Humoralism | An Ancient Concept

Humoralism was a foundational concept in ancient and medieval medicine. It originated in ancient Greece. The human body was believed to be composed of four primary fluids or humors.

Each humor was associated with specific qualities and elements:

Blood: Associated with the element of air, blood was considered warm and moist. It was believed to be produced by the liver and associated with qualities like cheerfulness and vitality.

Phlegm: Linked to the element of water, phlegm was thought to be cold and moist. It was produced by the brain and associated with qualities like calmness and sluggishness.

Black Bile: Associated with the earth element, black bile was believed to be cold and dry. It was thought to be produced by the spleen and associated with qualities like sadness and melancholy.

Yellow Bile: Linked to the fire element, yellow bile was considered warm and dry. It was believed to be produced by the liver and associated with qualities like anger and aggression.

Humoral theory posited that good health depended on maintaining a balance between these four humors. Illness was thought to arise from an imbalance or excess of one or more humors. Treatment often involved methods aimed at restoring balance, such as bloodletting, purging, dietary changes, and herbal remedies.

Although humoralism was eventually supplanted by more modern understandings of medicine and physiology, its influence persisted for centuries and shaped medical practices and beliefs in Europe and the Middle East. It also contributed to the development of diagnostic methods and treatments in medieval and early modern medicine.