22575552 an introduction to the temperaments

8/3/2019 22575552 an Introduction to the Temperaments

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An Introduction to theAn Introduction to the

TemperamentsTemperamentsPaul Kalnins ND, LAc

November 14-15, 2009

What is Temperament?What is Temperament?

Temperament: an individuals physiological and psychological traits thatare innate, rather than learnt

Genetic traits: determine physical characteristics

Epigenetic traits: determine functional/physiological characteristics

Typology

Many classification schemes exist

Few have universal acceptance

Historically associated with the four element/four humor theory

Origins in Greek thought

Dominated European and Islamic medical theories until the European Renaissance

Why is Understanding TemperamentWhy is Understanding Temperament

Important for Naturopathic Medicine?Important for Naturopathic Medicine?

Allows for more individualized treatment

Diet and lifestyle plans

More precise applications of herbal/glandular/mineraltherapies

Isolates constitutional weaknesses that may be related tochronic disease

Addresses the root of illness, rather than only the symptoms

Assists the physician in understanding a patients overallneeds and tendencies


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The Four Classical TemperamentsThe Four Classical TemperamentsHippocrates (460-370 BCE) Attempted to separate medicine from religion

Medical ideas based in humoralism and vitalism

The 4 humors as manifestations of the 4 elements Black bile (earth)

Phlegm (water)

Blood(air) Yellow bile (fire)

Humors are the carriers of the living (vital) forces Moods, emotions, behaviors caused by the humors

Disease

Results from an imbalance (dyscrasia) of the 4 humors

The Classical (Greek) Four ElementsThe Classical (Greek) Four Elements

Empedocles(ca. 450 BCE)

Referred to the four roots

Influenced by earlier traditions

Plato(428/427 -348/347 BCE)

First to use the term elements

Each element a combination of 2 qualitiesHot, cold, dry, damp

Aristotle(384-322 BCE)

Added ether as the quintessence

Ether was thought to be incorruptible

and originated in the stars/planets

4 elements associated with corruptibleearthly forces

The Four Classical TemperamentsThe Four Classical TemperamentsGalen (129-199/217 CE) Roman physician and philosopher

Extended the humoralconcepts of Hippocrates

De temperamentis

Theories dominated Western medical science until the

Renaissance

An individuals predominant humor determines thetemperament:

Melancholic: earth predominates

Phlegmetic: water predominates

Sanguine: air predominates

Choleric: fire predominantes

The ideal temperament involved a balanced mixture of thefour elements and their qualities

Most individuals are a combination of more than onetemperament


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The Four

Choleric-Bilious

Fire

Yellow Bile

Hot/dry

Melancholic-Nervous

SanguineAir

Temperaments EarthBlack Bile

Cold/dry

Phlegmatic-Lymphatic

Water

Phlegm

Cold/wet

Blood

Hot/wet

Element, qualities, humor, season

Earth/solid, mineral

Cold and dry

Black bile

Autumn

Physical characteristics

Low energy

Often thin, may appear prematurely aged

Wrinkles, dry skin

Melancholic-

Typical food cravings

Carbohydrates

Simple carbohydrates

Caffeine

Typical pathologiesProne to digestive-respiratory conditions

(Dry-cold, spasmodic type)

Psychological characteristics

Positive

Thoughtful ponderer, analytical, methodical

Can be very kind, considerate, creative

NegativePerfectionists, critical

Dissatisfaction, yearning, loner, romantic

Temperament


Water

Damp, cold

Phlegm

Venous blood

Winter

Physical characteristics

Slow metabolism: store everything

Tend to gain weight easily

Often grow quickly as children

Body weight distributed all over the body

Lethargic, weak libido

Phlegmatic-


Dairy

Carbohydrates

Starches

Typical Pathologies

Disorders associated with accumulation of phlegm ordampness

Psychological characteristics

Positive

Consistent,relaxed, rational, curious, observant

Philosophical

Self-content,kind

Reliable, dependable

Friendly

Negative

Lethargy and laziness, which inhibits enthusiasm in others

Temperament


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Air/gas

Hot, damp

Blood (arterial)

Spring

Physical Characteristics

Warm blooded, passionate, but airy

Strong energy, libido

Sanguine


Fats, oils

Spicy foods

Typical pathologies

Nervous type afflictions, resulting in increased tissueacidity

Psychological Characteristics

Positive

Fun-loving, light-hearted

People person, friendly, social

Negative

Often act on whims, impulsive

Not always reliable

Temperament


Fire/warmth

Hot, dry

Yellow bile

Summer

Physical Characteristics

Strong energy, immunity, libido

Athletic, muscular

Thin/dry/hot type also possible

Choleric


Meats

Salty foods

Typical pathologiesSuffer often from inflammatory (hot) conditions

Psychological Characteristics

Positive

Intense, enthusiastic, passionate, ambitious

Capable leaders with a strong will and purpose

NegativeDomineering, aggressive

Jealous, bitter, anger

Temperament


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The Four Classical TemperamentsThe Four Classical TemperamentsAvicenna (Ibn Sina) (980-1037 CE)

Persian physician and philosopher

Over 450 treatises on a variety of subjects

The Canon of Medicine Many of his works b ecame the standard medical

texts in medieval European universities

Combined aspects of Galenic medicine and

Aristotelian metaphysics with Persian,

Mesopotamian, and Indian medicine

Extended theory of temperaments to include

mental-emotional traits and dreams


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Chinese Medicine and TemperamentChinese Medicine and Temperament

Wu xing ()5-phases

Somewhat different from the Greek 4 elements

Indicate gestures, activities, movements

Earliest 5-phase maps Comparisons to the Greek 4

represente p ases, wt

earth as a central or balancing

point

e ements.

Earth

Fire

Metal

Water

WoodQuintessence

Fire

Earth

Water

Air

Demise ofDemise of HumoralismHumoralism Medical research in the 16th - 19th centuries

gradually undermined the idea of humoralism andvitalism

Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902) German physician and politician

Proposed the cellular theory of pathology (1858)

Humoralism replaced by a focus on abnormalcellular mechanisms

Friedrich Wohler (1800-1882) German chemist

Synthesized urea from inorganic components

Felt that this refuted the idea of vitalism

ParacelsusParacelsus (1493(1493--1541)1541)TheophrastusTheophrastus PhilippusPhilippusAureolusAureolus BombastusBombastus vonvon HohenheimHohenheim

Questioned the usefulness of the 4 humor theory

Instead, used the concept of the 3 principles to

Renaissance physician, botanist, alchemist,

astrologer, occultist

represent the dynamic activities of the elements-

humors:

Salt-principle of solidification, crystallization, ash

Mercury-principle of transformationSulfur-principle of combustion

Example of a burning log


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The Three Principles & Four ElementsThe Three Principles & Four Elements

Fire

Air

SulfurPrinciple of Combustion

3 Principles Ayurveda

Pitta

Water

Earth

MercuryPrinciple of Transformation-movement

SaltPrinciple of precipitation

Vata

Kapha

The Four Classical TemperamentsThe Four Classical Temperaments Modern Temperament Research

Mostly associated with psychological research

Psychological typology

Hans Eysenck (1916-1997) nayze persona ty erences usng statstca met o s

Believed temperament is biologically determined

Dimensions of Personality Defined 2 personality dimensions:

Neuroticism (N): tendency to experience negative emotions

Extraversion (E): tendency to enjoy positive events

Various pairings between the two create profiles similar to the 4classical temperaments

The Four Classical TemperamentsThe Four Classical TemperamentsRudolf Steiner (1861-1925) Austrian philosopher

Inspired by the phenomenological method of the Germanpoet/scientist Goethe (1749-1832)

Founder of Anthroposophy A spiritual philosophy that postulates the existence of an objective,

intellectually comprehensible spiritual world

This world is accessible do direct experience through innerdevelopment, specifically through cultivating a form of thinkingindependent of sensory experience

Aims to describe the spiritual world with the same precision andclarity of natural sciences investigation of the physical world

Practical applications of anthropospophyideas:

Waldorf education

Biodynamic farming

Anthroposophicalmedicine

Various art, dance, architecture movements as well


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AnthroposophicalAnthroposophical MedicineMedicine

History of Anthroposophical Medicine Arose from a series of lectures given to medical doctors by Rudolf Steiner in

the early 1920s

Steiner attempted to find a bridge between scientific medicine, which studies the body, and higheraspects of the human being (soul and spirit)

A system of medicine that focuses on strengthening the patients organism andindividuality

An extension of biomedicine, not a replacement Anthroposophical physicians must have a conventional medical education and extensive

post-graduate study

Steiners ideas later extended by various physicians ItaWegman MD: opened the first anthroposophical medical clinic


Distribution

28 anthroposophic hospitals, rehabilitation centers, sanatoria Mostly in Europe

Recognized as a distinct healing modality in Germany and Switzerland

~140 outpatient clinics worldwide

3 European universities have professorships in anthroposophic medicine

About 2,000 anthroposophic physicians worldwide Estimated that anthroposophic remedies are use by more than 30,000 physicians

worldwide


Studies of Efficacy 195 studies of anthroposophicmedicine published through 2006

186 found positive outcomes, defined as:

Comparable or better results than with conventional treatment with respect to at

least one clinically-relevant outcome measure

Or a clinically-relevant improvement resulting from treatment,

8 studies found no advantage to conventional treatment

1 study showed a negative trend

PARSIFAL study

Multicenter study involving 6630 children (age 5-13)

Concluded that certain factors in the anthroposophic lifestyle

were associated with reduced risk of allergic disease


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Anthroposophy and the TemperamentsAnthroposophy and the Temperaments

Understanding a ch ilds temperament is important in Waldorf education

Temperament is seen as the basis of a childs physiological constitution

Medically, provides insight into supportive/constitutional remedies

Temperament is thought to diminish in importance as the personality becomes

more developed after puberty

Through our ego/I, we are able to transform the temperament

Role of childhood fever

Fever as a process of removing epigenetic methylation tags on DNA

Temperaments may have a less developed and more developed form

Introspective/sensitive melancholic may be sullen and self-absorbed, but can become a deep thinker or

sympathetic healer

Ego/I Organization

Capacity for self-reflection andfree will

Human spirit

Astral Organization

Basis of affect, consciousness, andpersonality

Anthroposophical Medicine:Based on the AnthroposophicalView of the Human Being

Animal-sentient soul

Etheric/Life Organization

Organizing principle governing growth and reproduction

Plant-vegetative soul

Physical Organization

Mineral body

Ego/I Organization

Intuitional perception

Poetic thinkingSpirit archetypes

Astral Organization

Inspirational perception

Musical thinking

Modes of PerceptionThe 4 Bodies are only visible to supersensory perception

Perceiving patterns in feeling


Imaginative perception

Sculptural thinkingPerceiving patterns-processes in time, gestures

(Polarities: damp/dry, hot/cold, etc.)


Sensory perception

Mechanical thinkingPerceiving substances-energy and patterns in space

Intellect/analysis


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Physical OrganizationMineral body

Earth

Part of human being visible directly t o the senses

Physical structure

Anatomy, the corpse

Determined by genetics

Physical constitution

Mineral types

Silica, phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, etc.

Etheric-Life

OrganizationVegetable body or soul

Water

Chinese jing or po spirit

Vital body: seat of the vital forces

Organizing principle directing growth and regeneration

Regeneration, anabolism, reproduction, growth, stem cells

Functional body: biochemistry, physiology

Role of epigenetics?

Manifests through glandular secretions

Growth factors

Lymph

Interstitial fluids

Astral

OrganizationAnimal-sentient soul

Air or gas, pneuma

Associated with inner light

Qi and Chinese hun soul

ream o y, emotona o y, anma sou

Level of personality, psychology

Instincts,likes-dislikes

Subconscious mind

Works through the nervous system & endocrine system

Nervous system as carrier of information

Shapes the etheric body into organs

Has a catabolic relationship with the etheric body

Consumes the plant body in order to establish higher consciousness

Basis of toxemia (?)


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Ego/I

OrganizationHuman spirit

Fire, warmth

Chinese shen

eve o umanty

Self-awareness,intention, creativity, moral thinking

Allows us to overcome our animal-like instincts, faults, limitations

Cultivation of the I-body leads to intuition

Allows us to perceive the spirit world directly

Spiritual beings, archetypes

Centered in the blood

Immune system

Self vs. non-self

Ego/I Organization

Human spirit

Shen

Astral Organization


Hun Spirit

Anthroposophical Medicine and the Human BeingRelationship to Chinese Medicine

HeavenSpirit World

Yang

Qi



Po Spirit

Jing


Mineral body

Corpse

EarthPhysical World

Yin

Ego/I Organization

Human spirit

Zodiac

Sun

Astral Organization


5 Planets

The Cosmic Human Being

HeavenSpirit World

Yang

Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury



Moon


Earth

EarthPhysical World

Yin


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The Geocentric Universe ModelA Cosmological Map of the Human Being?

The ChakrasOrgans of the Astral Body

Seat of neuro-endocrine processesPineal

Pituitary

Thyroid

Thymus

Pancreas

Gonads

Adrenals


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Ego Body

Astral Body

The Waking State

Ego Body

Astral Body

The Sleeping State

Etheric Body

Physical Body

EthericBody

PhysicalBody

Ego/I Body

Spirit Purpose

Astral Body

Personality

Determined by Karma

Obtained from our

previous lifetimes

The Origin of the Four Bodies in Anthroposophy

Etheric/Life Body

Epigenetics

Basis of the Temperament

Physical Body

Genetics

Physical Constitution

Obtained

from our

parents and

ancestors

I

Ego Body

21-28 years

Astral Body

Puberty (~14 years) 21 years

Development of the Four Bodies

Etheric/Life Body

Change of teeth (~7 years) Puberty (~14 years)

Physical Body

Birth change of teeth (~7 years)


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Ego/I Body

Immune System

Blood

Astral Body

Neuro-endocrine System

Neurotransmitters,hormones

A Modern Interpretation of the Four Bodies?

Etheric/Life Body

Metabolism

Growth factors, interstitial fluids

Physical Body

I

Ego Organization

Death

Astral Organization

Disease

Heath and Illness

Etheric Organization

Health


Nourishment

ArterialBlood-Immune

Cytokines

Hormones

Electrolytes

Connective

A Map of Cellular

Terrain

Capillaries

Cell TissueExtracellular

Matrix

VenousBlood -Lymph

Tissuemetabolism &

drainage

Neuro-transmitters

Autonomic

Nerves

Lymphatic

Vessels

Interstitial

Fluid


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I

Ego Body

Minerals

Gemstones

Astral Body

Metals

PlantRemedies

Treatment Using the Kingdoms of Nature

Plant families

Etheric/Life Body

AnimalRemediesGlandulars, hormones

Physical Body

HumanRemediesOrgan transplants

Warmth

EtherShapes warmth

LifeLight

The Etheric BodySteiner spoke of the 4 ethers,

which carry the life activities in

the etheric body

EthericEther

Shapes the solid

Chemical-

Tone

EtherShapes water

Music

Magnetism

EtherShapes air/gas

Color-light

Electricity

Body

A map of thevital forces?

Warmth

EtherCentered in the

Heart-Circulation

& Blood

Life


Light


The Etheric BodyIn Anthroposophy, the 4 Ethers

are Associated with the 4

Primary Organs

Lungs &

Respiratory

System

Chemical-Tone


Liver-Metabolic &

Endocrine Systems

Kidneys & Nervous

System


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Life Ether

Chemical-Tone Ether

Light Ether

Etheric BodyEtheric World

Astral BodyAstral-Planetary World

The Moon

Fire

Air

Water

Earth

Ether

Physical BodyPhysical-sensory World

The Four Ethers in the Realm of Plants

Light Ether

Warmth EtherPollen, fruit

Carried by salamandersVolatile oils

Life EtherRoots

Species memory

Carried by gnomesStarch

Chemical-Tone EtherLeaves, stem, sap

Carried by undinesCarbohydrates, glycosides, chlorophyll

Blossoms

Carried by fairies/sylphsPhenolic compounds

Flavonoids

Alkaloids

The Four Ethers in the Animal Realm

Chemical-Tone Ether

Light EtherAstral ForcesPlanetary Forces

Warmth EtherSun-Zodiac

Light

Ether

Warmth EtherSun-Zodiac

Nervous System

Organs

Life

Ether

Plants

Chemical-ToneEther

Life Ether

AnimalsGastrulationInternalization of astral forces

Basis of organ-nervous system formation


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The Four Ethers in the Human Realm

WarmthEther

Light Ether

Chemical-Tone Ether

Life Ether

Temperaments&

Choleric

Warmth ether

Heart

Melancholic

Life ether

Sanguine

Li ht ether

Organs

Lung

Phlegmatic

Tone ether

Liver

Kidney

The Light EtherCan be further subdivided into the colors

Neurotransmitters as carriers of color processes in the soul life?

SerotoninCoolingStimulate parasympathetics

PEA (?)

Dopamine

Norepinephrine

Epinephrine

GABA

Glycine

AcetylcholineGlutamate

Warming

Stimulate sympathetics

22575552 an introduction to the temperaments

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