Theory of the Four Humors

Overview

• Significant ancient medical idea, crucial in the medieval period and beyond.
• Based on concepts from Greek philosophers, notably Aristotle.
• Utilized by Greek doctor Hippocrates for diagnosis and treatment of illnesses.

Key Components of the Theory

• The body is made up of four humors:
  • Blood
  • Phlegm
  • Black Bile
  • Yellow Bile
• Linked to the four elements and the seasons:
  • Blood → Spring
  • Phlegm → Winter
  • Black Bile → Autumn
  • Yellow Bile → Summer

Concept of Balance

• Health is achieved when the four humors are balanced.
• Imbalance (too much or too little of a humor) leads to illness.
• The theory also suggested links to personality traits.
• Illnesses correlated with seasons, e.g., colds in winter due to increased indoor time.

Examples of Diagnosis and Treatment

1. Cold Symptoms:

   • Symptoms: Shivers, phlegm, snot.
   • Cause: Excess phlegm.
   • Treatment: Blow nose, inhale vapors.

2. Rash and Fever:

   • Symptoms: Redness of skin, high temperature.
   • Cause: Excess blood.
   • Treatment: Bloodletting to restore balance.

3. Constipation:

   • Symptoms: Inability to defecate.
   • Cause: Insufficient black bile.
   • Treatment: Laxative foods to induce diarrhea.

Importance and Historical Context

• Progress: Represents a rational explanation for illness in ancient Greek times.
• Continuity: Survived into medieval times; treatments like bleeding persisted.
• Treatments began to be questioned in the Renaissance but continued into the 19th century.
• Bloodletting was so common that healthy individuals underwent it regularly.

Conclusion

• The four humors were:
  • Blood
  • Phlegm
  • Black Bile
  • Yellow Bile
• Illness arose from imbalances, with treatments primarily addressing symptoms.
• Although incorrect, the theory provided a long-standing framework for understanding disease.

Final Thoughts

• The four humors were a foundational idea in the history of medicine, influencing treatments for centuries.