What was Galen's approach to treating illness?

Galen's approach to treating illness was based on the theory of the four humours, which posited that an imbalance in these humours led to disease. His method involved restoring this balance, often by using remedies that countered the excess of a particular humour, a principle known as 'opposites' or 'contraria contrarius curantur.' For instance, if a patient had an excess of blood leading to a fever, Galen might recommend treatments that would cool the body or reduce blood flow to alleviate the symptoms. This reflects his belief that treating the illness with the opposite remedy to the symptoms could restore health.

In contrast, the other approaches do not align with Galen's methods. Maintaining an overall balance of humours recognizes his focus on a holistic view of health but does not encapsulate his reliance on opposites. Treating with similar substances goes against Galen's principles, as he believed that like treated like, which was not his primary strategy. Lastly, using the same treatment for all illnesses overlooks the nuances he acknowledged in recognizing the specific imbalances contributing to different conditions.