Biochemical Approach to the Hotness and Coldness of Mizaj in Persian Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Survey in the Healthy Population

Abstract

An individualized viewpoint in Persian Medicine is introduced with the concept of Mizaj (temperament). Accordingly, every individual is placed in a unique point among a spectrum ranging from extreme hotness to extreme coldness. The whole-body Mizaj is mainly determined by three organs of heart, brain, and liver. This study investigates the relationship between whole-body and three main organ Mizajes with some hormonal and biochemical factors. In 324 healthy volunteers between the ages of 20 and 40, whole-body Mizaj and Mizajes of heart, brain, and liver were determined in two sessions with an expert panel method. Any disagreement between experts and the moderate diagnosis was excluded. Finally, 72 healthy volunteers (including 40 hot Mizaj individuals and 32 cold Mizaj) entered the second phase. In this phase, some hormonal and biochemical factors were evaluated. In whole-body Mizaj, FBS, Hgb, Hct, MCHC, WBC, and Monocytes, were higher in people with hot Mizaj than cold Mizaj. Besides, relating to the Mizaj of the liver, FBS, cortisol, TG, Hgb, Hct, MCH, MCHC in hot Mizaj were higher than cold Mizaj. Also, in the heart, MCV and MCH were higher in hot individuals and in the brain FBS, Hgb, Hct, MCV, MCH, lymphocytes were significantly higher in hot Mizaj. It seems that FBS and Hgb as the factors involved in metabolism have the most important role in the whole-body Mizaj. Also, the association between cortisol with the hotness of the liver can be suggested by increasing sympathetic activity as one of the hotness/coldness theories.