Temperament [Mizaj] and blood groups of donors and recipients and their importance in blood transfusion

ABSTRACT

Blood groups are checked before transfusion to avoid agglutination caused due to the interaction of agglutinogen present in the red cells [khilt-e-dam] of donor and agglutinin present in the plasma of recipient or vice versa. On the basis of agglutinogens present in the red cells, human beings are divided into groups, A, B, AB and O. Unani medical science is based on the concept of four Akhlat [Humours] which remain intermixed in the blood as their name suggests. Each dominating humour in the blood constitutes a particular temperament and accordingly all individuals are divided into four humoural temperaments, sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric and melancholic. Concluded, blood of all persons are not similar but differ according to temperaments. Observations revealed that in several recipients even after transfusion of compatible blood, jaundice occurred due to haemolysis. This is indicative of incompatibility of temperament of recipient and donor. In this paper it is emphasised that besides blood groups, temperaments of donors and recipients must also be checked before transfusion and be similar, to avoid ill-effects