Astrological Medicine

Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales

Astrology is a form of divination which attempts to predict ones future based upon the influence of the positions of the stars and planets on the object whose astrological chart is being created. The key concept of astrology is as above, so below. That is, what happens on earth (below) is keyed to what is happening in the celestial realms (above).

The theory of astrological medicine combines basic astrological principles along with medicinal techniques. Astrologers assigned each planet and each sign of the zodiac to rule over certain parts of the body.

Two astrological charts were cast for the patient, one was the natal chart based on the patients day and time of birth. The other was a chart of the patients disease, based upon the approximate day and time of the start of the patients illness. These charts allowed the physician to determine which planetary influences were affecting the patient at the time they became ill. The astrological medicinal practitioner then determined what planetary energies were in excess or which were deficient and planned a course of healing accordingly.

Aries - March 21^st through April 20^th. Governs all problems and illnesses associated with the eyes, face, and head. Mars is the planetary ruler of this zodiac sign.

Taurus - April 21^st through May 20^th . Governs all problems and illnesses associated with the ears, larynx, neck, throat, and tonsils. Venus is the planetary ruler of Taurus.

Gemini - May 21^st through June 20^th . Governs all illnesses associated with the arms, hands, lungs and shoulders. Planetary ruler = Mercury.

Cancer - June 21^st through July 22^nd. Governs all problems and illnesses associated with the breast, chest, diaphragm, ribs, and stomach. Planetary ruler = moon.

Leo - July 23^rd through August 22^nd . Governs all problems and illnesses associated with the back, heart, and spine. Planetary ruler = sun.

Virgo - August 23^rd through September 22^nd . Governs all problems and illnesses associated with the bowels, intestines and nervous system. Planetary ruler = Mercury.

Libra - September 23^rd through October 22^nd . Governs all problems and illnesses associated with the appendix, kidneys, liver and lower back. Planetary ruler = Venus.

Scorpio - October 23^rd through November 22^nd . Governs all problems and illnesses associated with the bladder, colon and reproductive organs. Planetary ruler = Mars in ancient texts, Pluto in the modern-day.

Sagittarius - November 23^rd through December 21^st. Governs all problems and illnesses associated with the hips and thighs. Planetary ruler = Jupiter.

Capricorn - December 22^nd through January 19^th . Governs all problems and illnesses associated with the bones, knees, joints and teeth. Planetary ruler = Saturn.

Aquarius - January 20^th through February 19^th . Governs all problems and illnesses associated with the calves, ankles and blood. Planetary ruler = Saturn in ancient texts, Uranus in the modern-day.

Pisces - February 20^th through March 20^th . Governs all problems and illnesses associated with the feet and toes. Planetary ruler = Jupiter in ancient texts, Neptune in the modern-day.

Planetary Healing
"... the association of herbs with particular astrological qualities may be an application of the doctrine of signatures, in which a plants physical resemblance to an object - the moon... for example - was thought to indicate a particular affinity for that object..."

Michael R. Best, The Book of Secrets of Albertus Magnus

At one time it was believed that the earth was at the center of our universe. We now know that the sun is at the center of our solar system while the other planets revolve around the sun. The original seven planets of ancient astrological texts were the sun, Mercury, Venus, the moon, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were discovered relatively late in history and thus these three planets are not mentioned in ancient astrological and astronomical texts.

In astrological medicine each planet ruled over certain body parts. When performing any type of healing magic you may want to wait until the moon is in the appropriate planet or astrological sign according to what part of the body is being treated. For example, someone with an excess of Mercury energy may be prone to having more headaches than the average person. A farmer's almanac can be consulted to find out what sign of the zodiac the moon is in on any particular day of the month.

Sun - solar body. This cosmic body rules over the circulation, heart, blood, eyes, and the vertebral column.

Mercury - both a solar and a lunar planet, first planet from the sun. Mercury rules over the brain, nervous system, and respiration.

Venus - solar planet, second planet from the sun. Venus rules over the complexion, digestive system and reproductive system.

Moon - lunar planet, revolves around earth. Although the moon is a satellite of the earth and not an actual planet, ancient astrological texts considered it to be one of the seven planets. The moon rules over the ovaries, the womb and all woman's disorders, growth and fertility.

Earth - third planet from the sun. Earth is mans point of origin. Astrological medicine studies the planets in relation to the earth with regard to their influence on human life.

Mars - solar planet, fourth planet from the sun. Mars rules over the arteries, hair, muscles, nails, and the reproductive organs.

Jupiter - lunar planet, fifth planet from the sun. Jupiter rules over the liver, kidneys, and spleen.

Saturn - lunar planet, sixth planet from the sun. Saturn rules over the bones, teeth, veins and skeleton.

Uranus - seventh planet from the sun. This planet wasn't discovered until 1781 and is not mentioned in ancient texts. Modern astrological associations of this planet are that Uranus rules over the parathyroid gland, neural activity, and the aura.

Neptune - eighth planet from the sun, discovered 1846 thus it is not mentioned in ancient texts. In the modern-day Neptune is believed to rule over the pineal gland and psychic healing.

Pluto - ninth planet from the sun, discovered 1930 thus it is not mentioned in ancient texts. In the modern-day this planet is believed to rule over the pancreas, metabolism, and elimination. In the fall of 2006 the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet.

Astrological Botany
"Your fastest way then is to judge of the disease, is by aspects of the moon to the planets."

Nicholas Culpeper, Astrological Judgment of Disease

According to Leslie Gordon, in her book Green Magic, astrological botany, which combined the disciplines of herbal folklore with astrology, was the belief "that each plant was a terrestrial star, and each star a spiritualized plant." Each part of the human body and the herbal medicines that cured them were thought to be under the influence of a particular planet or sign of the zodiac.

During the Middle Ages the Greeks, while studying in Alexandria, may have been the first to endorse the theory of astrological botany. Ancient medical practitioners were encouraged to study astrology in order to supplement their knowledge of healing the human body. Hippocrates (460-377 BC), the Greek physician who is often regarded as the father of medicine, was one such ancient teacher who recommended that all students of medicine study astrology. Galen, 130-200 AD, further emphasized the importance of combining astrology with ones medical studies.

Many ancient herbals classified plants according to which planet they were influenced by. Nicholas Culpeper is an example of a historical astrological botanist. He blended traditional medicine with his beliefs in astrology, magic and folklore. Culpeper assigned each of the herbs in his book The Complete Herbal and English Physician to a particular planet. Culpeper believed that all physicians should be trained in the craft of astrology. Culpeper's book Astrological Judgment of Disease goes into more detail regarding the interpretation of ones astrological charts in order to obtain a proper medical prognosis.

The herbs used in astrological herbalism were chosen for their ability to heal either by sympathy or antipathy. Healing by sympathy involved choosing a herb or herbs that were ruled by the planet that had influence over the effected part of the body of the patient being cured. For example Culpeper prescribed the use of holy thistle, a hot, prickly, biting herb under the dominion of Mars, to heal diseases associated with the planet Mars such as the plague, sores, and boils. Healing by antipathy was just the opposite. The medical astrologist would choose a herb that was influenced by the planet opposite from what the person was being affected by. For example, if someone was experiencing a fever, which was a disorder thought to be caused by the hot and firey planet Mars, then a cooling herb under the influence of the planet Venus would have been chosen to help heal the patient.

The Plants and Planets
"If you please to observe the state of that same planet, by it you may know the state of the sick, and what the cause of his sickness is."

Nicholas Culpeper, Astrological Judgment of Diseases

Dr. O. Phelps Brown, a 19^th century country doctor and herbalist, believed that herbs used for healing purposes should be harvested at the correct time: "...recipes, if made from herbs and plants gathered at the right times and under the proper planetary and climatic influences, and not kept too long, will perform in every instance the duties ascribed to them."

Jupiter - This planet is associated with education, expansion, growth, prosperity, protection, and religion. The attributes of plants associated with Jupiter include bright yellow or purple flowers and plants of a nutritious nature. Some examples of Jupiter plants include fruits and nuts, dandelion, oak trees, maple trees and sage.

Mars - This planet is associated with ambition, assertiveness, confidence, courage, energy, impulsiveness and vitality. Culpeper had much to say about the healing ability of this planet and the plants associated with it: "Well, says Mars, though they speak evil of me, I will do good to them; Death's cold, my herb shall heat them: they are full of ill humours (else they would never have spoken ill of me;) my herb shall cleanse them, and dry them; they are poor weak creatures, my herb shall strengthen them; they are dull witted, my herb shall fortify their apprehensions; and yet among astrologers all this does not deserve a good word: Oh the patience of Mars!"

The attributes of plants associated with Mars include plants with thorns, spines, and stickers and plants with red flowers. Some examples include blackberry, poison ivy, milk thistle, raspberry and stinging nettle.

Mercury - This planet is associated with communication, thinking, rationality, and reasoning. Plants associated with the wind such as grasses, plants having finely divided leaves, and plants of a climbing and creeping nature are all associated with the planet Mercury. Some examples of plants associated with this planet include anise, carrots, dill, fennel, honeysuckle, lavender, morning glory, and parsley.

Moon - This planet is associated with harmony, femininity, gentleness, memories, moods, and goddess energy. The attributes of the plants associated with the moon include white or pale yellow flowers or fruits, moon shaped leaves, and plants of a watery nature. Some examples include aloe, cucumbers, moonflowers, peppermint, squashes, watercress, water lilies and willows.

Saturn - This planet is associated with boundaries, life changing events, long term planning, reality, and restrictions. The plants associated with this planet are often sedative and help to relieve pain or help with bone formation. The attributes of Saturn plants include grayish-blue herbs, blue flowers, and woody perennial herbs. Some examples include aconite, belladonna, chicory, comfrey, hemlock, horsetail, and woad.

Sun - This cosmic body is associated with creativity, enthusiasm, health, optimism, spontaneity, vitality, and god energy. The attributes of the plants associated with the sun include orange and yellow flowers, plants of a hot and spicy nature, plants with heart shaped leaves, and plants with round, sun-shaped flowers. Some examples include calendula, cloves, ginger, marigold, pepper, saffron, sunflower, and St. John's wort.

Venus - This planet is associated with love, balance, beauty, friendship, harmony, and relationships. The attributes of the plants associated with Venus include peach and pink flowers, heavily scented flowers, and any plants with aphrodisiacal properties. Some examples include all fruit blossoms, damiana, geraniums, meadowsweet, orchids, roses, violets, and yarrow.

Resources
Best, Michael R. & Frank H. Brightman (ed). The Book of Secrets of Albertus Magnus. York Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1999: xvii.

Brown, Dr. O. Phelps. The Complete Herbalist. Jersey City, NJ: self published by the author, 1868.

Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. This work, which was written by Chaucer circa 1387-1400, is in the public domain. An electronic version of this text can be found online at http://www.librarius.com/cantales.htm.

Culpeper, Nicholas. Astrological Judgment of Diseases from the Decumbiture of the Sick. Abingdon, MA: Astrology Classics, 2003. This is a reprint of Culpeper's work that was originally published in London, 1655.

Culpeper, Nicholas. Culpeper's Complete Herbal and English Physician Enlarged. Glenwood, IL: Meyerbooks, 1990. Reprint of the 1814 London edition.

Gordon, Lesley. Green Magic; Flowers Plants and Herbs in Lore and Legend. New York, NY: The Viking Press, 1977.