Saba
Saba (Medicine)
Saba (/sɑːbɑː/; from the Latin saba, meaning "soot") is a medical term referring to a type of black bile in humoral theory, one of the four humors believed to shape a person's health and temperament in ancient and medieval medicine.
Etymology
The term saba originates from the Latin word for "soot", reflecting the dark, almost black color of the bile. It is related to the Greek word melaina chole, which also refers to black bile.
Humoral Theory
In humoral theory, saba is one of the four humors, alongside blood, phlegm, and yellow bile. These humors were believed to be the fundamental substances of the human body, and imbalances between them were thought to cause illness and disease.
Saba, or black bile, was associated with the earth element and was believed to cause melancholic temperament when in excess. It was also thought to be produced by the spleen and to be particularly prevalent in autumn.
Related Terms
- Melancholia: A condition characterized by extreme depression, lethargy, and sleep disturbances, historically attributed to an excess of black bile or saba.
- Humorism: The medical system that the concept of saba originates from, which was prevalent from Ancient Greece until the Middle Ages.
- Galen: A prominent Greek physician, surgeon, and philosopher who significantly advanced the understanding of humoral theory and the role of saba in human health.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Saba
- Wikipedia's article - Saba
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