A Review of Body Temperature from Avicenna to Modern Medicine

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Noor Persian Medicine Clinic (NPMC), Mehestan, Alborz, Iran

3 Canadian College of Integrative Medicine (CCIM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada

4 Department of History of Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

5 Scientific Student Association of History of Medicine, Pharmacy and Veterinary, Student Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

6 Research Office for the History of Persian Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

7 Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Department of Persian Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

10.30476/rhm.2024.101459.1187

Abstract

Maintaining a body core temperature within the range of 36.5 to 38.5°C is crucial for proper bodily functions. Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine emphasizes the role of temperament and humoral medicine, considering quadruple qualities including hotness, coldness, wetness, and dryness. This study delves into Avicenna’s viewpoints on body temperature, exploring the diagnostic and medical interventions based on Hekmat, an Islamic approach to humoral medicine. Avicenna’s work underscores the importance of innate heat (Hararat-e-gharizi) for maintaining life. The study compares different kinds of heat, distinguishing between innate heat essential for vitality and external factors leading to alien heat (Hararat-e-gharibeh) causing corruption/infection in the body. Avicenna’s insights align with modern thermoregulation concepts. The article discusses the role of core temperature in longevity, the impact of thyroid hormones, and the connection between body temperature and diseases. Avicenna’s emphasis on adhering to lifestyle rules and avoiding factors that diminish intrinsic heat echoes contemporary notions of health maintenance. Avicenna’s holistic approach to body temperature provides a unique perspective on health. Aligning traditional viewpoints with modern findings can contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between body temperature and well-being.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Research on History of Medicine
Volume 15, Issue 2
Special Issue on Unani/Persian Medicine
May 2026
Pages 115-126

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