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Exploring the Four Humours in Ancient Medicine

Discover the fascinating ancient concept of the Four Humours, a theory evaluating personality traits based on bodily fluids. Learn about the Sanguine, Choleric, Phlegmatic, and Melancholic temperaments and the balance needed for health. Explore treatments involving diet, medication, and surgery in the context of the humoral theory.

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Exploring the Four Humours in Ancient Medicine

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  1. The Four Humours Kristin Pomeroy

  2. The Choleric, the Sanguine, the Phlegmatic, and the Melancholic

  3. The Four Humours • There must be a balance between the 4 elemental fluids and the state of health (including state of mind) • Blood • Yellow Bile • Phlegm • Black Bile Kristin Pomeroy

  4. The Four Humours • The 4 basic fluids were closely related to the 4 elements • Air • Fire • Water • Earth Kristin Pomeroy

  5. The Sanguine • Blood • Air • Hot and moist • Amorous, happy, and generous Kristin Pomeroy

  6. The Choleric • Yellow bile • Fire • Hot and dry • Violent and vengeful Kristin Pomeroy

  7. The Phlegmatic • Phlegm • Water • Cold and Moist • Dull, pale, and cowardly Kristin Pomeroy

  8. The Melancholic • Black bile • Earth • Hot and dry • Gluttonous, lazy, and sentimental Kristin Pomeroy

  9. The Four Humours • The humours would give off vapors which would go to the brain • This affected the individual’s characteristics (physical, mental, and moral) which could then be understood as one of the 4 humours prevailing over the others Kristin Pomeroy

  10. Treatment • Religious • Prayer • Relics • Shrines • Secular • Diet • Medication • Surgery Kristin Pomeroy

  11. Diet • Good diet could ensure health • Food could either cause disease or prevent it • Effect on balance of humours • Prevention better than cure • Surgery used as a last resort, painful Kristin Pomeroy

  12. Medication • Herbs, plants, animals, and minerals • Cure by contraries • Cold medicine for hot disease • Bleeding • Helped relieve symptoms • Cupping Kristin Pomeroy

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