Reading Temperament from the Muscles

Farzollah Gholizadeh and Fariba Bayrami

Introduction

In traditional medicine, muscle tissue and flesh (lahm) are not only for movement and strength. They are also a clear mirror of how well the tissues are nourished, the digestive strength of the liver, and the balance of heat and moisture in the body. Physicians regard flesh and muscle as the result of the blood fully maturing in the body. So the volume, firmness, softness and definition of the muscles, and how visible the veins over them are, give very valuable information about a person’s basic temperament and current balance of the humours. Examining the muscles is especially important for understanding moisture and dryness in the body.

In the traditional view, muscle tissue is healthy only when there is good-quality blood, good digestion and a strong nourishing power. So muscle structure reflects not only physical strength but also the quality of the blood, liver function and the balance of moisture and dryness. Modern studies have also reported links between some body measurements and body composition and temperament.

Step-by-step principles for reading temperament from the muscles

To assess temperament correctly from muscle tissue, several factors must be examined together:

• Muscle volume and amount of flesh: full, voluminous muscles point to a hot and moist temperament; extreme thinness and little muscle point to a cold and dry temperament.
• Consistency and firmness: muscles that feel hard and dense to the touch are a sign of dryness; soft, loose, dough-like muscles are a sign of moisture.
• Visible veins: prominent veins over the muscles are a sign of heat and dryness; veins that cannot be seen are a sign of cold and moisture.

The golden rule: acquired muscle (built by sport and training) must always be distinguished from inborn muscle structure. A traditional physician assesses muscle at rest, without a history of heavy sport, and interprets it together with other signs.

Looking only at muscle size is not enough. Consistency and elasticity to the touch, how quickly the person tires, sweating, skin colour, sleep, appetite and digestion should all be weighed together. Physicians never decide on a single sign; a correct diagnosis comes from reading the signs together.

Demevi temperament (hot and moist): full, strong, balanced muscles

Demevi people naturally have large, full and strong muscles, with plenty of flesh on the body. The muscles are neither rock-hard nor slack; they are balanced, full and elastic. The veins are usually full and visible, but not overly prominent.

Traditional reading: a warm liver produces good-quality blood. This good blood and enough moisture build a strong muscular structure, so these people build muscle easily.

Common muscle problems: despite a high physical capacity, overeating can cause heaviness, tiredness and build-up in the tissues. Hijama or bloodletting (under a physician’s supervision) can help the muscles feel lighter.

In Demevi people the muscles look “full and alive”, with both volume and a healthy softness. But inactivity and overeating can turn this advantage into heaviness and a bloated feeling.

Safravi temperament (hot and dry): firm, defined muscles with visible veins

In Safravi people the muscles are very well defined and body fat is low. Even if the muscles are not very large, they look firm, tight, long, “dry and sharply cut”. The muscle lines are clear and the veins are clearly visible.

Traditional reading: high heat leads to a fast metabolism, but dryness prevents fat and water from building up around the muscles. So the muscles look lean and tight.

Common muscle problems: muscle spasms, sudden cramps and small muscle tears are common, especially in summer and under stress.

These people may look very fit from the outside, but too much dryness reduces muscle flexibility and raises the risk of spasms.

Sevdavi temperament (cold and dry): thin, slight muscles

Sevdavi people have very little muscle tissue. The body is thin and slight. The muscles are thin, weak and lack volume. To the touch they feel hard and contracted, sometimes as taut as a rope.

Traditional reading: cold reduces the production of good-quality blood and the nourishing power is weak. Dryness also wastes the muscle that is there.

Common muscle problems: chronic tightness, sciatic pain, great fatigue and stiff muscles.

This hardness comes from dryness and contraction, not from real strength. So these people tire quickly and have low endurance.

Balgami temperament (cold and moist): loose, soft muscles

In Balgami people it is hard to tell muscle from fat. The body looks large, but the volume is fat and fluid, not muscle. The muscles are soft, loose and shapeless, and the veins cannot be seen.

Traditional reading: cold holds back muscle formation, and high moisture leads to fat and fluid build-up.

Common muscle problems: muscle weakness, slackness, a heavy feeling and poor support for the joints.

These people may look big from the outside, but their muscle strength is low, which can lead to knee and lower-back problems.

Quick summary

• Full, strong, elastic muscles + normal veins → Demevi
• Firm, defined muscles with visible veins → Safravi
• Very little, thin, hard muscle → Sevdavi
• Soft, loose, puffy muscles → Balgami

This summary is a quick guide; for a firm diagnosis it must be assessed together with other signs.

Key points and mistakes in diagnosis

• The effect of sport: intense training changes muscle structure but not temperament.
• The effect of age: losing muscle with age is natural.
• Two kinds of firmness: Safravi firmness comes from dryness; Demevi firmness comes from strength.

Illness, stress, diet and medication can also change muscle structure for a while.

A clinical warning: night cramps and muscle twitches

In traditional medicine, muscle twitches and cramps are not just a sign of tiredness. They usually point to increasing dryness. When the liver is too hot or too dry, the body’s natural moisture falls, which leads to spasms and contractions in the muscles and nerves.

If this is ignored, it can lead to more serious problems. So taking painkillers alone is not enough; the underlying cause must be corrected.

Conclusion

Muscle structure is one of the most important ways to understand temperament in traditional medicine. How full, firm or soft the muscles are tells us about the body’s inner balance. But for a correct diagnosis these findings must always be assessed together with other signs.

Sources

1. Avicenna. Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb. Beirut: Dar Sader.
2. Al-Razi AMZ. Al-Hawi fi al-Tibb.
3. Al-Majusi AIA. Kamil al-Sina’a al-Tibbiyya.
4. Mojahedi M, et al. Mizaj indices study.
5. Tansaz M, et al. Anthropometric indices and temperament.
6. Gholizadeh F. Principles of Traditional Medicine.
7. Gholizadeh F. Mizaj and lifestyle modification.

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