Medical astrology

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This old parchment shows the anciently-held link between the 12 signs of the Zodiac and the various parts of the body

Medical astrology 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) are associated with different parts of the human body. Also, many plants are referred to in old treatises on herbs as being "under the influence of" some planet. This was used as a codification of associations of the signs with the parts of the body are as follows:

Aries - head, face, brain, eyes
Taurus - throat, neck, thyroid gland, vocal tract
Gemini - arms, lungs, shoulders, hands, nervous system
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

It has been noted that the 12 signs cover 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 21st, the Vernal equinox occurs, and thus 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.

This table, from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript, links astrological dates with preparation of medicine.

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:

Another version of the anatomical-astrological human

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 would give advice to the client about the areas of the body they are most likely to experience trouble with -- 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.