According to Hippocrates we all fall into four major groups or categories characterised by certain physical attributes, behavioural activities and mental attitudes which became collectively known as the Hippocratic temperaments.
We all know Doctors take the Hippocratic oath which promotes high ethics and moral standards as required by healers when working with their fellow man. Hippocrates was a Doctor who passed in 377BC and during his life time he studied a great many people, he taught and wrote about many things relating to healing, he used plants and herbs extensively and was known for his regard for the body as a whole rather than lots of individual parts.
In his teachings he spoke about finding the 'root' cause of ailments rather than just dealing only with symptoms and he is therefore regarded as one of the first teachers of holistic healing.
When you look at the charts below, remember you will probably cross over two or more temperaments but there will be one that you have more characteristics in.
Characteristics
| Characteristic |
Phlegmatic Lymphatic |
Nervous Melancholic |
Sanguine |
Bilious Choleric |
| Features |
Round-shaped Flabby |
Angular Frail |
Round-shaped firm |
Massive Angular |
| Walk |
Short slow steps |
Short quick steps |
Long quick steps |
Long slow steps |
| Gestures |
Rare slow |
Quick ceaseless |
Wide numerous quick |
Wide vigorous |
| Muscles |
No definition |
Frail knotted |
Wde tough Well shaped |
Long hard Well shaped |
| Speech |
Slow |
Quick jerky |
Quick easy |
Assertive |
| Face |
Pear shaped |
Triangular |
Oval |
Rectangular |
| Complexion |
White |
Yellowish |
Reddish |
Matt |
| Skin |
Cold wet |
Dry cold |
Warm wet |
Dry warm |
| Eyebrows |
Sparse |
Sparse |
Abundant |
Abundant |
| Look |
Expressionless |
Unfixed Deepset eyes |
Laughing welcoming |
Dominating hard |
| Lips |
Full white |
Thin |
Full red |
Straight |
| Chin |
Double |
Thin narrow |
Full strong |
Wide |
| Hands |
Large flabby |
Triangular thin |
Hexagonal firm wide |
Rectangular hard |
| Nose |
Square |
Thin pointed |
Straight up turned |
Square |
| Reaction in crisis |
Sleep |
Eat |
Philosophise |
Drink alcohol |
Temperaments
|
Phlegmatic Lymphatic |
Nervous Melancholic |
Sanguine |
Bilious Choleric |
| Main traits |
Calm, sedentary, peaceful, regular Likes tranquility, doing nothing or slow repetitive work |
Sensitive, emotive, curious, subtle, solitary. Prefers mental activity |
Vigorous, optimistic. Full of imagination, eloquent, concilitory. Likes contact [all forms]. Likes travel and fresh air |
Energy, will, activity. Likes to give orders, be at the head, take responsibility and to be productive. Likes physical and psychological effort |
| Qualities |
Patient, calm, reliable, resistant, lazy, boring Dreamer, prone to repetitive tasks |
Impressionable, intuitive, irregular, inconsistent, difficulties in adapting, honest, scrupulous. Easily agitated and anxious |
Aesthetic, quick joyful. Exaggerates and can be morally feeble. Content with themselves. Welcoming and complacent |
Strong, radiating, charismatic, proud, prone to anger, stubborn, authoritarian, violent. Natural organiser. Can become sectarian |
|
Physiological weaknesses
|
Digestive system. Fluid retention. Endocrine system |
Fragile nervous system. Infectious problems. Chronic infection can invade skeletal system |
Heart, arteries, lungs. If deprived of fresh air can become nervous type |
Liver. Gall Bladder. Osteo/muscular problems. Alway overdoing things. Possible candidate for nervous breakdown |
| Environmental needs |
Natural inclination to water. Needs stimulating surroundings with physical and mental activities |
Natural inclination mental activity and change. Needs optimistic, calm surroundings and media. Fresh air and physical exercise |
Natural inclination fresh air and travel. Needs a quiet, calm affectionate atmosphere. Physical and intellectual activities in the open air. |
Natural inclination movement. Needs walking, physical activity, extroverted media, air. Tend to deprive themselves of fresh air |
| Appropriate management |
Needs to be treated with assertiveness and authority but also with gentleness |
By argument. Need to have their imagination activated |
Diplomacy, understanding, flattery, subtleness, care and love. They are receptive to competition |
Must not be hurried or rushed. Needs to be flattered and given patience |
Owl on a branch