Journal of Research and Development
Open Access

Abstract

Evaluation of Mizaj (Temperament) in Menopausal Transition Symptoms: A Pilot Study

Arshiya Sultana, Gulamuddin Sofi, Gulamuddin Sofi and Syeda Lamatul Noor

Mizaj (temperament) is one of the fundamental concepts of Unani system of medicine. Internal and external factors influences the human body leading to su’ mizaj (altered temperament) that ultimately inflict the whole body or a specific organ in the form of disease. Therefore, mizaj of a patient or organ has to be evaluated. Thus, this study was planned to determine the mizaj in women with menopausal transition symptoms. Material and methods: A prospective, single centre pilot study was conducted in 60 menopausal transition symptoms women in the National Institute of Unani medicine (NIUM), India between April 2013 and January 2014. The patient’s initial severity of menopausal transition symptoms were evaluated using the validated menopause rating scale (MRS) Questionnaire. The temperament was assessed by alamate su’ mizaj (clinical features of abnormal temperament) of body and ghalaba-i-akhlat (dominance of humour) and dalaele amzaj al- rahim (clinical features of uterine temperament) as described in the traditional Unani literature. The data was analyzed by descriptive analysis. Results: The split half reliability of the questionnaire was 0.87 of 60 patients, 41(68.33%), 15(25%) and 4(6.67%) patients had barid (cold), harr (hot) and yabis (dry) su’ mizaj respectively and 55(91.67%), and 3(5) patients had clinical features of burudat (coldness) and hararat al-rahim (hotness of uterus). All patients had ghalaba al-sawda (dominance of black bile humor). Conclusion: This pilot study validates the claim of Unani scholars that the su’ mizaj is more towards burudat and ghalaba-i-khilt sawda (dominance of black bile) was also observed in women with menopausal transition symptoms.