The Relationship between Mizaj and its indices in Persian medicine

Abstract

Background: As personalized medicine is developing, similar concepts in Persian medicine need standardization. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the correlation of ten criteria of Mizaj assessment with Mizaj determined by experts. Methods: In this cross-sectional methodological research, 74 medical student volunteers were examined by ten expert raters. The agreement between every ten indices and total Mizaj were assessed with the Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r) and weighted by the Kappa coefficient (wk). Results: Among ten indices, the largest agreement was observed amongst indices of psychic function, impressibility, physical function and physique with total warm or cold Mizaj and thus amongst indices of muscle and fat mass, touch, and physique with total wet or dry Mizaj, respectively (k ≥ 0.4). Conclusions: The four mentioned indices in assessing warmness-coldness and three in wetness-dryness are major criteria. Other indices, such as hair condition, skin color, quality of waste matter (stool, urine, and sweat), and sleep/wakefulness have a minor effect in Mizaj identification.