- The Theory of the Four Humours was that four bodily fluids (humours) control physical and mental health, giving the Four Temperaments.
- This theory was believed by the ancient Greeks, the Ancient Romans, and during the Medieval period right up to the 1800’s, when it was finally disproved.
Theory of Humours
- Originally put forward by Empedocles of Akragas (c.492-432 BCE) and subsequently confirmed by Hippocrates of Cos (c.460-370 BCE).
- The Theory of Humours was that Four bodily fluids (Humours) control the physical and mental health of a person, giving the Four Temperaments.
- Hippocrates established a Procedure for healing Patients.
- Diagnosis:
- Defining which of the Humours was producing the patient’s illness.
- ‘Reading’ a Patient’s character:
- This was done by the Physician lightly placing his hands on the patient’s abdomen (stomach area), to check the balance of the Humours.
- Cure:
- Restoration of the equilibrium of the Humours. Herbs were central to this restoration of the equilibrium.
- Also purges and emetics. but this was not easy to achieve; other factors interfered, such as the patient’s sex, age, diet, the weather and the time of the year (winter or summer).
- A balanced diet:
- This was recommended with no eating or drinking to excess. Food was associated with each of the Four Humours, so foods and beverages associated with the opposite quality were given
- Applying the opposite quality:
- Fever and sweating were associated with being warm and moist, so the patient would be given substances associated with being cold and dry.
- Diagnosis:
- The Four Humours and the Four Temperaments:
- Blood
- Temperament: Sanguine.
- Too much courage, optimism and over amorous (over sanguine) due to an excess of blood in the system.
- Earth element: air
- Organ: liver
- Season: spring.
- It was believed blood dominated in the Spring and Summer causing sickness and vomiting.
- Quality: warm and moist
- Cure: bleeding.
- Temperament: Sanguine.
- Phlegm
- Temperament: Phlegmatic:
- Calm, unexcitable or unemotional people dominated by phlegm.
- Earth element: water
- Organ: brain and lungs
- Season: winter.
- It was thought to accumulate during the chilly winter causing sore throats and colds.
- Quality: cold and moist
- Temperament: Phlegmatic:
- Yellow Bile
- Temperament: Choleric:
- Excess yellow bile made a person easily angered and bad-tempered, yellow-faced, lean and hairy.
- Earth element: fire
- Organ: spleen
- Season: summer
- Quality: warm and dry
- Temperament: Choleric:
- Black Bile
- Temperament: Melancholic:
- An excess of black bile made a person gloomy, despondent, sleepless and irritable.
- Earth element: earth
- Organ: gall bladder
- Season: autumn
- Quality: cold and dry
- Cure: sweat out the black bile.
- Temperament: Melancholic:
- Blood