The periodic changes of the moon
Today, I want to share with you the relationship between the moon and human health.
Whether it is classical astrology, Indian Kundalini and Ayurveda, or even Traditional Chinese Medicine's Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, "full moon" has special explanations and views in different healing systems around the world.
What kind of special characteristics does a full moon have?
Let's first talk about the moon from an astronomical perspective. The moon revolves around the Earth, and the Earth revolves around the sun, with both celestial bodies located within the ecliptic plane. (The ecliptic plane is the orbital plane formed by the Earth's revolution around the sun.)
As shown in the figure, the Earth is in the gravitational field of the Moon and the Sun. Influenced by them, it has its own unique astronomical and geographical characteristics, which also affect every person within this gravitational field.
Let's shift our focus from the universe to the Earth. The ocean covers about 70.8% of the Earth's surface, and the proportion of water in an adult's body is also about 70%. This shows that there is a corresponding relationship between the internal environment of the human body and the external environment of the Earth, and the synchronization rate is very high. Because the gravitational force of the moon varies periodically, when it affects the Earth and produces tidal effects, the human body is also affected
The influence of lunar phases on human blood and Qi
The period of the moon's movement around the ecliptic is 28 days, which corresponds exactly to the number of days in the menstrual cycle that the medical community considers healthy for women. During these 28 days, the shape of the moon (lunar phase) will constantly change, and tidal effects will directly affect the water content in the human body (from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, this is the Qi and blood in the human body), thereby affecting the abundance or decline of the human body's Qi and blood.
The "Huangdi Neijing," a classic text of traditional Chinese medicine, states: "Humans are closely related to the heavens and the earth, and correspond to the moon. Therefore, when the moon is full, the tide in the sea rises in the west, and human blood and Qi accumulate... When the moon is in its waning phase, the tide in the sea rises in the east, and human blood and Qi are weak." This is specifically reflected in the following: "At the beginning of the lunar month, blood and Qi are refined, and the defensive Qi begins to circulate. When the moon is full, blood and Qi are abundant, and the muscles are strong. When the moon is in its waning phase, the muscles weaken, the meridians are empty, the defensive Qi departs, and the body is left alone."
The rise and fall of Qi and blood in the human body are closely related to the changes in the phases of the moon. During the new moon, Qi and blood begin to grow. By the time of the full moon, Qi and blood are full and abundant. During the waning Crescent, Qi and blood weaken, until they return to the new moon phase. The moon affects the regular changes in the human body's Qi and blood, repeating in cycles.
Speaking of this, some people may feel that the moon seems to have more of an impact on women. Does this also have an effect on men?
Actually, the physiological and energetic characteristics of males and females are like the sun and the moon, one representing the prototype of masculine energy and the other representing the prototype of feminine energy. In fact, although they are different genders (male and female), both male and female energies exist in the body at the same time, just like yin and yang - supporting, nourishing, and balancing the overall energy flow.
Similarly, in classical astrology, everyone's birth chart contains the Sun and the Moon, and the prototypes of masculine and feminine energies exist in everyone's body regardless of gender. The strength of each person's masculine and feminine energies varies, and the degree of change reflected when influenced by the Sun or Moon will also differ.
It can be seen that the moon is so important to everyone, not just exclusive to women, but also effective for men. The moon has the fastest orbital cycle among the planets in the solar system, so its impact on human health is also the most direct and rapid.
How to deal with changes in Qi and blood?
When the Qi and blood are relatively weak (during the new moon, waxing crescent moon, and waning crescent moon):
Human blood and Qi have just begun to form, and they are all in a relatively weak state. If the diet is improper, there is exposure to wind and cold, or if affected by external pathogenic factors, it is easier to get sick and develop deficiency syndrome.
Therefore, during the new moon period, it is recommended to use tonifying methods more often. For example, drink more nourishing soups and herbal remedies that help replenish Qi and blood, such as Si Wu Tang, or try dietary therapy with ingredients like red beans, red dates, and glutinous rice. Other methods such as moxibustion can also be used to supplement the body's Qi and blood, helping to restore balance and vitality.
From an energy perspective, the new moon phase is when energy is just beginning to sprout. It is suitable for meditation, sitting in silence, and connecting with the energy of heaven and earth to restore personal energy. At the same time, the new moon is at the starting point of the lunar cycle, making it suitable for making wishes or planning for the upcoming month. By harnessing the energy of the new moon, the entire cycle can proceed smoothly.
When Qi and blood are abundant (full moon)
At this time, the body's blood and energy are abundant, and physiological functions are at a vigorous stage. People's mental state, physical strength, and various aspects are better than during the new moon phase, making it suitable to schedule tasks that require physical or mental strength during this stage.
Regarding the menstrual cycle of women, if there is a strong connection with their inner feminine power, then the menstrual cycle will coincide with the lunar cycle, and menstruation will occur during the time of highest energy (when blood and Qi are most abundant, which is during the full moon).
But for sub-healthy and sick populations, the full moon period is prone to cause empirical evidence due to the abundance of Qi and blood. For example, in elderly people with arteriosclerosis or blood clots, whose blood vessels are already weak in elasticity, the full moon period strengthens the speed of Qi and blood flow. If the energy is too strong (excessive Qi and blood), it is easy to cause empirical evidence such as cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction.
Therefore, for sub-healthy and sick populations, it is important to avoid overeating (drinking, overeating, and eating greasy food) and emotional imbalances (anger, sadness, etc.) during the full moon period. It is advisable to stay calm, rest more, avoid excessive physical exertion, eat a vegetarian diet, and maintain a light diet.
Emotional fluctuations and dietary irregularities can cause imbalance in the body's Qi and blood (energy flow), increasing the likelihood of disease outbreaks and relapses. It is important to control emotions and diet in daily life, and during treatment, purgative methods such as bloodletting, scraping, and cupping are suitable. In daily life, activities that help to guide Qi and blood downwards, such as foot soaking, moxibustion on the toes and Yongquan acupoint, can also be done to help excessive Qi and blood return to the source, rather than wandering around, and achieve the effect of returning to the origin.
From an energetic perspective, the full moon is the strongest point in the lunar cycle. For people with blocked meridians and chakras (especially the central channel), this energy cannot be balanced throughout the body's various chakras and meridians, which can lead to an excess of energy in the upper three chakras (i.e. the Traditional Chinese Medicine Upper Jiao system) and cause abnormal physical and emotional fluctuations (such as insomnia, irritability, tinnitus, mouth ulcers, anger, anxiety, headaches, etc.).
The coping methods include doing more standing meditation, sitting in quiet meditation, or meditation related to grounding, in order to evenly distribute the excessive energy in the upper three chakras to the lower three chakras, achieving balance of the overall energy, that is, the balance of body, mind and spirit.
I hope everyone can deepen their understanding of why "the moon" is so valued in different treatment systems from the perspectives of traditional Chinese medicine and energy, and use the lunar cycle to regulate our body state in a reasonable way. At the same time, maintaining a healthy diet and normal daily routine, as well as having a positive and optimistic attitude, are also very important.