MEDICINE

NOTE this page details how the humanoid body works in this world, not our own. It is not accurate to real life, and is a modified low-fantasy reflection of what people of the past believed. What is in this page is the physical reality of how things work in this fantasy world.

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MIASMA

Miasma is defined as foul air which originates from decomposing material. Swamps (and the breath of creatures living in swamps), rotting organic matter, waste, and similar sources emit a poisonous vapor that can cause illnesses.

 

Diseases are spread and contracted through the inhalation of, or exposure to this corrupt air. Population centers are particularly susceptible to outbreaks of miasma-related diseases. Disease can also be spread by touching, interacting with, or sometimes even looking at those who are afflicted.

 

Efforts to combat diseases focus on reducing foul smells as well as improving sanitation and hygiene. This includes practices like cleaning streets, eliminating standing water, and improving ventilation in buildings.

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HUMORISM

Humorism is the system detailing the makeup and workings of the human body. This medical practice is the only official system of medicine accepted and practiced by all developed nations within Highdonia. Every medical practitioner from simple barber-surgeons to university-trained physicians practice humorism.

 

According to the Pathophilos Corpus, “every organ is bestowed with a hot, cold, wet, or dry temperament appropriate to its functional requirements.”  This codex was written hundreds of years before the Iron Empire by the Father of Medicine, Pathophilos of Tulsica, and is still widely used in updated variations today.

 

The four temperaments are combined into what is known as humors:

• Sanguine, also known as Blood;

• Atrabilis, also known as Black Bile;

• Phlegm; and

• Choler, also known as Yellow Bile

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Every person has a naturally balanced humoral state, and when their humors are balanced, that person is healthy. Certain aspects of life like diet, exercise, the weather, or miasma (more on this later) can alter the humors. If one of the humors becomes imbalanced compared to the rest, this imbalance manifests in the body as illness, disease, mood changes and/or other ailments.

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Humors can increase or decrease depending on several factors. This increase or decrease is typically caused by the organ which creates the humor creating too much or too little. In the case of too much of a humor, it is believed that the organ literally produces too much for the body to hold. As an example, if your blood humor is imbalanced by an increase in blood, your liver is literally creating too much blood for your body to hold.

 

Scholars have observed that the body will naturally try to increase or decrease itself of the humors which have become imbalanced. For example, when someone is ill and has a runny nose, that is the body naturally reducing the amount of phlegm in the system. Or if somebody is ill and vomits, that is the body reducing yellow bile in the system.

 

Humors are transported through the body via arteries and veins.

This process, though natural, can be assisted by the application of good medical practice.

 

SANGUINE (Blood)

Temperament: Hot and Wet

Colour: Red

Texture: Wet, Runny, Watery

Season: Spring

Status Effects: Bleed, Open Wound, Fear

Opposite Humor: Atrabilis (Black Bile)

 

Organs

The sanguine humor is most associated with the heart, liver and arteries. Blood is created from scratch in the liver.

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Signs and Symptoms of Imbalance

Nosebleeds, fingers crack and bleed, old wounds or scars open up and bleed.

 Fever, high blood pressure, inflammation, bright or reddish urine with sweet scent and taste.​

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Remedies

Bloodletting through various methods, dietary adjustment.

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Associated Foods

For a humoral imbalance caused by a decrease in blood, foods which are known to be hot and wet will tempt the liver to produce more blood. These foods include soup, stew, broth, chicken, red wine, honey, fresh bread, eggs (especially the yolk), warm milk, and garlic.

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For a humoral imbalance cause by an increase in blood, foods which are known to be cold and dry will counteract the hot and wet nature of blood and help decrease the amount in the body. These foods include dry bread, white wine, crackers, salt, smoked meat, dried fruits and vegetables, and nuts.​

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ATRABILIS (Black Bile)

Temperament: Cold and Dry

Colour: Dark Purple, Grey or Black

Texture: Oily, Oozy, Thick, Hard

Season: Autumn

Status Effects: Curse, Weakness, Cripple, Petrify

Opposite Humor: Sanguine (Blood)

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Organs

Black bile is exclusively produced by the spleen.

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Signs and Symptoms of Imbalance

Black, oily tar-like stuff oozes from eyes or nose, fingertips turn black purple or grey, ear tips or other extremities can turn black purple or grey. Hair turns ash white and skin can get very pale. Dark bags under or around eyes. Dilated pupils.

Melancholy (depression,) chronic pain, arthritis, muscle and joint pain, tumors, cancer​, very dark urine with a heavy, earthy odour that tastes exceedingly bitter.

 

Remedies

Confessing of sins, bloodletting through various methods, cupping, exercise in the sunlight, soaking or bathing in hot water, and dietary adjustment.​

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Associated Foods

For humoral imbalance caused by a decrease in black bile, foods which are known to be cold and dry will tempt the spleen to produce more. These foods include dry bread, white wine, crackers, salt, smoked meat, dried fruits and vegetables, and nuts.

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For humoral imbalance caused by an increase in black bile, foods which are hot and wet will counteract the cold and dry nature of the humor. These foods include soup, stew, broth, chicken, red wine, honey, fresh bread, eggs (especially the yolk), warm milk, and garlic. 

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PHLEGM

Temperament: Cold and Wet

Colour: White, Cloudy, Milky

Texture: Wet, Thick, Oozy, Slimy, Sticky, Spongy, Mucus

Season: Winter

Status Effects: Poison, Asphyxiation, Soaked, Chilled

Opposite Humor: Choler (Yellow Bile)

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Organs

Phlegm is most associated with the, lungs, throat, eyes, and is produced deep within the nose.

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Signs and Symptoms of Imbalance

Pale extremities, spongy fingers like after a long shower, runny nose, watery eyes, congestion, excess sweating, chills, shivering.

Nose, cheeks, chin and ear tips can turn pink.

Pneumonia, head cold, wet coughing, runny nose, congestion, cold sweats. Very pale or clear urine with little to no smell and bland taste.

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Remedies

Diaphoretics to induce sweating, expectorants like mint and menthol to clear mucus buildup and dietary adjustment.

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Associated Foods

For humoral imbalance caused by a decrease in Phlegm, foods which are cold and wet will tempt the body to produce more. These foods include water, lettuce, melons, cucumbers, fish, seafood, cheese, milk, other fruits and vegetables high in water content, spicy food which induces eye watering, sweating, salivating or runny nose.

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For humoral imbalance caused by an increase in Phlegm, foods which are hot and dry will counteract the cold and wet nature of the humor. These foods include red meat, spices such as cinnamon, ginger and pepper, onions, dried garlic, mustard, walnuts, almonds, hot liquor, smoked or dried meat.

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CHOLER (Yellow Bile)

Temperament: Hot and Dry

Colour: Yellow

Texture: Dry, Cracked, Peeling, Charred

Season: Summer

Status Effects: Burning, Overheated

Opposite Humor: Phlegm

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Organs

Yellow bile is associated with the gallbladder, pancreas, bowels, and is produced in the stomach.

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Signs and Symptoms of Imbalance

Vomiting, skin gets cracked and dry, skin gets a yellow tinge. Fingers and other extremities turn dry, cracked and yellowish. Fingernails may fall off. Jaundice, dysentery and diarrhea, constipation, malaria, heartburn, stomach and other digestive issues. Very bright yellow or golden urine with a strong, pungent odor and bitter taste.​

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Remedies

Purgatives or laxatives to induce bowel movement or vomiting, and dietary adjustment.

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Associated Foods

For humoral imbalance caused by a decrease in Choler, foods which are hot and dry will tempt the stomach to produce more yellow bile. These foods include red meat, spices such as cinnamon, ginger and pepper, onions, dried garlic, mustard, walnuts, almonds, hot liquor, smoked or dried meat.

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For humoral imbalance caused by an increase in Choler, foods which are cold and wet will counteract the hot and dry nature of the humor. These foods include water, lettuce, melons, cucumbers, fish, seafood, cheese, milk, other fruits and vegetables high in water content, spicy food which induces eye watering, sweating, salivating or runny nose.

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