Temperament Typing Tip: More Insight Into the Phlegmatic

A lot of people get "hung up" by the fact that the "typical" phelgmatic is often described as fleshy, ample or even overweight. To set the record straight and help with typing:

I find that not all phlegmatics are big and fleshy. It depends on their environment as to whether that trait comes out or not. However, I have not often met a stick thin skinny phlegmatic – however, I have known many “normal” weight ones. I think being phlegmatic is also not so much about the weight itself being there all the time as to how and where your body gains weight. Usually in the phlegmatic the body gains weight in the abdominal area or “rear” area first and tends to be fleshy and soft when gaining weight instead of “heavy and muscular” or “heavyset and large” or “big boned”.

Student Excerpts: Panic Attacks

This is an excerpt from a student exam this week. The point she made about practicing these techniques before-hand is a very important point. It makes the difference between this method being effective and ineffective. It is often these "small details" (like how, when or how much to take of an herb or where to buy it) that can make the difference in natural healing. Be sure not to miss the small details. If you do, you or a client or friend or family member may be led to believe that natural healing does not work!

Excerpt:

3. Name two ways you can stop a panic attack

Do deep breathing. Deep diaphragmatic breathing and can be used during times when you are feeling anxious or panicky. It is a powerful way to control hyperventilation, slow a rapid heartbeat and promote physical comfort. For this reason we will call it the Calming Breath.

Here's how it goes: Take a long, slow breath in through your nose, first filling your lower lungs, then your upper lungs. Hold your breath to the count of "three." Exhale slowly through pursed lips, while you relax the muscles in your face, jaw,shoulders, and stomach. Practice this Calming Breath at least ten times a day for several weeks. Use it during times of transition, between projects or whenever you want to let go of tension and begin to experience a sense of calmness. This will help you become familiar and comfortable with the process. And use it any time you begin to feel anxiety or panic building. When you need a tool to help you calm down during panic, you will be more familiar and comfortable with the process.

Teacher Feedback: Asthma Attacks

This is some feedback I gave a student on his/her test this week. I wanted to share it with everyone as I felt it was an important point:

His/her answer:

2. Name two ways you can stop an asthma attack
1. You can apply pressure to the ling area with your palm.
2. Thyme and/or oregano oil rubbed on the chest can often stop asthma
attacks immediately

My response:

Very good! Also, we always want to remember the obvious – find the source and remove it. If it is an excercize induced attack, the person needs to rest. If it was induced by a smell then the person needs to be removed from that area.

Student Excerpts: Intuition by Avicenna

The following passage came from the homework of student, Ann Neadermann in Norway. I thought it was a wonderful description of Avicenna's views and intuition in general:

Ann Neaderman
Unit Four
Medicine of Avicenna

11. How does Avicenna define intuition? Do you think he believes in using it in healing a patient?

It receives the essences of universal things in so far as they are universal. The perfection of this power is to become an intellect in act. The first way is called reasoning, while the second is called intuition. Yet intuition can be very powerful or weak or mediocre.If the speculative intellect reaches this perfection by having present the first and derived intelligible principles, and these are there actually and in full view without being absent, then the derived principles are related to the first as "light upon light"; this is the acquired intellect, because it derives from both kinds of principles. The soul has mastery of intelligible principles and is able to recall them whenever it wants without effort or assistance, that power is called the intellect in act, and this is the "lamp" that it makes use of whenever it wants. You must know the difference between reasoning and intuition.