Skin Friction Coefficient As A Parameter For Temperament Assessment A Review

Abstract The highest level of organization is the organism the living human being. The organism level represents the sum total of all structural levels working together to promote life. According to Unani system of medicine structural levels composing human body are elements temperaments humors organs vital forces faculties and functions. They work cooperatively to promote well being of entire body. Virtually every of seven plays a role to understand human being but temperament provides a concept that helps us to make diagnosis and treatment. It has been explained by all Unani physicians and it is most important fundamental concept of Unani system of medicine. It defines disease as any alteration in normal temperament of the individual while maintenance of equilibrium of temperament is state of health. Thus temperament is very important concept of Unani medicine on which whole medicine relies maintenance of which is health and deviation from normal is disease. According to this system of medicine humans can be categorized into four groups according to their temperament in their healthy state. These temperament groups are sanguine hot and moist choleric hot and dry phlegmatic cold and moist and melancholic cold and dry. Almost all renowned Unani physicians have discussed the effective parameters to assess the temperament of individual though the number of these parameters may vary but touch is very important parameter discussed by almost all physicians and taken as first parameter by Ibne Sina. It includes skin roughness and smoothness along with other characteristics but till now it is only assessed by palpation of skin which is a qualitative method hence depends on skills of investigator. So there is need to develop accurate method to assess the temperament. Now a days friction coefficient of skin is most widely accepted which can assess roughness and smoothness of skin quantitatively. So it can be a good parameter to assess the temperament.