Homonym: Humors (Moods)
The concept of "humors" originates from ancient medical theories, particularly those of Hippocrates and Galen. It suggests that human health and temperament are influenced by four bodily fluids: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Each humor is associated with specific qualities and emotions, and an imbalance among them was believed to cause illness or affect personality.
In medieval and Renaissance medicine, the humoral theory was widely accepted, influencing practices like bloodletting and dietary recommendations. Each humor corresponds to one of the four classical elements: blood to air, phlegm to water, yellow bile to fire, and black bile to earth, shaping early understandings of health and disease.