Humorism
Definition
Humorism is an ancient medical system where it was believed that human body fluids (blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm) needed to be balanced for good health.
Analogy
Imagine your body as a cocktail mix. Just like how a perfect cocktail requires a balance of different ingredients, humorism suggested our bodies needed a balance of different 'humors' or bodily fluids for optimal health.
Related terms
Galenic Medicine: Named after Galen, this refers to theories about human physiology and medicine based on balancing four humors - blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm.
Ayurveda: An ancient Indian system of medicine which also emphasizes balance in bodily systems using diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing.
Homeostasis: The tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements within an organism.
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