Although the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates is considered to be the father of modern medicine, his philosophy and practices more closely resemble today's holistic or alternative medicine than they do the more traditional methods. Hippocrates understood physical and mental health as a balance of four 'humours' or `fluids' within the body. Any illness or condition from fever to depression could be explained by the excess or deficiency of one or more of the humours. The imbalance might be caused by an individual's lifestyle but also by external factors such as the seasons or the climate. In his influential writing, Hippocrates promoted the belief that the body could often re-balance itself, warning doctors not to interfere wherever possible. In some cases, intervention was a necessity, of course. The Greeks sustained major injuries on the battlefield and in the gladiatorial arena; therefore surgical treatments began to develop.

Persistent illness, too, might merit intervention in the form of the application of leeches or the use of plants to induce vomiting in order to reduce excessive humours. More often, however, Hippocrates recommended that ailing individuals reconsider their entire lifestyle when seeking to restore their good health. His dietetic regimes designed for soldiers in the army and for competitive athletes, for example, regulated the intake of food and drink but also endorsed exercise, bathing and massage to achieve equilibrium of the humours.