The Elizabethan Psychology - the four humours
Basic information
relation between the humours
- Embracement of ancient Greek and Roman beliefs, myths and culture in Elizabethan era
- now discredited medical theory:
body consists of 4 humours
- blood, bile (Galle), black bile, yellow bile, phlegm (Schleim)
- all 4 humours in balance healthy
- fluids wax and wane in the body depending on diet and activity
- surplus or deficit (imbalance) affects physical health, personality & character either positively or negatively
medical treatment
humour = 1. " bodily fluids"
2. "mood/state of mind/emotional condition"
- all diseases and disabilities supposedly resulted from imbalances, having a negative influence
- treatments aimed on restoring balance through controlled expulsion of fluids like blood or vomit
- the main medical treatment used herbes
e.g. head afflictions : sweet-smelling herbs (rose, lavender)
bloodletting
the theory was closely related to the theory of the four elements: earth, fire, water and air
fluid
temperature
element
s
u
r
p
l
u
s
o
f
effect
season
Black Bile Cold and Dry Too much earth Melancholic Autumn
Blood Hot and Moist Too much air Sanguine Sping
Phlegm Cold and Moist Too much water Phlegmatic Winter Yellow Bile Hot and Dry Too much fire Choleric Summer