1. Medieval Medicine and The Four Humors

2. History of Medieval Medicine
Medieval medicine in Western Europe was made up of a mixture of medical ideas, religion, and superstition.
Before the Christian Church gained power, much of medieval medicine was based on magic and superstition.
Spells, incantations, prayer and herbal home remedies were the main source of treatment.

3. History con’t.
The practice of medicine became even more complicated as Christianity became the dominant religion.
Once the The Christian Church gained power, it wanted to replace the people’s beliefs in magical healing, with a stronger belief in God’s power.
The church explained illness
as punishment by God. Therefore,
prayer or repentance could heal.

4. Humorism & Medieval Medicine
The underlying theory in medieval medicine was that of The Humors (also spelled Humours).
The theory came more from ancient European writings than from the more correct theories of ancient Greek philosophers like Galen of Pergamum.

5. Humorism con’t.
Humorism stated that within every body there are four humors, or principle fluids, that control everything from a person’s health to his personality.
The belief was that a doctor could manipulate the health or personality of a patient by manipulating one or more of the four fluids.

6. Humorism con’t. The Humors are: Melancholic (black bile)
Phlegmatic (phlegm)
Sanguine (blood)
Choleric (yellow bile)
Each was believed to
have specific influences…

7. Melancholic
Melancholic, or black bile, was believed to reside in the spleen
It’s nature is classified as cold and dry
It’s natural element is Earth

8. Phlegmatic Phlegm, or spit, was believed to reside in the lungs
It’s nature is classified as cold and wet
It’s natural element is water

9. Sanguine Sanguine, or blood, was believed to reside in the head
It’s nature is classified as warm and wet
It’s natural element is Air

10. Choleric
Choleric, or yellow bile, was believed to reside in the Gall Bladder
It’s nature is classified as warm and dry
It’s natural element is Fire

11. Your Center This Week… Now it’s Quiz Time!!!
You will take the Four Humors Personality Quiz. Then, after you’ve received the results, write a well-developed paragraph stating whether you agree or disagree with the personality quiz and WHY.
Which Humor Are You?

12. If you are Melancholy, you are:
Thoughtful
Kind
Considerate
Emotional
Creative and Artistic
Loner
Perfectionist

13. If you are Phlegmatic, you are:
Self-content
Kind
Shy
Lazy
Relaxed
Rational
Observant
Compassionate

14. If you are Sanguine, you are:
Light-hearted
Fun
Spontaneous
Confident
Arrogant
Unpredictable
Self-indulgent

15. If you are Choleric, you are:
Ambitious
Energetic
Passionate
Dominant
Charismatic
Bad-tempered