Teoria humoralna w XIX wieku: między tradycją a nowoczesną medycyną

The article presents the history and significance of humoral theory in the context of nineteenth-century medical transformations, emphasizing its lasting impact on the perception of health, the human body, and the concept of balance. The author traces the philosophical origins of humoralism in ancient Greece and its development through the teachings of Hippocrates and Galen, as well as its influence on European and Polish culture, notably in the writings of Mikołaj Rej. Particular attention is given to the principles of the humoral diet – understood as a holistic lifestyle (diaita) – and its relation to temperament and environmental factors. The section devoted to the nineteenth century illustrates the persistence of humoral concepts in medical practice, especially through William Buchan’s Domestic Medicine and the Polish medical guide by Józef Zmijewski. The article demonstrates that despite major scientific advances – such as the cell theory, asepsis, vaccination, and bacteriology – humoral ideas continued to shape medical thought for decades. The conclusion highlights the enduring legacy of humoralism, showing its conceptual links with modern notions of homeostasis, natural medicine, and psychosomatic health.