The world today dreads health — with the fear of AIDS, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, psychiatric problems, etc.
The modern system of medicine, whether allopathic and/or alternative medicines, offers only a few guiding factors for preventing these dreaded diseases — or for early detection so that these problems can respond to symptomatic treatment.
No other science or system has the twin capacity of astrology to both forewarn and forearm. The divine science of astrology offers the preventive remedies for such diseases wherever the possibility of such a disease is indicated by the predictive capacity of astrology.
We come across the malfunctioning of health even at the time of birth, where the individual concerned has not done anything in this lifetime to cause these problems — such as poor eating habits, smoking, drinking, lack of exercise, etc.
Astrology relates these problems to the deeds of the past life based on the theory of Karma. This is not orthodoxy or blind faith or fatalism, but rather the experience of astrologers who apply this science and the astrological remedies in the timing of diseases and their recovery.
The timing is done with the help of the horoscope, which is a record of the planetary positions prevailing at the time of birth of a particular person at a particular place.
All sciences depend on the experience of the practitioner by way of observations and the analysis of any hypothesis based on these observations. Astrology, as a divine science, is misunderstood and termed a superstition without scientific trial by the so-called rationalists.
Now, however, despite the phenomenal progress in modern healing sciences, the permanent cure for functional health problems — be it psychological, renal, cardiovascular, asthmatic, liver, cancer, immunization, etc. — have not been found.
Astrology, on the other hand, offers the preventive diagnostic power and the astral remedies for both preventive and curative measures.
Further, administering medicine is supported manifold when combined with the astral remedies.
Moreover, the planetary periods operating indicate the timeframe for recovery. This in turn gives patience and results of the symptomatic treatment both to the doctor and the patient.
Vedic astrology is a most valuable gift of the Vedas to humankind and is the legacy of India.
PRIME DETERMINANTS FOR HEALTH
The prime determinants of health are the planets ruling the ascendant and the sixth house — if there is a mooltrikona sign in these houses.
If there is no mooltrikona sign in the ascendant, then the lord of the sixth house containing a mooltrikona sign becomes the primary determinant.
If neither the ascendant nor the sixth house contains a mooltrikona sign, then the Sun (the significator for vitality), is considered the prime determinant of health.
The following table shows the planets that act as prime determinants for health for various rising signs.
PRIME DETERMINANTS FOR HEALTH
ASCENDANT PRIME DETERMINANTS
Aries Mars and Mercury
Taurus Venus
Gemini Sun
Cancer Moon and Jupiter
Leo Sun
Virgo Mercury and Saturn
Libra Venus
Scorpio Mars
Sagittarius Jupiter
Capricorn Sun
Aquarius Saturn and the Moon
Pisces Sun
The Sun is the significator of health and vitality, and Mars is the secondary significator of health and vitality.
If both the prime determinant(s) and the primary and secondary significators are weak, badly placed and/or afflicted, then the native is vulnerable to serious health problems.
If the planets mentioned above are strong, well placed and unafflicted, then the native enjoys good health with the exception of short-term sufferings due to transit weakness and afflictions.
In addition to considering the prime determinants of health, we also consider the health afflictors, which vary for each ascendant.
HEALTH AFFLICTORS
ASCENDANT AFFLICTORS
Aries Mercury, Rahu, Ketu
Taurus Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Rahu, Ketu
Gemini Rahu, Ketu
Cancer Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu
Leo Moon, Rahu, Ketu
Virgo Saturn, Mars, Sun, Rahu, Ketu
Libra Mercury, Rahu, Ketu
Scorpio Mars, Venus, Rahu, Ketu
Sagittarius Moon, Rahu, Ketu
Capricorn Sun, Jupiter, Rahu, Ketu
Aquarius Moon, Mercury, Rahu, Ketu
Pisces Sun, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu
The absence of close natal afflictions is a great asset.
Transit influences are always short-lived. The weak planets predate the aging process but the afflictors are the real damaging agents.
IDENTIFYING HEALTH PROBLEMS
Use the following process to identify health problems:
1. Identify the concentrated malefic influence on the most effective points of various houses, and also identify the weak planets in a chart.
2. Identify the sub periods of the afflicting (malefic) planets, and the afflicted planets, along with the significators of the health problems.
3. Examine the transits of planets (with reference to the natal ascendant) of slow-moving or stationary functional malefic planets — especially on the most effective points of various houses and/or the weak and afflicted planets.
The following are the significators of the health problems:
Weak Planets: The weak planets are not in a position to protect their general significations or the significations of the houses containing their mooltrikona sign. Therefore, the native suffers on account of the malfunctioning of the health issues ruled by the weak planets.
Weak planets include those in the first five degrees (state of infancy) or last five degrees (state of old age) of a sign; those badly placed in the sixth, eighth, or twelfth houses; and those debilitated in the natal and/or divisional charts.
Afflicted Planets: Those planets which are under the close influence of the afflicting (functional malefic) planets as shown in the previous table either by conjunction or aspect are considered afflicted planets.
The close influence of the lord of the sixth house and Rahu causes diseases that may respond to treatment.
The close influence of the functional malefic planets ruling the eighth and twelfth houses, and the planet Ketu, gives chronic diseases. Further, if the afflicted planet under this influence is weak and badly placed the native may have to undergo surgery, or other significant treatments, or even suffers from fatal diseases.
Planetary Periods: The sub periods of the afflicting planets (as shown in the previous table) and the sub periods of the planets placed in the malefic houses are also significators of the health problems.
These sub periods give rise to the trends that continue throughout the sub periods. These trends, however, can be reversed if the prime determinant planets are strong and the sub periods that follow are of strong, well-placed and unafflicted planets.
Transit Influences: Illness can be triggered by the close transit influence of slow moving planets on the natal planets. If the natal afflicted planets are strong, the illness ends after the transit impact is over. If, however, the natal afflicted planets are weak or badly placed, and the sub periods of the afflictors are in progress, then the illness turns into chronic illness.
TIMING OF ILLNESS
Health problems surface when the significator houses, planets, and prime determinants are weak in a natal chart and the periods of the afflictors are in operation.
Afflictors creating close influence on the most effective point of the twelfth house or the planets placed in the twelfth house generate hospitalization.
The following table shows when the problems of ill health surface.
The problems of ill health surface during:
The sub period of the lord of the ascendant.
The sub period of the lord of the sixth house.
The sub period of the planet causing the affliction.
The sub period of the afflicted planet.
The transit influence of malefics on weak natal positions.
RULERSHIP OF PLANETS OVER HEALTH
In the following paragraphs we review the basic functioning of the systems of the body and identify the planet(s) that correspond to the various issues.
Lymphatic System: This system is the main line of defense of the body against the attack of disease. Lymphs are clear liquids containing white blood cells flowing in the lymphatic vessels. These are associated with the Moon, which has been identified as the significator for the immunization system.
Skin: A healthy and pink skin is indicative of good functional health. It reflects on the personality of a person and his or her focus on sexual feelings and expressions. The skin is represented by the lord of the ascendant, along with Venus, Mercury, Mars, Moon and even the Sun — as the blood is a contributor in the formation of the skin.
Vision: The Moon governs eyesight. The Sun rules distant vision. Venus rules the beauty of the eyes.
Hearing Power: Mercury rules the power of communication and Jupiter rules the intelligence. Both planets play an important part as significators for the effective hearing power.
Osteo-Arthritis: This is one of the diseases for which there is no fixed relationship of cause and treatment in medicine and the whole emphasis is on “painkillers.”
Our research reveals that osteo-arthritis/gout pains are caused by the weakness of Mars, Venus and Saturn, along with afflictions of the functional malefic planets to the most effective point of the tenth house.
Fortunately, the application of preventive astral remedies has shown encouraging results for this disease.
Diabetes: This is another disease known for its dreaded mal-effects. The persons suffering from diabetes become extremely weak. Their bodies loose the power to heal from any type of boils, wounds, etc.
Diabetes causes trouble in the eyes and abnormal blood pressure if the patient is careless in his or her food habits.
To analyze diabetes astrologically, let us first see the reasons for this disease in the medical science and the body parts involved.
Food is converted into digestible glucose in the liver. Insulin released by the pancreas glands located behind the stomach converts glucose into energy for the use of the body.
If the release of insulin is not normal as per the requirement of the body — if it is less or suppressed due to any defects or other reasons — then glucose is not converted into energy. In this case the person suffers from hyperglycemia — meaning that the glucose level in the blood has increased.
Further, if the filters in the kidneys are not functioning properly, the glucose passes through urine.
The key to diagnosing diabetes is to consider afflictions to the body parts signified by the fifth house, along with the planets that rule them. These are liver (Jupiter), kidneys (Venus), pancreas (Jupiter), and food digestion (Sun).
We conclude that the sign Leo, the Sun, the lord of the fifth house, the lord of the first house and the planets Jupiter and Venus, if afflicted in the natal chart, make the native prone to this disease.
TIMING OF RECOVERY OF PATIENTS
The diverse application of astrology includes the timing of events, including recovery from health problems.
The timing of events is done with the help of the planets that rule the sub periods and the transit of planets over the natal chart.
In an atmosphere of suspense when medical practitioners cannot assure others about the condition of the patient, we are impelled to turn to astrology to know the likely end of the event.
First, we must understand that the timing of serious illness is governed by the factors shown in the following table.
Factors That Govern The Timing Of Illness
The sub periods of the weak and afflicted natal planets.
The sub period of the planet whose mooltrikona sign falls in the sixth house (if forming a close conjunction or aspect with another natal planet or the most effective point of a particular house).
The transit malefic influences on the weak and/or badly placed natal planetary configurations.
Further, consider that the planets which are in the state of combustion, placed in the malefic (sixth, eighth, and twelfth) houses, occupying debilitated signs in the natal or division charts, or are in the state of infancy or old age, are considered weak.
Planets that occupy the mooltrikona sign of a weak or afflicted planet are also considered weak.
The afflicting planets are the functional malefics as per each rising sign. The afflicted planets are those planets that are closely conjunct or closely aspected by the functional malefics.
The close conjunctions and aspects are only applicable if the planets are within a five-degree range of each other.
To analyze the recovery of a patient we study the horoscope and/or a chart based on the moment of inquiry. The duration of the recovery period is worked out through the study of the current sub period planet, and the separating malefic transit influence.
When the slow-moving planets like Rahu, Ketu, Saturn, and Jupiter exercise stationary afflictions, the duration of the critical condition of the patient is considerably longer.
The pace of the recovery depends upon the general strength of the planets in transit.
SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF HEALTH ISSUES
First, create the natal chart of the patient. If the patient’s birth data is not available, create a (prashna) chart based on the moment of the inquiry, or use the birth data of one of the patient’s close relatives to create a chart for analysis.
Next, identify the slow moving planet(s) exerting malefic influence in the chart by transit — (where the planets are currently).
After identifying the functional malefic planet(s) causing the serious condition, gauge the strength of the natal position of the afflicted planet or house. Find out if the affliction is on the most effective point of a house ruled by a weak planet or on a weak natal planet.
Also gauge the transit strength of the identified weak and afflicted planet.
If the sub period of a natal functional benefic is operating, the results may not be serious and the recovery depends on the separation of the transit malefic influence on the weak natal positions.
The seriousness may be reduced when the malefic influence separates by one degree from the afflicted planet or most effective point of the house.
Thereafter, the recovery may be possible when the separating effect is a full five degrees apart between the afflicting planet and the afflicted planet or house.
The general strong position of the transit planet speeds up the recovery, while the weak position delays the same.
The brightness and strength of the Moon is also a significant factor for consideration. For example, the transit affliction of the Moon gives the possible timing of setbacks indicating deterioration in condition.
The brief spells of the transit affliction on the Moon should be avoided for major medical remedies such as starting a new medication, operations, etc., to avoid immediate complications in the treatment.