The Four Humours

• What is the theory of the four humors?

  An ancient medical idea about bodily fluids
• Who primarily developed the theory of the four humors?

  Hippocrates, a Greek doctor
• How did Hippocrates use the theory of the four humors?

  To diagnose illnesses and suggest treatments
• What are the four humors according to the theory?

  Blood, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile
• How are the four humors linked to elements and seasons?

  Each humor corresponds to an element and season
• What happens when the humors are imbalanced?

  A person becomes unwell
• How did the ancient Greeks explain seasonal illnesses?

  By linking them to humor imbalances
• What symptoms might indicate too much phlegm?

  Shivers, phlegm, and snot
• What treatment would the Greeks suggest for too much phlegm?

  Blowing the nose or inhaling vapors
• What symptoms might indicate too much blood?

  Rash and high temperature
• What treatment would the Greeks suggest for too much blood?

  Bleeding the patient
• What symptoms might indicate too little black bile?

  Constipation
• What treatment would the Greeks suggest for too little black bile?

  Eating laxative foods
• What does the theory of the four humors represent in the context of medical history?

  • Progress in ancient Greek medicine
  • Continuity in medieval medical practices
  • Lasted until the 19th century
• How did the theory of the four humors attempt to explain illness?

  Without relying on supernatural ideas
• What was a common treatment based on the four humors that persisted into the 19th century?

  Bleeding patients regularly
• What was a misconception about bleeding patients?

  It was thought to be beneficial for health
• What are the key points about the four humors theory?

  • Four humors: blood, black bile, yellow bile, phlegm
  • Illness results from humor imbalances
  • Rational explanation, but ultimately incorrect
  • Treatments focused on symptoms, not causes
  • Some practices were harmful