4humors

This theory was the basis of medical practice in Europe up to the 19^th century. The theory took root in ancient Greece and Rome. It was based on the idea that the human body consists of 4 elements (or humors). Illness is the result of either a deficiency or excess of any one or more of the humors. Medical cures, therefore, consisted of efforts to restore the natural balance of these 4 elements. Common cures included bloodletting, leeching, and dietary changes. The humors were also considered to be the source for personality traits and psychological problems.

Body and Personality Type	Humor	produced by	Element	Qualities	Complexion and Body type	Psych. Profile
Sanguine	blood	liver	air	hot and moist	red-cheeked, corpulent	amorous, happy, generous, optimistic, irresponsible
Choleric	yellow bile	spleen	fire	hot and dry	red-haired, thin	violent, vengeful, short-tempered, ambitious
Phlegmatic	phlegm	lungs	water	cold and moist	corpulent	Sluggish, pallid, cowardly, lazy
Melancholic	black bile	gall bladder	earth	cold and dry	sallow, thin	Introspective, sentimental, gluttonous, lazy

Theory of the Four Humors