assess-holistic-health

Assess Holistic Health

Evaluate health through Hildegard von Bingen's temperament system from Causae et Curae, assessing the four temperaments, elemental balance, and providing dietary and lifestyle recommendations.

When to Use

• You want to understand your constitutional type (temperament) in Hildegardian terms
• You are experiencing imbalance (fatigue, irritability, digestive issues, mental fog) and need holistic guidance
• You need dietary recommendations based on temperament
• You are integrating Hildegard's health principles into a wellness practice
• You want to understand the relationship between temperament, elements, and health
• You are researching medieval humoral medicine

Inputs

• Required: Current symptoms or health concerns (physical, mental, emotional)
• Required: Responses to temperament assessment questions (constitution, habits, preferences)
• Optional: Age, sex, and general health history (for context)
• Optional: Current season (for seasonal adjustment recommendations)
• Optional: Existing dietary restrictions or preferences
• Optional: Known temperament from previous assessment

Procedure

Step 1: Temperament Assessment

Determine the dominant temperament through observation and structured questions.

The Four Temperaments in Causae et Curae:
┌──────────────┬──────────┬────────────┬─────────────┬──────────────┐
│ Temperament  │ Element  │ Qualities  │ Physiology  │ Psychology   │
├──────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────────────┼──────────────┤
│ SANGUINE     │ Air      │ Hot, Moist │ Ruddy face, │ Cheerful,    │
│              │          │            │ plump build,│ sociable,    │
│              │          │            │ good sleep  │ optimistic   │
├──────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────────────┼──────────────┤
│ CHOLERIC     │ Fire     │ Hot, Dry   │ Lean, wiry, │ Ambitious,   │
│              │          │            │ quick pulse,│ irritable,   │
│              │          │            │ warm skin   │ decisive     │
├──────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────────────┼──────────────┤
│ MELANCHOLIC  │ Earth    │ Cold, Dry  │ Thin, dark  │ Analytical,  │
│              │          │            │ features,   │ introspective│
│              │          │            │ slow pulse  │ prone to fear│
├──────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────────────┼──────────────┤
│ PHLEGMATIC   │ Water    │ Cold, Moist│ Pale, soft  │ Calm, slow,  │
│              │          │            │ skin, heavy │ apathetic,   │
│              │          │            │ build       │ easygoing    │
└──────────────┴──────────┴────────────┴─────────────┴──────────────┘

Assessment Questions (score 0-3 per statement: 0=never, 1=rarely, 2=often, 3=always):

SANGUINE (Air):
[ ] I am naturally optimistic and sociable
[ ] I have a ruddy complexion and rarely feel cold
[ ] I sleep well and wake refreshed
[ ] I enjoy variety and new experiences
[ ] I gain weight easily but can also lose it
TOTAL: ___/15

CHOLERIC (Fire):
[ ] I am driven, goal-oriented, and impatient with delays
[ ] I have a lean build and high metabolism
[ ] I run warm and prefer cool environments
[ ] I make quick decisions and am often irritated by slowness
[ ] I have strong digestion and rarely feel cold
TOTAL: ___/15

MELANCHOLIC (Earth):
[ ] I am introspective, analytical, and prone to worry
[ ] I have a thin frame and struggle to gain weight
[ ] I feel cold easily and prefer warm environments
[ ] I am detail-oriented and perfectionistic
[ ] I have irregular digestion (constipation or sluggishness)
TOTAL: ___/15

PHLEGMATIC (Water):
[ ] I am calm, easygoing, and avoid conflict
[ ] I have a soft, pale complexion and retain water easily
[ ] I sleep long hours and still feel tired
[ ] I move slowly and prefer routine
[ ] I have slow digestion and feel heavy after meals
TOTAL: ___/15

Scoring:
- Dominant: Highest score (usually 9-15)
- Secondary: Second highest (usually 6-9)
- Most people are a blend of 1-2 temperaments
- Scores within 2-3 points indicate balanced type (rare)