bólguþáttum

Bólguþáttum is an Old Norse term that translates roughly to "inflammatory factors" or "elements of swelling." In the context of Old Norse medical texts and beliefs, it refers to the perceived causes or agents responsible for inflammation and bodily swelling. These were not understood in the modern sense of cellular responses and immune system activation, but rather through a humoral theory framework influenced by Galenic medicine and indigenous Norse beliefs.

According to this understanding, imbalances in the body's four humors—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile—were thought to lead to various ailments, including inflammation. Bólguþáttum would encompass specific substances or conditions that disrupted these humoral balances, leading to an excess of a particular humor, often associated with heat and moisture, manifesting as swelling and pain. These factors could be internal, such as poor diet or emotional states, or external, like exposure to cold or injury. The identification and treatment of bólguþáttum aimed to restore the body's natural equilibrium and expel the harmful elements causing the inflammation.