Theory of the Four Humors

Overview

• Important ancient medical idea
• Influential during the medieval period and beyond

Origins

• Based on ideas from Greek philosophers, notably Aristotle
• Utilized by Hippocrates, a Greek doctor, for diagnosing illnesses and suggesting treatments

The Four Humors

• Theory states that the body is composed of four liquids (humors):
  • Blood
  • Phlegm
  • Black Bile
  • Yellow Bile

Link to Elements and Seasons

• Each humor is linked to one of the four elements and seasons
  • Blood - warm and moist
  • Phlegm - cold and moist
  • Black Bile - cold and dry
  • Yellow Bile - warm and dry

Health and Illness

• Balance of humors believed to maintain health
• Imbalance leads to illness and personality changes
• Illnesses thought to be more common during specific seasons

Example Symptoms and Treatments

1. Cold:
   • Symptoms: Shivers, phlegm
   • Cause: Too much phlegm
   • Treatment: Extract phlegm (e.g. blowing nose)
2. Rash and Fever:
   • Symptoms: Redness, high temperature
   • Cause: Too much blood
   • Treatment: Bleeding to restore balance
3. Constipation:
   • Symptoms: Inability to go
   • Cause: Too little black bile
   • Treatment: Laxatives to induce diarrhea

Importance of the Theory

• Progress or Continuity:
  • Represents progress as a scientific explanation for illness
  • Continuity in medieval times with long-lasting treatments based on the theory
  • Treatments such as bleeding persisted until the Renaissance and into the 19th century

Final Points

• The four humors were believed to cause illness due to imbalances
• The theory is incorrect but provided a rational explanation for illness
• Treatments focused on symptoms rather than the disease's cause
• Some preventative methods were based on common sense, while others, like bleeding, were potentially harmful
• The four humors remained a widespread belief for centuries

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