful and slow thinker.
14. Relaxed and easygoing.
15. They take everything easy and do not involve themselves in anything.
16. They are not risk-averse.
17. Weak-minded.
18. They are influenced by others.
19. Unlike sanguine temperaments, they have low sexual desire and power.
20. They are not very strong.
21. They speak slowly.
22. They’re not trencherman and don’t have high digestion power.
23. Phlegmatic temperaments are usually calm, patient, submissive and peaceful people.
24. Most are forethoughtful and cautious.
25. They do not show courage in doing things.
26. Their social relationships are not very strong.
27. Do not have powerful memory and high concentration.

What Are The Symptoms Of Phlegm Humor Domination?

When there is phlegm domination on a person, the tongue tends to turn white, the person feels cold, and all or some of the following conditions can be seen on the person:

• Tasteless mouth
• White body skin
• Sagging and sloppy skin
• Early graying of hair
• Cold hands and feet
• Slow digestion of food, excessive retention of food in the stomach and acidic burping
• Drowsiness and sleeping too much
• Drooling from the mouth when sleeping
• Dilution of nasal snot and excessive nasal discharge
• Forgetfulness and mental retardation
• Lack of attention
• Excessive urination
• Physical weakness
• Urination with pressure
• stomach ache
• Colic, pain in the back, neck and shoulders
• Back and neck muscle spasms
• Knee pain and leg pain
• Parkinson’s disease
• Vitiligo
• Gout
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations, especially when getting up
• Profuse cough with sputum
• Bladder weakness

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