Humorism, the humoral theory, was a system of medicine detailing a supposed makeup and workings of the human body, adopted by Ancient Greek and Roman physicians and philosophers.
The humoral theory asserts that the human body consists of four fluids which represent the cardinal fluids. The cardinal fluids are blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. Each humor is associated with a different organ and season.
The theory of the 4 humors
Hippocrates — an Ancient Greek physician who lived in the fifth century before the common era and was one of the most important figures in the history of medicine — practiced medicine according to the theory of the four humors, or “humoral theory.”
This theory posited that there were four key humors, or liquids, in the human body and that imbalances in these humors were responsible for many physical and mental illnesses.
According to the most influential version of this theory, these humors were: black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood.
In the second century before the common era, Galen — a famous Roman physician who also subscribed to the humoral theory — promoted arteriotomy, a bloodletting method, as a means of reestablishing the balance of the four humors and treating a variety of symptoms.
According to Galen, a bloodletting incision into the veins behind the ears could treat vertigo and headaches, and letting blood flow out through an incision in the temporal arteries — the veins found on the temples — could treat eye conditions.
The principle behind bloodletting is to remove some blood in a controlled way so that the patient does not end up bleeding profusely.
According to the theory of the four humors, the substances that make up the human body are: black bile, yellow bile, blood, and phlegm. Hippocrates linked each of these humors to an element in the universe and atmospheric conditions:
Black bile: related to earth, with cold and dry properties.
Yellow bile: related to fire, with dry and warm properties.
Blood: related to air, with moist and warm qualities.
Phlegm: related to water, with moist and cold qualities.
The humors and personality
Hippocrates and his followers never saw disease as a solely organic matter. They believed that the mind and the body were a single entity. As such, during disease, the mind had certain effects on the physical body and vice versa.
Members of the Peripatetic school added another idea to the theory of the four humors. They postulated that an excess of one of the humors brought about a specific temperament in people. Later on, Galen elaborated on this. He stated that a lack of balance between the four humors affected people’s way of acting, feeling, and thinking.ended up outlining the existence of four temperaments:
Melancholic: In these people, black bile predominates. They have a melancholic temperament, are very sensitive, and enjoy artistic pursuits.
Choleric: People in this category have a higher amount of yellow bile, which is the source of their passionate temperament. They have enormous vitality and get angry quickly.
Sanguine: Blood is the predominant humor in these people. They’re confident, joyful, optimistic, expressive, and sociable.
Phlegmatic: The phlegmatic have a high amount of phlegm in their systems. They’re deep thinkers, fair, calm, willing to compromise, and hard workers.
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