BRIDGING TRADITION AND SCIENCE: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW OF MIZĀJ (TEMPERAMENT), AKHLĀT-E ARBA‘A (FOUR HUMORS), AND IMTILĀ’ (TEMPERAMENTAL IMBALANCE) IN UNANI MEDICINE

Abstract

Unani medicine, a Greco-Arabic system of healing, views health as a reflection of balance between temperament (Mizaj), the four humors (Akhlat Arba), and physiological moderation (E‘tidal). Disease arises when this harmony is disturbed, leading to pathological states such as Imtila (plethora). This review integrates the classical Unani concepts of Mizaj, Akhlat Arba, and Imtila with modern biomedical sciences to reveal parallels between ancient humoral theory and contemporary understanding of homeostasis, metabolism, and circulatory pathology. The paper highlights the relevance of Unani theories in explaining personalized medicine, metabolic individuality, and preventive health. It further presents comparative models correlating Mizaj with genetic predisposition and endocrine profile, Akhlat with biochemical components of the body, and Imtila with hypervolemia and metabolic syndrome. The integration of these principles strengthens the scientific foundation of Unani medicine and encourages cross-disciplinary research in integrative health sciences.