The Four Humors: Historical Theory of Health & Personality

Ancient Greek medicine believed health and temperament were governed by four bodily fluids (humors), each linked to an element, season, organ, and personality traits:

• Blood (Air, Spring, Heart/Liver): Energy, vitality, optimism
• Phlegm (Water, Winter, Brain): Calmness, intelligence, lethargy
• Yellow Bile (Fire, Summer, Liver): Anger, passion, ambition
• Black Bile (Earth, Autumn, Spleen): Sadness, melancholy, pensiveness

Balance among the humors was thought essential for health; imbalance caused disease. This theory influenced medicine for centuries.