The concept of 'Temperament' is the backbone of the Unani science of treatment. According to this principle of science, there are seven forces of nature called 'umur-e-tabiiya' to control the body -

(1) Arkan or elements
(2) Aaza or organs
(3) Quwa or energies
(4) Mizaj or temperament
(5) Arwah or spirits
(6) Akhlat or humours
(7) Afal or functions .
The disharmony in the equilibrium of any or all these causes disease.

The 'Temperament' itself has been classified in two categories, simple and compound. Besides this, there is a balanced composition of all these temperaments called 'moderate' or 'temperate' temperament.

Thus, while Unani is lacking in the number of elements as compared to Ayurvedic and Chinese philosophy, the four elements, the four humours and the four basic temperaments are strictly in consonance with each other. But a remarkable distinction in the Uunani philosophy viz-a-viz Ayurvedic and Chinese philosophy is that it does not recognize 'Wind' as a humour, whereas the latter two very significantly believe so. It may not be overlooked that 'Wind' is the cause of many a disease, and a number of edible products and undigested food also create 'Wind' in the stomach and intestines. Wind creating eatables are also prescribed to patients when movement is required to any still body. The reason for this, ostensibly, is that 'Wind' or air as an element and as the quality or 'temperament', already exists in a body and is also found with the same quality or temperament in many edible things.