When your body is out of balance, you might sense a subtle energy shift in your behavior and emotions. According to Unani Tibb, this happens pretty much by default as the two are very closely connected. When there is irritation or inflammation in our bodies, we tend to feel more irritated and frustrated emotionally as well.

Take this as an example - women feeling irritable before their periods due to hormonal imbalances. Due to the physical imbalance in their body, their emotions also become imbalanced. (I can surely attest to this). Yet, this isn't exclusive to women; both men and women, when sleep-deprived, pre-diabetic, or dealing with skin irritations, may find themselves prone to lashing out. Similarly, those with a sluggish digestive system often tend to have a more sluggishness in their workflow.

The significance of maintaining our physical health becomes evident not only for our well-being but also for the sake of the loved ones with whom we share our lives, especially if the aspiration is a life filled with peace.

So, where does one start? The answer is simple. Building good health is like building a house – it all starts with the foundation. According to the wisdom of Unani Tibb, this foundation is represented by Unani. Check out my blog post on the four temperaments [link: https://unanireads.com/the-four-temperaments/] to learn more about each one and discover your temperament.

This article aims to guide those with a phlegmatic temperament, to enhance their well-being through holistic wellness tips, inspired by Unani Tibb's timeless wisdom. So if you are phleg, this article, you will have to read 😸.

Phlegmatic Types

Phlegmatics are characterized by being cold and moist individuals, a description rooted in a more traditional understanding of physiological traits. While this might seem old-fashioned at first glance, don't be quick to dismiss it. The simplicity and abstraction of this perspective turn out to be powerful tools for grasping complex phenomena, especially when it comes to understanding our bodies and how to care for them.

In a state of balance, where their coldness and moisture align harmoniously, phlegmatics tend to be amazingly stoic, adaptable, consistent, and skillful at navigating conflicts with a steady hand of resolution. On the contrary, when their balance is disrupted, they may experience emotional turmoil, struggle to assert themselves, and tend towards withdrawal and consistent sadness.

As outlandish as it may sound to our modern minds, these emotional and behavioral challenges can be remedied with tangible, physical interventions, such as elevating the body's warmth through the inclusion of ginger! This is just one example. This is also the Art of Traditional Medicines like Unani Tibb.

Interested? Let's begin!

#1 - Fix Your Morning Routine

A good place to start when elevating your life (because, trust me this is going help you live better) is by starting with your morning routine. The reason for this is because the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day.

As a phlegmatic, your digestion will naturally be a little slower and your morning might also be a little slower.

Eating in the morning - Not only does it kickstart your digestion earlier, but it also has a warming and stimulating effect on the body. (If you have blood sugar disturbances then this might not be the case and would need to tailor your lifestyle further with a trained Unani Physician).

It is hence, important you eat a nurturing protein-rich breakfast, as a stable energy source and digestion kickstrater. (Be sure to read my other blog on breakfast ideas to curate the best breakfast to start your morning).

Gentle Movement - You need to heat your body gently in the morning with gentle movements. Once you wake up, walk around your house for a couple of minutes, water the plants, stretch your back, or even do some light chores. The physical movement will also heat your body, making you more awake for the day.

These two habits are small but crucial. They will prevent toxic sludge from forming in your body and allow you to feel more awake for the day. Remember, Unani Tibb is truly a Lifestyle medicine.

#2 - Eat for YOU!

It's crucial that you eat according to your temperament to prevent excessive production of cold and moist fluid, one of the most notable types being mucus.

An overload of mucus often leads to a weakened immune system, nasal congestion, PCOS, etc. Emotionally and Behaviourly they will also make you more abnormally phlegmatic. Remember, being phlegmatic is not the issue, it's when there is an excess that the symptoms occur and how do you know if there is an excess? By the symptoms.

Moreover, the type of food you eat will produce more of that quality in you. For example, if you eat more cold foods, you will become more cold. If you eat hot foods, you will become more hot. It's a very simple, but profoundly impactful way of looking at Nutrition and Food Psychology. (Be sure to look at my other blog posts to find more details regarding this topic).

When there is an imbalance in the body, your bodily functions will be compromised. Individuals who become too cold and moist, tend to become lazy, lethargic, prone to colds and flu, and generally timid.

Stay away from:

• Iced drinks
• Ice cream
• Refrigerated drinks
• Cold/raw foods
• Mucus-producing foods such as cheeses and too much dairy.
• Sugary foods
• Excessive intake of carbohydrates.

#3 - Is Your Work, working for You?

Not looking to start a midlife crisis, but it's crucial to reflect on whether your current work is truly serving you. In my clinical experience, I often encounter individuals whose jobs not only fail to contribute to their well-being but actively induce stress and frustration.

As a phlegmatic, your thriving ground is peace and harmony. The cutthroat competitiveness of a choleric or the meticulous details that energize a melancholic might not resonate with you. In fact, they might be stress triggers rather than sources of enjoyment and bliss. Remember, these are broad traits, and every phlegmatic has unique nuances.

Now, the goal isn't necessarily to quit your job or abandon your current path. It's about aligning your work with the right goals for your well-being. Your work should ideally bring you a sense of joy and fulfillment.

Remember - a stressful work life will corrupt your phlegmatic energy. It will likely abnormally alter your temperament and peace of mind.

Solutions are in the questions so ask yourself. Is your work-related stress part of the process or part of the downhill? Are you working your particular job as a means to make others happy? Is there something you feel more inclined to do? How is your attitude towards your work/career?

#4 - Exercises and Movements

Exercise and any movement will have a drying effect on the body. Therefore it's crucial, as moist individuals such as phlegmatic to move. This is to stop moisture from building up and the feeling of lethargy and fatigue. You will often find that phlegmatic often feel more energized after regular exercise while cholerics who are constantly on the go, feel energised after regular breaks.

Getting into a regular workout routine is important. However, the emphasis should also be on making sure nature walks, swimming, and other activities where you are in the outdoors are a regular part of your life.

As a phlegmatic, you may be attracted to your opposite, campfires and sunbathing. You may alternatively be more comfortable diving into water, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Open fields are beneficial as they provide the cleanest air. Whatever it is find what suits you and make it a habit. These are refreshing and will no doubt positively impact your life in a sweet subtle manner.

#5 - Peace-Making vs People-Pleasing

This is a big one. It is always crucial to have a safety zone. A place where you can go to unwind. It is interesting that we need this place, from a psychological point of view, and even more that some need this place more than others.

Being able to walk around where your private self and the self you display to others are the same persona is golden because it will mean that you are generally less stressed. Putting up a front, though it is often seen as a cultural necessity, can be exhausting. As Phlegmatic individuals, and as natural peace-makers, it becomes far too often that they fall down the rabbit hole of constantly putting up a front to ensure peace.

It's not an unwise thing to do - it works and becomes vital many a time, to ensure peace. However, sometimes the line can be blurred. Instead of staying true to peace-making, phlegmatic (and not just phlegmatic) are left to people-pleasing. It comes from a place of insecurity, where there is internal chaos.

Amidst this, stress builds up and frustration lingers. The act of people pleasing often leads to not voicing your own authentic opinions, refraining from acting as you would, etc. This, if you think about it, requires a lot of mental thought and can lead to mental exhaustion.

When it comes to diagnosis, Unani Tibb practitioners often use emotions as tools to determine which of the four elements are imbalanced in an individual. Fear is a cold and moist emotion. When people are functioning with insecurity, there is an element of abnormal and/or excessive coldness and moisture in the body. This would need addressing and remedying. Because frankly, it's not a great way to live.

So how would one do that? Change your thought pattern. Address the root cause. They will only change through habit so stay consistent. Below are a few resources to help.
Boosting confidence and overcoming people-pleasing tendencies often involves personal development and self-help resources. Here are some recommended books that address these topics:

• "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brené Brown
• "You Are a Badass" by Jen Sincero
• "Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown
• "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz
• "Codependent No More" by Melody Beattie
• "Atomic Habits" by James Clear
• "The Confidence Code" by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman
• "No More Mr. Nice Guy" by Robert A. Glover
• "Assertiveness for Earth Angels" by Doreen Virtue
• "The Art of Saying No" by Damon Zahariades

Not much of a reader? Watch this.

#6 - No big meals before bed, SERIOUSLY.

Eating a big meal before bed is a significant way to gain weight and badly affects your digestive strength. It will reduce your quality of sleep unless you have been doing it for a year, which still in itself is poor eating habits. For phlegmatics in particular, it becomes even more troublesome because of their slower digestion.

The golden rule is to wait at least two hours after eating before you fall asleep. This gives time for most of the food to pass through the stomach. It is also not recommended to overeat as that strains the body too.

#7 - Oxymel

Oxymel is an equal blend of honey and vinegar. It is a widely used medicine in Unani Tibb. Physicians often use it to cleanse the internal body, especially when things build up and become "stogey". The vinegar is sharp and cuts through the plaques and build-up while the honey is warming and moist, creating the perfect environment for the toxins to flow out of the body. For phlegmatic, taking oxymel once or twice a week is very much recommended as it helps maintain a clean digestion. A clean digestion is always a faster digestion.

Note: the emphasis on fast and slow here is not to say that the faster the digestion, the better as even too fast of a digestion is unhealthy and leads to malabsorption. The emphasis here is to eliminate things getting stuck or trapped. It's often as if the food stops moving and remains in the GI tract, not being absorbed or utilized. This leads to fermentations and a plethora of problems. Therefore it becomes necessary to always help keep the GI tract clean and at a good paste.

#8 - Hot & Dry Perfumes

Next, we have heating and drying perfumes. Opposite to the phlegmatic temperments, these types of perfumes, through the sense of smell, have a subtle yet impactful effect on the body. Make sure the perfumes are natural and not artificial. Unani physicians would often give perfume alongside any herbal medicine to their patients because they understood the effect of smell.

List of Hot & Dry Scents:

• Frankenstein
• Lavender
• Myrrh
• Oud

#9 - Sauna

Saunas can offer unique benefits for individuals with a phlegmatic temperament. The heat generated in saunas helps to balance the excess moisture. They help them sweat out the moisture. This process can be uplifting, making them feel lighter and more warm.

Unani Physicans often worked with bathhouses, using baths, saunas, steam rooms, masseuses, etc to treat the body from the outside in. The Sauna, like an oven (hot & dry), is the perfect balance for the phlegmatics.

I hope this article was helpful. If you are phlegmatic, give these a try. They are small but genuinely help align oneself into a more balanced state. Remember, Unani Tibb is truly a Lifestyle Medicine.

Shifaa Khan