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Why is humoral medicine so popular?

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  • Anderson, E. N.

Abstract

The hot/cold system is perhaps the most widely known medical belief system in the world. I propose that the wide acceptance of hot/cold ideas is due to the fact that they provide a particularly simple, economic coding for common human experience, such as hypothermia, heatstroke, and fevers. Coding of foods as heating or cooling can be understood in terms of a system of sensory cues that make the foods appear hot or cold. This paper deals primarily with data from Chinese culture.

Suggested Citation

  • Anderson, E. N., 1987. "Why is humoral medicine so popular?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 331-337, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:25:y:1987:i:4:p:331-337
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    Cited by:

    1. Hartini, T. Ninuk S. & Padmawati, R. Siwi & Lindholm, Lars & Surjono, Achmad & Winkvist, Anna, 2005. "The importance of eating rice: changing food habits among pregnant Indonesian women during the economic crisis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 199-210, July.
    2. Groark, Kevin P., 2005. "Vital warmth and well-being: steambathing as household therapy among the Tzeltal and Tzotzil Maya of highland Chiapas, Mexico," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(4), pages 785-795, August.

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