The Holistic Approach - Ancient Greeks
The Holistic Approach It all began with the ancient Greeks. The ancient Greeks and their understanding of health and disease was based on the theory of the four “humors”, which translates to fluids. These include blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile, these would be equivalent to the four elements, earth, wind, fire and water; along with the four corresponding qualities; hot, dry, humid and cold. Pythagoreans advocated that one’s health was a condition of harmony and the perfect equilibrium of bodily fluids. Illness is a result of when this balance is upset; therefore, it is best to practice a lifestyle/way of life that does not interfere with this fluid balance in the body. But as we know and as the ancient Greeks also recognised that this was somewhat difficult and that external factors where a major cause to this unbalance. The best way to counteract this was by concentration on physical and nutritional needs. The Greek word “hygieia” translates to health...