More like it just faded away (out of silliness),
but you still hear references to it in literature ... and some old surgeons.
It has no scientific basis.
There were supposedly four humors (black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm). When someone was sick, the four humors must have been out of balance and to heal, the four humors had to be balanced again.
Galen built upon Hippocrates' theory of the four humors by incorporating his own observations and anatomical studies, emphasizing the role of the body's organs and their functions in relation to health. He introduced the concept of the "pneuma," or vital spirit, which connected the humors to the body's physiological processes. Additionally, Galen categorized the humors not only by their qualities (hot, cold, wet, dry) but also by their corresponding organs, thereby creating a more comprehensive understanding of how imbalances could affect health and disease. This integration of anatomy and physiology marked a significant advancement in medical theory.
No, Hippocrates did!
Hippocrates believed that the human body was controlled by four humors, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile and blood. Illnesses were caused by an imbalance of the humors.
The Theory of the Four Humors was primarily developed by ancient Greek physicians, notably Hippocrates and Galen, rather than the Romans themselves. However, the Romans embraced and expanded upon this theory, integrating it into their medical practices and philosophies. The humors—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile—were believed to correspond to bodily health and personality traits, influencing Roman medicine and daily life. Roman scholars preserved and disseminated these ideas, ensuring their influence persisted throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance.
Athena did not codify Hippocrates' ideas about humors; rather, Hippocrates, often referred to as the "Father of Medicine," developed the theory of the four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. This theory posited that an imbalance among these humors would affect a person's health and temperament. Athena, as a figure from Greek mythology representing wisdom and warfare, did not have a role in the development or codification of medical theories. Instead, Hippocratic texts and later physicians helped formalize and disseminate these ideas in ancient medicine.
The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates first popularize the theory that humors in the body contributed to the temperament of people. Melancholia was it was believed to be caused by an excess of black bile.
The four humors are a historical concept in ancient and medieval medicine, originating from Greek philosophy. They consist of blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile, each associated with specific temperaments and health conditions. The balance of these humors was believed to influence a person's physical and mental health, with an imbalance thought to result in illness. This theory was eventually replaced by modern medical understanding, but it laid the groundwork for later developments in psychology and medicine.
Black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood.
The theory of the four humors originated in ancient Greece, primarily attributed to Hippocrates and later expanded by Galen. It posited that human health and temperament were influenced by four bodily fluids: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. This theory became a foundational concept in medicine for centuries, influencing both diagnosis and treatment practices in various cultures.
The theory of humors, which posits that human health and temperament are influenced by four bodily fluids—blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile—can be traced back to ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. However, it was later expanded and popularized by Galen, a Roman physician in the 2nd century AD. This theory dominated medical thinking for centuries until the advent of modern medicine.