Various airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters philosophers and airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters[?] were involved in the airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters[?] humour theory but before this developed the Greeks had relied on airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters[?]. They thought that things they did not understand were caused by the airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters and built temples of healing called airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters where healing could take place. These temples were built all over Greece and people would visit, take airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters and sleep in the abaton. During this time snakes would lick the affected part of their body and they believed they would wake up cured. These temples were calm and airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters and provided rest which may have helped towards people feeling airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters.
The Greeks were great thinkers and greatly valued education and airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters - a love of wisdom. Several are linked with the theory of the four humours.
• airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters said all things were made up of the four elements: earth, fire, airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters[?] and water.
• Pythagoras, a airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters[?], said a healthy body is one in perfect balance
• Alcmaeon said an imbalance of hot, airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters, wet or dry elements is a sign of ill health
• airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters[?] wanted doctors to observe patients and the progress of their illness. He talked about the body being made up of different elements and airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters and the need for the elements to be in balance in a healthy person.
• airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters used ideas of other Greek philosophers and produced a clear statement and theory about cause and treatment of disease. He developed the idea of the four humours linked to the seasons and elements. It was the influence of philosophers like Aristotle which meant that airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters[?] was allowed at Alexandria after they said the body was not needed in an afterlife.
Based on the theory that natural matter comprised four basic elements, the Greek philosophers came up with the idea that the human body consisted of the four humours which had to be kept in airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters. This theory survived until after AD 1700.
These humours were blood, airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters, yellow bile and black bile. They noticed that whenever someone was ill one or more of these four airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters were produced. However they confused the effect of the illness with the airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters of it. Treatments were developed to remove the extra amount of humour.
Hippocrates wrote many books linked to observation and natural theory. His book entitled ‘Airs, airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters[?] and Places’ suggested that disease was caused by the airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters[?]. This meant that an entirely natural theory of the cause of disease was now possible.
A quote from his book ‘On the Constitution of Man’ shows belief in the theory:
Man's body has blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. These make up his body and through them he feels illness or enjoys health. When all the humours are properly balanced and mingled, he feels the most perfect health. Illness occurs when one of the humours is in excess, or is reduced in amount, or is entirely missing from the body.

Followers of Hippocrates believed the four humours airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters at different times of the year. They thought the body airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters[?] tried to get rid of excess humour: that was why the nose produced mucus during a cold. Dotors could help by balancing the humours by blood letting, airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters and emptying the bowels by purging.

Hippocrates changed medicine because he stressed the importance of fresh air, good airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters and regular airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters - this became known as the regimen. Although Hippocratic doctors were ready to use blood letting, vomiting and purging they also believed in airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters medicine. The best way of making sure the humours stayed in balance was through exercise and diet.

Therefore the Greeks moved away from supernatural ideas about the cause of illness and moved towards a airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters approach. This theory represented airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters as it was a long way from blaming religion. It encouraged doctors to closely observe their patients and look at their airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters. It also encouraged patients to make changes to their lifestyles. However some treatments doctors prescribed could have airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters such as bleeding could carry a risk of airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters. The Four Humours could also be said to have airAnaximanderAristotleasklepionsbalancebettercausescolddangersdietdissectiondoctorsenvironmentexercisefluidsfourgodsGreekhinderedHippocrateshumoursincreasedinfectionmathematiciannaturallyofferingspeacefulphilosophyphlegmpreventativeprogressreligionscientificsymptomsvomitingWaters[?] the progress of medicine for the next 2000 years as it was incorrect and doctors failed to seek other causes of illness.