Lunar Herbs: In general,lunar herbs can be used in a number of ways. One common use, for instance, is to give an herb for symptomatic relief of a condition. An example of this is offering a cup of willow tea to someone complaining of a headache. Or, offering an infusion of chickweed for someone who suffers from the effects of an ulcer. This method often works quite well, but there are times when deeper considerations need to be made. That is, it is often important to take note of the overall temperament of the person who is ill or stricken, in order to assess what kinds of herbs they would do best to take. For example, someone who runs hot and is often flushed and occasionally angry would likely do do best to take lunar herbs on a regular basis. As lunar herbs are cooling, relaxing, and moistening, the hot and flushed person will be more balanced with such herbs. Meanwhile, someone who has a more lethargic and quiet nature with a heavier body type and cool skin would do better to take more heating, moving herbs. The idea assessing temperament to determine treatment plans is an age-old idea that continues to be used in ayurvedic and traditional Islamic (unani-tibb) medicine. Giving medicine according to temperament also formed the basis of traditional European medicine, as was outlined by the early herbalists Hippocrates and Galen.
Traditional European Medicine: In traditional European medicine, each person carried a dominant temperamental type that corresponded to the four elements. So, in this system, the choleric type corresponds to the fire element, and is generally thought to be passionate, exuberant, willful, playful, dynamic, and prone to anger. He or she also often runs hot. The sanguine type corresponds to the air element and tends to be merry, excitable, and intelligent, with a tendency towards nervousness and slight heat conditions. The phlegmatic type, meanwhile, corresponds to the water element and tends to be sensitive, impressionable, artistic, and emotional. He or she also tends to run a little cool and can develop immune system problems. The melancholic type corresponds to the earth element and tends to be grounded, practical, productive, and steadfast. He or she also tends to run cool and can get into periods of feeling struck and depressive. If you learn to apply the temperamental method of assessing illness, and then developed a treatment plan based on your type, lunar herbs would tend to work best for the choleric and sanguine types. Lunar herbs are generally cooling, moistening, and relaxing. These qualities are more helpful for the hot blooded choleric type and nervous sanguine type.
Decumbiture and Lunar Illnesses: One other method used traditionally to diagnose health conditions was to consider a person’s astrological chart at the time of illness. This method is known as decumbiture and is said to give clues as to the nature of the illness, as well as to the treatment principles needed for affecting a cure. In this method, certain plants are seen as the cause of the disease. Each planet, including the sun and the moon, are associated with different illness patterns. For example, Mars is associated with hot, acute, and fast-action illnesses such as high fevers. Saturn is associated with long-standing, chronic, and wasting diseases. If the illness was associated with cold and excessively damp, the moon was the offending planet. With Moon-based illnesses, the sick person may tend towards lethargy and fatigue and often carry an excess of phlegm. Illnesses associated with the Moon include digestive problems, water metabolism problems, catarrh, menstrual difficulties, rheumatic and arthritic pains, eye infections or disability, poor immune system, intestinal diseases, and bladder and kidney stones.
Antipathic and Sympathetic Treatment of Illness: Once you determine the planet that is most associated with the illness in question, Traditional European medicine often prescribes one of two ways of healing the disease. In an antipathic cure, herbs were offered that would balance and offset the nature of the illness. For example, if the illness was lunar in nature, solar herbs were prescribed to balance the condition. (Solar herbs include such plants as St. John’s wort, marigold, and angelica.) Of course picking the proper herb depended on the exact properties of the herbs. The other method of curing an illness is to use the sympathetic cure. This method of treatment is most favored by homeopaths who believe that " like cures like." In this method, an herb of the same nature of the illness is used to affect the cure. For example, someone who has lunar health problems such as stomach tension and cramping would do well to take a lunar herb such as willow to reduce the pain. Again, the exact abilities of each herb would be examined to see what is most appropriate for a health condition.
Connecting with Lunar Herbs: Long ago, early astrologers and physicians classified herbs according to particular physical traits and according to their health benefits. These herbs were associated with the five planets, the Sun, and the Moon. Lunar herbs carry particular characteristics that make them unique and link them to each other. These herbs have been especially useful in treating a number of health conditions such as stomach problems, inability to lactate, and mood disorders. The next time you go into your garden or to a nearby weed patch, examine how any herbs you find carry lunar qualities. Then experiment with them as medicines for healing common complaints. You may find through experimentation that you are particularly attracted to lunar herbs for healing. And Remember, this was not meant to diagnose, treat, prescribe, or substitute for consultation with a licensed health care professional. Herbs, wether used internally or externally, should be introduced in small amounts to allow the body to adjust and to detect possible allergies. Please consult a standard reference source, or an expert herbalist, to learn more about the possible effects of certain herbs. In my next related article, I will list and discuss several more Lunar Herbs and their benefits.
