Which theory attributes disease to imbalances in bodily humors?

• A. Humoral Theory
• B. Germ Theory
• C. Miasma Theory
• D. Cell Theory

Answer: (A)

Imbalance of bodily humors is the idea behind Humoral Theory. The body is thought to contain four humors—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile—and health depends on keeping them in proper balance. When the mix is off, illness results, and treatments aim to restore balance through methods like bleeding, purging, or dietary adjustments. This view dominated ancient and medieval medicine, long before microbes were understood. Germ theory ties disease to microorganisms; miasma theory blames noxious environmental vapors; and cell theory emphasizes disease processes at the cellular level. The concept of disease arising from internal humoral imbalance best matches the Humoral Theory.