I

DISCLAIMER

This book is a reference work not intended to treat, diagnose, or

prescribe.
The information contained herein is in no way to be considered as a
substitute for consultation with a healthcare professional.

First Edition in July 2000

(2000 copies)

Second Edition (Revised) May 2001

(5000 Copies)

Electronic Edition (Revised) January 2014

II
 - Dedication –

This book is dedicated to the memory

of my late parents

Hassen Ebrahim Bhikha

&

Amina Mohamed Dockrat.

III
- Tibb Traditional Roots of Medicine in Modern Routes to Health –

A Product of the Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb

The Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb is a non-profit organization

operating as a trust (waqf).

The Institute was founded by the Bhikha Family Trust

and is academically supported by the

Hamdard University (Pakistan),

Aligarh University and Jamiah Hamdard (India).

P.O. Box 43209

Industria, 2042

Gauteng, South Africa

Tel: 27-11-991-7300

Email address: [email protected]

Website: www.tibb.co.za

IV
 Contents

Contents
Introduction 1

Chapter One 7

Why modern medicine cannot give you the whole

picture! 7

Holism 11
The early rise of holistic medicine 13

The rise of scientific western medicine 15

Rediscovering the ancient wisdom of holistic medicine 22

Evaluating alternative therapies 25

Chapter Two

Traditional Roots of Medicine in Modern Routes to Health 29

Muslim contributions to medicine 30

A brief history of Ibn Sina and the formulation of Tibb 33

Conclusion 36

Chapter Three 40

The Path to Health 40

Defining health holistically 41

Physis - The organizing principle 48

Chapter Four

The relationship between personality and illness 57

A 15-billion-year-old energy conservation program 57

V
 Contents

An economy of energy 59

Heat and Moisture 60

Humours 64

Temperament 67

Relationship between Temperament and Humours 73

Tissues, organs, energies, faculties and functions 74

An Integrated System 77

Chapter Five 79
Six Factors Determining Health 79

1. Environment, Air and Breathing 81

2. Food and Drink 86

3. Movement and Rest 96

4. Sleep and Wakefulness 98

5. Emotions 100

6. Elimination and Retention 104

Chapter Six

Health maintenance according to Temperament 111

Managing health according to temperament 112

Health maintenance for the bilious temperament type 113

Diseases associated with the bilious temperament 114

Health maintenance for the sanguinous

temperament type 114

Diseases associated with the sanguinous temperament 115

VI
 Contents

Health maintenance for the phlegmatic

temperament type 116

Diseases associated with the phlegmatic temperament 118

Health maintenance for the melancholic

temperament type 118

Diseases associated with the melancholic temperament 120

Chapter Seven 121

Treatment of Illnesses 121

Acne 124

Anaemia 126

Angina & Heart Attack 128

Anxiety & Stress 130

Arthritis 132

Osteo-Arthritis 132

Rheumatoid Arthritis 134

Gout 135

Asthma 137

Athlete’s Foot 138

Bad Breath (Halitosis) 140

Bladder Infection (Cystitis) 141

Boils 143

Cancer 145

Child-related Diseases 147

Bed-Wetting 147

VII
 Contents

Chicken Pox 148

Hyper-Activity 150

Measles 152

Mumps 153

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 155

Colds & Flu 156

Constipation 158

Coughs 159

Depression 160

Diabetes 163

Diarrhoea 167

Female related Disorders 169

Amenorrhoea (Absence of menstruation) 169

Hypomenorrhoea (Low menstruation) 169

Dysmenorrhoea (Painful menstruation)

Pre-Menstruation Syndrome (PMS) 170

Leucorrhoea (Vaginal discharge) 172

Menorrhogia (Excessive Menstruation) 173

Menopause related problems 175

Fever 177

Hay Fever 179

Headaches 180

Common headache 180

Bilious Headache/ Migraine 181
Sanguinous Headache 182

VIII
 Contents

Phlegmatic Headache/Migraine 184

Melancholic Headache 185

High Blood Pressure 186

High Cholesterol 191

Immune Boosting 193

Impotency 194

Indigestion 196

Insomnia 198

Liver Diseases and Alcohol Abuse 200

Nausea & Vomiting 202

Peptic Ulcers 204

Piles 206

Premature Ejaculation 208

Sinusitis 209

Tonsillitis/Sore Throat 211

List of herbs 214

Bibliography 218

Index 222

IX
 Introduction

Introduction

My journey towards Tibb has been a long and traumatic one. I have
always had an open mind towards new ideas, new concepts and ul-
timately judging everything based on outcomes - if it works, use it.
The value of a philosophy or practice is not that it can be argued well
using remarkable intelligence, but that it works for the person who is
using it.

The journey to Tibb began when my youngest daughter, Zaheera,

became ill after a holiday to the Far East. She developed Jaundice.
The onset of symptoms were slow, and the recovery period longer
than usual. This was the beginning of 1992. The attack of jaundice
was followed by an ‘infection’ of the lungs that affected her breathing.

‘She must have picked up a bug’, the doctors said. I have since come
to learn that this clichéd phrase is a fundamental part of the philoso-
phy of western medicine - and that there are alternative interpreta-
tions of disease.

Believing in the quest for the ‘bug’ resulted in test after traumatic test.
Her condition in the meantime deteriorated and within a month she
had to use her diaphragm to breathe, as her lungs were severely
compromised. A month later this complication resulted in an enlarged
heart, requiring an angiogram. By the end of June, a lung biopsy ‘con-
firmed’ the diagnosis of fibrosic alveolitis - the cause of the illness un-
known. Treatment consisted of 50mg of prednisone (cortisone) daily
and Zaheera needing oxygen twenty-four hours a day.

The days that followed were as dark as the nights, watching her
breathe with an oxygen mask and seeing her pretty little face swelling
up from the side-effect of cortisone. Desperation drove us to inves-

1
 Introduction

tigate other health-care givers - anybody who could help. We also

visited a Reflexologist, Aromatherapist, Colourtherapist, Energy heal-
er and Spiritual healer. What intrigued me was the ability of some
of these healers to diagnose the condition without the technology of
modern medicine. As a pharmacist who has always asked the ques-
tion ‘What is the active ingredient?’, or ‘What is the mode of action?’,
this was an eye opener. Eventually we visited a ‘Hakim’, a doctor
that practiced Tibb, traditional Greco-Arabic medicine. He performed
a pulse diagnosis from which he pronounced that she was suffering
from a hardening of the lungs, caused by what he called a ‘Cold and
Dry’ condition. He prescribed various herbs that Zaheera had difficulty
in taking. He also advised Zaheera to eat hot spicy chicken soup.

Continuing treatment with the Homeopath, the Hakim, the Reflexolo-

gist, an Aromatherapist, a Pulmonologist and Cardiologist, I started
integrating the treatment between them. Within a year my daughter
was swimming again and had recovered completely. Thank God.

Whilst continuing treatment from all the different healers, we used

modern medicine to monitor the progress. By doing lung function tests,
X-rays and scans, we were able to measure her recovery. During this
period, I reduced the cortisone level faster than the rate prescribed
by the specialist. We continued the follow-up visits with the cardiolo-
gist and pulmonologist and maintained the integrated approach of the
treatment programme.

This experience was the catalyst to find a health system that has
a better understanding of not only treatment methods, but also the
‘causes’ of illness. After years of research into the different philoso-
phies of healthcare, including Ayurveda, Chinese medicine and many
other practices of healthcare, I uncovered the hidden history of medi-
cine. The fathers of modern medicine, Hippocrates, Galen and Ibn
Sina had elaborated on an approach to health that most modern prac-
titioners had not even heard of. Their theory and practice of medicine

2
 Introduction

has come to be known as Greco-Arabic medicine. I was surprised

that so many of today’s practices of medicine are offshoots from this
knowledge of medicine but that our current over-reliance on technol-
ogy in our quest for the ‘bug’ has obscured some of the fundamental
philosophical teachings of Greco-Arabic medicine. I became increas-
ingly aware of the lack of a philosophical base in conventional west-
ern medicine.

In 1994, the formulation of South Africa’s new National Health Plan

highlighted the country’s need to provide effective, affordable Health-
care to all our people. The plan stressed the inclusion of all role play-
ers, including traditional healers and prioritized the promotion of pri-
mary health care.

Tibb, or Greco-Arabic medicine, places equal stress on the treatment

of illness and the maintenance of health to prevent illness. This phi-
losophy and practice of medicine was in keeping with the require-
ments of the National Health plan, and indeed that of the World Health
Organization’s stated objectives - to empower individuals to take care
of themselves.

In order to find out more about Tibb I met with the late Hakim Mo-
hamed Said of the Hamdard Foundation in Pakistan. I was inspired
by the humanitarian and academic activities of the organization and
more particularly the strides that the foundation had made in its Medi-
cal University where both Tibb and conventional Western medicine is
taught alongside each other. With the academic support of Hamdard
University and following in the footsteps of Hakim Mohamed Said, I
founded the Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb to promote the practice of this
philosophy in South Africa and to provide an opportunity for Health-
care professionals and lay-people alike to learn its principles.

3
 Introduction

Its added value can be summarized as:

• A holistic/systemic rather than a reductionist approach to

health;
• A focus on the peculiar situation and constitution of the
individual rather than generic approaches to disease;
• Early diagnosis of ‘syndromes’, long before the appearance
of symptoms, preventing more serious disease;
• A focus on the empowerment of the client rather than
paternalistic control over the client;
• Inexpensive, low-tech, easily accessible means to achiev-
ing health rather than expensive high-tech interventions
(but not excluding these when necessary);
• A core philosophy which animates its practice, adding
value to the humanness of its clients and presents an
ethical challenge to practitioners.

The South African Tibb Association, a National Body, was founded in

1997 to obtain formal recognition with the Department of Health un-
der the auspices of the Chiropractors, Homeopaths and Allied Profes-
sional Health Services Council of South Africa.

The decision to choose the name Tibb came after numerous discus-
sions with many different people. Over the centuries this philosophy
was called by different names. Greco-Arabic medicine (because of
the Greek and Arab contribution), Unani (which simply means Greek),
Western Holistic medicine and Unani-Tibb (‘Greek medicine’) which
was the name given to this philosophy in the India/Pakistan region to
differentiate it from the indigenous medicine of Ayurveda.

4
 Introduction

While the name Tibb does differentiate what we do from conventional

western medicine, it is really just the Arabic word for ‘medicine’ and
expresses our willingness to incorporate any medical knowledge and
practice that coincides with the basic philosophy of empowering the
individual to heal themselves.

The practice of Healthcare is an ongoing investigation and learning

experience. Hippocrates mused on the challenge: ‘Life is short and
the Art [of medicine] long, the occasion fleeting, experience fallacious
and judgment difficult.’

In the tradition of holism, this book tries to help the reader stand back
and see the whole picture. The ‘whole picture’ for us means two things.
First it is the whole picture of the history of medicine. This is impor-
tant as most readers find themselves within certain cultural traditions
specific to one period of history. We will try to show how a historical
perspective can restore some of the value of holism that has been
lost since the Age of Reason. Secondly, the whole picture refers to a
comprehensive and integrated picture of personal health. We believe
that certain holistic guiding principles can be applied to any health
strategy, ensuring its safety, its value to a specific personality, its opti-
mum effectiveness in relation to other strategies and its sustainability.

With the cost of Healthcare beyond the reach of most people, this
book aims to empower each individual to take care of him or herself.
The philosophy of Tibb is simple enough to be understood by anyone
and sophisticated enough to integrate all aspects of a person’s life-
style into one sustainable strategy toward health. The greatest chal-
lenge in life is to know yourself and to resist ‘outsourcing’ this quest to
experts and professionals. This book is a tool in that quest.

In conclusion, I thank Almighty God for making this book a reality ... a
dream come true.

5
 Introduction

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to Hakim Muham-

mad Abdul Haq from the Hamdard University, Pakistan whose insight
into Tibb medicine is truly extraordinary, to André Croucamp for put-
ting to paper, so effectively, the contents of this book, to Dr. Suliman
Ebrahim for editing the section on Treatment of Illnesses, to Muneera
Habana for the many hours of typing and to Zahida Khotu for assist-
ing with the setting up of the Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb.

Finally, to my wife Mariam who supported me over the many years

and my children who I hope will continue to serve the Institute in its
quest to deliver effective and affordable healthcare in our country, our
continent and indeed the rest of the world.

God Bless,

Rashid Bhikha

May 2018

Johannesburg

6
 Chapter One

Chapter One

Why modern medicine cannot give you the whole

picture!

Why the popular trend towards alternative medicine can be seen

as an important criticism of the scientific western medical tradi-
tion

There is a Chinese saying which insists that one should only pay
one’s physician when one is well and one should not pay him if one
is ill. This saying comes from a philosophy that focuses on maintain-
ing wellness all through life, not just treating illness when it occurs.
Scientific western medicine tends to reduce human bodies to discrete
parts, disembodying them to study what causes illness in them. Most
so-called ‘alternative’ medical approaches try to see the body as a
whole, existing in a greater social and environmental whole and fo-
cusing on the processes that maintain health for whole systems. As a
result, the debate between scientific western medicine and alternative
therapies usually focuses on the difference between treating specific
illness and maintaining overall wellness.

Alternative medicine is practiced by most of the world. Alternative

medicine has only ever been ‘alternative’ in the minds of middle-class
first-world consumers who experience scientific western medicine as
their traditional option. For most people living on this planet, the sci-
entific western medical tradition is actually the alternative - and usu-
ally an expensive one.

In an age when modern scientific medicine appears to be reaching

its zenith, with spectacular breakthroughs in gene therapy, artificial
body parts and incredible body imaging technology, it is remarkable
that so many people are showing an increasing interest in traditional

7
 Chapter One

and alternative therapies. From the second half of the last century, a
growing number of middle-class people who traditionally consulted
western health professionals started consulting alternative healers.
Increasingly, consumers are seeing the benefits of the noninvasive
treatments of alternative medicine. They appear to be experiencing
them as less stressful than the clinical procedures of the scientific
western medical tradition. Alternative therapies tend to offer a more
user-friendly and emotionally supportive context. The fact that they
are generally cheaper and encourage the active participation of the
client in decision-making is also seen as advantages. Furthermore,
many people seek advice on things like nutrition from alternative heal-
ers because they are not receiving this kind of information from their
orthodox caregivers. We know that a high self-esteem and positive
attitude are directly related to health and must be maintained. Many
of the alternative therapies often do an excellent job of offering these.

Consumers are embracing a huge array of ‘alternative’ practices.

These include acupuncture, aromatherapy, biofeedback, herbal med-
icine, reflexology, massage techniques like Reiki and Shiatsu, various
types of meditation, yoga, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda - and Tibb,
which is the focus of this book. Increasingly, Healthcare institutions
around the world are offering these therapies as part of their integrat-
ed treatment programmes. In the same spirit, companies are starting
to embrace wellness programmes, promoting sustained health rather
than treating illness as the focus of Healthcare and medical schemes.
Recognizing these benefits, the World Health Organization is encour-
aging all countries to promote traditional herbal medicine.
1

While the scientific western medical tradition still bears the image of
authoritative empirical laboratory research, it is increasingly being
criticized for:

• Being impersonal;
• Relying on technology at the cost of the human touch and

8
 Chapter One

intuition;
• Employing a false sense of objectivity;
• Fragmenting the human being through its reductionist
approaches and over specialization;
• Focusing on treatment rather than prevention;
• Claiming absolute authority and keeping knowledge
inaccessible to the uninitiated public;
• Promoting the business of illness rather than the path of
health.

There is a growing frustration that the scientific western medical tradi-

tion cannot give us the big picture.

The increased interest in alternative medicine may be driven by a

number of factors:

• The high cost of western medicine;

• An increased concern with fitness and the body beautiful
culture;
• A dissatisfaction with mainstream religion and the subse-
quent exploration of alternative spiritualties;
• The success of New Age marketing and branding;
• The first-world’s obsession with the revitalizing effects of
exotic and Eastern cultures;
• The new access to information brought about by informa-
tion technology.

This trend towards alternative medicine should be seen as a seri-

ous criticism of the methods and techniques of the scientific western
medical tradition.

9
 Chapter One

The critiques of the scientific western medical tradition in this book

are not designed to discredit it, but to reinforce our belief that it is
only part of a more holistic solution. We believe it is an invaluable
part of therapeutic strategies, but cannot give us the whole picture.
The points this chapter makes about western medicine are a gen-
eralization that characterizes the scientific western medical tradition
and does not necessarily apply to all its practitioners. Based on “sci-
entific method”, modern medicine is biased towards experimental re-
ductionism - breaking things down into their parts. Progress is often
made on the level of treating parts without understanding the negative
effects such treatments have on the whole. A good example of this
is antibiotics – over the short term they destroy harmful bacteria in
particular, but they also destroy useful bacteria in the intestine affect-
ing digestion and in the long term breeding more dangerous bacteria
that are resistant to antibiotics. Reductionism also lends academic
authority to scientific medicine that tends to exclude ordinary people
from understanding it. It doesn’t try to inform clients in a way that lets
them take control of their health and make real decisions, but expects
them to have blind faith in Science. As a result, clients outsource
their decisions about health to ‘experts’ that only have one ‘angle’ on
their problems.

We are critical of the belief that whatever cannot be examined and

tested scientifically has to be framed as sentimental superstition. The
pulse taking of Ayurveda, Chinese medicine and Tibb is an example
of a subtle and subjective knowledge that is learnt over many years
of practice and eventually translated into intuition. The process of ac-
quiring knowledge of this technique is different to those processes in
modern medicines that rely on textbook knowledge, technology and
technologically measurable data. While modern practitioner’s may not
accept the validity of such diagnostic methods, many modern doctors
will tell stories of how they themselves acted on intuition and saved
someone’s life.

10
 Chapter One

Modern medicine has developed magic bullets that have exterminat-

ed many major diseases. It has advanced medical technology (for
measuring, augmenting and for treating the body) further than in any
other period of medical history and has created invaluable models
of critical thinking. We believe, however, there are limits to scientific
investigation.

Holism

We will be promoting a holistic approach to designing health strate-

gies. In contrast to the scientific western medical tradition, the philos-
ophy of holism focuses on whole systems, not just on parts. It focuses
on enhancing well-being not just on treating illness. It sees the client
as responsible for his or her own health, encourages questions and
offers information and skills.

There are many approaches to Holistic Medicine, which all acknowl-

edge the fact that human health consists of many variables and can
be addressed in many different fields of expertise.

The American holistic medical association (Ahma) defines ho-

listic health as: ‘A state of well-being in which an individual’s body,
mind, emotions and spirit are in tune with the natural, cosmic and
social environment.’

The Ahma defines holistic medicine as:

‘A system of Healthcare which emphasizes personal responsibility and

fosters a co-operative relationship among all those involved, leading
toward optimal attunement of body, mind, emotions and spirit.’

The World Health Organization defines health as: ‘A state of com-

plete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the ab-
sence of disease or infirmity.’

11
 Chapter One

From our perspective the biggest difference between holism and the
scientific, Western medical tradition is that the latter does not have a
health-centred philosophy. At first this suggestion may appear shock-
ing, but at closer inspection it is the key to understanding why al-
ternative therapies in general and holistic medicine in particular are
increasing in popularity. While many doctors may cite Hippocrates
(who was actually a holist) saying, ‘First, do no harm,’ the philoso-
phy of the scientific western medical tradition is based on a ‘scientific
method’. Scientific method is centred on finding objective truth, not on
finding health in its broadest sense. It reduces the human body and
its environment to increasingly smaller parts in order to control them
with technological and chemical interventions. At the heart of modern
medicine is ‘The germ theory’, seen as the origin of most diseases.
This has created a narrow focus amongst healthcare professionals.
Efforts and research tend to be put into identifying and destroying the
organisms that are seen to be the major cause of disease. In fact, for
the most part, this tradition sees health as the absence of disease.

‘Western medicine has no concept of health. Its approach reflects

the culture’s general emphasis on conflict and its basic aim is to
destroy alien forces regarded as responsible for disease. This
struggle is played out chiefly between the medical technology
and the offending agent. The field of battle is the patient’s body.’
(Hammer 1990:43)
3

This is a perspective of the scientific western medical tradition inherit-

ed from Descartes and the Industrial Revolution. In both cases nature
was seen to be an object that should be brought under the control of
man.

We must emphasize that we do not see holism as ‘right’ and western

medicine as ‘wrong’. In fact, Ibn Sina himself embraced the principles
of scientific methods. He ‘sets out clearly the three methods: agree-
ment, indifference and concomitant variations - that are usually re-

12
 Chapter One

garded as characteristics of modern sciences.’ (Hakim Mohammed

Said). The point being that holistic approaches to health does not
necessarily exclude scientific enquiry.

The time has come to critically evaluate the differences and flaws of
each approach and explore the best possible routes to health, what-
ever their means. In this process it might help to get an idea of the
historical relationship between holistic medicine and scientific west-
ern medicine.

The early rise of holistic medicine

The recorded story of holistic medicine goes back to the Egyptian Im-
hotep who lived in about 2980 BC. The real unwritten story presum-
ably goes back further still. Hippocrates, often mistakenly referred to
as the father of medicine, claimed to have got his knowledge from
Imhotep. Imhotep is not just well known for his holistic approach to
medicine but also for his technological skill.

In the temple of Haroeris and Sobek, from the time of Imhotep, one
can find drawings of medical instruments going back to 2850BC. Many
of these instruments are similar to those used in operating theatres
today. The point being that holistic approaches do not necessarily ex-
clude technological advances.

It is believed that the first pyramid of Egypt was built by Imhotep for
his Pharaoh Djoser (also called Sertor or Zoser), the third pharaoh of
the Third Dynasty. This is often claimed to be the first structure built
of stone, held together by joints, not mortar or any other binding ma-
terials. Imhotep has been referred to as a great African multi-genius,
whose feats far exceed the European genius Leonardo da Vinci.

It was the Greek philosopher-physician Hippocrates (460-377 BC)

who was inspired by Imhotep and who freed European Medicine from
the realm of superstition and magic and gave it the status of Sci-

13
 Chapter One

ence. In other words, he showed that disease was a natural process

and that its symptoms were the predictable reactions of the body. He
taught us that the chief function of the physician was to aid the natural
forces of the body. He was the first physician to introduce the method
of taking medical histories. One of the most illuminating theories to be
postulated by Hippocrates was that of ‘Physis’ - the organism’s unity.
Unfortunately, this was the baby, thrown out with the bath water, in the
Age of Reason.

Hippocrates believed that health is the expression of a harmonious

balance between the various components of man’s nature, the envi-
ronment and life style. This equilibrium was controlled by natural (and
hence predictable) laws. He believed there was a natural tendency, or
what he called ‘vis medicatrix’, towards self-healing.

Hippocrates conceptualized the theory of humours, on which much

of Tibb is based. Four humours circulate in the body: Sanguinous,
Phlegmatic, Bilious and Melancholic. Imbalances in these humours,
he believed caused disease. This may seem like medieval mumbo
jumbo now, but we will explore these notions fully later.
4

The Hippocratic model of illness recognized multiple factors in the

cause of disease. This was what he called an ‘ecological model’, or
what some would call ‘holistic’ and others ‘systemic’. It was Galen
(130-220AD) who really ensured the survival of these Hippocratic
ideas for nearly 2000 years.

Embracing an ecological model of disease, Galen was the first to

claim that mental illness originated in the processes of the brain and
was not the result of outside spiritual forces. After the fall of Rome,
the practice of western medicine fell into the ‘Dark Ages’ and illness
was once again thought to be caused primarily by sin, possession,
witchcraft and other spiritual forces. During this time, however, the

14
 Chapter One

insights of Greece and Rome were guarded, nurtured and extrapo-

lated by Arab physicians, like Al-Razi (Rhazes), Ibn Sina (Avicenna),
Al Zahravi (Albucasis) and the surgeon Ibn-Nafis. They refined this
knowledge to an even greater art of healing - as can be demonstrated
by their sophisticated hospitals and extensive encyclopedias. It was
after the crusades that the west claimed this knowledge as its own.
Since then, the real roots of many medical practices and knowledge
have been hidden from popular history. It is the knowledge of Ibn
Sina, in particular, that this book will focus on.

The rise of scientific western medicine

Focusing on the parts - neglecting the whole

With the Renaissance, the object thinking of so-called science slowly

replaced ecological models. This is often called the Cartesian mod-
el named after Rene Descartes (1596-1650). Science, it appeared,
invalidated the humoral concepts of Hippocrates and Galen. Their
ecological philosophy was eclipsed by the Cartesian idea that man
was separate from nature (even his own body) and could view it ob-
jectively through experiment. It must be noted that Hippocrates and
Galen held sway for nearly 2000 years. The orthodoxy of what we call
‘modern medicine’ is very recent - most significantly heralded by Ru-
dolph Virchow (1821 - 1902) who demonstrated that disease begins
with changes in living cells, and Louis Pasteur (1822 - 95) whose role
in the development of the germ theory of infection was key.

Disease became associated with specific micro-organisms, not imbal-

ances of humours or complex convergences of elements in a lifestyle.

This was a new way to view illness as different from the ecological
model of Hippocrates, as his model was different from the religious
model. The late Rene Dubos, an esteemed microbiologist and Pro-
fessor Emeritus at The Rockefeller University, has named this orga-
nizing paradigm – ‘The doctrine of specific aetiology’ and considers it
to be the single most powerful force in the development of medicine

15
 Chapter One

in the past century. Many other terms have been used: the biomedical
model, the biological-reductionist model, the ontological model, the
law of parsimony, etc. None, however, conveys the central tenets of
this paradigm as well as the name chosen by Dubos.

In essence, the doctrine has two major postulates:

1. Illness can be categorized into specific diseases.

2. Each disease has a unique primary cause.

The first postulate assumes that a disease is a real and distinct entity
in nature rather than merely a label which serves as a convenient
method of grouping a collection of signs and symptoms. Illness, it
assumes, is simply the experience of being diseased. By implication,
illnesses, for which no specific disease can be discovered, are less
real than those with specific pathological changes. In addition, the
non-specific aspects of illness (malaise, depression, etc.) do not re-
quire as much attention from the physician since they will disappear
once the disease is treated successfully.
5

The second postulate assumes the existence of a specific agent

for each disease. It further assumes that the agent, whose pres-
ence is necessary for the existence of a disease, is actually the
cause of that disease. Other factors associated with a disease
but neither specific to that disease nor necessary for its exis-
tence, are considered to be irrelevant, unless the specific aetio-
logical agent has not yet been identified or cannot be eradicated.
(Melvyn R. 1986:13-12)

Half a century ago Morris R. Cohen and Ernest Nagel warned that the
doctrine of specific Aetiology violated modern scientific principles in
two ways:

16
 Chapter One

1. The Fallacy of Pseudo Simplicity

Not only was the complexity of cause collapsed into simplicity, but
theories based on specific aetiologies considered any other theory
false and excluded them.

While it appeared that the development of antibiotics and immuniza-

tion had reduced the numbers of fatal infections, Thomas McKeown,
Professor of Social Medicine Emeritus at the University of Birming-
ham, pointed out that a number of important ecological factors were
responsible for this decline - better nutrition, better protection from
hazards and less over-crowding in living spaces. He claims that these
ecological factors were originally over-looked because ‘Magic bullet’
theories of medicine had replaced ecological theories, and confidence
in antibiotics and immunization was high. Today this confidence is
waning, and there are those who would argue that antibiotics and im-
munization have caused more trouble than they have relieved.

There are diseases that do not require a specific pathologic agent,

but multiple Aetiological factors, like the degenerative diseases - arte-
riosclerotic heart disease, cancer and diabetes mellitus. Laboratories
are constantly proving multi-factorial, systems models, which reso-
nate with the old ecological approach of Hippocrates and Galen.

Think for a moment about AIDS. For those with means, there are
various ‘cocktail’ therapies that reduce AIDS to a chronic but manage-
able disease. Those without the means are very rarely told that there
are other therapies that address aetiological factors other than the vi-
rus - strengthening the immune system through nutrition for example.
Knowledge of other aetiological factors than those dealt with by the
scientific western medical tradition can provide additional strategies
for preventing and treating disease.

17
 Chapter One

The fallacy of simplicity not only collapses complexity into simplistic

singularities that can be named and classified, but it excludes vari-
ance as anomalous or irrelevant.

2. The Fallacy of Reduction

Reductionism distances the nature of illness from the individual ex-

periencing it, depersonalizing it. Pasteur himself would have criticized
this, believing that a disease could not be understood without knowl-
edge of the individual who became infected, their peculiar susceptibil-
ity to infection and their emotional predispositions.

Roger J. Williams, who has made major contributions to nutritional

science has said, ‘if medicine were a pure science it would perhaps
be interested in hypothetical average people. Being an applied sci-
ence, its interest must be in real people who are of many sorts and
suffer from many sorts of disease’ (1975).

Patients seek treatment because they wish to be healed of their

illness, not merely cured of their diseases. Thus, when physi-
cians are disease-orientated specific aetiologists, there is a fun-
damental difference between the goals of patients and the goals
of their doctors. This difference helps to explain why an estimat-
ed 70 to 90 per cent of all episodes of illness are managed exclu-
sively outside the formal Healthcare system (Zola) as well as the
shocking fact that patients report far greater improvement after
treatment by folk healers than after treatment by modern physi-
cians (Kleinman). It also helps to explain why patients often fail
to comply with their doctors’ orders (Stimson).
(Werbach 1986:88)

We have summarized the criticisms of scientific western medicine, by

practitioners of holistic medicine, into 7 points:

18
 Chapter One

1. The scientific western medical tradition focuses on specific or-

ganic causes of disease.

The doctrine of specific aetiology is also known as the ‘germ theory’.

Because of its reductionist nature, the scientific western medical tra-
dition tends to be sceptical of that which was not measured or created
in the laboratory.

2. Most practices of medicine offer the clinical alleviation of symp-

toms rather than coherent change of lifestyle

With a belief in specific aetiology the approach tends to be narrow, fo-

cusing on symptoms that are causing a person distress. Clients have
come to expect and prefer a treatment that gives immediate relief, not
one that is progressively administered over time but is sustainable.

3. The scientific western medical tradition places the emphasis on

illness not on health

The scientific western medical tradition emphasizes extreme pathol-

ogy and as a result neglects the complex causes of disease, and ne-
glects wellness. It focuses on the disease end of the spectrum.

4. The scientific western medical tradition is dependent on tech-

nology

This often makes it seem impersonal. The technology is designed to

measure increasingly smaller parts of a person, further fragmenting
the whole. Those aspects of holistic medicine that do not yield them-
selves to instrumentation are considered invalid.

19
 Chapter One

The information that the scientific western medical tradition values

is information that fits into a particular statistical verification system
– information that can be measured by specific technologies. In fact,
‘technology insists that, as a test of the validity of the healing modal-
ity, the healer must not be essential to the healing process’ (Hammer
1990:9). In the quest for zero defect, western medicine has outsourced
diagnosis to machines and tools, often losing the human voice, touch
and intuition. Only information that can be spoken in the language of
technology is regarded as valid. As Abraham Maslow said, ‘If the tool
you have is a hammer; you will always be looking for a nail.’

In contrast to this, the holistic approach sees the diagnostic process

itself as therapeutic.

5. The scientific western medical tradition does not recognize nat-

ural healing crises

What is defined as negative and pathological is often the body’s at-

tempt to heal itself. Sometimes these processes can be extremely
uncomfortable with symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, exces-
sive urination, nosebleeds, headaches, fever, and unusual perspira-
tion. These eliminative functions are often stopped by the scientific
western medical tradition, without allowing an appropriate time for the
natural process of elimination to take place. Western psychology un-
derstands these crises better than western medicine. Psychologists
has long seen the healing value in grief, and what has been variously
named, ‘spiritual emergency’, ‘rites of passage’, ‘a hero’s journey’ or
‘an underworld journey’.

The Great Sufi Imam al-Ghazzali said:

Illness is one of the forms of experience by which humans

arrive at a knowledge of God; as He says, ‘Illnesses are my

20
 Chapter One

servants which I attach to My chosen friends’.

It must be said that one has to be sensible, of course, in cases where

these phenomena are genuinely dangerous. Diarrhoea in a person
who has AIDS can be life threatening. Diarrhoea is still the major
cause of death amongst infants in South Africa.

6. The scientific western medical tradition neglects the psychologi-

cal implications of an illness, as well as the symbolic ritualistic
role of a healer

The criticism from the scientific western medical tradition that many
holistic therapies are psychosomatic is true, but not in the negative
sense in which it is meant to be viewed. The word ‘psychosomatic’ is
seen as a negative indictment.

7. In the scientific western medical tradition, responsibility does

not lie with the patient

Instead the paternalistic institution or health professional takes con-

trol, often denying the patient vital information and skill, and ultimately
creating dependence. This book puts a great focus on empowering
the patient by teaching them the general principles of health as pro-
moted by holistic practices.

The nature of the economy encourages narrow specialization, com-

petition and fragmentation, rather than integration. There also is not
time for thorough diagnosis and treatments are generic not personal-
ity specific, so as to keep the production line moving.

21
 Chapter One

Rediscovering the ancient wisdom of holistic medicine

As a matter of interest, it was the South African statesman, Jan Smuts

(1870 - 1950), who first coined the term ‘holism’, in his book Holism
and Evolution. In this book he argued that evolution is a sequence
of increasingly comprehensive integrations - a concept that we will
explore later.

It was Abraham Maslow (1908 - 70) who was largely instrumental for
questioning the rigid application of the scientific model of the physical
sciences to psychology.

He claimed that it resulted in the fragmentation of the person, neglect-

ing areas such as individuality and self-actualization. This prefigured
the holistic health movement’s concern with ‘optimal health’ or ‘high-
level wellness’ as an alternative to the narrow disease orientated
model favoured by the proponents of specific aetiologies.

Holism is finding increasing support from the scientific community.

‘As researchers in a number of highly specialized areas extend

their investigations beyond their previous limits, they are discov-
ering that, instead of diverging even further from the investiga-
tions of their colleagues, their work is increasingly intersecting.
One result has been a gradual erosion of the mind-body split as
newer, more integrated approaches combine both mental and
physical elements in their protocols.’
(Werbach 1986:123)

In the 1950s and early 1960s, certain mavericks in western medicine

began to value and integrate ideas from traditions that taught holis-
tic approaches to health. With inspiring pioneers such as Dr Evarts
Loomis and his now legendary medical retreat centre, Meadowlark,

22
 Chapter One

in the United States, the holistic medical movement slowly began to

influence the way medicine was practiced by western Healthcare pro-
fessionals. Holism was experienced as something novel but was the
revival of ancient knowledge - or perhaps common sense unhindered
by blind faith in Science.

In the mid-1980s the term ‘alternative medicine’ began to gain popu-

larity and continues to be preferred when referring to non-convention-
al medical healthcare treatments.

Beginning in the 1990s, a growing number of doctors and hospitals

began to describe their use of unconventional and alternative medical
treatments as ‘complementary medicine’. The emphasis was not on
an exclusive alternative but on using non-conventional treatments as
a complement or secondary support to already prescribed conven-
tional medical treatment.

The most recent of the more popular terms being used to describe the
use of unconventional/alternative treatments by medical doctors and
other health care practitioners, is integrative medicine (sometimes
also called ‘integral medicine’) The term ‘integrative medicine’ seeks
to recognize and validate the knowledge and practices of all heal-
ing and medical traditions, rather than framing them as secondary to
western practices.

Now, authors like Andrew Weil, Deepak Chopra and Bernie Siegel are
respected leaders in the field of health care. As more media and more
information about holistic practices are becoming available, more
consumers and more health care professionals are starting to explore
its techniques and guiding principles.

23
 Chapter One

Many practitioners describe what they do as holistic but not all of

them embrace the philosophy of holistic medicine.

The wisdom of holistic medicine is a combination of the practice of

medicine with an understanding of a philosophy that provides the
whole picture. Who is man - what makes man - what makes him tick -
what constitutes health and what are the causes of disease?

We feel that to embrace the term ‘alternative’ is to place its practice

outside conventional western therapies and make it some sort of val-
ue loaded opposite. Holistic medicine does not exclude western med-
icine. Even doctors who criticize holistic medicine uses many holistic
techniques. The doctor who gives a thorough diagnosis, covering not
only your symptom but also your stress levels, how you have been
sleeping, what you are eating and how you are exercising can be said
to have a holistic approach. Any doctor that works together with a
team of experts towards the health of his or her client can also be said
to have an holistic approach. Holistic medicine also does not mean
that narrowly focused western specializations should be excluded. If
you need a specialist as part of your team, a holistic approach would
endorse this. Tibb however, not only emphasizes holistic practices,
it reaches down to the roots of holism and embraces its philosophy.
This is its value. While we teach many techniques and practices, we
believe that once a person understands the principles of a holistic
health philosophy like Tibb, they will be able to innovate many prac-
tices themselves.

Many western Healthcare professionals are embracing holistic

practices. In fact, a recent survey of family physicians in the U.S.
found that more than half regularly prescribe alternative treat-
ments or have tried alternative therapies themselves. By the end
of the 1990s, thirty-seven percent or almost one-third of conven-
tional medical schools, including Harvard, Yale, and Johns Hop-
kins, offer courses in alternative medicine.
(Mary & Michael Morton. 1997)

24
 Chapter One

We are also discouraged from using the term ‘alternative’ because,

while it covers many non-western practices, not all alternative thera-
pies are holistic. Techniques borrowed from holistic philosophies are
often used without the philosophy. This is partly due to the opportu-
nistic marketing of techniques and therapies to a consumer market
looking for quick fixes. Faddish courses are run. Internet sites offer ‘all
you need to know’. Techniques and therapies are simply added to a
growing armoury that people believe will give them control over their
own lives.

The genuine practice of holistic medicine requires that practitioners

and clients alike embrace a whole new way of looking at the body, at
healing and the role of the client in the healing process. This will be
the adventure of our book.

Evaluating alternative therapies

Embracing holistic therapies or holistic approaches to combining ther-

apies does not go hand in hand with embracing superstition and un-
critical sentimentality.

Scientific method of western tradition has given us many valuable

ways of critically evaluating ideas and practices. We encourage criti-
cal thinking and believe that holistic medicine itself should not evade
investigation. It needs to evolve and adapt to new challenges.

Robert Ornstein, a psychologist at the University of California Medical

Centre, San Francisco and a leading authority on the study of con-
sciousness, said:

‘Holistic is a word that has become perverted. Holistic health is getting

to be a fad. To many, it means only freaky things, so we end up with
just another fragmented approach to health instead of a holistic one.’

25
 Chapter One

Werbach says:
‘Holistic’ is being used to describe any approach which deals with
‘body, mind, emotions and spirit’ as if it makes little difference
how applicable, scientifically valid and cost-effective the ap-
proach may be. Patients entering the movement are greeted by
a potpourri of diagnostic techniques and treatments to sample,
often with little rationale for the items suggested for them to try.
The emphasis is upon invalidated procedures as if their rejection
by the medical establishment somehow makes them better than
conventional procedures.’
(1986:124)

To avoid irresponsible and blind use of unconventional therapies we

suggest that therapies (including Tibb) should:

• Be safe;
• Not contain substances in amounts that may be physi-
cally harmful or practice therapies that may be physically
harmful;
• Not completely replace Healthcare which is accepted as
effective;
• Allow for an adequately balanced diet to meet nutritional
goals;
• Not be a just a new fad or trend;
• Not exploit the emotional state of distressed or desperate
people opportunistically;
• Not incur unnecessary expense;
• Have positive benefits.

Here are some more investigative questions that may assist a person
trying to evaluate an alternative therapy:

26
 Chapter One

Is the material you are reading promoting a specific product? In other

words, is it a kind of advertisement? If so, does it mention side ef-
fects? Does it use testimonials rather than scientific studies? Does it
contain any authentic references? Is the product usually expensive
and available only at special stores? Does it replace effective and
proven recommendations? Who is the author and what are their cre-
dentials? Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

Where was the research done and have the results been published?
A good reference librarian can help people interested in a particular
treatment find out whether it has been reported in reputable scientific
journals.

Does the treatment claim to have a ‘secret formula’ that only a small
group of practitioners can use? Anyone with integrity, who believes
they have developed an effective treatment, would publish their re-
sults in reputable journals so other researchers could evaluate them.

Don’t rely on what you find on the Internet simply because it is there.
A recent study showed that up to 40% of medical information on the
Internet was false. Critically evaluate your source. Is it on the web-
site of a reputable author, journal or health institution? Remember,
personal and isolated anecdotes may give you some clues to follow
or investigations to pursue, but they do not constitute proof.

Be especially sceptical of advertisements that make the treatment

sound like a miracle, claiming that it is harmless and painless and pro-
duces no unpleasant side effects. We are not saying that this cannot
be true, but it is unlikely and should be cause for healthy skepticism.

If you have read an article or seen some research, take a copy of it to

your doctor and other members of your holistic health team.

27
 Chapter One

If you are trying something unusual, let your doctor know and togeth-
er establish a time frame to measure its effectiveness. Remember,
some alternative therapies make people feel special just because it
gets them to act differently.

No alternative therapy should be seen as a replacement for good

eating habits and if it cannot function as a co-therapy, together with
medication, it should be questioned.

28
 Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Traditional Roots of Medicine in Modern Routes to

Health

William Harvey (1578-1657), one of the fathers of the modern medi-

cal model, instructed his followers before he died to, ‘Go to the foun-
tainhead and read Aristotle, Cicero and Avicenna’. Many Healthcare
professionals may have heard of the names Aristotle and Cicero but
who has heard of Avicenna, known as Ibn Sina in the Islamic world?
The Encyclopedia Britannica calls Ibn Sina’s famous Canon of Medi-
cine ‘The single most famous book in the history of medicine, in East
or West.’ Like the great African genius Imhotep (whose medicine in-
spired Hippocrates), the memory of Ibn Sina has been neglected by
popular histories of medicine. In this chapter we will show how he
integrated all the ancient traditions of medicine into one system of
thought and how he systematically extracted the general principles
of healing. His system became what is known as Greco-Arabic medi-
cine, Unani medicine, Western holistic medicine, or Tibb.

The prejudice of first-world media obscures the fact that Tibb is one
of the most widely practiced and scientifically accurate systems of
medicine in the world today. In fact, healing traditions directly inspired
by Unani medicine, remain the treatment of choice for more than one-
quarter of the world’s population! This includes the Middle and Near
East, India, South America and parts of Europe. Dr. Edward Spicer,
an anthropologist at the University of Arizona, has even identified
Afro-Americans in the rural South of the United States using herbal
remedies that originated in the Unani Healing formularies. Even in our
own country, the practice of cupping - a traditional Greco-Arabic prac-
tice - is used by traditional healers. It should be appreciated that the
spread of Islam and the prophetic tradition of ‘seek knowledge, even
though it be in China’ was responsible for carrying medical knowledge
all over the globe. Within one hundred years of coming into existence,
the Islamic empire had spread from Spain in the west, to China in

29
 Chapter Two

the east and encompassed in its midst, the whole of northern Africa,
Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Trans-Jordan, Central Asia and parts of west-
ern India. Later, it was carried even further by Muslim merchants to
the shores of the far-east, including the Malaysian peninsula, the is-
lands of the East Indies and Indonesia.

The philosophy of Tibb encourages its physicians to constantly add to

their knowledge. Tibb has steadily increased its knowledge-base by
borrowing from other sources like Ayurvedic medicine. Its adaptability
has kept Tibb a vibrant tradition. It is officially recognized as Unani
(‘Greek Medicine’) in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. In
India there are an increasing number of medical schools where Unani
is now a major part of the curriculum. The degree from these schools
enables their students to be licensed practitioners of Unani medicine.
Their certification, licensing and supervision is controlled by the Indi-
an Medical Council. Tibb also enjoys the favour of public popularity in
other countries including Afghanistan, Malaysia and countries in the
Middle East. In the latter countries it has recently had a remarkable
resurgence in practice.

Muslim contributions to medicine

What we call science arose in Europe as a result of a new spirit of

inquiry of new methods of investigation of the method of experiment,
observation and measurement of the development of mathematics
in a form unknown to the Greeks. The spirit and methods were intro-
duced into the European world by the Arabs.

Briffault (Quoted by Ibrahim Boolaky in Hamdard, Vol. XXVI, No.1)

Looking back, we may say that Islamic medicine and science
reflected the light of the Hellenic sun. When its day had fled and
they shone like a moon, illuminating the darkest night of the Eu-
ropean Dark Ages; that some bright stars lent their own light and

30
 Chapter Two

the moon and the stars alike faded at the dawn of the day - the
Renaissance. Since they had their share in the direction and in-
troduction of that movement, it may be reasoned that they are
with us yet.

(In Al-TIbb Al-Islami by Hakim Mohammed Said)

It is noteworthy that the great plague known as the Black Death,

which swept through European populations, stopped at the bor-
ders of the Muslim world because of the Islamic measures of
cleanliness alone.
- Abdul Ali (Hamdard, Vol. XXIX, no.4)

While Europe experienced the ‘Dark Ages’, Arabic physicians were ex-
ploring the writings of Galen, Aristotle, Paul of Agaeia and other Greek
sources. Recent discoveries of manuscripts by an Egyptian Physician,
Mohiuddin al-Tatawi, have shown that Islamic Physicians not only
possessed excellent knowledge of anatomy and physiology from the
Greeks, but they added some challenging new concepts. Perhaps the
best example is the discovery of the lesser or pulmonary circulation by
Ibn Nafis (1288 AD). Until recently this discovery was credited to Serve-
tus and Colombo, who described it in similar terms 200 years after Ibn
Nafis. The description given of the pulmonary circulation by Ibn Nafis
challenged the fundamental concept held by Galen. In fact, it suggest-
ed that there existed a pulmonary capillary bed where the blood was
‘purified’ before being brought back to the heart by the pulmonary ar-
tery, thus predating the discovery of pulmonary capillaries that accom-
panied the invention of the microscope by Anthony von Luwenheek.

Muslims contributed extensively in the fields of botany, pharmacol-

ogy, pharmacognosy and pharmacy. The texts of Razi’s (864-930) al-
Hawi mentions 829 herbs with their pharmacological actions. Al-Idrisi
(1099-1166) of Spain wrote The Comprehensive book on views of
the Ancients as well as the Moderns on Simple Drugs. Ibn Juljul pro-
duced a commentary of herbs and plants described by Dioscordes.
One of the most authoritative books on herbs was written by the fa-

31
 Chapter Two

mous scholar and philosopher Abdullah Ibn Ahmad Al-Baitar (d.1248)

entitled ‘The Book on Herbs.’ It contains a compendium of 1400 herbs
(of which approximately 200 plants were then unknown), their actions
and their equivalent names in several languages. Muslims also de-
veloped techniques to refine medicines by processes of distillation,
sublimation and crystallization. Druggists or Attarin became common-
place in Islamic lands and their proliferation ultimately required the
institution for licensing of chemists and druggists. Modern Hakims still
use recipes that were tried and tested by Galen and the Arabic physi-
cians.

Muslim physicians also contributed to diagnosis and treatment of

psychological illness. The eminent psychotherapists were Al-Tabri
(d.861), Ibn Sina, Al-Razi, Ishaq bin Imran (d.908) and Dawud bin
Omar Al Antaki (d.1600).

Surgery has always been an inseparable part of Tibb medicine. Mus-

lim physician Abu Al Qasim Al Zahrawi (936-1013) known as the fa-
ther of modern surgery, developed many of the surgical instruments
still in use today. Donald Campbell writes about him:
‘The chief influence of Abu al-Casis on the medical system of Eu-
rope was that his lucidity and method of presentation awakened
a prepossession in favour of Arabic literature among the scholars
of the West; the method of Abu al-Casis eclipsed those of Galen
and maintained a dominant position in medical Europe for five
hundred years, i.e. long after it had passed its usefulness. He,
however, helped to raise the standard and status of surgery in
Christian Europe’.
(Arabian Medicine, Vol 1, London, 1926)

Another significant Islamic achievement was the development of hos-

pitals and hospital-based clinical training of medical practitioners,
which were financially supported by the religious law of charitable en-
dowments. Despite some criticism from traditionalists, Muslim physi-

32
 Chapter Two

cians provided care for the sick in sophisticated hospitals. These hos-
pitals were remarkable structures built for the practice of integrative
medicine. They contained within them spacious courtyards, lecture
halls, libraries, mosques and chapels for people of all religious be-
liefs, charity wards, kitchens and dispensaries. They even practiced a
form of music therapy!

Other contributions to medicine included nutrition and dietetics (Ibn

Zuhr), the preventative medicine initiative and the importance of hy-
giene. It must be said that Islam encouraged what are now common-
sense practices such as breastfeeding, basic hygiene, eating in mod-
eration, physical fitness, etc.

A brief history of Ibn Sina and the formulation of Tibb

Tibb medicine was presented as a fully developed system of thera-

peutics by Ibn Sina - known as Avicenna in the west. A brief glance at
the accomplishments of his life confirms the title by which he is known
in the east: The Prince of Physicians.

The story of Hakim Abu Ali Abdullah Al-Hussain Ibn Sina is a curi-
ous one. He was born in 980 A.D. at Afshana near Bukhara in Rus-
sia. As an ardent scholar, he became well versed in the study of the
Qur’an. In fact, by the age of ten Ibn Sina had become a hafiz - one
who has committed the entire Qur’an to memory. By the age of 16 he
had mastered most of the sciences of his day, including mathematics,
geometry, logic and philosophy, as well as metaphysics. He became
famous for his healing skills at a very young age. At the age of 17 he
cured Nooh Ibn Mansoor, the King of Bukhara of an illness that the
well-known physicians of the time could not. Refusing reward, the
young Ibn Sina asked only that he be given access to the King’s leg-
endary library.

33
 Chapter Two

When Ibn Sina was 21, his father died and this event, coupled with
the political turmoil of the early 11th century, forced Ibn Sina to be-
come a wanderer. He eventually found refuge in Hamadan in Iran, un-
der the patronage of Bujid Prince Shams Al-Daulah whom he treated
successfully for colic.

He began writing his first book at the age of 21. In this book, Kitab al-
Insaf (Book of Impartial Judgement), he posed and answered 28,000
questions on the nature of Divinity. In the short span of 30 years of
writing, Ibn Sina wrote over 100 books of which 16 were on medicine.
His fame put great demands on him and he travelled extensively. He
completed most of his monumental writings in Isfahaan in Iran. He
died in Hamadan in 1037 A.D.

He was the most famous physician, philosopher, encyclopaedist,

mathematician and astronomer of his time. His major contribution to
medical science was his famous book Qanun fi al-Tibb - The Canon of
Medicine. In the Canon, Ibn Sina surveyed and summarized all medi-
cal knowledge available. His main source was Greek medicine. Unani
actually means ‘Greek’ in Arabic. He also integrated other systems,
like those of the Europeans, East Indians, Persians, Arabs, Chinese,
Ayurvedic and Tibetans. He refined and codified all this knowledge
into ‘The Standard Principles of Medicine.’ Due to his systematic ap-
proach, the Canon was recognized as the leading authority over other
texts including the works of Galen and it remained the foremost ency-
clopedia of medicine for more than six centuries. Not only did he sum
up all existing medical knowledge, he also made many important orig-
inal contributions. These included the recognition of the contagious
nature of diseases such as tuberculosis and the spread of diseases
by soil and water. In addition to describing pharmacological methods,
the book described 760 herbs and became the most authentic ‘mate-
ria medica’ of the era. He was also the first to describe meningitis and
made rich contributions to anatomy, gynecology and child health.

34
 Chapter Two

Of particular significance was his discussion on the relationship be-

tween the mind and the body, suggesting that many physiological
phenomena were the product of suppressed thoughts.

His Canon rivalled the books of medicine written by al-Razi and al-
Majusi, surpassing both of these in content and originality. It was com-
posed of five volumes: Volume I contained the general principles; Vol-
ume II Simple Drugs; Volume III Systematic description of diseases
from head to foot; Volume IV General maladies viz fevers and Volume
V Compound Drugs.

The Canon of Medicine was translated into many languages including

Persian, Russian, Hebrew, French, German and other Roman lan-
guages. Twenty-eight editions existed in Latin alone. The Canon and
other of Ibn Sina’s works became the basis of thought in most of the
medieval schools of knowledge, especially those of the Franciscans.

Ibn Sina is also famous for developing the chemical processes of

filtration, and extraction. Of special note is that Ibn Sina invented the
process of distillation and was the first to distil oil of rose. He is, in
essence, the father of aromatherapy. He also invented various tech-
niques of colour therapy. Besides his vast grasp of dietetics, Ibn Sina
developed a codified science of urinalysis, pulse diagnosis, classifica-
tions of pain and an exhaustive pharmacology of hundreds of plant
substances.

His work was not limited to medicine. He wrote a philosophical ency-

clopedia, Kitab al-Shifa (The Book of Healing). It included studies in
medicine, logic, geometry, physics, mathematics, astronomy, meta-
physics, music, ethics, economics and politics. This work is generally
accepted to be the largest work ever produced by an individual au-
thor. Among his many extraordinary observations was the connection
he made between time and motion, his notion of the finite speed of

35
 Chapter Two

light and his ground-breaking work on harmonics in music. His philos-

ophy synthesised Aristotelian philosophy, Neoplatonism and Muslim
theology. His critical thinking did not always make him popular. For
example, he did not believe in alchemy and the possibility of trans-
muting metals because, in his opinion, the metals differed chemically
in a fundamental sense.

His philosophical expertise was clearly one of the reasons why he

was able to integrate so much knowledge and why integration re-
mains one of the guiding principles of Tibb to this day. As a result of
his great wisdom, he has been awarded the titles: al-Shaykh al-Rais
(The Chief Master) and al-Muallim al-Thani (the second philosopher
after Aristotle).

Conclusion

From the tremendous impetus inspired by Ibn Sina, medicine devel-

oped in the centuries that followed him as it had never done before.
By the early 18th century, the Tibb system was the basis of virtually all
medicine in the Western world. Significant influences of Ibn Sina can
also be found in virtually all of the European nature cure movements
and even in the doctrines and early experiments in homeopathy of
Samuel Hahneman (1755-1843).

When Mongols ravaged Persian and Central Asian cities like Shiraz,
Tabrez and Gilan, scholars and physicians of Tibb Medicine fled to
India. The Delhi Sultan, the Khiljis, the Tughlaqs and the Moghul Em-
perors provided state patronage to the scholars and even enrolled
some as state employees and court physicians. From the 13th to the
17th centuries Tibb Medicine had its hey-day in India. Among those
who made valuable contributions to this system during this period
were Abu Bakr bin Ali Usman Kashani, Sadruddin Damashqui, Bah-
wa bin Khwas Khan, Ali Gilani, Akbar Arzani, Mohammad Hashim Alvi
Khan and Hakim M. Azam Khan.

36
 Chapter Two

The scholars and physicians of Tibb Medicine who settled in India

were not content with the known drugs. They subjected Indian drugs
to clinical trials. As a result of their experimentation, they added nu-
merous native drugs to their own system, further enriching its trea-
sures.

During the British rule, Tibb Medicine suffered a setback and its de-
velopment was hampered due to withdrawal of governmental patron-
age. Since the system enjoyed faith among the masses it continued
to be practiced. It was mainly because of the Sharifi family in Delhi,
the Azizi family in Luchnow and the Nizam of Hydrabad, whose efforts
ensured that Tibb Medicine survived during the British period. An out-
standing physician and scholar of Tibb Medicine, Hakim Ajmal Khan
(1868-1927) championed the cause of the system in India.

The development of Tibb (Unani) Medicine as well as other Indian

systems of medicine gained considerable momentum after the inde-
pendence of India and Pakistan (1947). Even prior to their indepen-
dence, several committees were appointed which underscored the
future role to be played by the indigenous systems of medicine.

The government of India established, in 1969, a Central Council for

Research in Indian Medicine and Homeopathy (CCRIMH) to develop
scientific research in different branches of Indian systems of medi-
cine viz. Unani Medicine, Ayurveda, Siddha, Yoga, Naturopathy and
Homeopathy. The research activities in these systems continued un-
der the aegis of the CCRIMH until 1978 when it was split up into four
separate research Councils, one each for Unani Medicine, Ayurveda
and Siddha, Yoga and Naturopathy and Homeopathy. This was done
to further develop these systems in concordance with the basic phi-
losophies of the respective systems. Ever since its establishment, the
Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) has been
making concerted efforts to provide a scientific basis to this age-old

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system, and to come up with viable solutions to the health problems

of the people.

In order to streamline education and regulate practice in the Indian

systems of medicine, the Government set up by an Act of Parliament,
Indian Medicine Central Council Act 1970, the Central Council of In-
dian Medicine (CCIM). In Pakistan this control is administered by the
National Council of Tibb. Similar councils exist in Bangladesh and Sri
Lanka.

At present the Unani systems of medicine, with its own recognized

practitioners, hospitals and educational and research institutions, form
an integral part of the national Healthcare systems in these countries.
The Governments are providing increasing support and funds for the
multi-pronged development of Unani Medicine to draw the fullest ad-
vantage from this system in providing healthcare to the masses.

Considering the force and impact of Ibn Sina on the history and devel-
opment of medicine, it is curious that his system is virtually unheard
of in non-Islamic countries today. Between the late 16th century and
17th century the new investigative scientific spirit became the domi-
nant culture all through Europe and traditional Arabic medicine began
to lose its appeal. Europe had become prejudiced against Arabic cul-
ture and went to great lengths to construct it as ‘other’. This is ironic
since it had been the Arabs who had preserved the knowledge that
would be the seeds of western civilization while ‘The West’ was in the
‘Dark Ages’.

One of the reasons for the decline of Tibb in the West came in the
late 1700s, from biologists and scientists who argued that one can-
not determine the reality of the humours, the metabolic sub-cellular
forces that underlie Ibn Sina’s notion of health or causes of disease.
Since the humours could not be extracted and measured, when tech-

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nological advances permitted scientists to peer into micro life forms,

Ibn Sina’s medicine was viewed with skepticism. It should be appreci-
ated that until recently physicians trained in the principles of western
or modern medicine disregarded the theoretical basis of Acupuncture
on similar grounds, yet today acupuncture is being looked at with new
insight and has gained acceptance because its application has pro-
duced practical results that are unexplainable by modern principles
of anatomy and physiology. It is the practical value of Tibb’s concepts
that should be evaluated.

Another reason for the decline of Tibb in a western dominated envi-

ronment is the holistic nature of Tibb. Its practitioners extended this
holism beyond the body and mind, to include the environment and
ultimately the whole of creation. The processes in the body were seen
as a microcosm that reflected a greater macrocosm, culminating in
the Divine Will and purpose of God, the creator of all things.

The Industrial Revolution, the age of materialism, the reductionist ap-

proach of modern science and man’s quest to have control over na-
ture; all of these have side-lined faith in the unseen. The understand-
ing that health or illness is determined by predictable laws of nature
is of course scientifically valid, but it often neglects broader contexts
and spiritual influences. Spirituality is an integral component in every
traditional health system. It is core to the writings of Hippocrates and
Ibn Sina as well as in Culpeper’s ‘Practice of Western Holistic Medi-
cine’ of the late 17th century.

Perhaps it was the inspiration from the Torah, the Bible and the Qur’an,
that gave the Tibb physicians insight into the creation of man, his na-
ture, his constitution, and his relationship to the environment. An un-
derstanding of man integrated into the universe and the processes of
creation ultimately resulted in a better understanding of the causes of
illness and health maintenance.

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 Chapter Two

Since 1976, when the World Health organization formally adopted

its policy of promoting traditional medicine, Tibb has begun to enjoy
increased interest worldwide, and is currently being practiced, taught
and researched in 25 countries. Many holistic medicine practices,
from colour therapy to aromatherapy, are experienced by the public
as new trends but are in fact the legacy of Ibn Sina and Tibb.

The Ibn Sina Institute of Tibb in South Africa believes that the value of
Tibb cannot be withheld from a healthcare system which is in crisis.
Not only does Tibb offer holistic, low- ‘tech’, affordable, client centred
therapies, it actively restores a philosophical and ethical element to
medical practice that seeks to inspire rather than contain.

The practice of Tibb is not dependent on accepting any particular re-

ligious practice or doctrine. Ibn Sina’s work centred on distilling the
universal principles of health and Tibb continues to practice rigorous
scientific investigation. People from all walks of life and spirituality are
able to learn the principles of Tibb and apply them to their daily lives.

For a further exposition of the theories of Tibb the reader is directed

to Avicenna’s ‘Canon of Medicine’ by O.C. Gruner, ‘The Traditional
Healer’s Handbook’ by Hakim G.M. Chishti N.D., The Physiological
Principals of Tibb by Hakim Ishtiaq Ahmad, Culpeper’s ‘Practice of
Western Holistic Medicine’ by Graeme Tobyn and ‘Unani the Science
of Greco-Arab Medicine’ by Hamdard (India).
18

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 Chapter Three

Chapter Three

The Path to Health

Defining health holistically

We could take a reductionist view of health and look at the individual

forces and influences that act on individual parts of your body but
each of these individual ‘actions’ or ‘relations’ rely on the smaller bits
that make them up and the bigger bits to which they belong. They
may each be a path towards a certain effect but it is collectively that
they make up the whole path to health. Health is the total overall ef-
fect of many interactions between many different variables that are all
changing every moment and affecting each other with every change.
Not only is it the parts that must co-operate but also a number of fac-
tors that influence these parts.

Tibb recognizes six factors that determine the health of an individual:

• Environmental Air and Breathing;

• Food and Drink;
• Movement and Rest;
• Emotions;
• Sleep and Wakefulness;
• Elimination and Retention.

It is easy to define illness in relation to the parts that make up a body

and the factors that influence it. Defining health is more difficult.

To see health simply as the absence of illness is to ignore the fact that
health can be seen to improve, even when there is no illness to treat.
In other words, an already healthy person can improve his/her overall
functioning and well-being better than before. Health is not dependent
on the presence or absence of illness.

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Tibb is as relevant to the healthy as it is to the ill. In this book we en-

courage an appetite for health. We believe that it is something that
can be discovered by anyone. An appetite for health is more than
simply avoiding illness. It is a desire to function optimally, to get the
most out of one’s body and one’s life.

‘Nafs’ is the Arabic term for the body’s appetites. It refers to all the
demands of the body i.e. for food, for warmth, for intimacy, for power,
etc., which are the emotional needs or drives that characterize an
individual. Different needs and drives predispose people to different
types of illness and different degrees of health. An appetite for health
is nurtured in the process of refining all our other appetites. In tradi-
tional Islamic teaching, the ‘nafsi kull’ or ‘universal soul’ is the final
stage of refinement and the highest form of self-realization.

The discovery of your own peculiar appetite for health is intimately

linked to discovering your own natural tendencies towards health and
then harnessing these tendencies. Believing that everybody has a
natural tendency towards health is crucial for understanding Tibb’s
techniques and principles.

In his ‘Perfect Health’, Deepak Chopra speaks of ‘The impulse to

evolve’ as a natural desire. He emphasizes that ‘living in tune with
nature’ means ‘having healthy desires that match what you actually
need’ in your own process of survival and evolution. What we need is
communicated to us via an intuitive ‘impulse.’

Unfortunately, it is very easy to interfere with this pathway, and

when we do, we slip out of tune with nature. Instead of trusting
the balanced body to tell us what nutrients it needs, all too often
we indiscriminately take vitamins, compulsively overeat, crave
far too many sweets and junk foods of all kinds. The current
vogue of ‘life extension’ is based on distrust of the body, trying to

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second-guess its weaknesses by cramming it with mega-doses

of vitamin E, beta carotene, selenium or whatever new panacea
has joined the list. You do not have to go to an extreme to get
the most from your body. The body is intelligent. It knows exactly
what it needs.
Deepak Chopra

A famous study once exposed a number of children suffering from

various ailments to a wide variety of foods. At first they indulged in the
chocolates and ice creams but once they realized these were not a
rarity and were freely available they started eating (and by inference
‘desiring’) specific foods needed to correct their ailment.

Our bodies have a way of finding the path back to health. Chopra
suggests that patients return to the ‘source of their desires’, which is
a natural impulse to evolve and progress without unnecessary effort.
At this source everyone has desires that are appropriate for their own
growth and profound enjoyment of life. Our aim in this book is to help
you rediscover this source.

Tibb does not believe that health is some academic secret, but is a gift
of knowledge to be shared by all. An important part of Tibb consists
of empowering people with the necessary skills to manage their own
health.

It is a great pity that the socio-economic dynamics in our society

teaches us that health is a commodity that we receive uncritically from
a pharmacist, a doctor, a clinic or traditional healer. Health is not per-
ceived as something that we can take control of and take responsibil-
ity for.

If the experience of well-being is not something the individuals can

learn to control, then the experience of choice has no value.

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Ideal state

Practitioners of Tibb believe that not only can health become healthier
and feeling good become better but that each individual has an ideal
state of health that can be identified, found and enjoyed. This is of
course not a static ideal state but one that continues to grow and
change, according to certain identifiable principles throughout life.
Once we have stripped an individual life of all its noise, disease and
decoration, seeking this ideal of health is surely a valued goal.

Patanjali, an Indian mystic and writer of one of the oldest spiritual

texts, saw the purpose of life as the quest for ‘effortless being’. In
other words; to spend as little energy for as much gain as possible. It
is our goal to promote some of the skills of effortless being and equip
people with useful information in order to apply these skills in which-
ever way they choose.

The approach of Tibb is an inversion of Abraham Maslow’s famous

hierarchy of motivating needs (1960). A motivating need is the force
exerting the most influence on the way an individual acts and experi-
ence their world.

Simply put, Maslow suggested that successive needs in this hierarchy

could not be met unless the needs preceding it had been satisfied. At
the lowest level we encounter ‘physiological needs’ (food, water and
sex). This is followed by the levels of ‘security needs’, ‘love and be-
longing needs’, ‘esteem needs’ and finally ‘self-actualization needs’.
20

From the perspective of Tibb, it is possible to stimulate and inspire

self-actualization needs, prior to the fulfilment of any of the others.
Put another way, if a person is able to resonate with their ideal state,
an appropriate set of appetites will be experienced passionately and
the persons motivating needs will all be towards life in all its fullness.

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The law of the whole

The reductionists are right to identify and study the various constitu-
ents of the human body. These constituents appear to be organized
according to levels of increasing size and complexity. We see par-
ticles on one level of organization.

We see chemicals on a level of organization above that. Macromol-

ecules exist on another more complex level. Organelles, cells, tissues
and organs can all be identified as levels leading up to the level of
organization that is the body itself. At each level, new structures, new
dynamics and new behaviours emerge but the operation of the body
cannot be explained in terms of its constituents alone. The dynam-
ics of each level are not only constantly conditioned by the state of
what comes before but are constantly informed by the state of what
lies one level above. As the Nobel laureate Ilya Prigogine stressed:
- “it is impossible to conceive of a ‘fundamental level’, as every level
depends on all the others for its state of being, its structure and func-
tioning”. Absolute reductionism will never work. The body can only
be understood as an ecology of interconnected, mutually influenc-
ing entities. This mutual influence, over time, facilitating change and
new organizations of parts is different to the role played by the parts
that make up a construct like a house. While bricks make walls and
walls make a house this structure is static, non-dynamic. The succes-
sive levels that make up a house, do so linearly, step by step. The
body on the other hand, is a non-linear system in which its forms are
maintained through a constant process of change. Each part is a con-
stantly changing expression of the whole system.

Tibb recognizes this complex organization and functioning of all the

parts in the whole in which each chemical, macromolecule, organelle,
cell, tissue and organ - seeks its own ideal state by co-operating with
those entities around it. This ideal state cannot exist in isolation but is
completely dependent on the other participants in the ecosystem we
call the body. Tibb calls the ideal states of each of these parts and of

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the whole itself; ‘temperaments’. Every part - for example, a chemical

or an organ - has its own temperament. Each individual body also has
its own ideal state or temperament, produced by the interaction of the
temperaments of its parts.

Tibb philosophy does not stop at the body in recognizing ideal states
or temperaments. Other parts of the ecosystem have temperaments
peculiar to them, whether they be animal or plant, climatic zone or
specific country. One could even conceive of the ideal state or tem-
peraments of partnerships, families or communities. All these systems
(and their ‘parts’) exist in relations of mutual influence with the bod-
ies (and their ‘parts’) that move through them. Conceptualizing this
interconnectedness can be an infuriatingly complex task. It eventually
becomes impossible to see any one thing as existing in isolation. The
only ‘one thing’ is everything.

If you had to try and map all the influences and individual variables
that you were connected to, you would eventually end up mapping the
whole universe.

There is no ‘bubble’ that separates you from the rest of the universe.
There is no edge where you can be considered to stop and the world
begins. All things are interconnected.
The actual context in which events take place must extend in-
definitely. In other words, everything that happens in our universe
is in fact caused by everything else. Indeed, the whole universe
could be thought of as unfolding or expressing itself in its indi-
vidual occurrences.
(Peat 1987:58)

You belong to many systems: your family, your immediate society,

your geographical environment, your country, the earth’s biosphere,
this galaxy and the universe. Each of these systems is relevant to the
diagnosing of specific conditions. You need oxygen as a result of be-
ing part of the system known as a ‘living body’. Stress, for example,
may be the result of activity in the system known as a ‘socio-econom-

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ic context’. Your need for heat, in order to maintain functioning struc-

tures in your body, is a result of activity in the system known as the
‘universe’. When a practitioner is diagnosing a complaint, he or she
will try to establish which system is relevant in determining the nature
of the complaint. Certain problems exist primarily as phenomena of
other systems. In order to treat the problem, we need to be aware
of which system is relevant in order to understand the problem. Ulti-
mately, every phenomenon is part of the universe, but it is not always
necessary to conceive of the universe when treating every problem.

Who or what designed this complex inter-connectedness of con-

stantly changing, mutually influencing systems? Some believe that
no external plans or designs are required and that ‘The emergence
of each novel form is, from the start, implicit or enfolded within the
whole system as its potentiality’ (Peat 1987:81). In other words, the
universe grows out of itself - containing the potential for all it can be
right from the start. Some believe that God designed the universe.
Others believe that the universe-growing-out-of-itself is God. How-
ever, we chose to conceptualize the origin of the universe. Human
beings all over the world are beginning to find its implicit wholeness
harder to deny.

For many thousands of years, mystics have taught that we live in a

living universe whose unified life, or wholeness, can be known on a
personal level.

This intuition of the Arabic physicians was confirmed by what is

now known as the Hamilton-Jacobi theory, which ‘provides a uni-
form framework for treating everything from moving particles to
the nature of light. Truly, this new form of dynamics shows that
all motion and change emerges out of a “law of the whole” and
that the patterns and events of nature are the expression of an
underlying unity of form’
(Peat 1987:55)

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Physis - The organizing principle

Much of Greco-Arabic medicine has taken its inspiration from mystic

teachings. Just as mystics sense themselves being drawn towards
unity with the living universe or with God, so Tibb teaches that we are
all being drawn towards our ideal state of health. What is it that draws
us? Tibb believes that in each individual there is an organizing prin-
ciple that performs this sophisticated orchestration. This organizing
principle is in a sense a personal manifestation of that which draws
the whole universe towards wholeness.

Each patient carries his own doctor inside him. We are at our
best when we give the doctor who resides within each patient, a
chance to go to work.
Albert Schwietzer

Behind every natural action of the human body is an inherent

wisdom, a mechanism that allows the body to heal itself. In fact,
no herb, no food or any other substance or procedure can do
anything on its own to heal; it can only aid and assist the body in
its own self-healing role. If your finger is cut, it is not the stitches
or the bandage or the iodine that causes it to heal; it is the skin
itself that performs this miracle.
(Chishti 1985:12)

Practitioners of Tibb call this organizing principle Physis.

Tibb could be defined as:

“The art of serving, with respect, the physis of each person you
meet”

Tibb is a practice of Healthcare which does not seek to intervene or

impose interventions but seeks to serve the Physis of the individual
client. It does this by assisting the Physis in its own peculiar process

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of restoring homeostasis - a process which is peculiar to each individ-

ual. Homeostasis is often translated as ‘balance’. The word balance is
a little simplistic. As we have seen, the complex inter-connectedness
of ever-changing and mutually influencing parts requires something
more sophisticated than balance. We prefer to describe homeostasis
as ‘dynamic optimum functioning’. It is the active component of an
ideal state. Dynamic optimum functioning does not always require
equal measures of all contributing factors to health. Different per-
sonalities require different measures of different contributing factors.
Some personalities need creative stress, others need more sleep and
some people depend more on certain nutrients than others.

In order to facilitate dynamic optimum functioning, Physis sometimes

facilitates a healing crisis (we will deal with this in more detail later).
What is defined negatively as ‘pathology’ by western medicine, is of-
ten the body’s attempt to reach for health.

Hippocrates believed that health is the expression of a harmonious

balance between the various components of man’s nature, the envi-
ronment and life style. He believed that natural (and hence predict-
able) laws controlled this equilibrium. He also believed there was a
natural tendency towards self-healing. Physis is essentially the intrin-
sic ability of the body to preserve health and heal itself.

The physician Abbas Al Majusi (d. 994) said, ‘God made Physis the
administrator of the body. When Physis is powerful enough to with-
stand the disease, it does not require the aid of the Physician, as in
the case of minor diseases that are self-healing’ (in his book al-Malki).

In physiological conditions, Physis maintains homeostasis in the in-

ternal environment of the body for the proper functioning of the cells,
tissues and organs. In the case of disease or even when the body
simply fails to reach its ideal state, Physis acts to correct imbalances

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and non-ideal states. In appropriate conditions, homeostasis is re-

stored. Frequently, Physis may require the conscious mind of the in-
dividual it serves to become cognizant of it and to deliberately work
together with it.

This is where the planning of a lifestyle appropriate to one’s ideal

state is vital. At times, Physis may require the service of a physician or
other Healthcare professional to help it do its work. When the loss of
homeostasis can become so severe that Physis is unable to restore
it, then quality of life is lost and death can result.

With its focus on reductionist empirical experimentation, science has

been unable to identify an organizing principle but it has identified
a key process that all self-organizing systems use. This process is
known as ‘feedback’. In their concept of Physis, the Greco-Arabic
physicians intuited this process without the help of any sophisticated
technology.
One of the best experiential analogies for Physis is ‘The breath’
... life, considered from its beginning to end, is one continuous
set of breathing practices.
Yunus Maharaj (related in Chishti 1985:124)

Have you ever noticed how breathing works like a thermostat (a servo-
mechanism)? In the simple act of breathing, the balance of the whole
body is symbolized. In many diverse spiritual traditions, a meditation
focused on the breath is seen to have a centring effect, linking the indi-
vidual to the organizing principle of their own being. It is believed that
Physis is received at the moment of conception. This makes sense
as it is from this time that dividing cells require an organizing principle
that will ‘orchestrate’ which cells become what and when.

It is interesting that one of the greatest schools of systems thinking

has been called cybernetics. The word ‘cybernetics’ comes from the
Greek ‘kybernetes’ which means steersman. The investigations of cy-

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berneticists from the 1940s onwards led to the concepts of ‘feedback’,

‘self-regulation’, and later on ‘self-organization’. The steersman of cy-
bernetics is none other than the Physis of whatever system they are
exploring. Take the example of feedback. This is a concept developed
by Norbert Wiener.

Wiener’s original concept of the steersman is one of the simplest

examples of a feedback loop. When the boat deviates from the
present course, say to the right, the steersman assesses the de-
viation and then counter-steers by moving the rudder to the left.
This decreases the boat’s deviation, perhaps even to the point of
moving through the correct position and then deviating to the left.
At some time during this movement the steersman makes a new
assessment of the boat’s deviation, counter-steers accordingly,
assesses the deviation again and so on. Thus, he relies on con-
tinual feedback to keep the boat on course, its actual trajectory
oscillating around the present direction and the skill of steering
a boat consists in keeping these oscillations as smooth as pos-
sible.
(Capra 1996:57)

Like the organizing principle of the universe, Physis learns how to

maintain balance; however, more than maintaining balance, it is the
active principle that controls the creative process of ascending and
maintaining higher orders of complexity. Unlike temperament which
is a configuration of ratios, Physis is an active principle, administer-
ing the body involuntarily and responding to ‘disequilibrium’ by re-
storing ‘balance’ or dynamic optimum functioning incrementally. As
Hippocrates said, ‘Nature heals, and the physician is only nature’s
assistant.’

The immune system is a very good example of feedback processes

in the body - the work of Physis! The immune system is one of the
great wonders of nature, rivalled only by the brain in its intricacy and

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elegance of design. It is a multi-layered system of biological defenses

whose primary purpose is to defend the body from bacteria, viruses,
fungi, parasites, toxins, cancerous cells and other disease causing
agents.

The immune system is indeed a system in the strict sense of the

word: a highly complex and coordinated array of interrelated and
interacting elements. Like the economy of a nation, the immune
system is not located exclusively in one place. In fact, the cells of
the immune system are spread out all over the body the majority
are located in those organs whose purpose often seems slightly
mysterious to the layperson; the thymus; the spleen; the lymph
nodes; the bone marrow; the tonsils; and obscure backwaters of
the gut (Peyer’s patches and the appendix).
(Paul Martin, 1997)
24

The immune system learns and adapts each time it encounters a new
antigen, setting a pattern for the way it will respond should it meet
that antigen again. This learning process is the theory behind immu-
nization and also why you only catch certain diseases once in your
lifetime. Like the brain, the immune system detects and responds to
specific stimuli in the outside world and forms a long lasting memo-
ry of those stimuli. Vaccination exploits this process by introducing
harmless fragments or heat destroyed versions of various bacteria
and viruses into the body. The antigens in the injection trigger the
production of antibodies but not the disease. Some micro-organisms
are capable of changing their biochemical appearance inhibiting the
immune systems from learning more about them e.g. in colds and
influenza.

Why are we distracted from our ideal state? Consciousness has

the ability to generate desires that are not in the interest of the human
organism; the ability to think abstractly and make generalizations lies

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at the heart of our capacity for language: our ability to represent the
world using symbols. This ability, in relationship with our ego, leads
to our capacity for inventing fantasies and ideals that distract us from
our ideal state. It is ironic that the very skills we have to learn and
heal ourselves, are the ones we use to create illusions of power and
destroy ourselves.

Ultimately all the parts are seeking their ideal states. The irony is that
these states will be found more efficiently if the parts are allowed to
cooperate rather than exist in destructive conflict.

Listening to Physis

If Physis is a feedback mechanism, can we listen to it and learn things

about ourselves?

Physis will function whether you hear it or not. We know that our im-
mune system will do what it does without our conscious awareness of
it. As recent research (into the emerging field of Psychoneuroimmu-
nology) has shown, our immune system will do its healing work even
better if we are aware of it.

There are a number of things you can do to work together with your
Physis. You can get rid of the ‘noise’ - the things that are distracting
you from feeling Physis in your body. You can carefully consider your
building blocks - all the things that you allow to contribute to your state
of health. And you can recognize your temperament and adjust your
lifestyle to support it appropriately.

Get rid of ‘Noise’

Before you can listen to your body you need to start eating properly. If
you are eating things like lots of fried chicken and chips,

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and a lot of sugary things, for example, you are creating ‘noise’ and
you will not be able to hear your body properly. If you follow the broad
principles of a Tibb diet, which we will explore later in the book, you
will be able to hear what your body is telling you more clearly.

Your body can give you important clues about what you should be
eating. When you are feeling nauseous for example, experiment and
find out what is making you feel that way. When you are feeling con-
stantly tired, try changing your eating patterns. You need to have an
experimental spirit.

Everybody has different nutritional needs. You need to become aware

of what your body is telling you. You know the old saying, ’You are
what you eat.’ well, you need to become aware of the way your eating
habits are affecting you.

We are taught that nutrition is important to give us energy, help us

grow and help us heal. What we also need to realize is that nutrition
is also important in order to make us feel good, think clearly and be
creative.

Consider your building blocks

Look carefully at the stimulus that you allow into your life: negativ-
ity, fear, anger, resentment, thoughts of violence and abuse, psycho-
logical stress, lethargy, etc. These will all stand in the way of having
healthy desires to guide you. People who constantly expose them-
selves to stimuli that generate these states of mind will not be able
to listen to their bodies. People who constantly entertain negative or
cynical thoughts about the world, will slowly transform their bodies
into negative and cynical organisms. The prevalence of stress related
diseases in industrialized countries attests to these phenomena. This
is not an issue of morals but one of health.

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Recognize your temperament and adjust your lifestyle to sup-

port it appropriately

This is what we will be dealing with in the following chapter. Harness-

ing your natural tendency towards health is the act of feeling and act-
ing in harmony with your Physis.
26

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 Chapter Four

Chapter Four

The relationship between personality and illness

A 15-billion-year-old energy conservation program

At the heart of Tibb philosophy is the belief that all of creation is an

integrated system that seeks to maintain itself through homeostasis -
a balanced interaction of all its parts.

All through creation we see relationships between parts, giving rise to

more complex parts that seek relationships with other complex parts.
Simple elements, that Tibb refers to as ‘primary matter’, relate to each
other in order to form more complex molecules, which in turn relate
to each other to form things like protein fats or sugars. Even complex
brains capable of philosophy, mathematics, art and compassion, con-
sist of electro-chemical relationships between cells and seek relation-
ships with the brains of other people.

Greco-Arabic physicians recognized that all systems, living and non-

living, consisted of successive levels of organization.

On each level a number of variables interacted to produce a certain

effect and organization of matter. They had an intuitive understanding
of the atomic nature of matter and envisaged the organization of basic
elements necessary to the existence of matter. The word ‘arkan’ was
used to describe these basic elements or ‘primary matter’. This word
is similar in origin to the word ‘archaic’ - that which is extremely old or
in this case, that which was from the beginning. The use of the word
arkan is a way of saying that humans contain within them all the basic
constituents of the universe. We are, as the mystics say, ‘microcosms
of the macrocosm’. The primary matter that makes up your body did
not magically come into existence at your birth. It is 15 billion years
old and has been part of the organization of the universe for all that
time.

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Greco-Arabic physicians believed that this primary matter formed ‘hu-

mours’ or bodily fluids. These humours in turn, were seen to form most
other things in the body. They understood that the final configuration
of humours in a person’s body determines their overall temperament.

The interactions between all the parts, be they atomic or on the level
of organs, are not always visible. They often exist only as relations
between these parts - the ‘in-between spaces’ out of which new suc-
cessive levels of order emerge. according to Hakim Sayed Ishtiaq
Ahmed:
‘The Tibb concept of ‘temperament’ (mizaj) is that new state of
matter that results from the interaction of constituent parts in the
preceding level of order. Temperament refers to the patterns of
relationships or ratios of constituent primary matter that exists on
every level of organization enabling successive levels of com-
plexity to emerge. Temperament can also be considered as the
state of equilibrium or homeostasis in a cell, a tissue, an organ,
or the entire body, or even the personality of an individual, upon
which life at that level of organization, be it cell or body, depends.’
(S I Ahmed)

According to Ibn Sina:

‘Temperament is defined as the new state of a matter, having a

quality different from that present in the elements or compounds
before coming into intermixture or combinations (Imtizaj), which
results from the action and reaction among the contrary qualities
and forces present in minute particles (atoms) of different com-
pounds. When they are combined together, the resultant new
quality, a uniform state or the state of equilibrium emerging after
the combination of more than one element is called tempera-
ment.’
27

On the simplest level, the connections that temperament allows are

based on chemical ‘attraction’ and ‘repulsion’. When primary matter

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undergoes different types of chemical combinations, various com-

pounds, with specific temperaments are produced. When these com-
pounds combine together, biological molecules are formed. A combi-
nation of these biochemical molecules gives birth to organelles and
cells (the structural and functional units of specific forms or molecular
tissues). Our body consists of an aggregate of about 100 trillion cells
organized into different functional structures (tissues and organs).

What is remarkable is that on every level, the parts co-operate to

create a new overall effect. Cells co-operate to form and maintain
organs. No organ can exist on its own. Each organ depends on the
whole body for its correct functioning. In such a system reductionism
is of little value.

An economy of energy

Scientists agree that when it comes to any activity in the uni-

verse, from simple motion to complex evolution, there appears
to be a universal principle that expends the minimum amount
of effort and achieves its ends in the simplest possible way.
‘Motion and change ... are not strictly analysable into more el-
ementary units but emerge out of the universe as a whole ...’
(Peat 1987:54)

Things in nature appear to have a sense of all possible paths open to

them and choose that which offers the least amount of effort, for the
greatest amount of gain possible - and economy of energy.

Central to the practice of Tibb is an understanding of the relationship

between health and heat/energy. The science of thermodynamics has
confirmed that every change in the body whether it is organic or in-
organic, requires the transfer of heat. In the practice of Greco-Arabic
medicine, the absence of heat is regarded as negative and is the

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cause of most diseases. Long before the science of thermodynamics,

practitioners of Greco-Arabic medicine recognized that all processes
in the universe involved the transfer of heat.

Introduction to the way Greco-Arabic medicine organized infor-

mation about complex wholes

When faced with complex systems humans usually organize the in-
formation in two ways, the first is to reduce the complexity by conceiv-
ing of opposite extremes, and the second is of organizing complex in-
formation to try and identify patterns - configurations of variables that
seem to repeat themselves. Without sophisticated measuring tech-
nology, Arabic physicians had to employ these means for accessing
information about a client’s condition.

A continuum of health between conceptualized extremes

As we have said, one way to deal with complex systems is to con-

ceive of opposite extremes. Once this is done a person can plot
continuums between these extremes. What were the extremes con-
ceptualized by Greco-Arabic physicians? They believed that the nat-
ural state of the human body was Hot and Moist, rather than Cold
and Dry. Understanding this core concept is at the heart of Tibb.

Heat and Moisture

For any process in the universe to transpire there has to be a trans-

fer of heat. Scientists have called this process Thermodynamics and
have based some of the most successful theories of science on it.
Whether you are trying to digest an apple, fight an infection or have
a good idea, your body will pay the price of heat energy. We have to
keep restoring our resources of heat through nutrition that generates
energy, bringing physical warmth to our bodies. We also need to avoid
emotional states, forms of stress, environments and illnesses that will
use up our heat resources. This seems like a very simple description

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of the process of keeping alive, but it is surprisingly true. It sounds too

simple to write a book about but next to the idea of personal tempera-
ments, this basic knowledge about heat is the most important idea in
this book. Very small changes in your body’s temperature can kill you.
Even smaller changes can make you ill.

Heat applies to every process in the universe that is bigger than an

atom, but moisture is a condition more specific to life. Approximately
seventy percent of your body is made up of water. Every cell in your
body needs it to function. Lack of water will kill you sooner than lack
of food. Water can control body temperature and act as a detoxifier.
Even the emotions of intimacy are watery, reaffirming the close rela-
tionship between water and the creation of life.

There are those who believe that since we are made up of so much
water, we ourselves are influenced by the nature of water. When in a
vacuum, water will always form a perfect sphere. They say this is be-
cause water is constantly trying to ‘resolve’ itself, seek internal unity
and completion just as we constantly thirst to find completion.

While Heat and Moisture is the natural state of all human bodies, Tibb
acknowledges a continuum of Hot and Cold and a continuum of Moist
and Dry. Moving along these continuums between different qualities
is what causes change. Any person is one of four major tempera-
ments or combinations of qualities: Hot and Moist, Cold and Moist,
Cold and Dry, and Hot and Dry. These represent very slight variations
from the norm. The melancholic temperament represents a state that
is predominantly Cold and Dry. This is the exact opposite of Hot and
Moist, so it is not surprising that it carries the greatest risks. The most
severe diseases like cancer are commonly Cold and Dry diseases.

A physician’s responsibility was to find ways to move people along

these continuums – balancing extreme conditions with their opposite.

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In this way, practitioners of Greco-Arabic medicine conceived of the

world as processes that moved the states of things between Hot and
Cold and Dry and Moist. The combination of contraries, opposites
or antagonistic principles is central to the philosophy and practice of
Tibb. It is understood that the configuration or pattern of these antago-
nistic principles will determine temperament.

The ‘balancing’ of opposites can never be maintained in a stable un-

changing configuration. The act of ‘balancing’ is a dynamic process,
not the simple static juxtaposition of equal amounts of opposites (re-
call the role of the steersman in cybernetics). Furthermore, there is
not just one set of conceptualized extremes in this system but two.
These two sets do not correspond in a straightforward way. For ex-
ample, Hot and Moist may be identified as cofeatures at one time
enabling the physician to infer certain complex phenomena - while at
another time, Cold and Moist may be co-features indicating very dif-
ferent phenomena. For this reason, we prefer to understand homeo-
stasis as ‘dynamic optimum functioning’, rather than balance. The job
of Physis is often more like juggling and mixing than balancing.

The different combinations of the qualities of Hot, Cold, Dry and Moist
were organized into four elements or forms of primary matter - earth,
water, air and fire. These metaphors were assigned according to the
state of certain substances at room temperature, and their volatility.
29

They also attached qualities (temperaments) to primary matter, as

follows:

Fire - Hot and Dry, light, active;

Air - Hot and Moist, light, active;

Water - Cold and Moist, heavy, passive;

Earth - Cold and Dry, heavy, passive.

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It is interesting to note, that while some readers may be sceptical of

dividing matter into earth, water, air, and fire, science does just this.
Few people know that the phases of matter identified by science are
not just solid, liquid and gas. There is a fourth phase of matter referred
to as ‘plasma’. Plasma is a phase of matter in which atoms have been
smashed to bits, as in fire. The thing that controls ‘phase transitions’
between these phases is very simply heat.

The use of the notion of primary matter, in a broader sense, also

helped conceptualize successive orders of complexity, beginning at
the atomic level. Atoms form complex connections with each other to
form monomers (amino acids, nucleotides, and mono-sugars) which
form complex connections with each other to form macromolecules
(proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides) - the constituents of hu-
mours, with which we will deal below. Macromolecules, in turn relate
to each other to form cell organelles (cell membrane, mitochondria,
endoplasmic reticulum and lysomes). These organelles form cells,
the cells form tissues, the tissues form organs and so on.

It is not only Greco-Arabic medicine that resorted to metaphors to

describe the nature of matter. Modern physicists speak of sub-atomic
particles, or quarks, as having attributes like strangeness, charm, ex-
otic colours including magenta, and flavour. Just as no physicists have
seen quarks with their flavours and colours, but hypothesise their ex-
istence with confidence, so these pioneers of medicine hypothesised
the existence of primary matter. While this may seem like supersti-
tion, practices and diagnoses based on this hypothesis worked, and
many aspects of the hypothesis have subsequently been proved by
science.

The combination of primary matter and resultant mixture of the quali-

ties along continuums and in specific ratios, is what gives an atom,
a molecule, a compound, an organ and a human being a particular
temperament.

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Predictable configurations of variables peculiar to certain per-

sonalities

Before going on to explore temperament in more detail we need to

address the other useful way of dealing with complexity. As we said,
it was the technique of recognizing which phenomena tended to oc-
cur together. In other words, what configurations of personality type,
social / environmental conditions and symptoms seem to occur to-
gether with regularity? By comparing many thousands of cases over
many years, physicians identified re-occurring configurations. They
used these configurations or collections of phenomena as heuristics
– short cuts to diagnosis. In this way inferences could be made when
they only had some information about a person’s temperament, body
type and personal history.

30

It is not uncommon for experienced modern doctors to develop pe-

culiar intuitions based on familiar collections, or associations of vari-
ables presenting in a person. Modern medicine even speaks of ‘syn-
dromes’ to accentuate common configurations of symptoms. Some
syndromes, or collections of variables, are even taught to them as
an adage. Someone who is, ‘Fat, Fair, Female, Fertile and Forty’,
for example, stands a greater chance of suffering from gall bladder
problems. If they have developed an aversion to coffee, the probabil-
ity is almost certain. Another example is the combination of a feeble,
fast pulse, sore joints, ring-like rash, and fever in a child - rheumatic
fever. Or the combination of protruding eyes, tremors, sweaty palms,
lean body type, anxious temperament, dislike of hot weather and fast
pulse - hyperthyroidism.

Humours

Before one can understand configurations that Tibb uses, it is nec-

essary to understand the role of humours. As we have said, primary
matter gives rise to humours and humours give rise to almost every
other constituent of the human being.

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Every level of organization in the body is infused and connected to

other levels through these fluids that Tibb recognizes as ‘humours’.
Humours are the primary fluids that the human body manufactures
and maintains through the ingestion and digestion of food, and the
elimination of waste products. An authentic balance of humours en-
sures efficient metabolism and avoids the buildup of toxic by-prod-
ucts. Humours include the various hormones and enzymes. Their
main constituents are proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, mineral salts,
vitamins and of course water.

Without the aid of advanced technology, Greco-Arabic physicians

named these Substances: Sanguinous, Phlegmatic, Bilious and Mel-
ancholic. They also recognized characteristic differences in the con-
figurations or ratios of these humours in different individuals, giving
a predisposition towards being Sanguine, Bilious, Phlegmatic or Mel-
ancholic. We are familiar with some of these categories as metaphors
for moods but whole syndromes of potential diseases and emotion-
al disturbances are represented by these concepts in Greco-Arabic
medicine. While technology and increased scientific knowledge has
categorized the body’s fluids differently, the notion of humours still
provides us with very practical heuristics, that do not require sophisti-
cated equipment and that can be applied efficiently by primary Health-
care practitioners, and anyone prepared to learn the different possible
configurations.

The humoral theory was postulated by the father of medicine - Hip-

pocrates. According to him the body contains four humours - blood
(dam), phlegm (balgham), yellow bile (safra) and black bile (sauda).

Galen expanded upon this initial concept and added qualities to the
humours as listed below:

• Sanguinous humour (blood): Hot and Moist (linked to air);

• Phlegmatic humour (phlegm): Cold and Moist (linked to
water);

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• Bilious humour (yellow bile): Hot and Dry (linked to fire);

• Melancholic humour (black bile): Cold and Dry (linked to
earth).

The Arabic term for humour is ‘akhlat’, which literally means ‘admix-
ture’. This admixture is ‘The blood’ that we see in our arteries and
veins and also includes the fluids in the lymphatic vessels, collectively
known as the Vascular Cycle in Tibb.

31

For the maintenance of health, it is essential that the overall effect or

combined qualities of the humour (Hot, Cold, Dry and Moist) is in ac-
cordance with the temperament of the individual.

In other words, a person with a sanguinous temperament requires a

slightly higher quantity of a Hot and Moist humour. A right proportion
(homeostasis) of these humours, with the corresponding qualities of
Hot and Moist constitutes health and a wrong proportion and irregular
distribution constitutes disease.

In a Hot/Moist temperament for example, there seems to be an

excess or domination of the thyroid hormone and people with
this temperament are at risk of hyperthyroidism. In Cold/Moist
temperaments there is a deficiency of thyroid hormones and a
risk of hypothyroidism. In Hot/Dry temperaments there seems to
be an excess of catecholamines and in Cold/Dry temperaments
a deficiency leading to a domination of black bile and other com-
pounds, causing melancholic symptoms. In the hypofunction of
suprarenal gland (Addison’s disease) bronzing of the skin with
other lethargic symptoms are the best example of excessive
conversion of tyrosine (balgham [phlegm]) into melanin (black
pigment-saudain [black bile])
(Ahmed 55)

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Traditionally, humours are believed to originate from the liver. We will

explore this further when we deal with nutrition. The approximate con-
centration of the humours is 78% sanguinous, 18% phlegmatic, 3%
bilious and 1% melancholic humour, hypothesized by Abu Sahl Ma-
sihi.

The nature of the humours produced is dependent primarily on the

diet consumed. Diet that is excessive in carbohydrates where the
moisture content is higher will result in an increase in the phlegmatic
humour which is Cold and Moist. There is an interesting vestige of
humoral theory in modern science, which refers to the production of
antibodies by B-lymphocytes as ‘humoral immunity’.

Temperament

Using the above techniques for organizing information about complex

systems, Greco-Arabic physicians were able to find quick and reliable
ways of identifying and treating illnesses. Of even more significance
was their ability to prevent potential illnesses long before they oc-
curred. This preventative aspect of these techniques is still an advan-
tage that Greco-Arabic medicine holds over modern scientific western
medicine. These techniques also gave physicians a way of equipping
individuals with information peculiar to their personality type, giving
them control over their own health.

The temperament or homeostasis in the internal environment of the

body is specific for each individual, fluctuating between certain mini-
mum and maximum limits. Any detection of a disturbance (sua’l-mizaj)
in this equilibrium can predict disease long before any symptoms fa-
miliar to orthodox medicine appear. This technique cannot be learnt
without an integrated systemic perspective on living organisms.

Maintenance of the individual temperament is essential for the main-

tenance of health and is specific to each and every individual.

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According to Hippocrates - ‘It is more important to know what sort of

a person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person
has.’

Tibb focuses on the ideal state of health for a specific individual and
not some generic protocol of health applied to all. The ideal state of
health for an individual cannot be compared to a generic ideal. To
give a trite but familiar example - some individuals function well under
stress, others need to be stress free for optimal functioning. Some
cope with little sleep others need more sleep. 32

The real advantage that Tibb offers is the wisdom that a person’s
authentic state of being rests in a predetermined configuration of pri-
mary matter and temperaments. In order for any person to live, in an
energy efficient relationship with the world around them, they need to
recognize and serve this authentic temperament. Any individual could
experiment to find this ideal state, but Tibb asserts that there is certain
informative data that can give a person significant clues to the niche
he or she fills in relation to the world around them.

Central to the practice of Tibb, therefore is the diagnosis of tempera-

ment, rather than individual diseases. It is the art of identifying an
individual’s authentic temperament and then serving their Physis, in
the process of reserving their peculiar ideal state of health. For Ibn
Sina, the evaluation of a ‘disease’ was incomplete until or unless all
the components of a person’s life had been included in the diagnosis.
Knowing your temperament is like knowing your strengths and weak-
nesses, your predispositions to conditions of health and disease, em-
powering you to take control of your health.

‘The four temperaments were classified as Sanguine, Phlegmat-

ic, Bilious and Melancholic. The Sanguines were said to be rec-
ognized for such symptoms as love of movement, veracity, light-

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heartedness, hopefulness and rashness. The Phlegmatics were

marked by slowness, dullness, incapacity for sustained effort,
placidity and lack of fuss. The Bilious displayed signs of ambi-
tion, stubbornness, love for work, courage and the Melancholics
exhibited signs of depression, sadness gloominess, reflective-
ness and humility. Modern psychology replaced these qualities
with words such extroverts and introverts generally.’
(Hamdard, Vol. XXXVII, No 1)

What more basic question could any human being ask of themselves
than: What is fixed, what is under my control and open to change?

If we are to make choices about our lifestyles, we need to know what

cannot be changed deliberately and what can. This is the age-old di-
lemma of nature vs. free-will. Is there any sense in battling your own
essential physical type, or your own internal vis medicatrix nature?

A person’s ideal temperament is fixed. It is literally the personal organ-

ic constraints of an individual. No two people are the same according
to their outlook, behavior, expression of feeling and psychological or
functional capabilities.

The fusion of egg and sperm in the uterus, conditions of uterus, the
habitats and foods which are adopted by the mother during pregnan-
cy, date and time of birth and most importantly, the parents’ tempera-
ments, are factors which develop the temperament of a human being.

After birth, when functional causes affect particular qualities, then

changes occur partially or totally, temporarily or permanently. Envi-
ronmental factors do not contribute to the formation of a person’s tem-
perament, but influence it over time, especially the physical appear-
ance with the process of aging. Knowing what your temperament is

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can assist you in planning your diet, understanding your habits, and
choosing activities that will promote a lifestyle of optimum health.

Identifying your temperament

Each person is a unique individual: all the same, we can categorize

people into four main temperamental types: Sanguinous, Phlegmatic,
Melancholic and Bilious.

The poem by Florence Littatauer identifies the key personality traits of

the four temperamental types:
“God could have made us all Sanguinous.
We could have lots of fun but accomplish little.
He could have made us all Melancholics.
We would have been organized and chartered,
but not very cheerful.
He could have made us all Bilious.
We would have been set to lead,
but impatient that no one would follow!
He could have made us all Phlegmatics.
We would have had a perfect world but not
much enthusiasm for life.
We need each temperament for the total function of the body.
Each part should do its work to unify the action
and produce harmonious results.”

From the poem, we see that all of us are a combination of the four
personality types to varying degrees.

However, temperamental types exist in the form of a dominant and a

second, less dominant temperament, which is invariably next to each
other, e.g.:

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It is unlikely that a dominant Sanguinous temperament (Hot and Moist)

will have the second dominant temperament of Melancholic (Cold and
Dry), as this temperament is completely opposite to the Sanguinous
temperament. The second dominant temperament of a Sanguinous
person will therefore most likely be either Bilious or Phlegmatic. Sim-
ilarly, a dominant Phlegmatic person will have a second dominant
temperament of either Sanguinous or Melancholic, and not Bilious.

In other words, a person who is a combination of Sanguinous (Hot

and Moist) and Phlegmatic (Cold and Moist) temperament, will have
an overall temperament between these two.

It must be noted that the characteristics and even the personality

traits are not only unique to the different temperamental types but can
be common under different circumstances. However, for the object
of this exercise the descriptions are what is the most common for the
respective temperament, i.e. a person may occasionally suffer from
dry skin but this does not necessarily make this person fall under a
Melancholic temperament. Similarly, a person may have a calm na-
ture but if seriously provoked may become angry, this does not make
the person a Bilious temperament.

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See if you can work out your dominant and second, less dominant
temperament by reading through the summaries of physical appear-
ances tendencies and personality traits that are pertinent to each tem-
perament. Remember, a true reflection of the physical appearance is
the appearance in the early twenties as changes invariably take place
over time. Also, when evaluating personality traits, consider how oth-
er people see you, especially those who know you well such as your
family and friends.

SANGUINOUS PHLEGMATIC BILIOUS MELANCHOLIC

CATEGORY
HOT & MOIST COLD & MOIST HOT & DRY COLD & DRY

Medium to large Medium to large Medium frame, Thin, bony

frame more muscle frame more fat Lean frame(short/tall)
FRAME AND
GAIT Macho stride Slow pace Firm stride Quick/Anxious pace
Moderate to large Moderate to large Small to moderate Small eyes
eyes eyes eyes

COMPLEXION AND Reddish or shiny Whitish/pale Warm, dry Dry, rough, cold
SKIN TEXTURE Moderate in softness Cool, moist, soft
and moistness,warm
Prefers cold, dry Prefers hot, dry Prefers cold Prefers hot
CLIMATIC conditions conditions conditions / Winter conditions / Summer
PREFERENCES Winter and Autumn Summer and Spring and rainy weather and rainy weather

FOOD and Healthy appetite with Slow, steady appetite, Healthy appetite, Irregular and
DRINK a moderate to low thirst, can skip excessive thirst, variable appetite
excessive thirst meals cannot skip meals and thirst
Prefers cold drinks Prefers hot drinks Prefers cold drinks Prefers hot drinks

HEALTH Hypertension, Phlegm related Stress, Anxiety, Indigestion,

PROBLEMS Diabetes disorders Hayfever gas related disorders
Moderate to Deep Heavy Low but sound Interupted tendency
SLEEP towards insomnia
PATTERNS
6 to 8 hours at least 8 hours 5 to 6 hours 6 to 7 hours
Clear, moderate to Slow, soft Sharp, talkative, Fast, less vocal, soft
SPEECH
loud loud
Persuasive, sociable Calm, accommodating Resourceful, outspoken Thoughtful, logical
PERSONALITY
outgoing, talkative patient, good listener dominant, leader, may analytical, tend to be
TRAITS
be short tempered perfectionist
Playful, cheerful, shy, self-contained, Aggressive, angry, Fearful, insecure,
EMOTIONAL excitable, indecisive irritable, impatient suspicious, anxious
TRAITS disorganized,
tends to exaggerate

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Relationship between Temperament and Humours

Now that you have identified your dominant and secondary tempera-
ment, let us discuss this inter-relationship of temperament and hu-
mours, to health. There are many influences in our environment and
in our activities that are able to change the state of our humours, draw-
ing us towards illness or health. In the next chapter we will discuss the
qualities of these influences in detail. What is important to understand
now is that the qualities of these influences do affect the qualities of
our own humours resulting in a constant fluctuation of humoral states.
While this fluctuation carries with it the risk of illness, it is actually very
useful. All living things die when their state becomes static. In order to
remain alive our system needs to be dynamic, changing all the time,
shifting just slightly away from and then back again to its ideal state.
In this way we can respond to feedback dynamically and are able
to embrace change creatively. In most healthy individuals this con-
stant shifting usually manifests itself as a movement between their
dominant temperament and their secondary temperament. A healthy
person will constantly be moving between these two temperaments
as a result of the influences of qualities in the environment and in
their activities. A change in qualities, however, always starts at the
unseen level of the humours before affecting the temperament, which
is easier to observe.

Recall that it is an individual’s Physis that maintains or tries to main-

tain temperament. There are two types of change in temperament
that Physis would correct. First there is a change in qualities (Hot,
Cold, Moist and Dry). This is a simple imbalance caused, for example,
by exposure to the sun or cold weather. Secondly there is an imbal-
ance due to an actual change in matter - specifically the quality and
quantity of humours at a vascular level. This second form of imbal-
ance is far more serious resulting in most chronic illness conditions.

Whilst the role of Physis is to continually adjust and maintain harmony

between a person’s temperament the ratio of the humours, extreme

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negative influences on the humours can diminish the ability of Physis

itself. Negative changes can be exerted either by emotions, the diet
or any of the other factors that determine health.

Tissues, organs, energies, faculties and functions

We have explored the role of Physis, as well as the primary matter

that makes up a human being, the humours and the temperaments,
but we have yet to complete our picture by integrating the tissues, the
organs and the body’s many systems. The humours that are derived
from food and drink form the tissues, the tissues then combine to form
organs.

According to Tibb, four basic tissues make up all the organs of the
body: Connective tissues, Muscular tissues, Epithelial (or glandular)
tissues and Nervous tissues. The connective tissues form bone, car-
tilage, tendons, etc. These provide support and structure to the body.
On and in this structure we find other dynamic systems of tissues and
organs revolving around the heart, the liver and the brain.

While Physis is the chief organizing principle in the body, received at

the moment of conception, it in turn activates three other principles
known in Tibb as ‘faculties’. These three faculties are; the Vital faculty
revolving around the heart, the metabolic faculty revolving around the
liver, and the Psychic faculty revolving around the brain. Control of the
functions or processes of the body are divided between these three
faculties. They can almost be seen as the three intelligences that con-
trol the body’s functions.

Vital faculty
‘The Vital faculty is that faculty whereby life is maintained - whose
seat is the heart. It begins at the heart, enters the arteries and
reaches throughout the entire body to furnish life. This faculty

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functions by controlling the contraction and expansion in the

heart and arteries.’
(Ali Abbas)

The word ‘Vital’ means life. The functions of this faculty include the
two most important functions that sustain a human organism:

1. Respiration

The breathing in of oxygen and exhaling of carbon dioxide

2. Blood circulation

The action of the heart circulates blood containing oxygen and nutri-
ents throughout the body to all the cells and removes gaseous waste
from the lungs.

The Vital faculty revolves around the heart. According to Tibb the heart,
controls all the organs, which contain a predominance of muscular tis-
sue (e.g. voluntary and involuntary muscles, stomach, bladder, etc.).
The basic function of the muscular tissue is to provide movement and
the transport of nutrient materials in the body.

The immune system is also controlled by the Vital faculty.

Metabolic faculty
The purpose of the metabolic faculty is to provide nutrient materials,
for the maintenance of life and for the maintenance of the species. Al
Razi, Ibn Sina and their followers analyzed the various physiological
factors governing the process of growth in a very scientific and logical
manner. According to them, optimal growth requires an increase in all
types of tissues, within normal proportions, utilizing the constituents
of the food.

Nutrition is accomplished by the metabolic faculty (with the help of At-

tractive, Digestive, Retentive and Repulsive sub-faculties) in the four
steps of metabolism. The processed nutrients are made available to
the cells for the maintenance of the life of the individual by facilitat-

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ing growth (mitosis). In the case of the reproduction these processed

nutrients are made available for the process of conception (meiosis)
and the growth (mitosis) of the foetus.

The Metabolic faculty revolves around the liver. The liver controls all
the organs, which contain a predominance of epithelial tissue (endo-
crine and exocrine glands, pancreas, spleen, thyroid, etc.). The basic
function of the liver is the metabolism.

The Metabolic faculty controls the endocrine and exocrine systems.

Psychic faculty

The Psychic faculty performs the intellectual, sensory and motor func-
tions in the body. It performs all the functions of the nervous system.
The organs pertaining to this faculty are called the psychic organs, i.e.
the brain, spinal cord and nerves etc.

According to Al-Abbas and Abu Sahl Masihi this faculty is divided into
three:

1. Perceptive skills;

2. Motor skills;

3. Intellectual skills.

The Psychic faculty revolves around the Brain. The Brain controls all
the organs, which contain a predominance of nervous tissue (sensory
nerves, motor nerves and the spinal cord). The basic function of the
brain is perception.

The Psychic faculty controls the nervous system.

Energy

After the metabolism of food and drink humours are formed; these
humours then act as nutrients for the cells, tissues and organs. The

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oxygen that is inhaled is absorbed into the circulation and is used to

convert nutrients into energy. This energy is the source all the facul-
ties (vital, metabolic and psychic) used to perform the functions of
the body. The Vital faculty uses this energy in mechanical form. The
Metabolic faculty uses this energy in biochemical form. The Psychic
faculty uses this energy in electrical form.

‘There is complete integration amongst the main organs, each of

them is the source of preservation for the others, thus, the pres-
ervation of the whole body depends upon the harmonious inter-
link/integration of energies of these main organs.’
(Abu Sahil Masihi)

An Integrated System

Greco-Arabic medicine identifies three faculties revolving around the

heart, liver and brain - and sees them as exchanging energies. This is
interesting because modern medicine is beginning to recognize that
the body contains three self-regulating systems that are capable of
sophisticated feedback processes and learning. They are the immune
system, the endocrine system and the nervous system, and they re-
volve around the heart, the liver and the brain. All three of these sys-
tems are pattern recognition systems that can be said to learn through
feedback, communicate information and store information as memory
- all abilities of Physis. Recent research (by Candace Pert) has identi-
fied peptides (a kind of protein molecule) as the communication link
between these three self-organizing systems of the body. Greco-Ara-
bic medicine expressed an intuition about these interrelated systems
in their notion of faculties. An imbalance or deficiency in peptides can
cause serious diseases of body, feelings and mind. This fact was un-
derstood by Greco-Arabic physicians who said that an imbalance in
humours can manifest on all levels of a person’s, physical, emotional,
and mental being.

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In modern medicine the study of Biochemistry would be the realm of

Primary Matter, Temperament and Humours. The study of Anatomy
would seek to describe Tissues and Organs. The study of Physiology
would explore what Tibb sees as Energies, Faculties and Functions.
Whilst there may be many similarities, Tibb’s conception of qualities
both within the internal and external environment and the interaction
between them provides for a more holistic approach to health and
medicine.

We will discuss this interaction in the next chapter.

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Chapter Five

Six Factors Determining Health

Hippocrates believed that living organisms grew at the expense of the

environment, taking from it what was necessary and rejecting what
was unnecessary.

All organisms live in a nutrient medium from which they draw their
required chemistry in order to survive. Their interaction with this me-
dium and their ability to ‘digest’ this environment constitutes health.

As you move through the environment, you consume it, translating

stimulus, nutrition and heat into physical structures, memory and
available energy. The aspects of the environment that you allow to
‘flow through’ you will determine how you (and the structures that
make you up) grow, move, think and feel.

In order to help you discern what you allow in and what you keep
out, Tibb has identified Six Factors that determines health, commonly
known as Lifestyle Factors, these are:

1. Environmental Air and Breathing;

2. Food and Drink;

3. Movement and Rest;

4. Sleep and Wakefulness;

5. Emotions;
6. Elimination and Retention;

The above are causes that influence every human being. Depending
on circumstance, the following may be added:

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7. Geographical Conditions;

8. Residential Environment;

9. Occupation and Related matters;

10. Habits;

11. Age;

12. Gender;

13. Other Factors antagonistic to the body, like micro-organ-

isms, natural and artificial ionising radiations, electricity and
other natural forces.

These six lifestyle factors are responsible for creating and maintain-
ing the humours and body temperament and therefore represent the
causes of health and disease. A significant thing about identifying
these factors, is the recognition that environment plays a vital role in
determining health.
41

The six lifestyle factors are not needed in the same quality and quan-
tity by everyone. Your temperament determines what you need, in
what measures, and the optimum route to getting it.

We have focused on the relationship between each factor and the

qualities of heat, cold, dryness and moisture. In addition to the six fac-
tors we have focused on the qualities that are characteristic of each
temperament, and have tried to show how the six lifestyle factors can
influence these qualities and the health consequences that arise. In
order to use this material to your advantage, focus on the qualities
that are characteristic of your temperament. You may like to see how
the information here measures up to what you identified yourself as...

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1. Environment, Air and Breathing

Air

The first action of a baby as it comes into the world is to take its first
breath. The air that it inhales is the most important living connection
it will make with the world. Air is the one thing that all living organ-
isms share. It flows between us, in and out of us, connecting us. We
even change it for each other, in the sense that plants can be seen
to breathe out oxygen and animals breathe out carbon dioxide. It is
therefore no surprise that it is considered the breath of life. Air is also
our primary source of nutrition. Without oxygen we cannot transform
any other nutrition into energy (heat). The environment flows through
us primarily in the form of air and food.

According to Ibn Sina:

‘Air is the source of life and also provides the source for the activa-
tion of energies to form body fluids and maintain life.’

The air we breathe neutralises any excessive heat and maintains

ideal body temperature. It also cleanses the body of waste matters,
like carbon dioxide. Depending on the temperature and moistness of
the air it can have very different effects. In the previous chapter we
illustrated the dominant qualities of various seasons and times of day.
These can play a role in changing the quality of the air and can con-
sequently affect the condition of the humours.

The Environment

One should be aware of the seasonal changes and the adverse ef-
fect that exposure to extreme elements can have on your health. Tibb
recognizes the intimate relationship that exists between the individual
and the environment. The existence and well-being of man and oth-
er living organism depend on the continuous interaction and adjust-

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ment between their internal and external environmental factors. The

seasonal changes and climatic changes have an important effect on
health and its impact on the balance of the humours within the body.
So, to adjust the body with the changing season Tibb has recom-
mended a seasonal specific conduct. These activities help us to cope
up with the changes in the environment.

When the organisms fail to adjust or adapt to the environment either

due to innate deficiency or due to overwhelming antagonistic environ-
mental factors, it results in disease or death.

The natural law of seasons and health

Two seasons have opposite forces and two seasons have neutral
energy. Summer is hot in general and winter is cold. This natural
phenomena is reflected in changes in qualities of the body and by
the concentration of toxic products and body energies. During Sum-
mer, the bilious humour predominates and accumulates due to the
increased heat. During Winter, the phlegmatic humour predominates
and accumulates. During spring, the phlegmatic humour which has
accumulated and harden begins to soften and melt, similarly during
Autumn, an increase in cold, cools down the light and thin bilious hu-
mour – both seasons are readying these humours for expulsion.

Summer

In summer, the hot weather directs blood flow to the peripheral organs
and towards the superficial capillaries in order to disperse excess
heat from the body’s interior. If more cooling and heat dispersal are
needed, we begin to sweat. The hot summer weather provokes ag-
gravations of heat and bilious humour. These may produce giddiness,
vomiting or nausea, as well as fevers, infections, putrefactions, heat
rashes and inflammatory conditions. Because more blood is shunted
out towards the exterior of the organism, the digestive organs in the
body’s core don’t receive as much blood. This, in addition to the lower
caloric needs of summer, often tend to depress the appetite. In sum-

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mer, we should eat light, easy to digest foods. Also, since the intense
summer heat leads to a lot of fluid loss through sweating, therefore
water intake should be increased to keep hydrated. However, ice cold
beverages and water should be avoided as it will dampen the diges-
tive heat, especially during meals.

Autumn

As summer moves into Autumn, the days remain hot, but the nights
grow colder. These widening temperature fluctuations put a strain on
the body to adapt. The pores may open and sweat during the heat
of the day, and allow evening chills to enter. Excess cold foods and
drinks consumed in summer may have generated superfluous phleg-
matic humour that may increase one’s vulnerability to chills when
the weather starts changing in Autumn. One should take care not to
drink too many cold drinks nor eat too many cooling foods when the
weather starts changing. The cool weather of Autumn can produce
dry, chapped skin, coryza and sore throats, coughs and hoarseness.
Wetter autumns are better than dryer ones, because the moisture in
the air will help to liquefy the excess phlegm accumulated through
dietary indiscretions in the summer, whereas dryness will only dry
up and thicken this excess phlegm, making it more difficult to expel.

Winter

In winter, the cold, wet weather aggravates phlegm, and makes us

vulnerable to coughs, colds and lung congestion. Since our bodies
consume more energy to keep us warm, our caloric needs are higher
in winter. The cold weather also shunts the majority of the blood circu-
lation into the interior to warm the vital organs of the body’s core. As a
result, the digestive heat is at its highest which increases our appetite.
Due to the increased digestive power, the body is able to metabolize
heavier foods such as red meats and fats like butter and ghee. Nutri-
tion rich foods are also recommended like dates and dried fruits. Cold
foods and drinks should be avoided and one should drink warm water
and ginger tea in winter. As a result of the increased food intake, the

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phlegmatic humour accumulates and hardens. As cold becomes se-

vere and dryness intensifies in mid-Winter, the melancholic humour
tends to get aggravated resulting in symptoms of stiff and painful joints
and muscles.

Spring

In spring, the warmer weather brings the formerly latent or dormant

humoral excesses of winter up to the surface. Biologically, nature
supports cleansing of the body in spring. In Winter, the digestive fire
is high and people eat more sweet and heavy food. Most of the time,
they aren’t able to assimilate these hard to digest food, and so the
phlegmatic humour starts accumulating. When the warm weather
starts melting the ice caps, it is spring. This season has a similar ef-
fect on the body. In Spring, the hardened phlegmatic humour begins
to melt and the volume becomes great in the circulatory channels. As
a result of the increased circulating phlegmatic humour, the digestive
activity weakens, causing diseases. If you don’t assist these toxins
moving out of the body, you become prone to many illness conditions
e.g. allergies. Spring is the best time for detoxification because nature
is already trying to clear out these toxins. A diet rich in light meals like
soup with heating herbs and spices is encouraged to assist the body
in the elimination of accumulated phlegmatic humour.

The influence of the environment on temperament

People with different temperaments will be affected differently by cer-

tain weather scenarios. A number of these are shown below.

Temperament and response to weather conditions

• Persons with a dominant sanguinous temperament will

be most affected by the overall heat of summer,
especially on the coast;
• Persons with a dominant phlegmatic temperament will
be most affected by the overall coldness of winter

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especially on the coast;

• Persons with a dominant bilious temperament will be
most affected by the overall heat of summer, especially
in dry regions;
• Persons with a dominant melancholic temperament will
be most affected by the overall coldness of winter,
especially in dry regions.

Unfortunately, one cannot control the weather. However, by knowing

your temperament, you could compensate for adverse weather con-
ditions by actively invoking other lifestyle factors, especially diet and
exercise.

Breathing

It is not only the quality of air that can affect health but the quality of
our own breathing. Headaches, tiredness and irritability are often the
result of insufficient oxygen. People are quick to take headache tab-
lets, or stimulants (like coffee), thereby getting rid of the symptom but
masking the cause. Extreme emotions like anger and fear can also
be overcome through correct breathing. If you are not in the habit of
doing breathing exercises, you might like to try the simple breathing
technique below.

It is always best to perform breathing exercises at dawn as the pollu-

tion levels are low, the air is crisp and fresh and the psycho-spiritual
benefits are more profound.

The pattern of breathing should be that the duration of time during in-
halation, holding your breath and exhalation should be up to a count
of five.

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Breathe in deeply through your mouth, pushing out your stomach and
visualizing air filling it. This helps to fill the lower half of your lungs,
which usually get neglected. While breathing in slowly you will make
an ‘aah’ sound, continue this sound the entire time until you have filled
your lungs. While doing this, concentrate on the point in the middle
of your forehead. Now hold your breath to a count of five and exhale
to the sound of ‘hu’, expelling all air from the lungs. While doing this,
concentrate on the heart. This meditative exercise can be done for
15-20 minutes. It is good for insomnia, depression, anxiety, fear, and
accesses all emotional states. It can also act as a form of catharsis
‘flushing out’ all of those emotional states you should not be clinging
to. Many people have been astounded at what a difference simple
deep breathing exercises can make.

2. Food and Drink

“Leave your drugs in the chemist’s pot if you can heal the patient
with food”.
Hippocrates

For Tibb practitioners, the chief medicine at their disposal is food. For
this reason, the section on food is disproportionately large in com-
parison with the other factors. Not only is food the major factor in the
maintenance of health, it is the only one that is completely under our
control. We have the final say over what does or does not enter our
stomach. We cannot always control the other factors of health, such
as the seasonal changes or the emotional environment we live in but
we can control what we eat.

Food is the raw material the body uses for the production of the four
humours. Therefore, the quality and quantity of the food consumed
has a direct impact on the quality and quantity of the humours pro-
duced by the body.

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Although most illnesses arise as a result of people neglecting their

diets, nutrition is not a major component of courses at medical school.
Once again, this is the product of a paradigm that focuses on specific
infectious organisms. In the realm of health, nutrition plays a central
role in placing control in the hands of the patient. Education about
nutrition is a powerful health tool that the physician can equip his or
her patients with. It is also low tech, easy to understand and readily
accessible.

The ratio of humours in the body is dependent on physical and emo-

tional influences and the type of food and drink consumed. As the
intake of food and drink is within our control we can do a remarkable
amount to control what humours we produce and consequently deter-
mine our own health.

All the food that is taken in is subjected to the same cycle. Ingestion,
then digestion and finally assimilation, where food is broken down
into micronutrients, which are either stored or used up by the body
in the millions of biochemical interactions that take place within the
body. Finally, elimination occurs. At each step, from the beginning to
the end of digestion, heat is being generated. Heat is essential for this
process to occur. If for any reason this innate body heat is reduced,
then not only will digestion and assimilation be impaired but it will also
result in the accumulation of toxic by-products not being adequately
eliminated. These toxins will invariably disturb the humours, accumu-
late as mucous in the lining of the colon and start presenting symp-
toms of illness. If the process is not rapidly reversed serious diseases
are inevitable.

Food that enters the mouth first comes into contact with enzymes,
which begin to break it down through chemical reactions creating a
type of heat. The food is chewed with the teeth - heat friction from
grinding. The food is then swallowed into the stomach where hy-
drochloric acid breaks down the solids into a semi-fluid mass called

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chyme - the essence of food. The stomach sends thischyme via the
small intestine (where additional enzymes create added heat) to the
site of the liver. The final conversion of foods into humours is carried
out in the liver. These valuable nutrient components are transported
in the humours, through the circulation, to all the cells of the body to
participate in various chemical events that transform them into the
myriad forms of the body.

The biochemistry of the body depends on the quality of the food we

take in. When selecting food two main factors need to be considered:

1. The temperament of the individual and what is appropriate for

his or her age, the season, and the climate.

2. What will produce balance in the four humours.

In Tibb, the nutritive value of the food is decided by how much of each
humour it produces. Over and above the nutritional quality of foods,
Tibb recognizes the inherent qualities of the food. There may be a
common vitamin in certain types of foods but some may be heating
and others cooling. While all meat provides protein each type of meat
has its own quality of heat, dryness, coldness and moistness. For ex-
ample, chicken is Hot & Dry, mutton is Hot & Moist and beef is Cold
& Dry.

A confirmation of Tibb’s view of the metabolic efficiency of foods and

digestion is found in recent research on enzymes. Edward Howell,
M.D., is the world’s leading authority on enzyme activity in food diges-
tion. Dr. Howell’s extensive research (1985) proves that 80 percent of
enzyme activity is devoted to the digestion of food. Since all enzymes
contained in raw foods are destroyed by freezing, boiling, frying and
radiation, many people consume food that has no enzyme content
whatsoever. Dr. Howell’s research also reveals that when spices such

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as ginger, cumin and cinnamon - the heating spices - are consumed,

the production of digestive enzymes by the body increases dramati-
cally.

Even more importantly, whenever the body undergoes fasting, en-

zymes normally assigned by the body to digest food are freed to con-
duct healing functions, such as dissolving latent tumours. Fasting is
regarded as a major technique of health enhancement by practitio-
ners of Tibb.

Such respected research proves the value of Tibb ‘heating’ foods and
spices. It can be deduced that heating foods:

• Increase the production of digestive enzymes;

• Increase cellular metabolic functioning;
• Result in the complete assimilation of micronutrients with
a minimum of metabolic waste;
• Achieve and maintain a complete metabolic digestion.

In summary then, by assigning a food value as hot or cold, we mean

that a heating food has the capacity to increase metabolisms of the
body (whatever they maybe). Conversely, a cold food slows down
metabolism. We recognize that it is the body itself that must perform
the final healing, and we try to assist it as much as possible in these
endeavors. These facts can be discerned in terms of the results ob-
served after taking in the foods, sometimes immediately, at other
times over a longer period. If we had a thermometer that measured in
billionths of degrees instead of tenths, we could actually see the body
temperature rise after eating a preponderance of hot foods. This idea
is perfectly in accordance with the laws of physics, which state that an
increase in atomic velocity causes an increase in temperature.

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The breakdown of nutrients as a process of the liver continues, and

from this point the four humours and by-products of digestion are
formed. The process of heating is undermined when the ‘heat’ of the
digestive process is lowered in intensity. What happens is that many
of the foods eaten are not fully broken down into the smallest nutri-
ent components, and this places a great strain upon the body to deal
with incompletely digested foods. The thermal function of the body is
admitted by western biologists to be situated in the liver. It is true that
other glands and substances may have ancillary effect of the thermal
maintenance of the body. Without the liver however no one can sur-
vive for even a short period. For this reason, the liver has often been
described as the body’s ‘energy centre’.

If we understand that each food has an inherent degree of heat or

coldness – in other words, promotes or slows down metabolism - we
can begin to select dietary items that harmonize all the natural func-
tions of the body. This is a general system of dietetics that can be
learned, understood and applied by virtually anyone. It can be ad-
justed according to every possible factor of change and difference in
life style.

Moreover, the Tibb system of dietetics is the most widely practiced

system of dietetics in the history of the world. Chinese medicine also
recognizes the concepts of heating and cooling foods.

Quality, and not quantity, is central to good health. Large quantities

of food are usually detrimental, as is constant eating. The digestive
system needs at least a five-hour interval of rest between meals.

According to Hippocrates -
‘A little of what is harmful is better than too much of what is good’.

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The quality of the food not only refers to the nutritional value but what
particular temperament each food has i.e. Hot, Cold, Dry and Moist.

Modern nutritionists and health professionals disagree as to how we

should categorize food types. A typical categorization is: foods that
give you energy, foods that build the body and foods that boost the
immune system.

Tibb categorizes food according to the qualities:

a) Protein (Dry and Hot to Hot and Dry);

b) Fats (Hot and Dry to Hot and Moist);

c) Carbohydrates (Moist and Hot to Cold and Moist);

d) Minerals (Cold and Dry);

e) Water (Cold and Moist).

45

Heating food speeds up metabolism, while cooling food slows it down.

This also has an effect on the moisture level in the body.

The Western diet focuses on foods like: milk, beef, potatoes, lettuce,
salads, white sugar, cheese butter and margarine. Most of these are
cold foods which can lead to an imbalance in the phlegmatic humour,
which causes phlegm related conditions e.g. migraine, menstrual
cramps, lung and chest problems, arthritis and constipation etc. - all
common complaints found in the west. Continued incorrect eating
gives rise to imbalances in the humours and ultimately to serious mel-
ancholic diseases such as cancer, arteriosclerosis, emphysema, etc.

Most foods from the heating list are considered exotic by the west and
are only eaten occasionally.

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The qualities of the foods we eat

The following are the examples of the qualities that are attributed to
foods within the context of Tibb practice. We have divided the foods
into heating and cooling foods with the associated qualities of moist-
ness and dryness, whether it be the dominant quality or not. For ex-
ample, in meat, chicken is considered to be Hot and Dry with the heat
being dominant whereas prawns and lobsters have the qualities of
heat and dryness but the dryness is more dominant. In mutton the
heat is more dominant than moistness and in lamb the moistness is
more dominant than heat. If you know what qualities are needed to
‘balance’ your current state and if you know what qualities, you should
avoid; these lists can act as a guideline.

Hot & Moist Foods

Meats: Mutton, lamb, liver, turkey, venison, goat, goose, Vegetables:
Sweet potato, spinach, spring onion, turnips, asparagus, olives, ar-
tichokes, Fruits: Bananas, dates, guavas, mangoes, peaches, pa-
paya, Nuts: Almonds, brazil nuts, pistachios, apricot kernels,
Grains & Seeds: Bread, rye bread, wheat, flour, pasta, macaroni,
bulgar wheat, sunflower seeds, dill seeds, Dairy Products: Cheese,
cream cheese, clarified butter, fresh cream, condensed milk, Oils:
Olive oil, sunflower oil, castor oil, Herbs & Spices: Ginger, turmeric,
fennel, cayenne pepper, black pepper, white pepper, chives, green
masala, marjoram, mint, sage, soya sauce, thyme, watercress, bay
leaves, Drinks: green tea, hot water, juices (see fruits), herbal teas
(see Herbs & Spices – above), Flavourants: Honey, molasses, salt,
sugar, Condiments & Spreads: Mayonnaise, Confectionery & Des-
serts: Biscuits, cakes, chocolate, licorice, vermicelli, Cereals: Oats,
puffed wheat, muesli, Weetbix, Bran flakes, bran, Taystee wheat,
Dishes: Sweet/salty dishes.

Hot & Dry Foods

Meats: Chicken, oily fish (salmon, mackerel, pilchards, sardines),
prawns, lobster, Vegetables: Onion, red pepper, yellow pepper, green
pepper, celery, leek, bitter gourd, Fruits: Avocado, grapes, Nuts: Ca-
shews, pecan nuts, hazel nuts, walnuts, Grains & Seeds: Chickpeas,
celery seeds, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, gram flour, papad,

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Dairy Products: eggs, Oils: mustard oil, Herbs & Spices: Garlic, cin-
namon, fenugreek, nutmeg, oregano, green/red chilli, paprika, pars-
ley, rocket, rosemary, saffron, aniseed, cloves, tarragon, laven- der,
Drinks: Grape juice, herbal teas (see Herbs & Spices – above), al-
cohol, Flavourants: Pungent & bitter flavourants, Condiments &
Spreads: Chilli sauce, mustard sauce, peri-peri sauce, Dishes: Spicy
dishes

Cold & Dry Foods

Meats: Beef, biltong (beef), pork, ostrich, fish (snoek, tuna), tripe,
mussels, oysters, snails, knuckles, crab, Vegetables: Potato, tomato,
cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, eggplant, peas, green beans,
mushrooms, sauerkraut, Fruits: All sour fruit (lemon, grapefruit, lime,
naartjies, oranges, pineapple), dried fruit (sultanas, prunes), green
apples, cherries, coconut, granadilla, plums, pomegranate, raspber-
ries, strawberries, Nuts: Peanuts, Grains & Seeds: corn, lentils,
mielies, beans (all types), barley, couscous, popcorn, poppy seeds,
samp, sesame seeds, Dairy Products: Sour milk, yoghurt, sour
cream, Oils: Coconut oil, corn oil, sesame oil, Herbs & Spices: Basil,
tamarind, Drinks: Coffee, tea (black), sour fruit juices, Condiments
& Spreads: Peanut butter, tomato ketchup, vinegar, balsamic vine-
gar, pickles, Worcestershire sauce, Cereals: Cornflakes, mielie meal,
maltabella, millet, Dishes: sour dishes.

Cold & Moist Foods

Meats: Rabbit, duck, Vegetables: Beetroot, baby marrow, butter-
nut, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, squash, lady fingers (orka), lettuce,
pumpkin, radish, sprouts, soya beans, tofu, zucchini, Fruits: Apricot,
figs, melons, pawpaw, pears, prickly pears, mulberries, cranberries,
quince, spanspek, sweet apples, kiwi fruit, litchis, Nuts: Macadamia,
Grains & Seeds: Pumpkin seeds, rice, rice cakes, semolina, cucum-
ber seeds, linseed, melon seeds, Dairy Products: Cow’s milk, butter,
goat’s milk, buttermilk, rice milk, soya milk, coconut milk, margarine,
Herbs & Spices: Cumin, cardamom, coriander, vanilla, Drinks: Wa-
ter, rooibos, milk shakes, sugar cane juice, Flavourants: Fructose,
glucose, rose syrup, Confectionary & Desserts: Custard, ice cream,
sago, Cereals: Pronutro, Rice Krispies.

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Tibb endorses most common sense eating practices. Here are some
basic guidelines in addition to those already mentioned:

• The eating of fresh fruit and vegetables is usually preferred

to cooking that damages nutrients and enzymes;
• The eating of foods closest to their natural state rather
than eating highly refined forms of these foods is always
advised;
• The avoidance of preservatives, colourants, and flavou-
rants is advised;
• Tibb emphasizes eating foods that are in season.

These foods equip us to deal with the dominant qualities of that sea-
son. Although we are able to obtain almost any fruit or vegetable year
round, through imports, it does not mean they are appropriate for the
seasonal cycle our bodies find themselves in.

• Fruit should preferably be eaten before a meal or on an

empty stomach, sour foods can be eaten after a meal as
they aid digestion;
• One should not drink a lot of water during meals, as this
can affect digestion;
• Never eat food that is very hot or very cold as this may
demand unnecessary uses of your body’s energy
resources;
• Of the three meals, it is essential that you have breakfast
and supper regularly. If you have to miss a meal, rather
miss lunch;
• It is more important that the quality and nutrients of the
food take priority over the amount;
• Never suppress your hunger with tea or coffee;

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• Only eat when you feel hungry.

Six tastes

Another interesting perspective in Tibb is the concept of the six differ-

ent tastes of foods and their respective qualities:

1. Sour and astringent - Cold and Dry;

2. Bitter - Dry and Hot;

3. Pungent - Hot and Dry;

4. Salty - Hot and Moist;

5. Sweet - Moist and Hot;

6. No taste or insipid - Cold and Moist.

Which of these tastes corresponds to the qualities in your tempera-

ment? It is these tastes that you probably prefer and can cause you
health problems if taken in excess?

Qualitative effects of taste

Sour and Astringent - Cold and Dry

Too much sour and astringent food increases the Cold and Dry quali-
ties, which can negatively affect the digestive and nervous system
and thickens the blood in the circulatory system. The skin becomes
dry and wrinkled.

Bitter - Dry and Hot

Excess bitter foods increase the Dryness and Heat in the body. It is
harmful to the lungs, the arteries and promotes excessive bleeding. It
also tends to dry out the skin.

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Pungent - Hot and Dry

Excess pungent foods increase the Heat and Dryness and are harm-
ful to the liver and weaken muscular tone.
49

Salty - Hot and Moist

Excess salty foods increase the Heat and Moistness, and are harmful
for the heart, increases the blood pressure and gives the complexion
a greenish tinge.

Sweet - Moist and Hot

Excess of sweet foods increases the Moistness and Heat in the body
and is harmful to the spleen, pancreas and kidneys. It can also lead
to arthritis.

No taste or insipid - Cold and Moist

Excess of insipid foods increases the Coldness and Moistness in the

body and is harmful to the glands, metabolism and vital faculties, it
also decreases the haemoglobin level causing anaemia and can lead
to loss of hair.

Similar to many current ideas of not mixing proteins and carbohy-

drates, Tibb discourages the consuming of many dishes and tastes
at the same meal. Avoid mixing milk products with sour things, and
avoid mixing sweet and sour dishes in the same meal. You can how-
ever, mix salty, pungent and bitter tastes in the same meal.

3. Movement and Rest

Life is constant movement. Life is movement and movement is life.

We can see this all over the universe and in the human being from the

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time of conception to the last breath. The potential energy of resting

states is converted into the kinetic energy of moving states. Even in a
state of complete rest, there is activity within the body and the body is
converting potential energy into heat.

According to Aristotle - “Every movement and repose has an origin or

source which is Physis - the principal organiser”.

The muscular tissue, with the complete coordination of the nervous,

glandular, skeletal and other systems, controls movement. There are
two types of movement: - voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary move-
ment is in our control using the voluntary muscles, such as the move-
ment of the hand, legs, mouth, tongue, head, neck, etc. Movements
not under our control are involuntary, such as the movement of heart,
lungs, stomach, intestines, etc.

Energy is necessary for movement and the result of movement is the

production of heat. Normally an increase in movement results in an
increase of heat. Initially the heat is associated with moisture (Hot
and Moist). As movement increases and heat increases, there is a
decrease in moistness and an increase in dryness (Hot and Dry). We
are able to perform movement to the extent of our stamina, ultimately
needing rest to compensate for the Heat and Dryness. Continuous
movement will end with a dangerous loss of heat and of overall func-
tioning (Cold and Dry).

On the other hand, rest produces a moistening and cooling effect.

Sleep is one of the states of complete voluntary and mental rest. Ex-
cessiveness of rest is also not ideal for the body as this also causes
loss of function (Cold and Dry condition).
50

Our voluntary movements have an effect on our involuntary move-

ments. Working, walking, swimming, etc. have an effect on the blood

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circulation, digestion, metabolism, the amount of oxygen in the body

and the excretion of waste products. It is necessary for us to have
proper exercise along with our daily working.

On the other hand, even with involuntary movement, rest is also

a natural phenomena. Your heart, for example, is in continuous
movement but there is a slight pause between contraction and ex-
pansion. The same procedure applies to the lungs. Different peo-
ple have different needs of movement and rest. Just as too much
movement or rest is harmful, too little can also have detrimen-
tal effects. A balance to suite your temperament is necessary.

4. Sleep and Wakefulness

Everyone has a need for sleep but the requirement of sleep differs
from person to person and for different age groups.

The different personality types need different hours of sleep to restore

and maintain balance in their temperament. Bilious and Melancholic
people require a minimum of 5-6 hours, while Sanguinous people
need 6-7 hours’ sleep and Phlegmatic people need at least 8 hours
of sleep. Infants and children require more sleep, so do women com-
pared to men. For the elderly, additional rest and sleep is beneficial
because it will increase the moisture to overcome the dryness associ-
ated with old age.

Sleep renews and maintains physical and psychological performance.

Anyone can attest to the fact that restful sleep is necessary after a
long period of physical or mental exhaustion. Sleep strengthens all
natural functions, including digestion, metabolism, and brain power.
During sleep the body restores itself from fatigue and gives Physis the
opportunity to prepare for the elimination of toxins and the opportunity
to focusing on repair and restoration of health.

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When a person perspires heavily during sleep without any obvious

cause, it means that undigested and unwanted fluids have accumu-
lated in excess of the bodily requirements. With the help of sleep
these unwanted matters are eliminated through the skin.

If a person is of Bilious temperament, or has an accumulated Bilious

humour, a prolonged period of sleep will help reduce the excess heat
as sleep has a cooling and moistening effect on the body. For the per-
son with a Phlegmatic humour or an accumulation of Phlegmatic hu-
mour, prolonged sleep will aggravate this humour, increasing moist-
ness and producing phlegm.

The best time during the twenty-four-hour period for sleep is from
22:00 until just before sunrise. The saying ‘early to bed and early to
rise’ is of value as the freshness of the morning air, free of pollution,
is ideal for health.

One should eat supper at least three hours before going to bed and
in addition take a walk for 15-20 minutes half-an-hour after the meal.

The best time for sleep during the day is after a meal, but it should
only last 20-30 minutes - during the summer period, you can sleep
for up to one hour. Melancholic and Phlegmatic people should avoid
sleeping during the day. Sleep should be avoided in the late afternoon
as it is disruptive to the sleep pattern at night.

The best posture when going to bed is to lie on your right side. In this
posture the food in the stomach moves towards the intestines more
easily. The secretions from the pancreas and the liver are also facili-
tated more effectively in this position. As the heart is more inclined to
the left side of the body, lying on your right side decreases pressure
on the heart. While sleeping on the left side is harmful as this puts

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pressure on the heart. This position is also harmful as food comes to

the upper part of the stomach also putting pressure on the heart.

Excessive rest and sleep gives rise to an excessiveness of a Cold &

Moist temperament which is harmful for the vital, metabolic and psy-
chic faculties (as discussed in chapter four) affecting the level of avail-
able energy. Long periods of increased Cold and Moistness increase
the elasticity of the muscles, disturb the digestion and metabolism,
and dulls the mind.

5. Emotions

The role of emotion in health is so central that Tibb places a lot of em-
phasis on the ‘bedside manner’ and the way the emotions of a patient
are facilitated.
“Some patients, though their condition is perilous, recover their
health simply through their contentment with the goodness of the
physician”.
Hippocrates

Emotions are a powerful thing. The extremes of depression and pas-

sion can both be killers. Emotions are one of the six factors that can
have an immediate affect on the body with sudden mood swings,
shock, trauma, etc.

Your temperament is influenced by your emotions according to the

qualities of these emotions, as shown below. You will notice that there
are six types of emotions identified by Tibb. Emotions are your body’s
message to your mind, informing you of the qualitative state you are
in. If the message is understood and you respond appropriately, your
emotions are a gift. If the message is ignored or you respond in a way
that just serves to increase the qualitative state with no awareness,
you can do yourself damage.

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Tibb categorizes the following emotions with their respective qualities:

Anger - Hot and Dry;

Worries - Hot and Moist;

Depression - Moist and Hot;

Fear - Cold and Moist;

Grief - Cold and Dry;

Excitement - Dry and Hot;

By recognizing the qualities of emotions that are in keeping with the

qualities of your temperament, one can, to a great extent, control the
influence that emotions can have on your health. For example, if a
bilious person whose temperament is Hot and Dry is continually in-
fluenced by anger, which has the same Hot and Dry qualities, their
health will be negatively affected.

Emotions have an instant effect in extreme circumstances of shock,

fear, etc. which leads to immediate changes at a functional level of
the body, like perspiration, flushed skin, increased heartbeat, loss of
control over eliminative functions etc. These symptoms are reversed
by the removal of the stimulus causing the sudden change in emo-
tion. However, if this stimulus is applied constantly over a period, the
negative qualitative effect of these emotions can lead to changes in
the humours causing serious conditions of disease. These will invari-
ably manifest itself in the muscular, immune, endocrine, and nervous
systems.

52

Anger is associated with a Hot and Dry temperament. Excessive an-

ger is harmful to the liver and the digestive faculties. Anger produces
stimulation in the liver. In anger the circulation suddenly surfaces to
the skin. With this emotion a lot of heat is produced in the body, which
can harm the internal organs, requiring Physis to shift the circulation

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outward to protect the internal organ from damage. Anger produces

harmful effects in the heart, and liver, damages the brain and also
increases the bilious humour.

Worries are associated with a Hot and Moist temperament. Excessive

worry causes a disease of the spleen and pancreas resulting in an
imbalance of glucose levels.

Depression is associated with a Moist and Hot temperament. Exces-

sive depression is harmful to the brain and weakens all faculties. De-
pression stimulates the phlegmatic humour.

Fear is associated with a Cold and Moist temperament. Excessive

fear leads to diseases of the kidneys and bladder and weakens the
adrenal and posterior pituitary glands. In fear the circulation suddenly
moves inwards, resulting in the face and skin becoming pale and cold
and breathing beings shallow. Because of this emotion a lot of cold
develops in the body, Physis shifts the circulation inwards to protect
the internal organs from damage. Fear also produces negative effects
in the liver and heart.

Grief is associated with a Cold and Dry temperament. Excessive grief

is an acute condition of the nervous system and weakens the nerve
impulses and produces negative effects on the brain, lungs, heart and
liver.

Excitement is associated with a Dry and Hot temperament. Excessive

excitement can be harmful to the heart. Circulation gradually surfaces
to the skin, the face and skin become red and hot and breathing in-
creases. With excitement a lot of heat is produced in the body, which
can harm the internal organs, Physis shifts the circulation outward to
protect the internal organs from this damage.

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The power of emotion

Emotions can harness willpower to such a degree that they can even
change the natural course of a body’s functioning. If the mind can be
so powerful in determining physical distress, can it not also play a
powerful role in determining healing? Practitioners of Psychoneuro-
immunology say ‘Yes’. Psychoneuroimmunology is making significant
ripples in the pools of mainstream medicine. Psychoneuroimmunolo-
gy is the study of the interaction of consciousness (psycho), the brain
and central nervous system (neuro) and the body’s defense against
external infection and aberrant cell division (immunology).

The primary focus of research into Psychoneuroimmunology is the

impact that mental states can have on immune functioning. It has
been found that stress, distress and depression have a definite im-
pact. This kind of research has lead towards a greater emphasis on
systemic thinking in medicine.

AIDS is a clear example of this. It has been found that a fighting spirit
and a positive attitude towards the disease has a quantifiable out-
come, raising the T-cell count in AIDS patients. It has also been shown
to affect the length of time between contraction of HIV and the transi-
tion into full-blown AIDS. Doctors are realizing the importance of diet,
exercise and psychological well-being in the treatment of people with
HIV and people with AIDS. Tibb’s emphasis on a systemic approach
to healthcare could be used to benefit people with HIV and people
with AIDS. Its focus on prevention through the balancing of qualities
could also play a role in equipping people against opportunistic infec-
tions.
53

Researchers have used a number of diverse strategies to modulate

immune functions including relaxation techniques and hypnosis, guid-
ed imagery, exercise, classical conditioning, social support and pla-
cebos, to enhance perceived self-control over physical illness. These

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interventions have generally produced positive changes.

It has been found that people can delay or postpone their death through
sheer will. There are many cases of frail and elderly people who were
looking forward to particular anniversaries or religious holidays with
such powerful emotion that they postponed their imminent death.

6. Elimination and Retention

As we learn to take in our environment in the form of food and stimu-

lus, we should also learn when and how to let it go. We should hold on
to food and other experiences long enough to benefit from them, but
not so long that they begin to cause physical and emotional problems.

Elimination is the process of detoxification of waste products from the

body. These waste products are the result of different stages of diges-
tion and metabolism from the stomach to the cellular level. Consider
the process experienced by an infant. The average body temperature
of an infant is said to be about 37 degrees. This higher metabolic rate
is necessary to effectively process all the unusual amounts of by-
products that result from the child’s rapid growth. Moreover, infants
and small children exhibit vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, sweating and
frequent urination - precisely the forms of healing crises recognized
by Tibb.

What happens when foods are not eaten according to metabolic prin-
ciples? The first problem is that foods are incompletely digested. The
body responds in many ways but the result is that superfluous matters
build up in the system. This may continue for long or short periods. In
due course, the body will reach the limit of excess (of this matter) and
move into a corrective mode. This is accomplished by healing crises.
The strange heat we call fever which serves to rapidly refine, or ‘cook
down’ the excess superfluous matters so that they can be evacuat-

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ed by the body. This elimination is termed a ‘healing crisis’. Western

medicine seeks to halt these healing crises, thus preventing elimina-
tion. In this way the body is prevented from healing itself, resulting in
the toxins remaining in the body causing further harm.

There are two types of elimination according to Tibb philosophy: Nat-

ural and Induced.

The first, natural elimination is the natural function of the body to rid
itself of waste by different means i.e. the exchange of gases through
the lungs (respiration), passing of stool, urine, sweating and men-
struation. Everyone is aware of these means of elimination but cough-
ing, vomiting, sneezing, hiccoughs, passing of wind, burping, mucous
from the nose (running nose), nose bleeds, pus in the corner of the
eyes on waking in the morning, ear wax, vaginal discharge and ejacu-
lation are also considered as natural eliminative processes. Physis
employs all of these to keep the body healthy.

Emotions are the natural way of expression and the spontaneous

reaction to our internal/external environment. The various emotions
like excitement, anger, worry, sadness, shyness and fear, also play a
role in the process of elimination. They eliminate various toxins from
the body because the experience of these emotions is linked with
the movement of the various muscles, secretions of different glands,
changes in breathing and the circulatory system.

54

Tibb philosophy believes that the ultimate cure is possible only when
the elimination of toxins takes place from within the body - in the prop-
er time and in the proper way. When the physician feels that waste
products are accumulating in the body instead of being eliminated
properly, he or she will induce different eliminative methods. This is
the second type of elimination spoken of in Tibb, and may include the
use of laxatives, diuretics, saunas and cupping.

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The Tibb physician not only treats the patient in a physical way but
also on the psychological and spiritual levels, with the main object,
being elimination of toxins from the body on these different levels.
Counselling, meditation, breathing exercises, different postures, etc.,
are also often advised to assist the patient with elimination on the
psychological level.

Keeping the colon toxin free

One of the most neglected areas of elimination in modern lifestyles

is the required elimination of the contents of the colon. For centuries,
the use of laxatives has been the norm in every society. Older mem-
bers of the community will remember the days of ‘castor oil’ or senna
leaves.

People do not realize that even though they may have a bowel move-
ment every day, the accumulation of toxins and phlegm on the lining
of the intestinal wall or colon can only be removed with an appropriate
laxative.

The saying that ‘The stomach is the home of all illnesses’ extends to
the entire digestive tract.

Fasting

The Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) said: ‘The stomach

is the home of disease and abstinence the head of every remedy, so
make this your custom.’

Tibb recommends fasting as a way of giving the body time to reor-

ganize itself without any incoming ‘information’. Fasting is the old-
est known form of natural healing. For many people who have never
fasted, the idea seems strange and some even consider it quite dan-
gerous. These conceptions are not utterly unfounded, because incor-

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rectly applied fasting can result in severe disorders of the body, and
even death. Usually a twelve-hour fast is sufficient, during which only
warm water should be drunk. While fasting, heat is not being gener-
ated by digestion so Physis is better able to consolidate all available
energy for healing.

Generally speaking, fasting facilitates the elimination of toxins from

the body. It is also an antidote to addictive behaviours. Abstinence
from all highly emotive activities, like eating, sex, etc., can provide
the opportunity for intense self-reflection, self-evaluation, increased
awareness, focus, restoration of balance and health. It is therefore a
good idea to regularly abstain from certain foodstuffs that are poten-
tially addictive like coffee and certain activities like sex. The technical
term for fasting is ‘siyam’, which means ‘to be at rest’. So, it is recom-
mended that fasting be a time of quiet meditation and self-reflection.
The fast may include abstinence from certain physical and mental
activities, including sexual activity and television.

Some general guidelines for fasting:

• State the intention of the fast. The value of this formal

declaration is that it provides focus;
• Determine what forms of abstinence you will employ dur-
ing the fast. All foods? Particular foodstuffs? Including or
excluding water? Sex? Other forms of entertainment?
• Determine a time period that is appropriate and will not
compromise your health, or any other activities that you
are engaged in (like exams, caring for your family, etc.);
• Do not fast if you are ill, unless your doctor permits it.
• Do not fast if you are pregnant or lactating, unless your
doctor permits it;
• Do not attempt to break the fast with a large meal, how
ever tempting this may be. A modest meal of foods that
are easy to digest is best.

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Detoxification

When we experience the world as consisting of competition and scar-

city we tend to cling to the things, we have assimilated, whether these
things be material possessions, emotions or behaviour patterns. This
psychological clinging prevents us from opening ourselves to the nat-
ural processes of change and healing. We get stuck in patterns that
do not serve our growth, and eventually our clinging manifests itself
in our digestion - the chief way in which we assimilate the world and
facilitate change in our bodies. The concept of an ‘anal personality’
is an expression of this. We cling to non-ideal qualitative states, be-
lieving that we are satisfied, when in fact we are preventing the true
satisfaction we are capable of.

Fasting plays an important role in helping us let go, but sometimes

more complete techniques of elimination are required. For this rea-
son, we have decided to include a detoxification program. A good
detoxification programme, followed by regular fasting is the key to fa-
cilitating mental, emotional and physical catharsis - letting go of dam-
aging patterns.

Detoxification also helps us deal with the harmful chemicals that we

find in so many commercial foods. Hormones added to meat, mono-
sodium glutamate added to most savouries, excessive quantities of
refined sugars added to nearly everything, other highly refined foods,
colourants, flavourants, preservatives and many modern medicines,
all add toxins to our bodies and work to aggravate our qualities in
ways that are peculiar to this period of human history. Working people
often find it difficult to avoid eating these kinds of foods and need the
opportunity to get rid of their harmful traces.

Most detoxification programs focus on cutting down on sugars, fats,

meats, etc. The Tibb detoxification program, however, with the spe-
cific diets for each temperament, has the added value of ensuring

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that the correct balance of qualities is also restored. This ensures the
removal of aggravating qualitative states.

Following the right diet will facilitate the elimination process in a natu-
ral, therapeutic way.

The detoxification program should be for the duration of 4-7 days and
can be undertaken as and when the need arises, although spring is
the ideal season.

Listed below are some principles, which apply:

• Avoid the foods on the chart that is specific to your tem-

perament;
• Consume mostly raw vegetables and fresh fruit and
juices for 7 days;
• Increase your consumption of water;
• No refined, processed products, fried foods, carbonated
water, all sugars, fats and heavily spiced foods;
• Chew food very well and give proper time to your meals;
• Eat in a comfortable sitting position with complete calm-
ness of mind;
• Assist detoxification with exercise such as stretching
exercises, walking, jogging, swimming, etc., along with
breathing and meditation. 56

After the program, a one-day fast per week is very helpful in the main-
tenance of detoxification of the body. One should avoid all solids on
that day.

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Chapter Six

Health maintenance according to Temperament

From the perspective of Tibb, maintaining health centers on the indi-

vidual’s ability to identify their own natural processes of health man-
agement and healing and to adjust their lifestyle to accommodate
these processes.

If we look at the way natural processes of healing express themselves

in animals and babies, we notice three common responses to illness,
which happen in the following order:

• The organism stops eating. As in the Tibb principle of

fasting, this gives the body an opportunity to reorganize
itself;
• The organism adopts alternative nutrition strategies, like
eating grass or sand. This enables the organism to cor-
rect certain deficiencies. Sand or clay, for example, may
contain calcium ions;
• The organism experiences a healing crisis like diarrhoea,
fever or vomiting.

Recognizing this as a natural process, Tibb regulates it rather than

stops it. Parents are often too quick to give medication that counter-
acts fever, often suppressing the ‘cold’ phlegmatic condition that led
to the fever in the first place.

When we are infants and cannot think about our state consciously
we rely on natural processes to guide our health. Why do we deny
these processes as adults when we can be even more aware of

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them? Knowing your temperament is the first step to conscious-

ly allowing your Physis to do its maintenance and healing work.

Managing health according to temperament

In a normal healthy state, a balanced lifestyle is more than enough

for Physis to keep you healthy. The suggestions below are general
health management suggestions and should not be seen as treat-
ment for extreme conditions. The generic advice that is applicable to
all temperaments is listed first. We have then included, for each tem-
perament, suggestions of what should be embraced and what should
be avoided in order to manage health.

We have also indicated which diseases are more likely to affect which
temperament. People with a dominance of that temperament are more
likely to suffer the diseases listed in that temperament, and to a lesser
extent the diseases of their second, less dominant temperament.

Generic advice that is true for all temperaments:

• Avoid exposure to extreme environmental conditions with

out taking the necessary precautions;
• Women should avoid exposure to cold environments and
eating cold foods during menstruation and for a month after
giving birth;
• Remember the stomach is the home of all illnesses - eat
only when hungry, but eat regularly;
• Water intake should be at least 1½ to 2 litres per day;
• Exercise to your capacity and according to season;
• Ensure that you are getting sufficient sleep and rest;
• Use de-stress mechanisms such as breathing, relaxation,

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meditation and exercise.

• Avoid suppressing emotions. Express yourself to those
close to you;
• Keep the colon and all other eliminative channels open and
clear;
• Balance in all things leads to a balance in health;
• Follow the guidelines with regards to the Six Lifestyle
Factors determining health in Chapter 5.

Health maintenance for the bilious temperament type

Because of the Hot and Dry qualities associated with your tem-
perament-

You will be positively affected by:

• Fresh air and a cool, properly ventilated environment;

• Including more fruit and vegetables than meat in your diet;
• Increase your daily water intake;
• A good night sleep of 6-7 hours and a one-hour nap after
lunch in summer is beneficial;
• Meditation and breathing exercises are helpful, during
times of emotional turmoil;
• Exercise in the early morning and late afternoon.

You will be negatively affected by:

• Weather, environment, work and leisure activities that

increase heat and dryness;
• Excessive intake of alcohol, tea and coffee;

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• Excessive movement and strenuous exercise;

• Lack of sleep (less than five hours on a continuous
basis) and late nights;
• Extreme emotions of anger, excitability, irritability, exces-
sive speech and suppression of anger;
• An excess of a Hot and Dry Foods especially in hot
weather.

Diseases associated with the bilious temperament

A person born with a Bilious and to a lesser extent a sanguinous tem-
perament is more likely to be affected by the following diseases:

Bilious headache - Stress - Migraine - Weakness of the Brain - Dizziness

- Mania - Palpitation of the Heart - Extended Heart (enlargement) - Bron-
chitis - Cough - Hay fever - Gastralgia - Vomiting - Nausea - Dysentery
- Hepatitis - Jaundice - Nephritic and Nephrotic Syndrome - Excessive
bleeding during menstruation - Limp Erection and Premature Ejaculation.

Health maintenance for the sanguinous

temperament type

Because of the Hot and Moist qualities associated with your temper-
ament-

You will be positively affected by:

• Keeping cool in hot weather and warm in wet weather;

• A diet that contains equal amounts of protein, fruit/veg-
etables and salads. Seafood is excellent;
• A 15 to 30-minute morning walk or jog;
• Gardening, and aerobic exercise;
• Six to seven hours’ sound sleep. Early to bed and early

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to rise is best for everyone but especially for the Sangui-

nous temperament;
• During summer, a half an hour rest or nap after lunch is
very beneficial;
• Maintain a high fibre diet for regular bowel movements;
• Increase your water intake for optimum kidney function;
• Cupping or blood donation 2-3 times a year reduces the
excess blood dominance in a Sanguinous person -this is
preferable in summer or spring.

You will be negatively affected by:

• Weather, environment, work and leisure activities that

increase heat and moistness - especially in humid
weather;
• Inadequate rest and strenuous exercise;
• Sleeping more than 8 hours or less than 3 hours a night;
• Worries, anger and excessive excitement;
• A large intake of white flour products as this will result
in irregular bowel movements. The colon should be kept
clean;
• An excess of a Hot and Moist foods.

Diseases associated with the sanguinous temperament

A person who is born with a Sanguinous and to a lesser extent a

Bilious temperament is more likely to be affected by the following dis-
eases:

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Congestive Headache - Dizziness - Vertigo - Oversleeping - Hemiple-

gia (right side paralysis) - Facial Paralysis (towards left) - Syncope -
High Blood Pressure - Aneurysm - Pleurisy - Weakness of the Heart
(palpitations)- Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Anal Prolapse - Dysentery
- Diabetes - Urinary Tract Infection - Cystitis - Burning on Urination
- Leucorrhoea - Dysmenorrhoea - Gonorrheae - Inflammation of the
Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes - Endometriosis.

Health maintenance for the phlegmatic

temperament type

Because of the Cold and Moist qualities associated with your tem-
perament-

You will be positively affected by:

• Having only one or two full meals daily. Because of your

low digestive ability phlegmatic people should
make a habit of eating two main meals per day and
there should be at least a10-12-hour gap between
meals;
• If you feel hungry in-between meals eat take a little fruit
or salad. The food should be high in fibre and protein
including eggs, meat, sea-foods and liver. In winter
on a cold and rainy day or at night, cold foods should be
taken in smaller quantities as these increases phlegm;
• Starting the day with a glass of warm water with two
tablespoons of honey. You must have 1½. to 2 litres tap
water per day but avoid drinking water half an hour
before and up to one hour after meals;
• Exercising on a daily basis;
• Breathing exercises for 10 to 15 minutes in the morn-

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ing. At night a 15-20-minute brisk walk after

supper is very beneficial;
• Retiring early for your required 8 hours sleep. As sleep
promotes moisture and is also the temperament of
phlegmatic people, they have a tendency towards
excessive sleep. Rising before sunrise is advised to
avoid an excess of phlegm;
• Additional activity to supplement body heat.

You will be negatively affected by:

• Weather, environment, work and leisure activities that

increase Cold and Moistness. Because of the low heat,
phlegmatic people are particularly vulnerable to a cold
environment as well as cold and rainy weather. Heat
management through proper clothing and seeking a
warm environment cannot be stressed enough;
• Excessive rest and a lack of exercise and movement.
Unnecessary rest during the daytime should be avoided;
• Sleeping during the day and especially 1 hour before
sunset is very harmful as this aggravates the phlegm
and leads to heaviness of the head sinus congestion
and dullness of the brain;
• Fear, shyness and depression are the emotional
excesses of phlegmatic people and should be managed
accordingly;
• A diet low in calories and nutritional values, with no
proteins and fats but high in carbohydrates;
• The Diet mentioned in Hot and Moist foods, especially in

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a cold environment.

Menstruating women should avoid a cold diet. This also applies to

women who have given birth (1-month post-natal period).

Diseases associated with the phlegmatic temperament

A person who is born with a Phlegmatic and to a lesser extent a Mel-

ancholic temperament is more likely to be affected by the following
diseases:

Phlegmatic Headache - Tetanus - Sneezing - Migraine - Weak Memo-

ry - Epilepsy - Oversleeping - Infantile convulsions - Bradycardia (low
heart beat) - Low Blood Pressure - Asthma - Cough - Sinusitis - Ton-
sillitis - Dyspepsia - Diarrhoea - Cholera -Sluggish Liver - Anaemia
- Impotence - Inadequate Erection – Bedwetting - Weakness of the
Kidneys and Bladder - Leucorrhoea - Amenorrhoea - Prolapse of the
Uterus - Arthritis - Sciatica (left side).

Health maintenance for the melancholic

temperament type

Because of the Cold and Dry qualities associated with your tempera-
ment-
You will be positively affected by:

• Breathing exercises in the early morning and late

afternoon;
• Protecting yourself in dry weather by applying a moistur-
izer, cream or oil (olive oil) to the skin;
• A Hot and Moist Foods are more likely to be ingested;

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• A 10-15-minute walk after supper is beneficial;

• Water intake should consist of at least 2 litres a day;
• Exercises like jogging and a brisk walk. Change of
environment (picnics, etc.) every 2-3 months is
beneficial. Meditation is very helpful in most Melancholic
psychological problems;
• Getting to bed early, around 22:00 to get 6-7 hours’
sleep. Napping for half an hour after lunch is also
beneficial.

You will be negatively affected by:

• Weather, environment, work and leisure activities that

increase coldness and dryness. In autumn keep away
from the cold of night and the midday heat;
• Dewy conditions during autumn, late winter and
(00:00 - 06:00) as this aggravates the Melancholic
humour;
• Too much tea, coffee, sour drinks, artificially flavoured
and fizzy drinks. Too little water. Use of ice and too
many iced drinks. Eating more cold then warm food;
• Consuming refrigerated foods and drinks;
• Excessive waking during the night;
• Excessive worries, sadness, loneliness, thinking and
being overly philosophical;
• Unnecessary suppression of stools and urine;
• Excessive use of anti-allergic, antipyretics, antihista-
mines and other Cold and Dry medication;
• Excess of Cold and Dry foods.

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Diseases associated with the melancholic temperament

A person born with a Melancholic and to a lesser extent a Phlegmatic

temperament is more likely to be affected by the following diseases:

Melancholic Headache - Melancholia - Insomnia - Angina - Throm-

bosis – Embolism - Arteriosclerosis - Infarction - Dry Cough - Asthma
(dry) - Pneumonia – Gastralgia - Hyperacidity - Constipation - Piles
- Flatulence - Hiccups – Colic pain - Kidney Stones - Hysteria - Pso-
riasis - Cracked Skin - Gout.

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Chapter Seven

Treatment of Illnesses

In the previous chapters we advised you on the maintenance of health.

We now expand our discussion to the process of illness and how to
overcome it as soon as possible. Remember, the earlier you notice
symptoms and identify the cause, the earlier you can assist Physis by
making the appropriate changes to your lifestyle and the six factors
determining health.

Before we discuss treatment methods or strategy to cure illness, it is

necessary to understand that Tibb perceives the process of illnesses
in two ways, namely, by means of a sudden/temporary cause or a
progressive/prolonged cause.

The sudden/temporary cause is as a result of a sudden change; emo-

tional, dietary or environmental excess, for example; shock, overheat-
ing foods, extreme changes in weather, excessive awakening, etc.

This condition will result in symptoms that will arise almost immedi-
ately and can impair functions of the body. Changing these causative
factors or counteracting them will enable Physis to overcome this
temporary condition and restore health. If these influencing factors
are not eliminated, this condition can lead to more serious illnesses.

The second or long-term category of illnesses progresses in three

stages. The beginning stage occurs at a vascular level in the humours
of the body, resulting in a humoral imbalance. This occurs when the
quality or quantity of humours is altered as a result of the influence of
the six factors. If this condition is not reversed, over a period, the hu-
moral imbalance will progress to the next stage which is a functional

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imbalance, whereby the functions of the body will be affected (the

functions of the circulatory, digestive systems, etc.). Finally, when the
imbalanced humour invades tissue/organs it will result in structural
damage. This structural imbalance is the final stage and is associated
with serious disease conditions.

Now that we have spoken about stages of illnesses, let us discuss

how Tibb views micro-organisms as the cause of infections and ill-
nesses.

The Greco-Arabic physicians had theorised many external influences

that invade the body. As they did not have the technology to identify
bacteria and viruses, they did not name them and were unable to
study them. Contemporary Tibb practice acknowledges the existence
of micro-organisms and regards them as important components in
any ecosystem. Tibb believes that a change at the humoral level pro-
vides a medium for micro-organisms to cause infections.

According to the Tibb philosophy, infections from micro-organisms are

possible only when an imbalance occurs at the humoral level, which
provides the environment for the micro-organism to thrive.

This is evident from the above explanation of the three stages of ill-
nesses and explains why some people are susceptible to bacterial in-
fection and others not. Infection will only take place in persons whose
humours are not in a state of balance.

According to Tibb, many so-called ‘viral infections’ are actually an im-

balance at the humoral level. How often have we not been subjected
to blood tests which are reported negative, yet symptoms persist. Dur-
ing this period, Physis is busy restoring this imbalance. It is common
knowledge that the ‘viral’ symptoms of colds are overcome with rest

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and heating foods. The implementation of the six factors needed to

assist Physis in restoring balance in the humours will overcome most
’viral’ conditions within a few days.

For every illness there is a cure

This brings us to a significant difference between Tibb and modern

scientific medicine. As we consist of the same primary matter and
qualities as the rest of the universe and disease processes also re-
quire these primary matters and qualities, we have a lot in common
with them. On the one hand, this means that disease processes are
able to affect us, whilst on the other hand, it also means that our
bodies can control the environment in which micro-organisms or dis-
ease processes try to take hold. A major advantage that Tibb has over
modern medicine is the fact that modern medicine believes that many
illnesses such as hypertension, arthritis, etc., are incurable - as the
causes are unknown. At best, modern medicine focuses on the ‘man-
agement’ of these illnesses.

Inspired by the prophetic tradition, which teaches: ‘For every illness

there is a cure’, Tibb physicians have always aspired to find cures.
In the practice of Tibb, any illness that is acquired after birth can be
completely reversed depending on the extent of tissue or organ dam-
age, the age of the patient, the ability of Physis, patient compliance to
treatment and the six factors.

Modern medicine aims at controlling symptoms and managing

illnesses, whereas Tibb aims at curing illnesses and managing health.

By using the insights of Tibb, you not only maintain your health but
also intervene in the processes leading to illnesses and thus avoid
serious functional and structural damages.

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The holistic approach of Tibb is once again highlighted in the way

treatment of illnesses is applied. While signs and symptoms are used
to diagnose an illness, treatment can only be effective if the funda-
mental causes of the illnesses are dealt with. The treatment must in-
clude the six factors to ensure that not only are the symptoms treated
but the causes of the illnesses are also addressed.

The advice given in the ‘The Treatment of Illness’ that follows, lays
emphasis on the qualities associated with the illness conditions,
whether they result from a sudden (qualitative) imbalance or from a
humoral (qualitative and quantitative) imbalance. These qualities are
described in terms of an excess of qualities, for example, whether it is
an excess of Cold and Moist, Hot and Dry, Cold and Dry etc., as well
as, the humoral imbalance associated with the illness condition.

Including the Lifestyle Factors in the treatment protocol will not only
address the symptoms but also the causes of the illness condi-
tions. Integrating the Tibb treatment protocol for the different illness
conditions, even in conjunction with other (e.g. allopathic) medication,
will enhance the healing process restoring health more effectively and
more permanently. Also included are simple herbal recipes that can
prove beneficial in addressing the illness conditions.

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Acne

Pathology & Symptoms:

Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder caused by excessive Dry and

Hot to Hot and Dry qualities, due to oxidation of the sanguinous hu-
mour and/or an excess in the bilious hunour. This affects 60-80% of
males and females between the ages of twelve and twenty-four. Dur-
ing puberty, androgens (sex hormones) increase in both males and
females. This hormone stimulates the production of keratin and se-
bum, which leads to clogged pores making the skin more susceptible
to infection. Acne is more common in males. Many women suffer from
premenstrual acne, prompted by the release of progesterone after
ovulation.

Causes:

Contributing factors are an excess of Dry and Hot to Hot and Dry
qualities, from stress, the use of certain medication (especially ste-
roids and oral contraceptives), an over-consumption of junk food, sat-
urated fats, hydrogenated fats, animal products and the use of certain
cosmetics.

66

Treatment:

• Follow the Hot and Moist Foods and Cold and Moist
Foods - except dairy products).
• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel
movements.
• Increase the intake of raw fruit and vegetables in your diet.
• Maintain a regular exercise regime i.e. jogging, swimming,
etc. and regular breathing exercises every morning along
with a warm water bath.

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• Drink at least 2-3 litres of water a day.

Avoid:

• Heavily spiced food, alcohol, dairy products, margarine,

fried or grilled foods and sugar.
• The application of oil, soap and/or cream.
• Squeezing spots/pimples.
• Facial steam treatments for inflamed acne.

Herbal:

• 2 grams’ burdock root - 2 grams red clover - 2 grams’ milk

thistle - 1 gram senna leaves. Crush and soak in one cup
boiling water for 15 minutes. Strain and drink. Repeat 2-3
times a day.
...............................................................................

Anaemia

Pathology & Symptoms:

Anaemia is due to a reduction in the number of red blood cells or in

the amount of haemoglobin, which can lead to a lack of oxygen in the
blood, resulting in weakness of the body. According to Tibb, anaemia
can be the result of excessive Cold and Moist qualities, or due to an
excess in the phlegmatic humour. The initial signs of anaemia may be
loss of appetite, constipation, cessation of menstruation, headaches,
irritability and/or difficulty in concentration, fatigue, coldness of the
hands and feet, drowsiness, dizziness and overall pallor - which is
most noticeable on the nails, lips and eyelids.

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Causes:

Chronic inflammation in the body, peptic ulcers, heavy menstrual

bleeding, repeated pregnancies, liver damage, thyroid disorders,
bone marrow disease and dietary deficiencies particularly iron and
folic acid.

Treatment:

• 100mls spinach soup - add 10mls lemon juice. Drink 3

times a day.
• 50-100mls fresh red grape or apple juice. Drink 3-4 times
a day.
• 100grams chicken or mutton liver cooked with one-table
spoon olive oil on low heat. Add a little salt and black
pepper to taste.
• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel
movements.
• Increase the intake of raw green vegetables and fruits
(mostly sour in taste, as this enhances iron absorption).
• Adequate rest, light exercise and breathing exercise are
advised.
• 7-9 hours’ sleep and a daily warm-water bath is
recommended.
• Drink at least 2-3 litres of water a day.
• Drink 200-400mls sour milk with water in a 1:3 ratio daily.

Avoid:

• Exposure to a very hot or very cold environment /

weather.

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• Heavily spiced food, fried and grilled foods, preserved

foods.
• Butter, margarine, sugar, ice and ice-cold foods.
• Soft drinks, alcohol, smoking, coffee and tea.
• Hard work, strenuous exercise and excessive awakening.
67

Herbal:

• 500mgs - 1gram alfa seeds taken in powder form 3 times

per day.
• Drink 25mls aloe vera juice 3 times a day.
• Liver extract.
• Use iron supplements only under the supervision of a
qualified practitioner.
...............................................................................

Angina & Heart Attack

Pathology & Symptoms:

Angina is described as a pain or heavy pressure in the chest that is

caused by an insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart. This pain is
usually associated with physical exertion and is relieved by rest. It can
be a warning sign of an impending heart attack. The primary symptom
is a consistent deep, often severe pain in the chest that can spread to
the left arm, neck, jaw, and/or the areas between the shoulder blades.
It is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea and ar-
rhythmia (irregular heartbeat).

Heart Attack

According to Tibb, a heart attack results from excessive Cold and Dry
qualities, due to an excess and/or abnormal states of the melancholic

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humour at the vascular level. When the supply of blood through the
coronary arteries to the heart is sharply reduced or cut off, the heart
is then deprived of much needed oxygen. If the blood supply is not
restored within minutes, the heart muscles are affected causing per-
manent damage. This process is known as a myocardial infarction or
heart attack.

Causes:

An increase of Cold and Dry qualities at a vascular level is due mainly

to the excessive use of food and drink that gives rise to plaque (a
composition of cholesterol, rich fatty deposits, proteins and calcium)
which leads to a partial or complete blockage of one or more of the
arteries that supplies the heart with oxygen. This blockage is mainly
due to a blood clot or narrowing of the arteries, which inhibits the flow
of blood to the heart muscles. Any external influence that puts an ex-
tra strain on the heart may act as a trigger for a myocardial infarction,
i.e. an emotional crisis, over-exertion from exercise or even smoking
and alcohol over a period.

Treatment:

• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel movements.

• Include almonds, grains and green vegetables in your diet.
• Drink purified water and fresh vegetable juices.
• A moderate consumption of skim milk and low-fat yoghurt
is allowed.
• Adequate rest and a walk in the mornings and evenings
(after supper) is recommended.

Avoid:

• Cold & Dry Foods.

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• Butter, cheese, full cream milk and margarine.

• Red meat, highly spiced foods, salt, sugar and white flour
products.
• Fried foods, coffee, black tea, fizzy drinks, smoking and
alcohol.
• Anger, excitement and excessive physical exertion.

Herbal:

• 20 grams each - alfalfa, borage seed, horsetail, butcher’s

broom, haw thorn berries and leaves. Take ½ tsp in powder
form 3 times a day.
• ¼ tsp red chillies, ½ tsp ginger root, 4 garlic cloves, 3 black
pepper corns and a pinch of salt taken in powder form
with at least one meal a day.

...............................................................................

Anxiety & Stress

Pathology & Symptoms:

According to Tibb, anxiety and stress are the result of an excess of

Hot and Dry qualities, due to an excess in the bilious humour. It is a
reaction to any factor that upsets the physical, mental and behav-
ioural condition of the body.

Causes:

This imbalance can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, over-exer-

tion, poor dietary intake, social and psychological problems such as
divorce, money, job loss, loneliness, insomnia and sleep deprivation.

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Treatment:

• A diet consisting mainly of fruits, vegetables, whole grains,

raw nuts, seeds, turkey and fish.
• Apricots, asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli and
molasses should also be eaten on a regular basis.
• Eat soured products such as yoghurt regularly.
• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel movements.
• Adequate rest and sound sleep.
• Regular exercise.
• Daily cold showers.
• A 15-20-minute meditation session before going to bed is
recommended.

Avoid:

• Coffee, tea, soft drinks, sugar and white flour products

such as bread and pasta.
• Foods containing refined sugar.
• Over-exertion, anger, worries and negative emotions.

Herbal:

• 3 grams each: burdock root, dandelion, golden seal, red

clover - Boil in 200mls of water until 100mls remain. Strain
and drink 3 times a day.
• 500mg valerian root or kava kava powder taken 3 times a
day.
• 500mg liquorice root powder daily - supports the endocrine
system.

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• 500mg gingko biloba powder 3 times a day - improves

brain activity.
• 11 almonds, 2tsp poppy seeds, 2tsp honey and 200mls
milk - liquidise and drink daily at breakfast.
...............................................................................

Arthritis

Pathology & Symptoms:

Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints surrounding the ten-

dons, ligaments and cartilages, characterized by pain, redness, swell-
ing, stiffness, deformity and difficulty in movement.

Some common types of arthritis are Osteo-arthritis, Rheumatoid Ar-

thritis and Gout.

Osteo-Arthritis
Results from an excess of Cold and Dry qualities, due to an excess
and/or abnormal state of the melancholic humour and occurs after the
age of 40. Osteo-arthritis is a degenerative disease of the large joints
i.e. hip, knee and ankle.

The symptoms include stiffness in the morning and after periods of

rest. The pain and swelling of joints worsens with movement.

69

Causes:

Osteo-arthritis is a natural process of ageing that results in the quali-

ties of the body gradually shifting towards coldness and dryness after
the age of 40. This change in qualities aggravates the naturally cold
and dry qualities of connective tissues which is dominant in joints.
Other factors include being overweight, general wear and tear on the

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body, excessive intake of Cold and Dry Foods and hormonal changes.

Treatment:

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, such as apples,

asparagus, bananas, broccoli, garlic, green leafy vegeta-
bles, melons and squash.
• Fresh juices of carrot, celery, cranberry, parsley, spinach
and watermelon.
• Eat grains like brown rice, buckwheat, whole-wheat
products, soya bean products and oats.
• Boiled white fish and skinless chicken should be consumed
in moderation.
• Drink at least 2-3 litres lukewarm water a day.
• A 3-5 day fast each month is advised.
• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel movements.
• Adequate rest and sleep is advised.
• A daily walk in the morning and after supper is advised.
• Regular light to moderate exercise. Take care not to over
exert yourself.
• Early morning breathing exercises and a 15-minute
meditation before retiring at night is very beneficial.

Avoid:

• All animal fats, bacon, beef, liver, corned beef, dairy

products, pork, sausages and smoked or processed meats.
• Avocados, chocolates, beans, pickled herring and sour-
cream.
• Fried foods, coffee, black tea, fizzy drinks, alcohol and
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tobacco.
• Strenuous exercise.

Herbal:

• 500mg - wild yam to be taken in powder form 3 times a

day. This slows down the process of deterioration.

Rheumatoid Arthritis
This results from an excess of Hot and Moist to Moist and Hot quali-
ties, due to an excess and/or abnormal state of the phlegmatic hu-
mour. This disease can occur at any age but mainly between the ages
of 25-50. Symptoms include very painful joints, stiffness, fatigue, oc-
casional low fever, redness and swelling.

Causes:

An excessive intake of the Hot and Moist Foods, hot and humid
weather, sudden changes in extreme weather conditions (hot and
cold), smoking, stress, obesity, excessive use of stimulants such as
coffee or tea, drug abuse, a high sodium intake and the use of oral
contraceptives.

Treatment:

• Decrease the salt intake in your diet.

• Maintain a high-fibre diet (oat bran is a good source of
fibre) to ensure daily bowel movements.
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, such as apples,
asparagus, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, grapefruit, green
leafy vegetables, melons, peas, prunes, raisins, squash
and sweet potatoes.

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• Include fresh juices in the diet such as beetroot, carrots,

currants, cranberry, citrus fruit and watermelon.
• Eat grains like brown rice, buckwheat, millet and oats.
• Increase your daily water intake.70
• Avoid all animal fats, liver, dairy products, gravies, pork,
sausages, smoked or processed meats, chocolate, pickled
herring, cheese (including cottage cheese), coffee, meat
tenderiser, peanuts, pickles, soya sauce, alcohol, caffeine
and tobacco.
• Keep your weight down. If you are overweight, take steps
to lose the excess.
• Regular light to moderate exercise. Take care not to over
exert yourself, particularly in hot or humid weather.
• Adequate sleep.
• Cupping is very beneficial as it decreases the inflammation
of the joints.

Herbal:

• 500mg colchicum powder with water 3 times a day.

• 20grams each - butcher’s broom, horsetail, cat’s claw.
• Grind into a fine powder and take 500mg to 1gram 3 times
a day.

Gout

Pathology & Symptoms:

Gout arises from an excess of Cold and Dry to Dry and Hot qualities,
due to an excess and/or abnormal state of the melancholic humour.

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Uric acid is the end product of the metabolism of purines (particularly

from red meat and protein). When uric acid accumulates in the blood
and tissues it crystallises and jabs its way into the joints. This affects
mostly the joints of the big toe, ankle, knee and wrist. The first symp-
tom is a sharp pricking pain. The affected joints become inflamed,
red, hot, swollen and extremely sensitive to the touch. More than 80%
of people suffering from gout are men because of their natural domi-
nance of dryness in the body. Kidney stones (uric acid stones) are
also related to this condition.

Causes:

The excessive intake of the Cold and Dry Foods, particularly red meat
and other proteins.

Treatment:

• Avoid Cold & Dry Foods.

• When an attack of gout strikes, eat only raw fruits and
vegetables for two weeks.
• Juices are best. Drink 3 litres boiled water daily as fluid
intake promotes the excretion of uric acid.
• Avoid alcohol as this increases the production of uric acid.
• Avoid fried foods and roasted nuts.
• Limit your intake of tea, coffee, cauliflower, dried beans,
lentils, fish, eggs and peas.
• Avoid all meat for at least 15 days as meat contains
extremely high amounts of uric acid. Once you are relieved
of this pain you may include meat no more than twice a
week into your diet.
• Fasting is very beneficial in this condition.

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• Exercise and sauna is advised.

Herbal:

• Apply - 20 gram red chilli powder, mixed with 50mls of olive

oil, 10mls cinnamon oil and 10mls of black seeds oil: to
affected areas to relieve inflammation and pain.
• Red chilli, celery, colchicum- 20gram, 15gram, 25gram:
Grind to a fine powder and take 500mg 3-4 times a day.71
...............................................................................

Asthma

Pathology & Symptoms:

Asthma results from an excess of Moist and Hot to Cold and Moist
qualities, due to an excess and/or abnormal state of the phlegmatic
humour that causes obstruction of the airways. Typical symptoms of
an asthma attack are coughing, wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the
chest and difficulty in breathing.

Causes:

An excess Cold and Moist Foods, winter, rainy or humid weather and
a cold environment.

Treatment:

• Follow Hot & Dry Foods and Hot & Moist Foods.
• Include extra garlic and onions in your diet.
• Breathing exercises in the afternoons are advised.

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Avoid:

• Avoid Cold & Moist Foods.

• Avoid sugar in your diet.
• Dairy products, except for low-fat soured products like
yoghurt, as dairy products increase the formation of
phlegm.
• All cold foods and drinks.
• Sleeping during the day.

Herbal:

• Take one cup of very hot water and add one teaspoon of
powdered linseed, cover for 20 minutes.
• Strain and mix with two teaspoons honey. Drink 3 times a
day and also during an attack.
• Lobelia extract is helpful during an asthma attack - Take 20
drops three times a day.

...............................................................................

Athlete’s Foot

Pathology & Symptoms:

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection due to an excess of Hot and Moist

to Moist and Hot qualities, due to an excess and/or abnormal state of
the phlegmatic humour. This condition thrives in an environment of
warmth and dampness (humidity). The fungus lives off the dead skin
cells and calluses of the feet, especially the skin between the toes.
Inflammation, burning, itching, scaling, cracking and blisters are the
more common symptoms.

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Causes:

Walking barefoot in warm, damp places such as gyms, swimming

pools and locker rooms. Excessive use of nylon socks for a long pe-
riod of time. Dirty socks as well as dirt inside the shoes. Severe per-
spiration of the feet. Wearing other people’s socks and/or shoes.

Treatment:

• Eat plenty of raw fruit and vegetables, fish, whole grains

and yoghurt.
• Keep the feet dry. After bathing, dry carefully between the
toes with a separate towel.
• Wear absorbent cotton socks.
• Clean and air shoes regularly.
• Change socks daily.

Avoid:

• Soft drinks, processed foods, refined grains, fried or oily

foods and all forms of sugar.

7Herbal:

• Dust the feet with elm or alum powder.

• Bathe the feet daily in a mixture of 2tblsp honey, 50mls
vinegar in hot water.
• Add 20 drops of tea tree oil to a small tub of water and
soak the feet for fifteen minutes three times a day. After
soaking, dry feet thoroughly, especially between the toes.

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Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Pathology & Symptoms:

Halitosis is due to an excess of Hot and Moist to Moist and Hot quali-
ties, due to an excess and/or abnormal state of the phlegmatic hu-
mour. All four personality types can be affected by this condition. Bad
breath or halitosis is an unpleasant odour emanating from the mouth
and is usually undetectable by the person concerned. Symptoms are
a white coated tongue, chronic mouth infections, dental disorders, a
bitter metallic taste and catarrh.

Causes:

The main causes of bad breath are poor dental hygiene, gum disease,
tooth decay, stress, nose or throat infection, an improper diet, consti-
pation, smoking, diabetes, indigestion, inadequate protein digestion,
postnasal drip and excess phlegm in the stomach.

Treatment:

• A five-day raw foods diet. (Eat at least 50 % of your food

raw).
• 20mls of fresh lemon juice, 2 teaspoons honey and hot
water first thing every morning.
• Brush your teeth and tongue after every meal.
• Replace your toothbrush every month.
• Keep your toothbrush clean.

Avoid:

• Food that is easily wedged between the teeth causing tooth

decay, i.e.: meat, stringy vegetables, sticky sweets

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(toffees) and fizzy drinks.

Herbal:

• Alfalfa seeds, 500mg three times a day.

• Use myrrh (to brush your teeth) or a miswaak (tooth stick)
after eachmeal.
• ¼ tsp Parsley or aniseeds to be taken after meals.
• Chew cardamom and fennel seeds regularly.

...............................................................................

Bladder Infection (Cystitis)

Pathology & Symptoms:

Infection of the bladder or cystitis results from excessive Hot and Moist
qualities, due to an excess and/or abnormal state of the sanguinous
humour which provides a suitable medium for Escherichia coli, a bac-
terium normally found in the intestines. In women, the bacteria is in-
troduced by means of faecal contamination or from vaginal secretions
which gains access to the bladder by travelling through the urethra,
due to incorrect cleansing methods. Cystitis occurs more frequently
in women due to their temperament being naturally more Moist and
also because of the close proximity of the anus to the vagina. All this
allows for relatively easy transmission of bacteria from the anus to the
vagina and urethra and thus to the bladder.

Symptoms include an urgent desire to empty the bladder, frequent

and painful micturation. There may be an urge to urinate again even
after the bladder has been emptied, accompanied by lower abdomi-
nal pain and a painful burning sensation. The urine often has a strong,
unpleasant odour, and may appear cloudy and turbid. There may be

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blood in the urine. This is also often associated with vaginal infections
as well as sexually transmitted diseases.

Causes:

A hot and humid environment, an excess Hot and Moist Foods, low
intake of water, lack of cleanliness of the localised areas including
factors such as pregnancy, improper sexual intercourse, the use of a
diaphragm, diabetes and unclean facilities.

Treatment:

• Follow Cold & Dry Foods.

• Include melon, watermelon and cucumber in your diet.
• Drink plenty of liquids, at least 200mls water every hour.
This is extremely beneficial for urinary tract infections.
Purified water is preferable to tap water.
• Keep the genital and anal areas clean and dry.
• Women should wipe from front to back after emptying
the bladder or bowels. Empty the bladder before and after
exercise and sexual inter course and wash the vagina
after intercourse and all visits to the bath room.
• Wear white cotton underwear.
• Change into dry clothes as soon as possible after
swimming.
• Take a twenty-minute hot sitz bath twice daily, add
20 grams of elm powder to the water.

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Avoid:

• Alcohol, caffeine, carbonated beverages, coffee, chocolate,

simple sugars.
• Processed foods and impure water.
• Nylon underwear.
• Do not delay emptying the bladder. Habitually retaining the
urine in the bladder for long periods increases a woman’s
risk of urinary tract infection and may increase the risk of
bladder cancer.
• Use of bath oils, salt and soapy foams.
• Never use soap in labia / vaginal area.

Herbal:

• ½ tsp each: burdock root, birch leaves, fennel seeds,

cumin seeds, red clover.
• Boil in 250mls of water until 150mls remain. Strain and
drink 3- 4 times a day.

...............................................................................

Boils

Pathology & Symptoms:

This condition is due to excessive Dry and Hot to Hot and Dry quali-
ties, due to oxidation of the sanguinous humour or an excess and/
or abnormal state of the bilious humour in the body. A boil starts in
the deepest portion of a hair follicle which then spreads and presents
the following symptoms: itching, pain, localised swelling, redness and
pus.

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Fever and swelling of the lymph glands near the boil may be present.
Boils occur mostly on the scalp, buttocks, face and underarm. When
boils appear in a cluster it is called a ‘carbuncle’.

Causes:

An excessive intake of Hot and Dry/Cold and Dry Foods (particularly

meat), dry environment/weather, low intake of water, excessive intake
of tea, coffee, smoking and alcohol which results in an accumulation
of dryness at a vascular level.

Treatment:

• Follow Hot & Moist Foods and Cold & Moist Foods (except
meat).
• Avoid Hot & Dry Foods and Cold & Dry Foods.
• Water intake should be increased to 2-3 litres a day.
• Do not cover a boil with a bandage.
• Avoid exercising until the boil clears or relief is obtained.
• Avoid cold things and cold water completely.
• Apply moist heat to the boil 3-4 times a day to relieve pain
and facilitate maturation.
• Apply honey to the boil as an antiseptic.

Herbal:

• 25grams each: barberry, burdock root, red clover. Grind

into powder form. To be taken 5-6 times a day with water.
• Make a decoction of 5grams each: milk thistle and fennel.
Boil in 1½ cups water until one cup remains.
Strain, mix with honey and drink.

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Cancer

Pathology & Symptoms:

A cell is the basic physiological and structural unit of the body. The cell
draws the required nutrients from the humours to maintain the process
of division and maturation in an organised way. Any imbalance on a
functional/humoral level that exists over a period of time, changes
these humours negatively and leads to the developing of toxins and
oxygen free radicals, which affects cell division and formation. This is
the process in which cancer occurs. According to Tibb, normally Phy-
sis is able to protect the body from destroying these cells. If Physis is
weakened, this process does not take place resulting in the formation
of cancerous growths.

Most cancers may occur due to an excessive Cold and Dry qualities,
due to an excess and/or abnormal state of the melancholic humour.

It is important to know that most cancers are not life threatening in the
initial stages and can be resolved. However, the fear and emotional
trauma associated with cancer seriously aggravates the initial stage.

Cancers can be categorized into the following:

• Carcinomas - these cancers can affect the skin, mucous

membranes, glands and internal organs.
• Sarcomas - affects the muscles, cartilages and bones.
• Myolomas - affects the plasma cells of the bone-marrow.
• Leukaemia - are the cancers of the blood forming tissues
and exhibit an over-production of Leukocytes (white blood
cells).
• Lymphomas - are the cancers of the lymphatic system such
as Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s disease.

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75Causes:

• The various types of cancer can be caused as a result of

the negative influence of the six factors.
• Environmental pollution such as industrial chemicals,
radiation, pesticides, fumes, etc.
• Contamination of drinking water.
• Pollution of foods through chemicals, processing,
preservatives and fertilisers.
• Oxygen free radicals and oxygen deficiency.

The warning signs of some cancers:

• Mouth and throat: A chronic unhealed ulcer in the mouth,

tongue or throat.
• Stomach: Pain and indigestion after meals associated with
weight loss.
• Larynx: Persistent cough, hoarseness of voice.
• Lymphoma: Enlarged, rubbery lymph nodes (armpit, neck,
groin) itching, pain, night sweats, fever and weight loss.
• Leukaemia: Anaemia, paleness, weight loss, fatigue, bone
and joint pains, tendency to bruise easily
and recurrent infections.
• Lungs: Persistent cough, heaviness and difficulty in
breathing, chest pain, sputum with blood.
• Colon: Occasional blood in stools, persistent diarrhoea/
constipation, feeling of heaviness and uneasiness in the
lower part of the colon.
• Bladder & kidneys: Occasional bleeding in urine, pain and
burning on passing urine persistent heaviness below

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the navel and back.

• Breast: Lumps, sharp pain, itching, thickening of the
mammary gland, redness, sore nipples (not due to breast
feeding).
• Female reproductive organs: Thin/thick, smelly, yellowish
to greyish, unusual discharge, bleeding with an irregular
cycle, excessive blood loss, periods more than 10 days,
severe pain and cramps during menstruation.

Refer to Immune Boosting and Detoxification for health maintenance

as a preventative measure against cancer.
7...............................................................................

Child-related Diseases

Bed-Wetting

Pathology & Symptoms:

The involuntarily act of urinating in bed is known as bed-wetting or

enuresis. It results due to excessive Moist and Hot or Cold and Moist
qualities, due to an excess of the phlegmatic humour. It is common in
early childhood due to the moistness in the temperament or the size
of the bladder which is often too small to hold urine throughout the
night or is due to weakness of the bladder. It also occurs sometimes
in early adulthood and frequently among the ageing.

Causes:

The main cause is often an excess of Cold and Moist qualities through-
out the body or specifically in the urinary tract (bladder, kidneys, etc.).
Other causes are behavioural problems, very sound sleep, the con-

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sumption of too much liquid before bedtime, dreaming about using

the rest room, stress, fear and depression. Sometimes a urinary tract
infection or diabetes may also be the cause of bedwetting.

Treatment:

• Follow Hot & Dry Foods.

• Empty the bladder before going to bed.
• Parents must guide the child that if he/she feels an urge to
pass urine during the night, the child must call them.

Avoid:

• Cold & Moist Foods.

• Liquids one hour before bedtime.
• Dairy products, carbonated beverages, chocolate,
refined sugar, junk food and products containing food
colouring from your diet.

Herbal:

• 25grams each: buchu, corn silk and parsley, ½ tsp taken in

powder form 4-5 times a day or
• 25grams each: sesame seeds (black and white) and of
ajmo seeds - 1tsp taken in powder form 3 times a day.

Chicken Pox

Pathology & Symptoms:

Chicken pox results from excessive Moist and Hot qualities, due to an

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excess and/or abnormal state of the phlegmatic humour. Most chil-

dren contract this childhood disease before the age of nine accom-
panied with a fever and headache.Twenty-four to thirty-six hours later
small round ‘pimples’ appear on the face and body. These are filled
with fluid and look like water blisters. The fluid leaks from the swollen
areas of the skin, forming a crust. These eruptions continue in cycles
lasting from three days to one week. The blisters and crusts are infec-
tious and itchy. Scratching them usually leads to infection and scar-
ring. Chickenpox usually runs its course in two weeks. This infection
can be serious in newborns.

Treatment:

• Avoid Cold & Moist Foods.

• Drink freshly made juices and pure vegetable broth.
• When the fever drops and the appetite returns, eat only
mashed bananas, avocados, fresh raw applesauce, and/or
yoghurt.
• Avoid cooked or processed foods. Use pure, freshly made
juices that have been diluted with steam-distilled water with
a little added lemon juice.
• Children should be given lots of water to prevent
dehydration.
• Avoid eggs completely
• Keep infected children separated from other children,
elderly people, newborn babies and pregnant women.

Herbal:

• 25grams each: burdock root, echinacea, goldenseal,

St. John’s Wort, chamomile. Boil in 3 litres of water

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until 2 litres remain. Strain and add two tblsp of honey.

Drink throughout the day.
• Apply a mixture of lavender oil and tea tree to the skin to
soothe itching.

Hyper-Activity

Pathology & Symptoms:

Hyperactivity results from excessive Hot and Dry qualities, due to an

excess in the bilious humour. Hyperactivity is more common in chil-
dren up to the age of 8-10 years. Children up to this age have a nor-
mal temperament with the dominance of Moistness. In this condition,
the qualities change more towards Heat and Dryness which can lead
to an imbalance of certain mechanisms in the central nervous system.
This can cause a variety of learning and behavioural disorders.

Hyperactivity may be characterized by one or more of the following

symptoms:

• Lack of concentration.
• Disruptive behaviour.
• Self-destructive behaviour.
• Emotional instability - daily or hourly mood swings.
• Speech and hearing disorders
• Temper tantrums.
• Impatience.
• Forgetfulness/absentmindedness.
• Inability to complete tasks
• Low stress tolerance.
• Learning disabilities.
• Easily frustrated.

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• An inability to sit still for any length of time, even at

mealtimes.

Causes:

All food, drink and other factors that increase Hot and Dry qualities,
including hereditary, smoking during pregnancy, environmental pollu-
tion, artificial foods, preservatives in foods, psychological, behavioural
and social disturbances within the family, especially the parents.

Treatment:

• Follow Cold & Moist Foods and Cold & Dry Foods.
• Parents must pay extra attetion to the child in a friendly
way.
• Avoid pressurising the child.

Avoid:

• All forms of refined sugar and products containing

sugar from the diet.
• Foods that contain artificial colorants, flavourings or
preservatives, processed foods, apple cider vinegar,
bacon, butter, candy, chocolates, coloured cheeses, chilli
sauce, hot dogs, margarine, meat loaf, pork, salami,salt,
soft drinks, soya sauce, sausages, tea and carbonated
beverages.
• Excessive movement.

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Herbal:

• ½ tsp valerian root. Boil in 1½ cups of water.

Strain and drink 2-3 times a day.
• 25grams each: hops and passionflower, ½ tsp taken
in powder form 3 times a day.
78

Measles

Pathology & Symptoms:

Measles results from an excess of Hot and Dry to Hot and Moist quali-
ties, due to an excess in the sanguinous humour, that affects the respi-
ratory tract, eyes and skin. Although it is typically a childhood disease,
adults are also susceptible to contracting measles. The first symp-
toms include fever, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and red eyes that
may be sensitive to light. Several days later, tiny red spots with white
centres appear in the mouth and throat. The throat becomes sore and
a red rash erupts on the forehead and ears. Over a period of five to
seven days the rash spreads over the entire body.

Measles usually runs its course in about ten days. However, compli-
cations can arise due to incorrect treatment, such as the suppression
of fever, an excessive cold diet and exposure to a cold environment.
These complications include middle ear infection, bronchitis, croup,
pneumonia and encephalitis or meningitis.

Treatment:

• Follow Hot & Dry Foods and Hot & Moist Foods.
• Rest until the rash and fever have disappeared.
• Keep the lights dim.
• Do not read or watch television while your eyes are

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sensitive to light.

Avoid:

• Cold & Moist Foods, cold water, cold foods and

processed foods
• Fried and highly spiced foods.
• Keep a school going child at home for seven to nine days
after the fever and rash have disappeared.

Herbal:

• 50grams each: raisins, figs, echinacea and chamomile.

Boil in 3 litres of water until 1 ½ litres remains. Strain and
give to the patient throughout the day. This mixture can
be used to lower fever and also aids in the evacuation
of diseased matter through the skin.

Mumps

Pathology & Symptoms:

Mumps results from excessive Moist and Hot qualities, due to an ex-
cess in the phlegmatic humour. It is also a common childhood illness.
It is an acute infection of the parotid glands, the salivary glands locat-
ed at the jaw angles below the ears. Symptoms include the swelling of
one or both glands, headache, fever, sore throat and pain on swallow-
ing or chewing. This condition varies between fourteen to twenty-four
days.

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Mumps is most common in children between the ages of three and

eleven, however, it can occur after puberty. Should this happen, the
ovaries or testes may be affected and sterility may arise as a result.

Causes:

Hot and humid environment, sudden change from a hot to cold or cold
to hot environment without taking the necessary precautions and the
excessive intake of Hot and Moist and Cold and Moist Foods.

Treatment:

• Avoid Hot & Moist Foods and Cold & Moist Foods.
• Drink freshly made juices that have been diluted with
purified water and with a little lemon juice added.
• Pure vegetable broth.
• Avoid cooked or processed foods.
• Keep infected children separated from other children,
elderly people, newborns and pregnant women.

Herbal:

• 25grams each: burdock root, echinacea, goldenseal,

chamomile, fresh mint leaves. Boil in 3 litres of water until
1½ litres remain. Strain and add three to four tablespoons
of honey. Give this mixture to the patient throughout
the day.

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Pathology & Symptoms:

Chronic fatigue syndrome results from an excess of Hot and Moist

qualities, due to an imbalance in the sanguinous humour, associated
with the following symptoms: muscular and joint pain with weakness,
deep tiredness not relieved by sleep or rest, disturbance of memory,
difficulty in concentration, headache, mental confusion, anxiety, dizzi-
ness, hypersensitivity to sound, light, cold and heat, anaemia, irreg-
ular menstruation, recurrent infections (cystitis, vaginal thrush) and
digestive problems.

Causes:

Excessive Hot and Dry to Hot and Moist qualities, including an in-
creased intake of tea, coffee, chocolate, fizzy drinks, alcohol, tobac-
co, etc., nutritional deficiency, obesity, deficient/under-active thyroid,
lifestyle imbalance and irregular eating habits.

Treatment:

• A well-balanced diet consisting of 50% raw food and

fresh juice.
• The diet should consist mainly of fruits, vegetables,
whole grains, raw nuts, seeds, turkey and fish.
• Eat soured foods, such as yoghurt, regularly.
• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel movements.
• Adequate rest and sound sleep.
• Take regular cold showers.
• A 15-20-minute meditation exercise early in the morning
and before retiring at night.

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Avoid:

• Coffee, tea, soft drinks, sugar and white flour products

such as bread and pasta.
• Exertion, anger, worries and negative emotions.

Herbal:

• 3grams each: burdock root, dandelion, golden seal, red

clover. Boil in 200mls of water until 150mls remains. Strain
and drink three times a day.
• 500mgs liquorice root powder -supports the endocrine
system.
• 500mgs ginko biloba powder - 3 times a day improves
brain activity.
• 11 Almonds, 2tsp poppy seeds, 2tsp honey, 200mls milk.
Liquidise and drink at breakfast.

...............................................................................

Colds & Flu

Pathology & Symptoms:

Common cold and flu is a condition that affects the respiratory tract,
because of an excess of Moist and Hot to Cold and Moist qualities,
due to an excess and/or imbalance in the phlegmatic humour. In this
condition the immune system weakens. Symptoms include: head-
ache, nasal congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, sore throat, cough-
ing, fever, restlessness and body aches. Generally, children are in-
fected more easily due to the Moist and Hot qualities associated with
their temperament.

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Causes:

A cold environment, winter, increased intake of cold foods and drinks,

sudden exposure from a hot to cold or cold to hot environment. Get-
ting wet and staying in wet clothing.

Treatment:

• Follow Hot & Dry Foods.

• Sip hot chicken, mutton or beef soup with added garlic,
ginger, black pepper and salt for 2-3 days.
Avoid solid foods.
• Proper rest is essential but remain as active as possible
and avoid excessive bed rest.
• Drink at least 2 litres warm water a day.

Avoid:

• Cold & Moist Foods and refrigerated foods.

• Dairy products, margarine, fried foods and all sugars.
• Exposure to cold environment and cold water.
• Close contact with your family members and other people.

Herbal:

• 2 grams’ fenugreek seeds, 1gram cinnamon, 1gram

cloves, 2grams fresh ginger. Boil in 2 cups of water until
one cup remains. Strain, mix 2tsp of honey and drink.
Repeat the same 3 times daily.
• 500mg black seed (powdered) 3 times a day.

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Constipation

Pathology & Symptoms:

Constipation refers to difficulty in the passing of stools, mostly due to

excessive Cold and Dry qualities, due to an excess in the melancholic
humour. Constipation is the result of a reduction of bile formation that
leads to sluggish intestinal movements. Constipation undermines the
systems of the body and negatively affects the digestion, clearing of
toxins from the body, energy levels and the absorption of nutrients.

Causes:

The excessive intake of Cold and Moist and Cold and Dry Foods.
Minimal intake of water, lack of exercise, excessive rest, an extremely
cold environment, emotional upsets. Excessive thinking or being hard
at work and neglectful of passing stools. Misuse of laxatives and en-
emas. The excessive use of certain medication i.e. antibiotics, anti-
hypertensives, diuretics and painkillers.

Treatment:

• Maintain a high fibre diet consisting of fresh fruits, raw

green leafy vegetables, brown rice, sprouts, carrots,
garlic and whole grains to ensure a Daily bowel movement.
• Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day.
• Eat apples, carrots, beets, bananas and papaya
• Follow a low-fat diet.
• Avoid fried foods.
• Exercise regularly as physical activity speeds up the
movement of waste through the intestines. A twenty-minute
walk often relieves constipation.
• Go to the toilet at the same time each day, even if there
is no urge to relieve yourself.

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• Relax as stress tightens the muscles which can cause

constipation.
• Never repress the urge to defecate.
• For persistent constipation take a cleansing enema.
• Avoid foods that stimulate secretions of the mucous
membranes such as dairy products, fats, spicy foods,
soft drinks, meat, white flour products, highly processed
foods, salt, coffee, alcohol or sugar.

Herbal:

• 25 mls aloe vera juice every morning has a healing and

cleansing effect on the digestive tract and aids in
softening the stools.
• 5grams each: milk thistle and senna leaves. Boil in 150mls
of water until 75mls remain. Strain, add honey and drink
at night before going to bed.

...............................................................................

Coughs

Pathology & Symptoms:

A cough is a self-regulating mechanism of the body to clear the un-

wanted secretions and toxins from the lungs. A cough may be the
symptom of many disorders linked with the respiratory system, i.e.,
asthma, hay fever, cold, flu, pneumonia, pleurisy, tuberculosis, bron-
chitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis and occasionally organ related disorders
such as the heart or liver. There are different causes of coughs linked
to different disorders. A proper investigation is necessary to deter-
mine the actual cause of the cough.

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Generally, there are two main types of coughs:

• Dry cough
• Wet cough

Treatment:

• Avoid refrigerated food, water, fizzy drinks and a very

cold environment.

Herbal:

• Dry cough: 20 grams each liquorice root and

marshmallow root or seeds. Sip ½ tsp fine powder
mixed in 100mls warm water.
• Wet cough: One teaspoon crushed linseed. Place
in a cup of very hot water, cover and strain, leave
to stand for 20 minutes. Mix 1tsp honey and drink
• Take 1tsp basil and ½ tsp fenugreek. Boil in 1½ cups
of water until one cup remains. Strain, mix with
honey and drink.

...............................................................................

Depression

Pathology & Symptoms:

Depression results from an excess of Moist and Hot qualities, due to

an excess and imbalance in the phlegmatic humour in the body. This
accumulation affects the entire body especially the nervous system,
moods, thought processes and behaviour. People suffering from de-

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pression withdraw and hide from society. They lose interest in things
around them and become incapable of experiencing pleasure. Symp-
toms include chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances (either insomnia or
excessive sleeping), changes in appetite, headaches, backaches, di-
gestive disorders, restlessness, quick tempered, loss of interest or
pleasure in life, lack of energy, anxiety attacks, weight gain, crav-
ings for the wrong foods, low libido and feelings of inadequacy. De-
pressives are often pre-occupied with thoughts of death and suicide.
Some people become more depressed in the winter months as these
months aggravate Coldness and Dryness in the body.

Causes:

Food has a great significance on brain activity. A poor diet, particularly

constant snacking on junk foods and white flour product, is a common
cause of depression.

An excessive intake of a Hot and Moist and Cold and Moist Foods.
Depression may be triggered by tension, stress, a traumatic life event,
chemical imbalances in the brain, thyroid disorders, an upset stom-
ach, headaches, nutritional deficiencies, the consumption of excess
sugar and the lack of exercise.

Treatment:

• Follow Hot & Dry Foods and Cold & Dry Foods.
• Include the following nuts in your diet: hazelnut,
cashew, almonds, peanuts and pecan nuts.
• Maintain a diet that includes plenty of raw fruits
and vegetables.
• Soya beans and soya products, brown rice, millet
and legumes.

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• Eat protein meals containing essential fatty acids:

salmon, lobsters, fish and turkey.
• Keep your mind active, get plenty of rest and regular
exercise i.e. walking, swimming, dancing or any
activity that you enjoy.
• Dress in light/bright colours i.e. white, green, red,
orange, yellow, etc.
• Exposure to the sun and bright lights/brightly lit places
is recommended.
• Breathing exercises and meditation are extremely helpful.

Avoid:

• Wheat products such as wheat gluten, due to its excessive

moistness, has been linked to depressive disorders.
• Foods high in saturated fats: fried foods, such as hamburg-
ers and French fries.
• All forms of sugar.
• Alcohol, caffeine, and processed foods.
• Clothing in the following colours: violet, blue, black, dark
brown and other dark colours.

Herbal:

• 20grams each: St. John’s Wort, ginkgo biloba and siberian

ginseng - 500mg taken in powder form 4-5 times a day.
This can also be taken in the form of a liquid extract, 20-30
drops 3 times daily.

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Diabetes

There are two basic types of diabetes: Diabetes Insipidus and Diabe-
tes Mellitus.

Diabetes Insipidus

Pathology & Symptoms:

Diabetes Insipidus results from excessive Cold and Moist qualities,

due to an excess in the phlegmatic humour caused either by a de-
ficiency of the pituitary hormone, vasopressin, or by the inability of
the kidneys to respond properly to this hormone. Failure to produce
adequate amounts of vasopressin usually results in damage to the
pituitary gland, due to excessive Cold and Moist qualities in the brain
and kidneys. Regardless of how much liquid is consumed symptoms
can include extreme thirst which results in a high volume of urine.

Causes:

The main cause is often an excess of Cold and Moist qualities through-
out the body or especially in the brain, pituitary gland, urinary tract
(bladder, kidneys). An excessive intake of Cold and Moist Foods, win-
ter, a cold environment, excessive intake of cold foods, soft drinks,
sweet things and dairy products. Worries, fear and excessive shy-
ness are also possible causes.
83

Treatment:

• Follow Hot & Dry Foods.

• Empty the bladder before retiring at night.
• Avoid food mentioned in Cold & Moist Foods.

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• Avoid liquids an hour before bedtime.

• Avoid dairy products, carbonated beverages, chocolate,
refined sugar, junk food and products containing food
colouring in your diet.
• Eat one to two handful roasted chickpeas and 20 grams’
hazelnuts for breakfast. Make a tea with 1 gram of
cinnamon and 1 gram cloves and add 1 tsp honey.
• Avoid all cold foods and cold water.
• Avoid exposure to cold environment.
• Avoid cold showers/baths.

Herbal:

• 25 grams each: cinnamon, cloves and celery seeds.

500mg taken in powder form 3 times a day before meals.
• 25 grams each: sesame seeds (black and white) and Ajmo
seeds, 1tsp taken in powder form 3 times a day.

Diabetes Mellitus

Pathology & Symptoms:

Diabetes Mellitus results from an excess of Hot and Moist to Moist

and Hot qualities, due to an imbalance in the sanguinous humour
and/or an excess in the phlegmatic humour. The hormone insulin pro-
duced by the pancreas is responsible for balancing the blood sugar.
Diabetes Mellitus is caused by a defect in the production of insulin.

There are two types of Diabetes mellitus:

• Insulin dependent diabetes and

• Non-insulin dependent diabetes

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• Insulin dependent diabetes-

Due to various causes, the insulin manufacturing beta cells of the

pancreas are destroyed, partially or completely. This type of diabetes
occurs mostly in children and young adults.

Symptoms of this type of diabetes include irritability, frequent urina-

tion, bedwetting, abnormal thirst, nausea / vomiting, weakness, fa-
tigue, weight loss and unusual hunger.

With this type of diabetes, the patient may suffer from episodes of
low sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) and high sugar levels (hyperglycae-
mia). Hypoglycaemia can be caused by a delay in meals or skipped
meals, harsh exercise or a reaction to a high dose of insulin. Signs of
hypoglycaemia are hunger, dizziness, sweating, confusion, palpita-
tions, numbness or tingling of the lips. If this situation is not attended
to immediately it can lead to double vision, trembling, disorientation
and coma.

On the other hand, the risk associated with hyperglycaemia is very

high. When the insulin requirement is inadequate the sugar level can
rise resulting in coma. This type of patient should always be under
the supervision of a physician.

• Non-insulin dependent diabetes-

With this type of diabetes, the pancreas does produce insulin, but
the amount of insulin produced is either insufficient or not effective.
Symptoms include blurred vision, itching, numbness or tingling in the
feet, unusual thirst/hunger, drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue and slow
healing of wounds.
84

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Causes:

The main cause of diabetes mellitus is associated with the lack of/
or improper metabolism of carbohydrates such as sugars, glucose,
processed foods, refined products, white flour, other wheat products
and foods low in fibre. Lack of exercise, excessive worries, negative
emotions and fear.

Treatment:

• The patient should avoid white flour and other wheat

products completely for one or two months, thereafter
maintain a high fibre diet.
• Eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables as well as fresh
vegetable juices.
• Follow Hot & Dry Foods and Cold & Dry Foods (except
sweet and oily foods).
• Increase protein rich vegetable sources such as grains and
legumes in your diet. Fish and low-fat dairy products are
also acceptable sources of protein.
• Avoid saturated fats and simple sugars (except when
necessary to balance an insulin reaction).
• Partake in regular exercise as exercise produces an
insulin-like effect in the body.
• Sleep 7-8 hours at night only.
• Avoid worries, negative emotions and stress.
• If you have a child with diabetes his or her teacher must
be advised of the warning signs and action to be taken in
the case of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia.
• If presented with hypoglycaemic symptoms consume fruit

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juice, fizzy drinks or anything containing sugar immediately.

• Avoid tobacco in any form as it constricts the blood vessels
and inhibits circulation.
• As diabetic patients have a tendency towards delayed
healing of cuts and wounds which can become infected
and possibly lead to gangrene, special attention should
be given to hygiene of the feet - keep your feet clean, dry
and warm and wear only cotton socks and well-fitted
shoes. Avoid injury. Exercise adequately to improve circula
tion in the legs and feet.

Herbal:

• 100 grams each: ajmo seeds, fenugreek seeds, dried bitter

gourd. Grind into a fine powder then take fresh bitter gourd
and squeeze 250mls juice with the help of juice extractor,
mix the juice with the powder and spread in a tray,
put it in a clean, dry and ventilated place until it dries
completely. Make into powder form again and take 500 mg
to 1 gram 3 times in a day before and after meals.
For children reduce the dose to half.
...............................................................................

Diarrhoea

Pathology & Symptoms:

Diarrhoea results mostly from excessive Cold and Moist qualities, due
to an excess and/or imbalance in the phlegmatic humour, in the gas-
tro-intestinal tract. It is characterized by frequent, loose and watery
stools. Symptoms may include vomiting, excessive stomach cramps,

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thirst and abdominal pain, occasionally accompanied by fever.

Causes:

An excessive intake of Cold and Moist Foods. The incomplete diges-

tion of food, food poisoning, intestinal infection, contaminated water,
rancid foods. Emotional

stress, shock, fear, irritable bowel syndrome, worries, etc. can also
lead to diarrhoea.

Treatment:

• Follow Hot & Dry Foods.

• Avoid solids for 2-3 days. Take food in the form of soups
and juices.
• Drink plenty of liquids and water including boiled water
- at least 2litres a day.
• Avoid all dairy products except yoghurt.
• Avoid fried, junk and processed foods.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and fats.

Herbal:

• ¼ tsp ajmo, 5 mint leaves, a small piece of fresh ginger -

boil in 1½ cups water until 1 cup remains. Add 1tsp honey
and drink. Drink 3-4 times a day.
• ¼ tsp cinnamon, 2 crushed cloves. Boil in 1½ cups water
until 1 cup remains. Strain and mix 1tsp fresh lemon juice.
Drink 3-4 times a day.
• Fill 500mg capsules with red chilli powder.

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Drink 3-4 capsules daily.

...............................................................................

Female related Disorders

Amenorrhoea (Absence of menstruation)

Hypomenorrhoea (Low menstruation)

Pathology & Symptoms:

Amenorrhoea and Hypomenorrhea as a result of excessive Moist and

Hot to Cold and Moist qualities, due to an excess and/or imbalance in
the phlegmatic humour of the pituitary gland and brain or by the inabil-
ity of the ovaries to respond to these organs. Also due to weakness of
the circulation (anaemia).

Causes:

The main cause is often an excess of Cold and Moist qualities through-
out the body or in the brain, pituitary gland, ovaries and uterus, un-
der-active thyroid (hypothyroidism), the excessive intake of Cold and
Moist Foods, winter, cold environment, excessive intake of cold and
sweet foods and dairy products. Anaemia, worries, fears and exces-
sive shyness are also possible factors.

Treatment:

• Follow Hot & Dry Foods and Hot & Moist Foods.
• Avoid Cold & Moist Foods.
• Avoid dairy products, carbonated beverages, chocolates,
refined sugar, junk food and products containing food
colouring.

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• Eat one to two handful-roasted chickpeas and 20 grams’

hazelnuts or walnuts for breakfast. Make a tea with 1-gram
cinnamon and 1 gram cloves. Add 1 tsp honey and drink.
• Avoid all cold foods and cold water.
• Avoid exposure to cold environment.
• Avoid taking cold showers/baths.

If anaemia is the cause of these conditions, then follow the ‘Anaemia’

regimen.

Herbal:

• 25 grams each: cinnamon, cloves, celery seeds and

carrot seeds. 500 mgs to be taken in powder form 3 times
a day before meals.

Dysmenorrhoea (Painful menstruation)

Pre-Menstruation Syndrome (PMS)

Pathology & Symptoms:

Painful menstruation and Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) results

from an excess of Hot and Moist qualities, due to an imbalance in
the sanguinous humour which can lead to an excessive level of oes-
trogen and a low level of progesterone that can give rise to improper
circulation and a reduced supply of oxygen to the uterus, ovaries,
pituitary gland and brain. PMS affects many women during the three
to ten days before menstruation and presents one or more of the
following symptoms: abdominal bloating, acne, anxiety, backache,
cramps below the navel, headache, breasts tenderness and swelling,
sleeplessness, dizziness, fatigue, mood swings, anger, irritability and
emotional fluctuations.

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Causes:

An excessive intake of the diet mentioned in Hot and Moist Foods.

Hot and humid environment, the excess intake of tea, coffee choco-
late, fizzy drinks, alcohol, tobacco, etc. Nutritional deficiency, obesity,
thyroid problems, life style imbalance, irregular eating habits and a
low intake of water.

Treatment:

• Eat a well-balanced diet consisting of 50 percent raw foods

and fresh juices.
• The diet should consist mostly of fruits, vegetables and
whole grains, raw nuts, seeds, turkey and fish.
• Regularly consume soured products such as yoghurt.
• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel movements.
• Adequate rest and sound sleep.
• Daily cold showers.
• 15-20 Minute meditation early in the morning and before
retiring at night.
• Take the following tea continuously during menstruation:
1tsp fennel seed, ½ teaspoon cumin, 2 crushed cardamom.
Boil in 200mls skim milk or water until 100mls remain.
Strain, cool and drink 3-4 times a day.

Avoid:

• Beef, mutton chicken, coffee, tea, soft drinks, sugar and

white flour products such as bread and pasta.
• Stay away from exertion, anger, worries and negative
emotions.

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Herbal:

• 500mg liquorice root powder.

• 11 almonds, 2tsp poppy seeds, 2tsp sugar, 200mls milk.
Liquidise and drink at breakfast.

Leucorrhoea (Vaginal discharge)

Pathology & Symptoms:

Leucorrhoea is a thick, whitish vaginal discharge due to an excess of

Hot and Moist qualities, due to an imbalance in the sanguinous hu-
mour, in the reproductive organs, occasionally associated with vaginal
infection. Symptoms often include burning and itching of the vulva.

Causes:

Hot and humid environment, an increased intake of a Hot and Moist

Foods, low intake of water, lack of cleanliness of private parts, includ-
ing other factors such as pregnancy, improper sexual intercourse, the
use of a diaphragm and diabetes.

87
Treatment:

• Follow Cold & Moist Foods and Cold & Dry Foods.
• Include melon, watermelon and cucumber in your diet.
• Drink plenty of liquids, at least one 200ml glass of water
every hour.
• Keep the genital and anal areas clean and dry.
• Women should wipe from front to back after emptying the
bladder or bowels, they should empty the bladder
before and after exercise and sexual intercourse and wash
the vagina after intercourse.

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• Wear white cotton underwear.

• Change into dry clothes as soon as possible after
swimming.
• Take a twenty-minute hot sitz bath twice a day with
20 grams’ elm (alum) powder added to the water.

Avoid:

• Alcohol, caffeine, carbonated beverages, coffee,

chocolates, refined or processed foods and simple sugars.
• Processed foods and impure water.
• Wearing nylon underwear.

Herbal:

• ½ tsp each: burdock root, birch leaves, fennel seeds,

cumin seeds, red clover. Boil in 250mls of water until
150mls remain. Strain and drink 3-4 times a day.

Menorrhogia (Excessive Menstruation)

Pathology & Symptoms:

Excessive menstruation is a condition due to an excess of Dry and

Hot to Hot and Dry qualities, due to oxidation of the sanguinous hu-
mour and/or an excess or imbalance in the bilious humour.

Causes:

An excessive intake of a Hot and Dry Foods, hot weather/environ-

ment, heavily spiced foods, stress, anger, overactive thyroid (hyper-

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thyroidism), the use of certain medication (especially steroids and

oral contraceptives), over consumption of junk food, saturated fats,
hydrogenated fats, animal products, etc.

Treatment:

• Follow Cold & Moist Foods and Cold & Dry Foods
• Drink at least 2-3 litres of water a day.
• A well-balanced diet of 50% raw fruits and vegetables,
whole grains, raw nuts, seeds, turkey, fish and fresh juices.
• Eat apricots, prunes, papaya, papino, asparagus,
avocados, bananas, broccoli, molasses and fruits
mentioned in Cold & Dry Foods.
• Consume soured food such as yoghurt regularly.
• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel movements.
• Adequate rest and sound sleep is advised.
• Regular walking and swimming.
• A 15-20-minute meditation before retiring at night is
advised.
• Breathing exercise and a daily bath with cold to warm
water is advised.

Avoid:

• Hot & Dry Foods.

• Coffee, tea and soft drinks,
• Exertion, anger and worries.
• Heavily spiced food, alcohol, margarine, fried and grilled
foods, excessive awakening and strenuous exercise.

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Herbal:

• 25grams each - liquorice root, barberry. ½ tsp fine powder

taken 3 times a day.

Menopause related problems

Pathology & Symptoms:

Menopause occurs at the end of the ovulation and menstruation cycle.

This period starts between the ages of 40 and 52. This is not a dis-
ease but a natural phenomenon in a woman’s life. During this period
the woman’s qualities shifts slightly from Moistness to Dryness, due
to an imbalance in the bilious humours, as a result of a decrease in
the production of the oestrogen hormone which is eventually so little
that menstruation ceases.

This level of dryness in the temperament is different for each individ-

ual woman and as this dryness increases the menopausal symptoms
becomes more acute. The symptoms are hot flushes, mood swings,
anger, irritability, headache, anxiety, fatigue, dizziness, night sweats,
shrinkage of the bladder and vagina, vaginal dryness, painful inter-
course, low interest in sex or slower arousal time, roughness and
ageing of the skin, heart palpitations, breast tenderness and insom-
nia. In the long term the women can suffer from cardiovascular dis-
eases, osteoporosis and vaginal atrophy.

Treatment:

In order to increase and maintain the proper moisture level in the

body and also provides the natural oestrogen hormone:

• Reduce the salt intake in your diet.

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables such as apples,

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asparagus, bananas, broccoli, cantaloupe, garlic, green

leafy vegetables, melons and squash.
• Drink fresh carrot, celery, cranberry, parsley, spinach and
watermelon juice.
• Eat grains like brown rice, buckwheat, whole-wheat
products, soya bean products and oats.
• Broiled white fish and skinless chicken should be
consumed in moderation only.
• Drink at least 2-3 litres of lukewarm water a day.
• A 3-5 day fast each month is recommended.
• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel movements.
• Adequate rest and a walk in the morning and after supper
are advised.
• Regular light to moderate exercise. Take care not to
over-exert yourself.
• Breathing exercise early in the morning and a 15 minutes’
meditation before retiring at night is very beneficial.

Avoid:

• All animal fats, bacon, beef, liver, corned beef, dairy

products, pork, sausages and smoked or processed meats.
• Avocados, chocolate, beans, pickled herring and sour
cream.
• Fried foods, coffee, black tea, fizzy drinks and alcohol and
tobacco.
• Strenuous exercises.
• Negative emotions, worries, anger, excitement and
excessive awakening.

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Herbal:

• 20grams fennel, 10grams aniseed, 10grams red clover,

10 grams’ sage, and 15grams dong quai. Take ½ tsp in
powdered form three times a day - for oestrogen deficiency.
• 25grams each: liquorice root, hops, hawthorn berries,
marshmallow root or seed. - ½ tsp taken in powder
form 1-2 times a day - to balance the hormones.
• 500mg - 1gram wild yam, taken in powdered form on a
daily basis is a good source of natural progesterone
hormone.

...............................................................................

Fever

Fever is an increase of heat in excess of the equable body tempera-

ture. Normal body temperature ranges from 36.50 C to 370 C. Fever
is in itself not a disease but a symptom that gives an indication of an
imbalance present in the body such as infection, inflammation or an
accumulation of imbalanced humours.

It is important to note that fever increases the rate of metabolism and

thereby speeds up the various healing processes. It also appears to
inhibit the growth of bacteria. Fever of more than 38.50 C is danger-
ous for the brain and can damage the cells of the heart and liver as
well.

According to Tibb there are 3 main types of fever:

• Fever due to a temperamental imbalance on a functional

level.

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• Fever due to a temperamental imbalance/accumulation on

the humoral level
• Fever due to any structural imbalance.

When there is an increase in the body temperature, more than the

normal, the body’s heat-loss mechanism kicks in (to protect the body
from excessively high temperature) by the vasodilation of skin vessels
that enhances sweating. During these processes heat is lost from the
body by radiation, conduction, convection and evaporation.

Treatment:

• Drink vegetable soup and fruit juices.

• Avoid solid intake for 12-36 hours or until the fever breaks.
• Increase your water intake.
• Avoid excessive movement and get plenty of rest.
Avoid rapid changes in temperature through medication
and other means.
• Avoid the intake of very hot and very cold things.
• If the temperature remains at 38.50c or less, do not bring it
down as this aids the fight against infection and improves
the process of elimination of toxins from the body.
• If the temperature rises to more than 38.50c or more,
sponge the patient with cool water (do not use ice or ice
cold water). If the fever persists, consult a physician.

Herbal:

• ½ tsp fennel, tsp violet flower, 1tsp echanicea. Boil in 2

cups water until 1 cup remains. Add 1tsp honey and drink.

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Hay Fever

Pathology & Symptoms:

Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) results from excessive Hot and Dry quali-
ties, due to an excess and/or imbalance in the bilious humour, which
can lead to irritation / inflammation of the epithelial membranes of
the nose and throat. When pollen, smoke, dust, etc., aggravates this
condition, the patient presents the following symptoms: irritation / in-
flammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes and air pas-
sages, itchy eyes, watery discharge from the nose and eyes, sneez-
ing and nervous irritability.

Causes:

A hot environment and hot weather (spring and summer), excessive

awakening, the excessive intake of a Hot and Dry Foods, anger, anxi-
ety, stress, irritability, exposure to sun or heat, smoke, dust, pollen,
etc.

Treatment:

• Increase the intake of fruits (especially bananas),

vegetables, grains, raw nuts and seeds.
• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel movements.
• Eat yoghurt or any soured products 3 times a week as this
significantly reduces the incidence of hay fever attacks,
especially in people with a Hot and Dry temperament.
• During the allergy season (spring), exercise or play sport in
the morning rather than in the afternoon (midday).
• Foods rich in magnesium such as kidney beans, soya
beans, almonds, whole wheat flour, brown rice, molasses,
peas and bananas are very beneficial during the allergy
season.

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Avoid:

Cakes, chocolate, coffee, dairy products (except yoghurt), processed

foods, pies, fizzy drinks, sugar, tobacco, white flour products, junk
foods and synthetic juices.

Herbal:

• Drink 1tblsp of alfalfa seed in juice or water twice a day.

• 1gram liquorice root powder 3 times a day for 7 days. Avoid
this if you have high blood pressure.
• 5-10 drops of belladonna or aconite extract have a some-
what antihistaminic effect and can be used for hay fever.
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds, 7 almonds - soak in 200ml
water overnight. The following morning, liquidise, strain and
drink.

...............................................................................

Headaches

A headache is a common complaint and is a sign of an imbalance in

the body. There are more or less 27 different types of headaches of
which the most common are sanguinous, bilious, phlegmatic, melan-
cholic, hypertensives, sinus and tension headaches. Migraines are
categorized into two: a bilious migraine and a phlegmatic migraine.

Common headache

Sit up straight on a chair, close your eyes, take a deep breath, hold
it for a while and exhale forcefully (5 times). Move your neck slowly
up and down five times, right and left 5 times, clock wise and anti-
clockwise 5 times. Apply pressure with the index finger and thumb of

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your right hand to the hollows of your eye sockets (close to the nose,
just below the eyebrow) for 30 seconds. Holding the fingers of your
right hand in a vertical position apply pressure, starting at the centre
of your forehead and going all the way to the top of your head and
down the back, ending at the base of your skull. Press the central
hollow at the base of your skull with your four fingers for 30 seconds
and the hollows on either side of the skull with both hands, hold for a
count of 30 seconds. Apply pressure with your right and left thumb in
palpating (circular massaging) motion to the back of your earlobes,
working your way down the bottom of the jaw-line to the centre of your
chin for 30 seconds. Finish this exercise with 5 deep breaths. You will
surely get relief from headaches. Should the headaches recur, please
consult your physician.

Herbal:

• 1tsp lavender, 5 fresh mint leaves. Boil in 1½ cups water

until 1 cup remains.
• Drink lukewarm 3-4 times a day.

Bilious Headache/ Migraine

Pathology & Symptoms:

This headache starts from the left half of the cranium and left eye
spreading throughout the entire head and is due to excessive Hot and
Dry qualities, due to an excess and/or imbalance in the bilious humour
in the body. This headache normally starts at sunrise and gradually
increases in intensity towards midday. This headache is accompa-
nied by nausea and sometimes vomiting. The patient cannot tolerate
noise, light, or work and needs darkness and quiet. In the latter part
of the afternoon the patient finds some relief from the intensity of pain.

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Causes:

A hot environment and hot weather (spring and summer), excessive

awakening, excessive intake of a Hot and Dry Foods, anger, anxiety,
stress, irritability, exposure to the sun or heat.

Treatment:

• Avoid all the causes (triggers) mentioned above.

• Adequate rest and sleep is beneficial.
• Avoid a hot or a very cold diet.
• Avoid strenuous exercise.

Herbal:

• 1tsp lavender, 2 pinches black pepper (powder), ½ tsp

coriander powder, and 7 almonds. Soak in 150ml very hot
water for half an hour - liquidize. Add 1tsp sugar. Strain and
drink 2-3 times a day, especially before the onset of an
attack.

Sanguinous Headache

Pathology & Symptoms:

This condition is the result of excessive Hot and Moist qualities due
to an excess and/or an imbalance in the sanguinous humour in the
body. The accumulation of this excess blood in the region of the head
results in a sanguinous headache. Symptoms include high blood
pressure, dizziness, occasional blackouts (for a few seconds), short-
age of breath, heaviness of the eyes, palpitations on temples of the
forehead.

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Causes:

An excessive intake of a Hot and Dry and Hot and Moist Foods, hot
and humid weather, smoking, stress, obesity, excessive use of stimu-
lants such as coffee and tea, drug abuse and the use of oral contra-
ceptives.

Treatment:

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables such as asparagus,

bananas, broccoli, garlic, green leafy vegetables, melons
and squash.
• Eat grains like brown rice, buckwheat and oats.
• Drink 2-3 litres of lukewarm water a day.
• A 3-5-day fast is recommended.
• Adequate rest and a walk in the mornings and after supper
is advised.
• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel movements.
• Avoid all animal fats, bacon, beef, liver, corned beef, dairy
products, pork, sausage and smoked or processed meats.
• Skinless chicken and mutton should be consumed in
moderation only.
• Avoid foods such as avocados, chocolate, beans, pickled
herring and sour cream.
• Avoid fried foods, coffee, black tea, fizzy drinks, alcohol
and tobacco.
92

Herbal:

• 20grams lavender, 50grams cardomom seeds, 20gram

coriander, 10grams black pepper. 500mg to 1gram to be

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taken in powder form 3-4 times a day.

• During an attack, take 500mg every 15 minutes for 4-6
dosages.

Phlegmatic Headache/Migraine

Pathology & Symptoms:

This headache results from an excess of Cold and Moist qualities, due
to an excess and/or imbalance in the phlegmatic humour in the body.
It starts above the eyebrows, moving horizontally all the way around
to the back of head like a band then spreads throughout the head. It
starts in the latter part of the afternoon/early sunset and worsens dur-
ing the night. The intensity lessens after sunrise and during the day.

Causes:

A Cold and Moist environment, humidity, winter, an excessiveness of

a Cold and Moist Foods, dairy products and air conditioning.

Treatment:

• Follow the diet mentioned in Hot & Dry Foods and Cold &
Dry Foods and avoid Cold & Moist Foods.
• Avoid exposure to cold environment/weather and rainy
weather.
• Avoid sleeping during the day and late afternoon.

Herbal:

• 2tsp lavender, ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds, ¼ tsp cinnamon,

2 crushed cloves. Boil in 2 cups water until 1 cup remains.

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Strain, add 1-tsp honey and drink warm. Repeat 2-3 times
a day especially at the onset of an attack.

Melancholic Headache

Pathology & Symptoms:

This condition is due to an excess of Cold and Dry qualities, due to an

excess and/or imbalance in the melancholic humour in the body. The
patient may present with the following symptoms; pain on the back of
the skull with a pulling of the neck muscles, a dull feeling in the head,
flatulence/wind in the stomach, indigestion, hiccoughs, constipation
or irregular, sticky bowel movements.

Causes:

An excessive intake of a Cold and Dry Foods, exposure to cold and

dry weather/environment, excessive thinking, constipation, smoking,
excess tea, coffee, alcohol and the fermentation of food in the stom-
ach due to insufficient body heat needed for digestion.

Treatment:

• Avoid exposure to a cold and dry environment.

• Avoid Cold & Dry Foods.
• Follow Hot & Dry Foods and Hot & Moist Foods.
• A cleansing enema is very beneficial in cases of chronic
constipation and indigestion.
• Avoid the excessive intake of tea, coffee, smoking and
alcohol.

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Herbal:

• 25grams each: lavender, gentian root, asafoeetida, ajmo

seeds. 500mg to 1gram taken in powder form 3-4 times a
day on an empty stomach.

...............................................................................

High Blood Pressure

Pathology & Symptoms:

Blood pressure is a normal phenomenon, described as pressure of

the blood against the walls of the blood vessels as it is pumped by
the heart through the arteries. When this pressure is more than the
normal it is considered high blood pressure or hypertension. Normal
blood pressure readings for adults vary from 110/70 to 140/90, while
readings of 160/95 indicate borderline hypertension. Any pressure
over 160/95 requires urgent attention.

Whether blood pressure is high, low or normal depends on several

factors i.e. the output from the heart, the resistance of the blood flow
to the blood vessels or the volume of blood and blood distribution to
the various organs. These are caused by the influences of the six fac-
tors, especially diet and emotions, while internally they are caused
by the activities of hormones and enzymes of different glands, the
nervous system and also by psychological factors.

When blood pressure is higher than normal it is more difficult for the
heart to pump an adequate amount of blood to all the tissues of the
body. Ultimately, this condition often leads to kidney failure, heart fail-
ure and stroke.

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Heavy snorers are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure or
angina than silent sleepers. Research suggests that snorers may suf-
fer from a malfunctioning of the part of the brain responsible for fluent
breathing. This can put an unnecessary strain on the heart and lungs
due to a deficiency of oxygen.

According to Tibb there are two main types of hypertension:

*Hypertension due to an excess of cold and dry or dry and hot

qualities, due to an excess and/or imbalance in the melancholic
humour

This type of hypertension results when blood vessels are chronically

constricted or have lost their elasticity caused by a build-up of fatty
plaque on the inside walls of the vessels, a condition known as ath-
erosclerosis. Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are common pre-
cursors of hypertension. The narrowing and/or hardening of the ar-
teries make circulation of blood through the vessels difficult, thereby
increasing blood pressure. This type of high blood pressure is often
associated with coronary heart disease, kidney disorders, hyperthy-
roidism and irregularities of the adrenal gland.

Causes:

Excessive Cold and Dry qualities on a vascular level is mainly due to

an excess of a Cold and Dry Foods. Anything that puts extra strain on
the heart i.e. an emotional crisis, overexertion from exercise, smoking
and alcohol abuse (over a period) may increase blood pressure.

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Treatment:

• Reduce your salt intake. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables

such as asparagus, bananas, broccoli, garlic, green leafy
vegetables, melons and squash.
• Fresh carrot, celery, cranberry, parsley, spinach and water-
melon juice.
• Eat grains like brown rice, buckwheat and oats.
• Drink 2-3 litres of lukewarm water a day.
• A 3-5-day fast is recommended.
• Adequate rest and a walk in the mornings and after supper
is advised.
• Regular light to moderate exercise. Take care not to over-
exert yourself.
• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel movements.
• Avoid all animal fats, bacon, beef, liver, corned beef, dairy
products, pork, sausages and smoked or processed meats.
• Skinless chicken and mutton should be consumed in mod-
eration only.
• Avoid foods such as avocados, chocolate, beans, pickled
herring and sour cream.
• Avoid fried foods, coffee, black tea, fizzy drinks and
alcohol.
• Avoid tobacco in any form as it constricts the blood vessels
and inhibits circulation.
• Avoid negative emotions, worries, anger, over-excitement,
excessive awakening and negative influences.
• Cupping is the best medicine in decreasing your blood
pressure.

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• Have your blood pressure checked at least every two to

four weeks.
• If you are pregnant, have your blood pressure monitored
frequently by a physician.

Herbal:

• 20grams each: hops, hawthorn berries and valerian root.

500mg to 1gram 3 times a day before meals.
• ¼ tsp red chillies, ½ tsp fresh ginger root, 4 garlic cloves,
3 black pepper. Take in chutney/paste form with at least
one meal a day.

*Hypertension due to excessive hot and moist qualities, due to

an excess and/or imbalance in the sanguinous humour

This type of hypertension results from excess blood in the circulation.

This type of high blood pressure is often associated with an enlarged
or extended heart, liver disorders, diabetes, obesity and stroke (of the
right side).

Causes:

An excessive intake of a Hot and Dry and Hot and Moist Foods, hot
and humid weather, smoking, stress, obesity, excessive use of stimu-
lants such as coffee, tea, drug abuse, high sodium intake and the use
of oral contraceptives.

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Treatment:

• Follow a salt-free diet. This is essential for lowering the

blood pressure.
• Maintain a high-fibre diet. Oat bran is a good source of
fibre.
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, such as apples, aspara
gus, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, grapefruit, green leafy
vegetables, melons, peas, prunes, raisins, squash and
sweet potatoes.
• Include fresh juices such as beetroot, carrot, celery,
currants, cranberry, citrus fruit, parsley and watermelon in
your diet.
• Eat grains like brown rice, buckwheat, millet, and oats.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid all animal fats, liver, dairy products, gravy, pork,
sausages, and smoked or processed meats.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco as it constricts the
blood vessels and inhibits circulation.
• Avoid chocolates, pickled herring, cheese (including
cottage cheese), coffee, meat tenderiser, peanuts, pickles,
sausage, soya sauce.
• Keep your weight down. If you are overweight, take steps
to lose the excess weight.
• Regular light to moderate exercise. Take care not to over-
exert yourself, especially in hot or humid weather.
• Adequate sleep is advised.
• Avoid stress, anger, over-excitement, excessive awaken-
ing, negative influences.

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• Cupping is the best medicine to decrease the blood

pressure.
• Have your blood pressure checked at least every two to
four weeks.
• If you are pregnant, have your blood pressure monitored
frequently.

Herbal:

• Hops, hawthorn berries, borage seeds and valerian root-

20gram each, make into a fine powder, take 500 mg to one
gram three times a day before meals.
• One teaspoon watermelon seeds, 3 times a day before
meals.
...............................................................................

High Cholesterol

Pathology & Symptoms:

High Cholesterol is a condition due to an excess of Cold and Dry

qualities, due to an excess and/or imbalance in the melancholic hu-
mour. Cholesterol is a combination of two words; ‘chole’ means bile
and ‘steros’ means freeze. The inadequate supply of heat required
for the metabolism results in hyper-cholesterolemia. Elevated blood
cholesterol and triglyceride levels lead to plaque-filled arteries, which
impedes blood flow to the brain, kidneys, genitals, extremities and
heart. High cholesterol levels are among the primary causes of heart
disease as cholesterol produces fatty deposits in the arteries. High
cholesterol levels are also contributing factors in gallstones, impo-
tence, mental impairment and high blood pressure.

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Causes:

The basic cause of high cholesterol is an excess of cold, dairy prod-

ucts, cold diet, hydrogenated oils, processed food, poor liver function
and the low production of bile.

Treatment:

• Follow Hot & Dry Foods and Hot & Moist Foods (except
dairy products).
• Include the following foods in your diet: bananas, carrots,
garlic and olive oil.
• Take plenty of fibre in the form of fruits, vegetables and
whole grains. Whole-grain cereals (in moderation) and
brown rice is recommended.
• Drink fresh juices especially carrot, celery and beetroot.
• Use only olive oil, soybean, and flaxseed.
• Avoid nuts completely.
• Avoid all hydrogenated fats and hardened fats and oils
such as margarine, lard and butter.
• Consume no heated fats or processed oils, avoid animal
products (especially pork and pork products) and fried or
fatty foods.
• Do not consume alcohol, cakes, candy, carbonated drinks,
coffee, pies, processed or refined foods, refined carbohy-
drates, tea, tobacco or white bread.
• Avoid gas-forming foods such as brussel sprouts, cabbage,
cauliflower and pickles.
• Regular light to moderate exercise is advised.
• Meat and dairy products are primary sources of dietary

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cholesterol.
• Vegetables and fruits are free of cholesterol.
• In large amounts, coffee can elevate blood cholesterol
levels.

Herbal:

• Red chilli, golden seal, fenugreek seeds - 50 grams each,

make a fine powder. Take 500mg 4-5 times a day.
• ¼ tsp. red chillies, ½ tsp. ginger root, 4 garlic cloves, 3
black pepper corns, pinch of salt, grind together and eat
with a meal at least once a day.

...............................................................................

Immune Boosting

The main cause of weakness of the Immune system is due to Cold

and Moist qualities, due to an excess and/or imbalance in the phleg-
matic humour. This weakness is also possible due to an imbalance in
other qualities and humours. The boosting of the immune system is
in essence assisting Physis to restore balance and optimum health.

This can be achieved by:

• Elimination of toxins from the body by means of a detoxifi-

cation programme with a correct diet to facilitate the elimi-
nation process – refer to the section on detoxification.
• Once the body has been effectively cleansed, choose
a diet and lifestyle to suite your temperament as
mentioned in Chapter 6. Special attention should be
given to foods with a high nutritious value.

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Appropriate tonics that can strengthen the vital organs and

functions of the body are recommended. The herbs
listed below have immune enhancing properties, particu-
larly Black Seed. Recent research has verified the overall
immune enhancing properties of the Black Seed.

Herbal:

• Black seed, astragalus, fenugreek, bayberry, hawthorne,

liquorice, dandelion, milk thistle, ginseng, echinacea,
ginkgo biloba, goldenseal, St. John’s Wort and picrorrhiza.

The advice of a health professional on immunity is recommended.

...............................................................................

Impotency

Impotency is an inability to achieve or maintain a satisfactory erection.

Erection results from a co-ordination of the nervous system, blood
circulation and hormonal activity. The possible causes of impotency
include psychological factors, diabetes, alcohol, sexually transmitted
diseases, homosexuality, exhaustion, sex immediately after meals, a
cold bath immediately after sex, anaemia, excessive use of certain
medication such as anti-depressants, antihypertensitives, diuretics,
narcotics, sedatives and ulcer medication.

Tibb divides impotency into two types:

1. Complete lack of erection (Excessive Cold and Moist qualities, due

to an excess in the phlegmatic humour).

2. Flaccid erection (Excessive Hot and Dry qualities, due to an excess

in the bilious humour).

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*Complete lack of erection

Treatment:

• Avoid sex for at least 15 days.

• Avoid Cold & Moist Foods.
• Increase the intake of Hot & Dry Foods
• Mix: a half fried egg yolk, 2tsp honey, 1tsp fresh ginger
juice,1tsp fresh onion juice - take this twice a day on an
empty stomach.

*Flaccid erection

Treatment:

• Avoid sex for 15 days.

• Avoid Hot & Dry Foods and Hot & Moist Foods.
• Increase the intake of Cold & Moist Foods and Cold & Dry
Foods.
• 11 almonds, 2tsp poppy seeds, 2 cardamom. Soak in
100mls of water for 6-7 hours. Liquidise with 150mls milk
(boiled and cooled) and 2tsp sugar. Strain and drink twice a
day on an empty stomach.

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Indigestion

Pathology & Symptoms:

Indigestion may be a symptom of an imbalance in the stomach or the

intestines, mostly due to an excess of cold qualities, due to an excess
and/or imbalance in the phlegmatic humour, which reduces diges-
tive heat. Symptoms include gas, abdominal pain, rumbling noises, a
bloated feeling, belching, nausea, vomiting and a burning sensation
after eating.

Causes:

Foods high in carbohydrates. Swallowing air by chewing with an open

mouth, talking while chewing or gulping down food. The intake of liq-
uids with meals contributes to indigestion as it dilutes the enzymes
needed for digestion. Certain foods and beverages like alcohol, caf-
feine, fizzy drinks, tea, coffee, greasy, spicy or refined foods, white
flour products, milk and dairy products and gas producing foods like
lentils beans and peas also cause indigestion.

The above mentioned food is not digested properly and thus ferments
in the intestines producing hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Psychologi-
cal factors such as stress and anger can disturb the mechanism that
controls the contractions of the stomach and intestinal muscles. A
lack of digestive enzymes can also cause intestinal problems. Indi-
gestion is often accompanied by heartburn.

Treatment:

• Consume well-balanced meals with plenty of fibre-rich

foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Include fresh papaya (which contains papain-beneficial
digestive enzymes) in your diet.

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• If foul smelling stools are accompanied by a burning sensa-

tion in the anus, a 3-5-day fast is advised.
• Drink lemon juice in a cup of water first thing in the
morning.
• Exercise such as brisk walking or stretching after supper is
recommended.
• Always chew food slowly and thoroughly.

Avoid:

• Drinking liquids with meals as this dilutes the stomach

juices and prevents proper digestion.
• Intake of lentils, peanuts and soya beans.
• Bakery products, beans, caffeine, carbonated beverages,
processed foods, fried and fatty foods, pasta, potato chips,
junk food and sugar.
• Retiring at night on a full stomach.
• Eating when you are upset, exhausted or overtired.

Herbal:

• ¼ cup of aloe vera juice on an empty stomach first thing in

the morning and last thing at night.
• ½ tsp fennel, ¼ tsp fenugreek, 10 mint leaves, small piece
fresh ginger, ¼ tsp aniseed. Boil in 200mls of water until
100mls remain. Strain and mix with honey. Drink 3-4 times
a day.

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Insomnia

Pathology & Symptoms:

The normal temperament of the brain is Moist. Moistness is also the

quality associated with night time, which promotes sound sleep. In-
somnia or sleeplessness is a condition due to the excessive Cold and
Dryness or Heat and Dryness, due to an excess in the melancholic
humour and/or bilious humour in the body especially in the brain and
nerves.

98

Causes:

Dryness of the weather and environment, spicy foods, the excessive

intake of meat, gas accumulation in the stomach and intestine, exces-
sive worries and thinking, hypoglycaemia, muscle aches, indigestion,
breathing difficulty, pain, anxiety, stress, grief, depression, jet-lag, ex-
cessive consumption of tea or coffee and the use of certain medica-
tion.

Treatment:

• Eat a light supper at least 3 hours before retiring at night.

• 100grams yoghurt, 100grams milk and 2tsp sugar or glu
cose. Mix and drink half-an-hour before going to bed.
• 11 almonds, 2tsp poppy seeds, 2 cardamom pods. Soak
in 100mls of water for 6-7 hours. Liquidise with 150mls milk
boiled and cooled), add 2tsp sugar. Strain and drink half-
an-hour before going to bed.
• Avoid alcohol, tea, coffee, tobacco (because of nicotine
which acts as a neuro-stimulant which may cause
insomnia).

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• Eat bananas, figs, dates, yoghurt, milk, whole grain and a

half a grapefruit at bedtime as this helps to induce/promote
sleep.
• Avoid bacon, cheese, chocolates, eggplant, potatoes,
sausages, tomatoes and wine close to bedtime.
• Avoid taking nasal decongestants late in the day.
• Establish a set of habits and follow them consistently to
establish a healthy sleep cycle i.e. go to bed only when
you are tired, do not stay in bed if you are not sleepy, move
to another room and read, watch television or busy yourself
quietly until you are sleepy.
• Use the bedroom only for sleep and not for reading, work-
ing, eating or watching television.
• Set an alarm clock and get out of bed at the same time
every morning, no matter how you slept the night before.
• Do not nap during the day.
• Exercise regularly in the late afternoon or early evening
but not before bedtime. Physical exertion is an excellent
way to tire your body so that sleep comes about more
easily.
• Take a warm bath (not shower) an hour or two before bed
time.
• Keep the bedroom comfortable and quiet with light
coloured bedspreads, cushion covers, curtains and a blue
light bulb.

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Herbal:

• 5gram each, passionflower and valerian root. Boil in 2 cups

water until one cup remains. Strain, allow to cool and drink
1 hour before bedtime.

...............................................................................

Liver Diseases and Alcohol Abuse

Pathology & Symptoms:

Most liver disease is due to an excess of Hot & Dry qualities, due to
an excess and/or imbalance in the bilious humour. These diseases
include jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, abscess of the liver,
etc. Liver conditions can present with the following symptoms: ab-
dominal pain, high fever (associated with liver necrosis), jaundice, cir-
rhosis (shrinkage of the liver), occasional enlargement of the spleen,
ascites - ankle oedema.

Causes:

Most of the liver diseases are due to excessive Hot and Dry qualities,
excess of a Hot and Dry Foods, a hot environment, spicy foods, fried
and junk foods, excess intake of tea, coffee and a low intake of water.

Excessive use of alcohol, which also has Hot and Dry qualities, pro-
duces a wide spectrum of liver diseases.

99

Alcohol abuse will produce symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diar-

rhoea, which are the effects of alcohol on the gastrointestinal tract.

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An excessive amount of alcohol intake increases the urge to eat more

meat and junk foods which increases the blood circulation, aggravat-
ing the Hot and Dry condition which in turn produces an excess of Dry
and Hot to Hot and Dry qualities.

Excessive alcohol intake would lead to central nervous system dam-

age, epilepsy, muscle weakness, heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias,
hypertension, gout, hyperlipidemia, hypoglycaemia, obesity, chest in-
fections, acute gastritis, carcinoma of the oesophagus or large bowel,
pancreatic disease, osteoporosis and fatty liver.

Treatment:

• Avoid alcohol completely.

• Cleansing fast (diet) to remove toxins from the body is
advised –under the supervision of a health professional.
• A diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
• Avoid all types of meat for at least one month.
• Drink plenty of water and juice.
• Avoid saturated fats and fried foods. For essential fatty
acids, use olive oil in small amounts.
• Avoid refined sugar or products containing it.
• Ensure plenty of rest along with meditation and breathing
exercises.
• Swimming, early morning walks and a 15 to 20-minute walk
after supper will assist your body in cleansing and repairing
itself.

The advice of a health professional in liver diseases is recommended.

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Herbal:

• 5grams chicory, 5grams milk thistle, 2grams negro coffee,

2grams dandelion. Boil in 250mls water until 150mls
remain. Add honey to taste and drink 3 times a day.
• 25mls aloe vera juice with water once a day.
• 5grams Fennel, 5grams dodder, 3grams rhubarb, 2grams
senna leaves, 2grams black pepper, 1gram barberry:
1-2grams taken in powder form once a day.

...............................................................................

Nausea & Vomiting

Pathology & Symptoms:

This is mainly due to an excess of Hot and Dry qualities, due to an ex-
cess in the bilious humour in the body, especially in the stomach. An
associated symptom is indigestion. On an empty stomach the vomit
can be a bitter yellowish-green fluid.

(Nausea and Vomiting is also possible due to an excess in Cold and

Moist qualities, due to an excess in the phlegmatic humour in the
stomach. In this case food that is not digesting due to lack of digestion
and a person vomits after a while. This mostly happenes to infants
and children and mostly cold times like morning and night. In this case
follow the topic INDESTION).

Causes:

A hot environment and hot weather (spring and summer), excessive

awakening, an excessive intake of a Hot and Dry Foods, anger, anxi-
ety, stress, irritability and exposure to sun or heat.

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Treatment:

• Follow Cold & Dry Foods.

• Include more bananas, vegetables and grains into your
diet.
• Maintain a high fibre diet to ensure daily bowel movements.
• Eat yoghurt daily or any soured products three times a
week as this significantly reduces nausea and vomiting as
well as the heat and dryness in your body.

Avoid:

• Hot & Dry Foods.

• Cakes, chocolates, coffee, dairy products (except yoghurt),
processed foods, pies, sugar, tobacco and junk food.

Herbal:

• 10grams tamarind and 10grams prunes. Soak in 250mls

boiled water for one hour. Strain. Add a pinch of salt. Drink
once a day.
• 5grams chicory, 2grams milk thistle, 2grams negro
coffee, 2grams dandelion. Boil in 250mls water until
150mls remains. Drink once a day.

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Peptic Ulcers

Pathology & Symptoms:

Peptic Ulcer results from excessive Dry and Hot qualities, due to an
excess and/or imbalance in the bilious humour, in which the exces-
sive dryness causes damage to the epithelial layer of the stomach
or intestine and sometimes even the muscular layer of the stomach
leaving an open wound. The surrounding tissue is usually swollen
and inflamed. Ulcers can occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal
tract but are most common in the stomach (gastric ulcers) and duo-
denum (duodenal ulcers).

Symptoms of a peptic ulcer include burning or gnawing pains, just be-

low the lower end of the chest bone and usually appears half an hour
after eating or at night. This pain can be relieved after taking antacids,
vomiting or drinking a large glass of water. Other possible symptoms
include lower back pain, headaches, a choking sensation, itching and
possibly nausea and vomiting.

Causes:

An ulcer results when the lining of the stomach fails to provide ad-
equate protection against the effect of digestive acids which have a
Dry and Hot qualities, resulting in damage to the stomach wall. An
excess of stomach acid, insufficient production of protective mucus or
both may be the cause. Many factors affect the secretion of stomach
acid, improper eating habits, suppression of hunger with tea, coffee
or cold drinks or the intake of these on an empty stomach along with
smoking. Low intake of water, excessive use of meat or fried and
heavy spicy foods. Stress and anxiety causes an increase in acid
production, which is why ulcers are so closely related to stress levels.
Certain medication and supplements such as aspirin, non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs. Vitamin C taken over a long period can also
lead to ulcers. Heavy smokers are more prone to developing ulcers
as smoking inhibits the healing process.

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Treatment:

• Eat vegetables like broccoli and carrots occasionally. They

must be well steamed.
• Eat frequent small meals, include well-cooked millet,
cooked white rice, raw goat’s milk and soured milk
products such as yoghurt and cottage cheese.
• For rapid relief of pain, drink a large glass of water. This
dilutes the stomach acids and flushes these out
through the stomach and duodenum.
• Allow teas and other hot beverages to cool before drinking
as they may trigger gastric discomfort.
• Keep the colon clean.
• Avoid smoking, stress, fried foods, tea, coffee (even
decaffeinated), alcohol, chocolates, strong spices, animal
fats, carbonated drinks and painkillers such as aspirin.

Herbal:

• 25mls aloe vera juice. Drink 2-3 times a day on an

empty stomach – this aids in relieving the pain and heals
the wound.
• Liquorice root made into a fine powder. 1tsp mixed in
100mls of warm water. Drink three to four times a day on
an empty stomach -this promotes healing of peptic ulcers.
• Take one teaspoon psyllium husk (ispagool) with warm
water before retiring at night.

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Piles

Pathology & Symptoms:

Piles is a condition due to excessive Dryness. There are two types

of piles: non-bleeding piles caused by Cold and Dry qualities, due to
an excess and/or imbalance in the melancholic humour, and bleeding
piles due to Dry and Hot qualities, due to oxidation in the sanguinous
humour and/or an imbalance in the bilious humour. Piles are swollen
veins around the anus and in the rectum (the very lowest portion of
the colon) that may protrude from the anus. The symptoms include
itching, burning, pain, inflammation, swelling, irritation and seepage
and are the same for both types of piles, except for the bleeding in
bleeding piles.

Causes:

Piles can be caused and aggravated by an excessive intake of a Hot

and Dry and Cold and Dry Foods, sitting or standing for prolonged pe-
riods, lifting heavy objects and strained bowel movements (especially
when constipated, although bouts of diarrhea accompanied by invol-
untary spasms can exacerbate the problem) as well as pregnancy,
obesity, lack of exercise, liver damage, food allergies and insufficient
consumption of dietary fibre.

Treatment:

• Follow Hot & Moist Foods and Cold & Moist Foods.
• Maintain a high fibre diet such as wheat, fresh fruits and
vegetables.
• Drink plenty of liquids, especially water (preferably distilled)
as water aids in the prevention of constipation.
• Cleanse the problem area frequently with warm water.
• A 15 minute sitz bath in hot water daily is helpful for

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obtaining relief.
• A plain warm water enema with olive oil can be used to
keep the colon clean.
• Regular light to moderate exercise is advised.

Avoid:

• Fats and animal products. Red meat and highly spiced

diets are especially hard on the lower digestive tract.
• The use of strong or harsh laxatives, chemical laxatives
only worsens the condition.
• Lifting heavy items.
• Sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time. If sitting
for extended periods of time cannot be avoided, take
frequent breaks to stretch and move around.

In the case of persistent bleeding, consult your physician.

Herbal:

• 1 gram’s rhubarb root, 15grams black pepper, 10grams

senna leaves, 10grams turmeric, 30grams milk thistle ¼
tsp taken in powder form 3 times a day ½ hour before
meals.

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Premature Ejaculation

Pathology & Symptoms:

Premature ejaculation results from an excess of Hot and Dry to Hot

and Moist qualities, due to an excess in the bilious humour in the
body. Excessive heat can lead to thinning of spermatic fluids and ir-
ritation/inflammation in the related organs.

Causes:

An excessive intake of a Hot and Dry and Hot and Moist Foods, a hot
environment, excessive awakening, tiredness, excessive anger, anxi-
ety, stress, over-sensitivity, constipation, inflammation of the rethra/
prostate gland, excitement (hurried sex).

Treatment:

• Avoid Hot & Dry Foods and Hot & Moist Foods for 15 days.
• Include a lot of vegetables, fruits and nuts in your daily diet.
• Avoid chicken, mutton, cheese, margarine and over-spiced
foods for fifteen days.
• Adequate rest prior to having sex and avoiding sex when
you are tired is advised.
• Drink milk and yoghurt on a daily basis.
• Increase water intake.
• Avoid alcohol, fizzy drinks and processed foods completely.

Herbal:

• 10-20 grams’ water chestnut (fresh/dry) daily.

• 2 grams each: coriander seeds, fennel seeds, cumin. Mix

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½ tsp fine powder in water. Drink 3 times a day.

• 1tsp liquorice powder 3 times a day.
• 1 to 2tsps. psyllium husk mixed in 1 cup lukewarm water.
Drink at night to soothe gland irritation caused by
constipation.

...............................................................................

Sinusitis

Pathology & Symptoms:

Sinusitis results from an excess of Moist and Hot to Cold and Moist
qualities, due to an excess and/or imbalance in the phlegmatic hu-
mour. It is an inflammation of the nasal sinuses.

These are the four sets of open spaces within the bones of the skull:

• Frontal sinuses above the eyes, to either side of the nose.

• Maxillary sinuses inside the cheekbones

• Sphenoid sinuses behind the bridge of the nose.

• Ethmoid sinuses in the upper nose.

In most sinusitis cases the frontal and/or maxillary sinuses become

clogged due to excessive mucoid secretions.

Symptoms include cough, headache, facial and cranial pain, loss of

the sense of smell, pressure in the skull especially over the forehead
and cheekbones and a thick mucus discharge. In chronic stages; post-
nasal drip, sore throat, bad breath, difficulty in breathing and snoring
may occur.

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Causes:

An excessive intake of a cold diet, dairy products, cold weather, hu-

mid and coastal environment. A diet high in refined carbohydrates,
low in protein and other nutrients may also predispose one to devel-
oping sinusitis.
103

Treatment:

• Drink plenty of distilled water, fresh vegetable and fruit

juices.
• Also consume plenty of hot liquids such as soups and
herbal teas as these assist the flow of mucus, relieves
congestion and sinus pressure.

Avoid:

• Cold & Moist Foods.

• Sugar in your diet.
• Reduce your salt intake.
• Dairy products, except for low-fat soured products like
yoghurt.
• Refrigerated food and drink.

Herbal:

• ¼ tsp each: aniseed, thyme, fenugreek, echinacea. Boil in

1½ cups water,until one cup remains. Strain, mix with 2 tsp
honey. Drink three times a day.
• Ginger root can be crushed and applied as a poultice to the
forehead and nose to stimulate circulation and drainage.

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• Menthol or eucalyptus oil, 2 drops in each nostril twice in a

day.

...............................................................................

Tonsillitis/Sore Throat

Pathology & Symptoms:

Tonsillitis results from an excess of Moist and Hot to Cold and Moist
qualities, due to an excess and/or imbalance in the phlegmatic hu-
mour resulting in inflammation of the tonsils, located on either side of
the throat.

Symptoms include a sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, hoarseness,

coughing, pain and swelling of the tonsils. Other possible symptoms
include headache, earache, fever and chills.

This condition can occur at any age, but is most common in children.

Causes:

See - sinusitis

Treatment:

• Dissolve ½ sp salt in 150mls of warm water. Gargle three

times a day.
• Eat a diet consisting of 75% raw foods.
• Drink plenty of distilled water and fresh vegetable soup,
fruit juices and herbal teas.

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Avoid:

• Cold & Moist Foods.

• Smoking and passive smoking.
• Sugar in your diet.
• Dairy products, except for low-fat soured products like
yoghurt.
• Cold water and a cold diet.

Herbal:

• 2grams each: chamomile, echinacea, golden seal. Boil

in 1½ cups water until 1 cup remains. Strain and add 1tsp.
Drink warm 3-4 times a day.

Tonsils should not be removed unless absolutely necessary.

...............................................................................

Toothache/Loose Teeth/Bleeding Gums

The above mostly results from an excess of Cold and Moist qualities,
due to an excess and/or imbalance in the phlegmatic humour, as a
result of lack of oral hygiene especially after meals. An excessive in-
take of dairy/bakery products and a Cold and Moist Foods are also
contributory causes.

Treatment:

• Avoid Cold & Moist Foods.

• Avoid sweet food/drink and milk products.
• Clean your mouth after eating or drinking juices.

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• Brush your teeth on waking and before retiring at night.

• Mix ½ tsp elm (alum) powder in 100ml warm water and
gargle 2-3 times a day. This will help bleeding gums and
loose teeth.
• For toothache: Apply 1-2 drops clove oil on a cotton swab
to the affected tooth/teeth. Apply 1 clove onto the affected
tooth and bite down (apply pressure) onto the tooth/teeth.

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 List of Herbs

List of herbs

Common Names Botanical Name Temperament

1 Aconite, Monk’s Hood Aconitum Napellus Cold & Dry
Meetha Telia, Bichhnak
2 Amjo, Ajowan, Omum Ptychotis Ajowan Hot & Dry
seeds, Ajwain Desi Tranchyspermum ammi
3 Alfalfa Medicago Sativa Moist & Hot
4 Aloe Vera Barbadensis Hot & Moist
Gheekavar, Umhlaba

5 Anise, Aniseed, Anisun Pimpenella Anisum Hot & Dry

6 Asparagus, Satawar Asparagus Recemosus Moist & Hot
7 Astragalus Astragalus Gummifer Moist & Hot
8 Barberry, Rasaut, Berberis Vulgaris Hot & Moist
Dar-E-Hald
9 Basil, Tulsi Ocimum Basilium Cold & Dry
10 Bayberry, Myrica Sapida Hot & Moist
Kaipahl,Iyethi,
Umakuthula,
Umlubama
11 Belladonna, Luffah Atropa Belladonna Cold & Dry
12 Birch Leaves Betula Alba Moist & Hot
13 Black seed, Kalongee Nigella Sativa Dry & Hot
Habba-Tus-Sauda
14 Borage, Gao’Zoban Borage Officinalis Cold & Moist
15 Burdock Root Arctium Lappa Moist & Hot
16 Butcher’s Broom Ruscus Aculeatus Hot & Moist
17 Cardamom, Elachi, Elettaria Moist & Hot
Elaichi Cardomomum
18 Carrot seeds, Daucus Carota Hot & Moist
Tukhm-E-Gazar
19 Cayenne Pepper, Capsicum anuum Hot & Dry
Red Chilli, Filfil, Ahmer,
Surkh Mirch
20 Celery, Ajmood, Karfas Apium Graveolans Hot & Dry
21 Chamomile, Babuna Matriciaria Dry & Hot
Chamomilla

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 List of Herbs

Common Names Botanical Name Temperament

22 Chicory, Endive, Cichorium Cold & Moist
Kasni, Sigorei Intybus
23 Cinnamon, Taj, Dar Cinnamomum Dry & Hot
Chini, Umondi Zeylankiam
24 Cloves, Lavang, Syzygium Dry & Hot
Qaranfai, Laung Aromaticum
25 Colchicum, Colchicum Hot & Moist
Suran’Jaan Luteum
26 Coriander, Coriandrum Cold & Moist
Dhanna, Dhania, Sativum
Kishneez
27 Corn silk Zee Mays Cold & Moist
28 Cumin, Jeeru, Cuminum Moist & Hot
Kamun, Zeera Safaid Cyminum
29 Dandelion Taraxacum Officinale Moist & Hot
30 Dill, Sowa, Shabat, Anethum Hot & Moist
Soya, Imbozisa Graveolens

31 Dodder Cuscuta Systyla Hot & Moist

32 Dong Quai Angelica Hot & Dry
33 Echinacea Echinacea Purpurea Dry & Hot
34 Fennel, Somph, Saunf, Foeniculum Vulgare Hot & Moist
Bad’Yan, Vinkel,
Eluhlaza
35 Fenugreek, Trigonella, Hot & Dry
Methiseeds, Hulba, Foenum-graecum
Tukhm-E-Methi
36 Figs, Injeer, Teen Ficus Carica Cold & Moist
(Fresh), Figs (Dry) Cold & Dry
37 Garlic, Lassan, Lahsan Alium Sativum Hot & Dry
38 Ginger, Zanjabil, Zingiber Officinale Hot & Moist
Sonth, Gemmer
39 Ginko Biloba Ginko Biloba Dry & Hot
40 Ginseng Panax Ginseng Dry & Hot
41 Golden Seal Hydrastis Canadensis Dry & Hot
42 Hawthorn Berries Crataegus Oxycantha Hot & Moist
43 Hops Humulus Lupulus Moist & Hot

215
 List of Herbs

Common Names Botanical Name Temperament

44 Horsetail, Ishobae- Equisetum Arvense Cold & Dry
hashi, Isikhumukele
45 Kava Kava Piper Methysticum Dry & Hot
46 Lavender, Stoecados, Lavendula Stoechas Dry & Hot
Ustokhudus
47 Licorice, Liqourice, Glycyrrihza Glabra Moist & Hot
Sweet root, Mulathim
Aslus-Soos, Soethout
Wortel, Mlomo-Mnandi
48 Linseed, Flax seed, Linum Usitatissimum Cold & Dry
Katan, Alsi,
Ithalelimpofu
49 Lobelia, Indian Tamba- Lobelia Inflata Cold & Dry
ku, Isidala Esikhulu
50 Marshmallow, Khatmi Althea Officinalis Cold & Moist
51 Milk Thistle Sylybrum Marianum Moist & Hot
52 Negro Coffee, Cassia Occidentalis Cold & Moist
Kasondi,
Isinyembane,
Umnwanda, Nyoka
53 Parsley Petroselinum Crispum Hot & Dry
54 Passionflower Passiflora Incarnata Cold & Moist
55 Picrorrhiza, Kutki Picrorrhiza Hot & Dry
56 Poppy Seeds, Papaver Somniferum Cold & Dry
Khashkas
57 Prunes, Plums, Prunus Domestica Cold & Dry
Aloo Bukhara
58 Psyllium husk Plantago Ovata Cold & Moist
59 Raisins, Dry Grapes, Vitis Vinifera Dry & Hot
Maveez, Angoor
Khushk
60 Red Clover Trifolium Pratense Moist & Hot
61 Rhubarb, Rewand, Rheum Emodi Moist & Hot
Chini, Rebas
62 Sage, Bahman Surkh Salvia Officinalis Moist & Hot
63 Senna Leaves, Cassia Angustifolia Hot & Moist
Sanae Makki

216
 List of Herbs

Common Names Botanical Name Temperament

64 Sesame seeds, Til Sesamum Indicum Cold & Dry
65 St. Johnswort, Hypericum Perforatum Dry & Hot
Johanneskruid
66 Tamarind, Amli, Tamar Tamarinus Indica Cold & Dry
Hindi, Imli
67 Tea Tree oil Lycium Barbarum Cold & Dry
68 Thyme Thymus Vulgaris Hot & Moist
69 Tumeric, Arad, Curcuma Longa Hot & Moist
Korkum, Haldi
70 Valerian Root, Bal- Valeriana Officinalis Dry & Hot
Charh, Sumbu-Luttib,
Wildebalderjan
71 Violet, Banafsha Viola Odorata Dry & Hot
72 Water Chestnut, Trapa Bispinosa Cold & Dry
Chestnut, Caltrop,
Singhara
72 Wild Yam, Wildejam, Dioscorea Villosa Hot & Moist
Ingweve, Efudu

217
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221
 Index

Index
Index
D
A
Depression 160
Acne 125 Diabetes 163
Air 81 Diarrhoea 167
Alcohol Abuse 200 difference 7
alternative medicine 23 Diseases 114, 115, 118, 120
alternative therapies 25 doctrine of specific aetiology 15,
Amenorrhoea 169 19
Anaemia 126 Dysmenorrhoea 170
Angina 128
Anxiety 130
E
Arthritis 132
Asthma 137 Elimination 104
Athlete’s Foot 138 Emotions 100
energy 59, 76
B
Environment 81
Bad Breath 140 Excessive Menstruation 173
Bed-Wetting 147
F
Bilious Headache 181
bilious temperament 113, 114 Factors Determining Health 79
Bladder Infection 141 faculties 74
Bleeding Gums 212 Fasting 106
Boils 143 Female related Disorders 169
Breathing 81 Fever 177
Food 86
C
G
Cancer 145
causes of disease 19, 24, 38 Gout 135
Chicken Pox 148 Greco-Arabic medicine 2, 4
Child-related Diseases 147
Cholesterol 191 H
Chronic Fatigue 155
Colds & Flu 156 Hay Fever 179
Constipation 158 Headaches 180
Coughs 159 Health maintenance 113, 114,
creation 39 116, 118
Culpeper 39, 40 Heart Attack 128

222
 Index

Heat and Moisture 60 Muslim contribution 30

High Blood Pressure 186
N
Hippocrates 13, 14
history 33 Nausea & Vomiting 202
Holism 11 O
holistic medicine 11, 13
Humours 64 Osteo-Arthritis 132
Hyper-Activity 150 P
Hypomenorrhoea 169
Path to Health 41
I Peptic Ulcers 204
Ibn Sina 33 personality 57
Immune Boosting 193 Phlegmatic Headache 184
Impotency 194 phlegmatic temperament 116,
Indigestion 196 118
Insomnia 198 Physis 48, 123
Integrated System 77 Piles 206
integrative medicine 23, 33 Premature Ejaculation 208
Pre-Menstruation 170
L
Q
Leucorrhoea 172
Lifestyle Factors 79 qualities 58, 62
List of herbs 214
Liver Diseases 200 R
Loose Teeth 212
Rest 96
Rheumatoid Arthritis 134
M S
Measles 152 Sanguinous Headache 182
Melancholic 14, 65 sanguinous temperament 114,
Melancholic Headache 185 115
melancholic temperament 118, Sinusitis 209
120 Sleep 98
Menopause 175 Sore Throat 211
Menorrhogia 173 Stress 130
Migraine 181 Surgery 32
modern medicine 7 T
Movement 41, 96, 114
Mumps 153 Temperament 67, 73
Tibb philosophy 57, 105, 122

223
 Index

Tissues 74
Tonsillitis 211
Toothache 212
Traditional Roots 29
U
Unani Medicine 37
V
Vaginal discharge 172
W
Wakefulness 98
western medicine 7

224