Alternative medicine Quote by Norman F. Cantor
““In the field of medicine, Galen, the Alexandrian scientist, propounded a view that is still around, nowadays called 'alternative medicine.'It was taught in many medical schools until the mid-nineteenth century and now is becoming popular again. Human health is the result of the balance of humors, or temperaments. Physical exercise, bathing, and herbal remedies keep the four temperaments in balance, or restore balance, in case one, such as melancholia (depression), comes to dominate. Today's transactional psychiatry teaches much the same medical doctrine as Galen did.””
About This Quote
The quote argues that modern psychiatry mirrors ancient Galenic humoral theory, suggesting health depends on balancing bodily temperaments, and that this view persists in alternative medicine.
In simple terms: Health as balance of humors; modern psychiatry parallels ancient theory.
Key Takeaway
Medical concepts of balance endure.
Themes
Medical history
Humoral theory
Alternative medicine
Psychiatry
Continuity of ideas
Mood
Reflective
Critical
Historical
Type
Historical observation
Philosophical critique
When to use this quote
- Medical education curricula
- Clinical practice in psychiatry
- Wellness programs
- Alternative health movements
Key Concepts
Humoral balance
Temperament theory
Historical medical doctrine
Practical Applications
- Analyzing historical influences on current mental health treatments
- Designing integrative health curricula
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the concept of balance influence modern therapeutic approaches?
- What evidence supports or refutes the continuity of humoral theory?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that contemporary psychiatry is evidence‑based and distinct from ancient humoral concepts, emphasizing neurobiology over temperament balance.
![“In response to [the Philistine] threat [in the ninth century B.C.], the Hebrews could no longer rely on the leadership of 'judges,' ad hoc military leaders (some of them, peculiarly, women; perhaps reflecting as feminists claim, and earlier matriarchal society).” quote by Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/norman-f-cantor-15048_feminisim_in-response-to-the-philistine-threat-in_626699.jpg)
