Can Medical Astrology Aid in Discovering the Homeopathic Medicine?

By Dr Richard Hiltner

Few subjects are as controversial as medical astrology. When one considers that virtually all of ancient as well as some of the present day medical systems such as Ayurvedic, and other indigenous complementary and alternative systems use medical astrology, one should take a serious look at its potential. The famous psychiatrist Carl Jung, MD is well-known for his advocacy of its use in psychiatry.

Often spoken of as the first to really delineate the Law of Similars, Paracelsus was a Swiss physician born in 1493. He was well-acquainted with medical astrology. 

Most modern physicians who had/have a passion for medical astrology were/are also homeopaths. In the United States H. L. Cornell, MD was the author of “Astrology and the Diagnosis of Disease” in 1918. His Magnum Opus, Encyclopedia of Medical Astrology [958 pages] published in 1933, [now in its 3rd edition] is an essential book in this area. 

William M. Davidson, MD was born in England and lived most of his life in the United States [primarily in Chicago]. He knew homeopathy well and gave a series of lectures in 1958 in New York. This series of eight dealt with “Medical Astrology and Health.” He modernized the association of astrology with anatomy and physiology and was able to express it in relatively simple ways.

The psychiatrist Harry F. Darling, MD was born in Massachusetts in 1919 and studied Dr. Davidson’s work and found through years of practice that the relation of anatomy and physiology with astrology was correct. Dr Darling’s book, Essentials of Medical Astrology was published in 1981. He also authored the book Astropsychiatry.

Leon Vanier, MD was a famous French physician who published in 1955 the book Typology in Homoeopathy. This book depicts physical and psychological types of people associated with the Sun and planets and relationships to Greco-Roman divinities. He states that this is not medical astrology. However, the Greeks and Romans were well-known for the interest in astrology and its association with physical and psychological tendencies. I have personally done natal [birth] charts at no charge on approximately 700 patients and have in the great majority of cases found definite relationships between the Sun, Moon and Ascendant with personality and physical types. Many correspond closely to the types of Leon Vanier. So how can medical astrology help in discovering the correct homeopathic medicine? Vanier’s types are a good start, because they link various homeopathic medicines with the Sun and planets. Also the chart could more fully delineate the personality and its weaknesses which could aid one in seeing this in the mental and emotional picture of the remedy.

It should be clearly stated that my knowledge in medical astrology is not much at this time. It will take years of work and study. Nonetheless, there appears to be no doubt in my mind that it can be another tool in understanding the patient, which might further help in finding the homeopathic medicine as well as other possible medical approaches.

It would be impossible in this short article to go into any detail about medical astrology. Therefore, it is decided to hit some of the highlights and state the following relationship between the Sun and planets and signs by Davidson:

ANATOMY IS CONFINED TO THE SIGNS

PHYSIOLOGY IS CONFINED TO THE PLANETS AND SUN

For example, the adrenal medulla is structurally under Aries; but its secretion of adrenalin is under Mars.

The chart below is taken from the book Medical Astrology by Omar Garrison and lists the more common associations between Signs and Anatomy. It should be emphasized that there are differences of opinion, but these are frequently mentioned.

SIGNS

ANATOMY

ARIES

HEAD, FACE, BRAIN, UPPER JAW AND EYES.

TAURUS

THROAT, NECK, EUSTACHIAN TUBES, CERVICAL VERTEBRAE.

GEMINI

SHOULDERS, ARMS, LUNGS AND NERVOUS SYSTEM

CANCER

EPIGASTRIC REGION, BREAST, STOMACH AND ELBOW JOINTS.

LEO

HEART, GALL BLADDER [], DORSAL REGION OF THE BACK AND SPINE.

VIRGO

ABDOMINAL AREA, SMALL INTESTINES, PANCREAS.

LIBRA

KIDNEYS, LOINS, LUMBAR AREA AND SPLEEN

SCORPIO

GENERATIVE AREA, PROSTATE GLAND, BLADER AND LARGE INTESTINE

SAGITTARIUS

HIPS, THIGHS, COCCYGEAL VERTEBRAE

CAPRICORN

KNEES, SKELETON, SKIN AND [BY REFLEX ACTION THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM [].

AQUARIUS

ANKLES, WRISTS, BONES OF LOWER LIMBS AND EYESIGHT

PISCES

FEET, BODY FLUIDS, GASTROABDOMINAL REGION [BY REFLEX ], LYMPHATIC SYSTEM AND PINEAL.

The Health of the Individual

The Sun

The Sun by sign and aspect=the constitutional vigor.

The Sun=the voltage of vital inflow of force. The flow of current.

The Sun is strongest in the fire signs, then air→water→earth signs

The Moon

The Moon and malefics show the conditions of health.

The Moon by sign and aspects and the malefics=amperage or rate of flow of vitality.

The rhythm [even or uneven] or speed of life.

The Ascendant {Cusp of the 1st House}

The “Resistance” to the Voltage or Vitality.

The Ascendant = the physical body

The Reaction of the Body to Illness is indicated traditionally by the Natal Ascendant, its Ruler and the Planets in the 1st House. Davidson also calls the ascendant a resistance (in respect to electrical resistance to the voltage (Sun) and amperage (flow of the voltage or energy of the Moon]..

Mercury

Relative benefic. It is especially related to the central nervous system and has a balancing effect on the two branches of the autonomic nervous system.

Venus

 A minor benefic. It influences especially the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system associated with the endocrine and sensory, afferent areas of the central nervous system.

Mars and Pluto

MARS and PLUTO are masculine malefics. Davidson describes Mars as hot, dry, inflammatory and infectious. He also calls Pluto a double or triple Mars. Pluto is found where infections are massive (cellulitis, etc.) and when there is likelihood of tissue destruction, such as arthritis deformans, osteomyelitis or gangrene. Mars acts as a general stimulant to the autonomic nervous system and governs adrenalin, specifically. The hormone that stimulates the mesodermally derived tissues. Mars and Pluto also associate physiologically with the anterior pituitarý gland and the gonads.

Jupiter

JUPITER is not necessarily a benefic. It is additive in action for better or for worse, will augment the action of any natal malefic; in adverse aspect a Jupiter transit can be detrimental.

Saturn

SATURN is hardening, concretizing, degenerating and is related to tumor formation when adversely aspecting to the Sun or Moon much as Neptune. However, Neptune relates to the dissemination of illness locally or generally, Saturn concretizes.

Uranus

The coordinator. The cooperator

The virtue of compensation for a defect.

It is especially noticeable with Cardiac problems

If afflicted, there is in-coordination SPASM

E.g. Cuprum [Venus] Arsenicosum.

URANUS is especially accompanied by spasticity or hypotonia or alternation between the two; difficulty with imbalance, kinesthetic sense and equilibrium. Saturn will conflict with Uranus in all the above. Also, adverse aspects with the Sun, Moon or Venus will cause imbalance, spasticity or hypotonia.

Neptune

In good aspect, thought to have spiritual, artistic positive effects.

In bad aspect, a type of porosity or “leakage” of the vital force occurs. 

>Sunshine; >lanolin on chest & back

NEPTUNE is a feminine malefic and is as diffuse, surreptitious, insidious and weakening as in personality/psychological astrology. The chemicals in lymph and plasma are generally under Neptune's influence. Frequently illnesses under Neptune are asymptomatic and discovered when far advanced, and frequently tumors and degenerative diseases. When Mars and Pluto are involved there are infectious in nature, chronic and very insidious in onset. With neuter malefics, Saturn and Uranus, the diseases are degenerations, wasting diseases and tumors. With Mercury this not usually of such severity.

CASE HISTORY 

There were a variety of case histories presented; however, since there is limited space, only one will be mentioned.   

55 y/o ectomorphic. woman was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis and MAC [Mycobacterium Avium Complex] [Tuberculosis Avian] in May 2002.

She had multiple antibiotics and inhalers and was originally seen by me on 7/11/02.

Medications included Tuberculinum, Arsenicum Album, Calcarea Phos., Drosera, Bacillinum and Kali Bichromicum. These were given at different times in a classical manner.

No Antibiotics or inhalers since that initial visit to October 2005. 

This person was probably an Arsenicum Album constitution: She was a perfectionist, anxious, restless, cold feet, symptoms generally worse at night.

Astrologically, the Arsenicum Album personality shows in her Ascendant and Sun in Virgo and a Grand Triune in the earth element [ultra organizational skills to the point of obsession]. Saturn and Ascendant are squaring the Midheaven which is in Gemini [which rules the lungs]. This showing an inherent weakness in the pulmonary area.

Much more could be said on this fascinating and complex subject. Hopefully more information and enthusiasm will ensue on this important tool for understanding medicine and humanity.