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Temperamental diversity across the seven climes: An ancient concept revisited through natural selection
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Mostafa Saadat *    |
| Department of Biology, School of Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran , saadat@shirazu.ac.ir |
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Abstract: (16 Views) |
Background and aim: In authoritative texts of traditional medicine, the concept of "temperamental variation among inhabitants of different regions" is presented as a key facet of human temperament. This article examines this ancient concept, with the primary aim of demonstrating its alignment with findings from population genetics and its enduring relevance in medical thought.
Materials and methods: This research employed a descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing qualitative content analysis of classical medical texts, including The Canon of Medicine, Zakhire-ye Kharazmshahi, Bostân al-Atibbâ wa Rawḍat al-Albâ, Setah-ye Zarurieh, and Al-Abniyah 'an Haqayeq al-Advieh. Ethical principles of library-based research, including textual authenticity, accuracy in quotations, and meticulous source citation, were observed throughout.
Findings: The analyses reveal that Islamic physicians regarded health as a relative state, contingent upon an individual's adaptation to their environment. This perspective is consistent with the principle of natural selection, whereby differential reproductive success among genotypes leads to the formation of distinct, environmentally adapted gene pools. Their emphasis on individualized patient characteristics in treatment, such as temperament and city of residence, reflects a profound appreciation of the need to consider each person's unique environmental and genetic factors during therapy. This approach parallels the modern concept of personalized medicine.
Conclusion: The concept of temperamental variation across different regions, as meticulously and accurately articulated in traditional medical texts, evinces a sophisticated understanding of the dynamic interplay between genes and environment. The notion that "the treatment for the people of each city is distinct" is not merely an ancient medical tenet, but rather a precursor to contemporary paradigms such as the etiology of multifactorial diseases and personalized medicine. |
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| Keywords: Temperament (Mizaj), Traditional medicine, Population genetics, Natural selection |
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Full-Text [PDF 955 kb]
(11 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
General
Received: 2026/01/28 | Accepted: 2026/08/5 | Published: 2026/08/16
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