fbpx
logo-tmaa-orange

Traditional Medical Astrology – The Elements and Humors

Traditional Medical Astrology is a specific branch of Traditional Astrology which deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of health issues. This is the astrology that was practiced widely in Europe until the 18th century when doctors were also astrologers.

The Building Blocks

Every object in our perceivable universe is composed of four building blocks called elements (fire, air, water and earth). Our bodies and minds are no exception. Disease arises when an imbalance in those four elements reaches a certain critical level. Too much fire indicates that our body is too hot and too dry, too much earth: too cold and too dry, and so on. That root imbalance will manifest through the weakest parts of our body/mind according to our constitution and history; what we then see are the symptoms of the imbalance both physically and mentally.

An astrological chart is cast in order to map out the conditions of a living organism and determine whether there is an imbalance present and to what extent. Then the practitioner is able to accurately tell what course that imbalance is likely to take if nothing is done about it. Based on that information a treatment to restore balance can be devised.

The Four Elements

In Medical Astrology those four elements are referred to as humors. They are:

FIRE

(Yellow Choler)
Hot and Dry

WATER

(Phlegm)
Cold and Moist

AIR

(Blood)
Hot and Moist

EARTH

(Black Choler)
Cold and Dry

Symptoms vs. Root Cause

Various traits set traditional healing systems such as Medical Astrology apart from modern western medicine. The main one to be understood is that through a medical astrological chart two very distinct facets of a disease (humoral imbalance) can be accurately determined: the symptoms, that is — how the imbalance or disease manifests or appears to the observer AND the root cause which gave rise to the symptoms.

With that information in-hand, the practitioner devises a treatment to both minimize the uncomfortable, painful, or life threatening symptoms AND eradicate the root cause. Treatments that only address the symptoms are often able to suppress them, but since the root cause remains un-addressed the symptoms either return more strongly or new/different symptoms arise. Thus, the body begins to accumulate a collection of illnesses all chained to a central humoral imbalance that was never seen.

Example: A Heavy Cold

The symptom can be an infection, inflammation or fever which is a clear picture of excess of  fire (yellow choler). The root cause however, in most cases, is an excess of water (phlegm) in the body.

How does modern western medicine address the cold? By killing the infection with antibiotics and reducing the fever. That is, it suppresses the symptoms; but along with that it hinders the body’s natural healing process. Thus the treatment is, in fact, hurting the body and not healing it in the long run. If that is done once or twice it is not much of a problem; but if that process is repeated every time one catches a heavy cold the immune system gets debilitated and a chronic snowball of symtoms begin with more and more colds in frequency, duration and strength.

The actual cure in reality involves raising the body’s temperature in order to dry it up and remove the excess of coldness and moisture (water) which caused the problem in the first place. This, by the way, the body knows how to do well on its own. The traditional healer would simply assist the process and provide means to reduce the symptomatic discomfort, and remove any danger of extreme heat..

Of course, there are extreme cases in which the imbalance is so severe that we need antibiotics and fever reducing measures in order to save a life.

Treating the elemental root cause of the illness is paramount in true healing. If that is not done, chronic diseases develop as aging progresses.

Would you like to learn and practice the subjects discussed in this article? Here are some of the courses offered at the Academy.

Traditional Medical Horary Astrology Foundation Course

Traditional Medical Astrology Foundation Course

Learn the foundational concepts and techniques of traditional horary astrology applied to medical and psychological matters. Standalone course or preparatory for the Applied Traditional Medical Astrology Course.

Applied Traditional Medical Astrology Course

Applied Traditional Medical Astrology Course

Learn horary, natal, and decumbiture techniques. Thoroughly practice diagnosing the proportion of humors in any organism and learn how to take appropriate healing measures.

Traditional Psychological Horary Astrology Course

Traditional Psychological Astrology Course

A course for experienced horary astrologers who wish to deepen their understanding of the psyche and the root of unnecessary suffering. Answer questions on emotional, mental, metaphysical and spiritual matters. Learn humoral diagnosis and how to take measures to balance the humors / elements.

Subscribe for news, articles and updates!