Theory of the Four Humors

Overview

• Ancient medical idea crucial in medieval times and beyond.
• Based on Greek philosophers, especially Aristotle and Hippocrates.
• Used for diagnosing illnesses and suggesting treatments.

Components of the Theory

• Four Humors:
  • Blood
  • Phlegm
  • Black Bile
  • Yellow Bile
• Correspondence: Linked to the four elements and seasons.

Balance and Health

• A well-balanced mix of humors = good health.
• Imbalance leads to illness.
• Beliefs also tied personality traits to humor balance.

Seasonal Illnesses

• Certain illnesses prevalent in specific seasons.
• Example: Colds are common in winter/spring, thought to be due to phlegm imbalance.

Treatment Examples

• Cold Symptoms:
  • Symptoms: Shivers, phlegm.
  • Treatment: Extract phlegm (e.g., blowing nose, breathing in vapors).
• Rash and Fever:
  • Symptoms: High temperature, redness.
  • Treatment: Bleeding to reduce excess blood.
• Constipation:
  • Cause: Too little black bile.
  • Treatment: Laxative foods to induce diarrhea.

Historical Significance

• Progress:
  • Marked a rational approach to understanding illness, despite being incorrect.
• Continuity:
  • Survived into medieval times and influenced treatments for centuries.
• Challenges:
  • Faced scrutiny during the Renaissance but persisted until the 19th century.

Final Thoughts

• Four humors: blood, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile.
• Illness linked to humor imbalance; theory was incorrect but rational.
• Treatments focused on symptoms, not root causes.
• Some preventive measures were common sense while others, like bleeding, could be harmful.
• Theory of the four humors remained influential for centuries.