The Moon's Effect on Health

According to the Ayurvedic system of medicine every disease initially affects the mind, then it spreads in the body and produces visible symptoms coupled with discomfort. Astrology regards the Moon as the karaka (significator) for mind ¼pUnzek eulks tkr%½. Being nearest to the earth, the Moon influences earthly vegetation and living beings through control of the water content in their system. The Moon draws energy from the Sun and uses it for procreation and growth, a maternal function, and is therefore, considered karaka for mother. As the fastest moving planet, Moon is also responsible for fluctuations in human mood.

The Moon is exalted in Taurus (3°) and is debilitated in the opposite sign Scorpio (3°). It is considered to be of medium strength from Sukla Paksha Pratipada (first lunar day of the bright half) upto Dasami; fully strong from Shukla Ekadasi (11th lunar day of bright half) to Krishna Panchami (5th lunar day of dark half), and weak from Krishna Shashti (6th lunar day of dark half) to Amavasya (New Moon). The Moon produces good results for Aries, Cancer, Libra, Scorpio and Pisces Ascendant natives, being the lord of the 4th, 1st, 10th 9th and 5th house respectively. When Moon is strong, free from malefic influence and aspected by benefics, it cancels all the blemishes and makes the native healthy, cheerful and prosperous.

The reason has been explained by Mantreswara in the sloka

(Phaladeepika , Ch.IV.11), meaning, the strength of the Moon boosts up the strength of all other planets. The Moon primarily governs the childhood period of life. Hence, when at birth Moon is weak, in Rasi Sandhi, conjoined with malefics and without any benefic aspect or there is no benefic in a Kendra, it shows danger to the life of the child. According to Brihat Jataka (Ch. VI. 11):

"If the Moon with malefics occupies the 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 1st or 8th house, and is not aspected by or combined with powerful Venus, Mercury or Jupiter, death comes early."

Diseases and Signs : A weak and afflicted Moon in the 6th house causes frequent illness and native does not enjoy good health.

According to Laghu Jataka (Ch. IV. 2) Moon is windy, phlegmatic and controls blood Any affliction to Moon causes diseases due to these factors. The likely diseases caused by Moon when in different signs are as follows:

Moon in Aries : The health is average. Affliction to the Moon causes disease of lungs, breathing problems and blood related ailments.

Moon in Taurus : Being exalted, the Moon gives good health and endurance. When afflicted the native suffers from diseases of eyes, throat, tonsils, speech and neck.

Moon in Gemini : The native is healthy, but the Moon's affliction causes diseases of lungs, breathing problems and blood related ailments.

Moon in Cancer : Being in own sign, the Moon here gives good health. If afflicted, it causes diseases of the chest, stomach and blood.

Moon in Leo : The native is healthy. If afflicted, the native suffers from giddiness, heart and blood ailments.

Moon in Virgo: The native is healthy and has good resistance against disease. An afflicted Moon causes stomach, digestive and skin problems.

Moon in Libra: The native is healthy and has good resistance. When afflicted, the native suffers from kidney, blood, urinary and back problems. He may also have head and stomach ailments.

Moon in Scorpio: The Moon is debilitated here and hence the native falls sick frequently. Health i weak in childhood mostly. He suffers from urinary troubles and diseases of private part.

Moon in Sagittarius: The native has a strong build, but if Moon is afflicted he suffers from blood, liver and nerve ailments, sciatica and lumbago pains.

Moon in Capricorn: The native has little resistance to diseases due to which ill health torments him for long. He suffers from constipation, urticaria and rheumatism.

Moon in Aquarius: The native has good resistance power, but if Moon is afflicted he suffers from anaemia, giddiness and weakness. He may also suffer from eyes and nervous complaints.

Moon in Pisces: Moon here attracts diseases and native catches infection early. He suffers from blood related ailments, diseases of feet, soles and corns.

Ailments in Moon Dasa : The Moon causes illness during his Dasa, according to his location in the horoscope as follows:

• If Moon as Ascendant lord is weak and afflicted in the 6th, the native suffer from one or the other ailment.

• If weak and afflicted Moon is in the 8th or 12th house with a malefic, and there is no benefic in a Kendra then there is danger of Balarishta (death in childhood).

• Moon is the karaka for the right eye in female charts and the left eye in male charts. When Moon is lord of the 2nd or the 12th house and afflicted by Saturn or other melefics, the native suffers from eye diseases which weaken the eyesight.

• Moon covers the chest, and Mercury breathing. When Moon, sign Cancer, Mercury and sign Gemini are afflicted by Rahu and Saturn, the native suffers from asthama.

• When Moon, Sun Mars are in the 6th, the native suffers from colic pains.

• When Moon and Cancer are afflicted by Saturn, Rahu and Mars without any benefic aspect, the native gets tuberculosis.

• Moon controls the flow of blood and Mercury the skin. When both are afflicted by Saturn, Mars and Rahu, then the native suffers from leucoderma ( white patches on skin).

• When Moon is in the 5th, 8th or 12th with Rahu and afflicted by any other malefic, then the native is psychiatric, timid, depressed and has suicidal tendencies.

Effects of Transit : The transit of planets in different houses from natal Moon causes illness related to the house occupied by the Moon and the karkattwa of the transiting planet.

Timing of Operation : According to classics, surgical operation of the part of the body represented by the house through which Moon is transiting on the date of surgery will not be successful. For example, when Moon is transiting through Aries, then the operation of head and eyes should be avoided. When Moon is transiting Taurus, then tonsils, throat and mouth surgeries should be avoided. In addition, the sign representing the part of the body being operated upon should be occupied by or aspected by benefics and Mars and Saturn should not aspect each other.

Taking of Medicine : Medicine taken when Moon transits Cancer and Pisces (watery signs) produce good results. Though Scorpio is also a watery sign it is excluded because Moon is debilitated there. Chaturthi, Navami, Chaturdasi and Amavasya Tithis should be avoided for start of medication. Similarly, taking medicine on Janma Nakshatra day is not fruitful. While starting the medication the 7th, 8th and 12th houses counted from the Moon and Ascendant should be without any planet.

During acute illness, condition improves when Moon in transit conjoins benefic planets. When Moon conjoins with the lord of the 6th, 8th or other malefics, then there is deterioration in one's condition and the medicines taken may not produce the desired relief. For psychiatric treatment, the transit of the Moon through Cancer and Pisces (watery signs) and in Gemini, Libra and Aquarius (airy signs) is helpful.

Remedial Measures : When weak and afflicted Moon is causing disease, the native should strengthen him by:

• Wearing a good quality pearl of 6.25 to 6.5 ratti in silver on the little finger of the right hand during Shukla Paksha on Monday after Moonrise after due purification of the pearl.

• The native should wear white clothes and donate white items (milk, curd, rice, white flowers, white sandal, silver ring, etc.) on Mondays to a young Brahmin lady.

• The native should touch the feet of his mother (charansparsha) daily in the morning and seek her blessings.

• He should propitiate the malefics afflicting the Moon through Puja and Mantra japa.

The following Sloka of Durga Saptasati is effective for early recuperation. It should be- recited daily in morning after bath, lighting a pure Ghee lamp and sitting in front of the photograph or idol of Goddess Durga. One, three or eleven malas (108 times) of the Sloka using Tulsi beads or Rudraksha should be done depending on the severity of the disease. When the native is not able to do it himself, then a member of the family can do it on his behalf after taking a Sankalpa to that effect. The Mantra is as follows:

Diseases are the result of sins committed in past births. The remedial measures are medicines, charity, Japa, Homa and Divine Worship. Among other measures Mrityunjaya Mantra Homa has been regarded panacea for all types of diseases.

The worship of Brahmins is essential for all Homas.

Discussion of Horoscopes

(1) Female: DOB: 6.11.1980, 5.45 AM, Delhi

The native was born in Chitra Nakshatra (2nd Pada). Mars as 2nd and 7th lord, is in 2nd house with Herschel and Neptune. It is aspected by Rahu. Lagna is occupied by debilitated Sun lord of 11th (6th from 6th)

Lagna lord Venus is debilitated in 12th house. Moon is in 12th at Rasi Sandhi (29°57'). It is dispositor of Rahu and with 6th lord Jupiter, debilitated Venus, Pluto and Saturn in 12th house. During whole of Rahu dasa she has been suffering from one or the other ailment. Jupiter dasa, which started on 15.5.2002, is also bad from health angle.

(2) Male: DOB: 5.9.1976, 5.30 PM, Mauranipur (UP)

Moon is in 12th house and aspected by Saturn from 6th house. Mars aspects 2nd house (right eye) and Ketu aspects Sun. Sun though in own house is in papkartari yoga. The native during Moon dasa had eye problems for about 7 years. The next dasa was of Mars who is posited in 8th house and aspects 2nd house. Due to persistent eye problem and weak eyesight, a checkup was done at AIIMS Delhi which diagnosed weakness of optic nerve due to chronic eye ailments. The native cannot move during bright Sun light.

(3) Female: 10.10.1982, 1.45 PM, Bareilly (UP)

Moon is with Rahu in 6th house and aspected by Mars from 11th house. It is also aspected by Ketu and Neptune from 12th house. During Saturn dasa-Rahu bhukti the native complained of frequent stomach ache and vomiting which was initially diagonised as education and examination stress. On not getting relief detailed tests were conducted which revealed stones in gallbladder. On 22.6.04 (Saturn-Rahu-Mercury) her gallbladder was removed through operation. As Moon is with Rahu, the native gets nervous and worried quickly.