Medical astrology

Medical astrology (traditionally known as Iatromathematics) is an ancient medical system that associates various parts of the body, diseases, and drugs as under the influence of the sun, moon, and planets, along with the twelve astrological signs. Each of the astrological signs (along with the sun, moon, and planets) is associated with different parts of the human body. The underlying basis for medical astrology, astrology itself, is considered to be a pseudoscience or superstition as there is no scientific basis for its core beliefs.

Publications

Nauman, Eileen, Medical Astrology, ISBN 0-9634662-4

Heindel, Max & Heindel, Augusta Foss, The Message of the Stars (Part II: Medical Astrology), ISBN 0-911274-18-9

Heindel, Max & Heindel, Augusta Foss, Astro-Diagnosis - A Guide to Healing, ISBN 0-911274-06-5

Lucic-Gajic, Joanna, A Handbook of Medical Astrology, Definition of Astromedicine – Basic rules

Ridder-Patrick, Jane, A Handbook of Medical Astrology, ISBN 978-0-95519890-8

Gailing, Stephanie, Planetary Apothecary, ISBN 978-1580911917

Cornell, H.L., M.D., The Encyclopaedia of Medical Astrology (1933), Astrology Classics [Abington, MD, 2010.]

Culpepper, Nicholas, Astrological Judgement of Diseases from the Decumbiture of the Sick (1655) ISBN 1-53810-113-0

Ficino, Marsilio, Three Books on Life (1489) [De vita libri tre] translated by Carol V. Kaske and John R. Clark, Center for Medieval and Early Renaissance Studies, State University of New York at Binghamton and The Reaissance Society of America (1989.) ISBN 0-86698-041-5

Saunders, Richard, The Astrological Judgment and Practice of Physick (1677) ISBN 1-16141-322-7

Lilly, William, Christian Astrology (1647)

Overview

Medical astrology posits the association of each sign of the zodiac with parts of the body, as follows:

Aries - head, face, brain, eyes

Taurus - throat, neck, thyroid gland, vocal tract

Gemini - arms, lungs, shoulders, hands, nervous system, brain

Cancer - chest, breasts, stomach, alimentary canal

Leo - heart, chest, spine, spinal column, upper back

Virgo - digestive system, intestines, spleen, nervous system

Libra - kidneys, skin, lumbar region, buttocks

Scorpio - reproductive system, sexual organs, bowels, excretory system

Sagittarius - hips, thighs, liver, sciatic nerve

Capricorn - knees, joints, skeletal system

Aquarius - ankles, calves, circulatory system

Pisces - feet, toes, lymphatic system, adipose tissue

The twelve signs cover the body from head (Aries) to toe (Pisces) because Aries is the first sign of the zodiac while Pisces is the last. When the Sun passes from Pisces to Aries on or around March 21, the Vernal equinox occurs, which marks the beginning of a new tropical year. Many astrologers celebrate their New Year when the Sun transits over this point, which is also known as the First Point of Aries.

According to Marcus Manilius (1st century AD) in his epic poem (8000 verses) Astronomica, the signs of the zodiac preside over the parts of the body as follows:

Aries -- the head

Taurus -- the neck and throat

Gemini -- the lungs, arms, and shoulders

Cancer -- the chest, breasts, and stomach

Leo -- the heart and upper back

Virgo -- the abdomen and digestive system

Libra -- the kidneys and lumbar region

Scorpio -- the genitals

Sagittarius -- the hips and thighs

Capricorn -- the knees and bones

Aquarius -- the calves, shins, and ankles

Pisces -- the feet

For Manilius' associations between body parts and the planets, see Solar system in astrology.

The planets are also associated with certain portions and functions within the body:

Sun - heart, spine, and general vitality

Moon - stomach, digestive system, female organs, lymphatic system

Mercury - brain, central nervous system, thyroid gland, five senses, hands

Venus - throat, kidneys, thymus gland, sense of touch, ovaries

Mars - muscles, head, adrenal glands, senses of smell and taste

Jupiter - liver, thighs, feet, growth, pituitary gland

Saturn - skin, hair, teeth, bones, the body's defenses, spleen

Uranus - parathyroid gland, neural activity, aura

Neptune - pineal gland, psychic healing

Pluto - pancreas, metabolism, elimination

After examining an individual's natal chart, a medical astrologer may give advice to the client about the areas of the body in which they are most likely to experience trouble. For instance, an individual with the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or many planets in the sign of Aries is presumed to have more headaches than other people because of the association of Aries with the head. A person with Taurus strong in the natal chart is predicted to have many sore throats and problems with the voice because of the Taurean association with that particular part of the body.