The Lunar Cycle & Health

In Ancient civilisations, the Moon and the Moon's phases had a deep connection to our body, health and our relationship with nature, connections we still consider now. The effects of the Moon on the body, both physical and mental health, can be experienced through the lunar phases, with modern research finding scientific evidence to support this. The following studies support a biological connection to the Moon:

• Researchers of the Central Hospital of Augsburg, Germany, studied 16,000 heart-attack victims, finding fewer heart attacks occurred in the three days after a new moon.
• In 2011, the Urology Journal published a study of nearly 1,500 patients with renal colic, the pain associated with kidney stones. Researchers found an increased experience of pain at the time of the full Moon.
• In 2008, The Royal Liverpool University Hospital urological admissions were affected by lunar phases. The research found emergency urological admissions to be higher on full moon days. In contrast, the new Moon had a calming effect.
• In 2011, researchers from Radboud University, Nijmegen, studied more than 5,400 patients indicating that emergency admissions of psychiatric patients rose during full moon periods. Suggesting the cause is due to the Moon's gravity affecting the flow of fluids in the brain, in brain cells, which may alter mood and behaviour.
• In a study published in the doctors' newspaper Pulse, Dr Peter Perkins, a GP, after interviewing 79 general practitioners, found that emergency calls for all conditions were increased by 3 per cent at full Moon and fell by 6 per cent during a new moon.

How Does a Full Moon Affect Our Physical and Mental Wellbeing?

Researchers found scientific evidence through studies that emphasised data showing a health correlation to the circadian rhythms of the lunar cycles. Observing the gravitational pull when there is a full moon and at the new moon stage, as this is when the Sun and Moon are aligned. At this time, the gravitational pull of the Moon and the energy of the Sun are combined, creating the strongest gravitational effects. Modern research believes that this has the most health benefits affecting human circulation and just after full moons, due to the Moon's gravitational pull affecting the flow of fluid in the human body, even in our brain, indicating an influence on our mental health.

Can The Moon Really Affect Our Health?

Ancient civilisations believed the Moon was made partly of water, and that is why the Moon is highly connected to the element of water. The Moon's cycle's predictability, reliability and influences on our emotions and mood were observed with such importance. Determination through monitoring especially relating to the female anatomy, multiple ancient civilisations saw the Moon as a feminine god and based their calendar around it, including the Gregorian that we use today.

How The Moon Affects Humans – A Brief History

In Ancient Chinese medicine and philosophy, the concept of duality, characterised as the yin and yang principle, observes the relationship we have with our opposites. In this relationship of polarities, the contrary forces interconnected, interdependent, and needing each other to strengthen the power that exists within them.
In Astrology, the Moon is Yin, and the Sun is Yang. The Sun radiates heat and light, linking to the projection of our outward personality, how we shine, all that we show of ourselves to others, our vital force. The glow we see of the Moon reflects the Sun's light, representing our inner personality and emotions. The Moon's reflection of the Sun links our vital force to how we feel within our private and intimate thoughts and feelings. When we have inner emotion, energy has a relationship with an expression that is projected, radiating through our vital force into our external environment. When our vital force has a quieter or darker expression, it can indicate a disconnection within our emotions. It is believed the Moon affects how we respond to all sorts of changes in life and on the body at a physiological level.

The Moon & Astrology

In Astrology, Moon Signs are very important as they indicate the intention of our emotions, how we feel about ourselves, and our private thoughts, our connection to our Mother, our relationship with the concept of nurture, and also the connection to our intuitive abilities.

The Moon sign placement in our birth chart represents the filter through which our emotions need to feel and express as they reflect our vital force, the energy of the Sun. Our emotional filter can be felt by people in our emotional space, home and even work.

The Moon Sign can be so prominent in its emotional needs that at times it is felt more potently than the position of the Zodiac Sun Sign, which represents our Conscious Self, connections to the intention of our ego and the persona we present in our environment. The Moon Sign can be found in the birth chart where the Moon crescent (☾) symbol is placed. The Moon drives our actions from our emotional space, navigating the emotions in our conversations and interacting with our full being. The Moon determines how we are emotionally triggered, and those closest to us can sometimes see the reactions of the Moon within us as the most authentic version of who we are. It is the most intricate part of ourselves and probably the most misunderstood element of who we are.

The Moon & Our Mother, Friendship & Fertility

A good relationship with female friends can likely indicate a good relationship with our Mother, leading to levels of shared openness and security in expressing our vulnerabilities to each other. Of course, there are alternative versions; sometimes, when we do not have a positive connection with our mothers, our friends can become our mothers or both, depending on our needs. We all like to be mothered at some point in our lives; it does feel good, so we may have friends like this. The connection is so strong it feels like a psychic and empathic connection; they know us so intricately that it feels like they have known us all our lives.

The Moon, viewed as a feminine planet with a water connection, has a pull the Earth's tides, and with the human body made up of 60% water, it is believed that the Moon and the lunar cycles' potential influence to be something that we feel. The length of the Moon phases, having a similarity to the menstrual cycle, has long been linked to fertility. In ancient civilisations, there was an awareness of the sacred purpose of women; at "Moon times", women would go through a process of restoration and rejuvenation.

Does the Moon affect sleep?

Many sleep studies have observed the Moon's influence, findings by the that during the full Moon, it clinically signifies changes to sleep, including a prolonged time to get to sleep reduction of Delta waves brain activities. In the studies observed in Elsevier Sleep Medicine - Volume 15, Issue 11, of the 224 persons who had their sleep study done during moon phases, 82% of those studied during the full Moon were associated with lower sleep efficiency. Making the study results support the full moon phase association affecting our need for deep sleep.

The Moon & Our Body

In astrology, it is believed that when the Moon is full, it is the point that is set in front of the Sun, reflecting its light and where we can fully reflect back our emotions, meaning this can be a time when inner thoughts and feelings come out. During the New Moon stage, the Sun is not aligned with the Moon, so there is no reflection of the Sun's light during this period. This is when people may feel that their emotions are unable to be expressed and projected in the way they may want.

Medical Astrology

In Astrology, the Moon governs some of our bodily fluids due to the watery nature of how the Moon is viewed. It is believed that when the Moon is strongly dignified (positive influence) in our birth chart, it helps to keep our mucous membranes healthy. A lack of moisture within the body is linked to having a poorly dignified Moon, meaning dry mucous membrane may be present, indicating a negative influence on water-based bodily issues. The Moon is linked to:

• The lungs
• The bladder
• The stomach
• The menstrual cycle
• Fertility and the balance of the uterus
• Childbirth
• The breast milk glands
• Illnesses during childhood
• Menstrual cycle issues
• Fibroids
• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovaries
• Poor concentration
• Exhaustion
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Digestive issues
• Diarrhoea
• Chesty coughs

The Moon & Zodiac Signs

In Astrology, the following symptoms have an associated with the Moon sign in a person's birth chart;

• Moon in Aries
• Dry mucous membrane
• Dry skin
• Itchy skin scalp
• Sore throat and dry cough
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Lack of periods
• Fertility issues
• Muscular spasms

Moon In Taurus

• Weight gain due to emotional comfort
• Addictive eating
• Ears, nose and throat issues

Moon In Gemini

• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• Musculoskeletal Weakness in shoulders
• Diarrhoea issues such as IBS

Moon In cancer

• A nervous stomach
• They can become ill as an emotional response to their external environment, such as stress or seasonal changes.
• Allergies
• Fibroids
• Breast discomfort during PMS

Moon in Leo

• Postural issues
• Musculoskeletal issues
• Dry skin
• Digestion issues
• Fertility issues

Moon In Virgo

• IBS
• Nervous digestion
• Allergies

Moon In Libra

• Kidney problems
• Fluid imbalance within the body
• Dizzy spells
• Endocrine disorders
• Headaches

Moon In Scorpio

• Bladder issues
• Nasal congestion
• Watery nose
• Excessive sweating
• Fibroids
• Haemorrhoids

Moon In Sagittarius

• Emotional instability
• Swelling in the hips or thighs
• Insomnia

Moon In Capricorn

• Excessive skin dryness
• Period problems
• Fertility issues
• Endometriosis
• Inflamed joints
• Malnutrition - poor nutrient absorption in the small intestine
• Stiff joints

Moon In Aquarius

• Mood swings
• Low blood pressure
• Fatigue
• Fluctuating energy levels
• Poor circulation

Moon in Pisces

• Fatigue
• Low moods
• Heavy periods
• Lung issues
• Weight gain

To view supporting articles:

• Stars, Myths and Rituals in Etruscan Rome (Space and Society)
  John Naish, Daily Mail
• Longitudinal Study Of Lunar Phase & Sleep
• The Theory of Celestial Influence; Man, the Universe, And Cosmic Mystery (Arkana S.)