Melancholic: Western Energetics

MELANCHOLIC: BLACK BILE

Melancholics are the black bile humour and the earth element, characterised by cold and dry energetics. The word Melancholic tends to receive an apprehensive response from today’s choleric and sanguine driven society. 

Black bile can be a little more challenging to describe and understand as a fluid compared to the other humours. It’s a cold, dry, thick and heavy fluid. 

Melancholics are known as unstable introverts. They can be quite highly strung, often moody because they are quite deep thinkers and natural philosophers. They like to discuss the ways of the world and figure out how things work, whether that be the pharmacokinetics of micro nutrients or analysing the delicate interplay of political conflicts. Melancholics like to analyse, then analyse their analysis.

They are also practical and realistic, and largely quite creative people. It is important for a melancholic to tap into their creative side because they’re very philosophical people and require an outlet for all those thoughts. Melancholics often have an eclectic library of books and enjoy collecting information.

When they present in clinic, it’s common to see them stressed, depressed, anxious, exhausted with insomnia and perhaps some unhealthy habits that have become coping mechanisms. These are people who don’t eat when they’re anxious, thinking, or working on a creative project. 

The ideal way to treat a predominant melancholic person is by understanding their philosophical nature. They love to learn how and why things work, particularly the recommended remedies. A melancholic will follow your treatment plan if they know ‘the why’. So, give them the whole study that highlights this herb works on this mechanism for this and they will read that and then take the remedy as directed.

Melancholics love discussing philosophical ideas and sitting drinking coffee with friends for hours discussing the state of the world. Once they have figured out a solution, they need to go and talk to a choleric who will inspire them into creating the action!

Want to learn more? Join the Western Energetics course and get a comprehensive and practical clinical understanding.