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Your astrological
chart/profile describes your unique constitutional makeup. From this,
a medical astrologer can identify health issues you are most likely to
experience, as well as specific recommendations of what you can do to
regain and maintain optimum well-being. Astrology identifies four basic
constitutional types: fire, earth, air and water.
A simple
way to identify your constitutional type is to start with your Sun sign,
the Sun being symbolic of one's essence and vitality. If you are familiar
with your birth chart, you can look beyond the basic Sun sign to see if
you have a large number of planets in any one of the four elements. If
you do, you can apply the information below to that element in addition
to your basic Sun sign.
The fire
signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, and are considered to possess the
most energy and vitality of all the signs. The air signs, Gemini, Libra
and Aquarius, are considered the second most vital, though more reactive
to external stimuli. The water signs, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, are
more changeable and emotionally reactive. The earth signs are Taurus,
Virgo and Capricorn, and possess great steadiness and endurance, though
not the vital spark of fire or air.
The maintenance
of health is a process of constant readjustment to change. We each tend
to experience periods of excess or deficiency of our constitutional element,
which require adjustment of diet, lifestyle or even supplementation.
Fire Constitution: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius
Fire rules
the function of internal combustion or digestion—the burning up or absorption
of food. Fire also purifies the system by burning off toxins, viruses,
bacteria and fungus. Fire signs easily fight disease. Their constitution
naturally tends toward high temperatures and inflammations in this process.
Excess
Fire
Fire signs,
when unbalanced to excess or overstimulation, are prone to burning themselves
out. They do not naturally conserve or pace themselves. Excess fire burns
with adrenalin energy, is ardent and excitable. Excess fire can be impatient
and angry, or internalizes it into hypertension, heart problems, ulcers
or inflammations. Excess fire is brought back into balance by foods that
are cold, moist and heavy, or slow-burning foods that ground energy, such
as grains and root vegetables.
Anything
that stimulates the system aggravates excess fire, such as spicy foods
or red meat. Herbs, particularly relaxants (such as chamomile or lemon
balm) and sedatives (skullcap, valerian) serve to cool the system, draw
energy down and disperse excess fire.
Low
Fire
When your
fire is low, it may be hard to burn off or fight disease. Digestion and
absorption of food are inadequate. Eat foods that are hot, light, dry
and aromatic. Avoid cold foods. Hot spices and sour foods such as lemons
and yogurt are good, as are whole grains cooked in oil. Bitter greens
such as kale, mustard or collard greens support digestion. Keep dairy
and meat to a minimum, and eat frequent light meals.
A main meal
eaten at lunchtime takes advantage of maximum fire at midday. Use digestive
stimulants such as cayenne, mustard and cloves, circulatory stimulants
such as cinnamon and garlic, or ginger, which is stimulating to both the
digestive and circulatory systems.
Air
Constitution: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius
Air rules
the nervous and circulatory systems and the function of movement, peristalsis,
urination and breathing. Air people are easily stimulated, with quick
and extremely sensitive minds that are easily thrown off balance and overwhelmed.
Excess
Air
Overactive,
restless, sensitive minds and nervous exhaustion plague air signs, as
does dry skin, hair and mucus membranes, insomnia and memory loss from
systemic overload. Excess air benefits from scheduled windows of quiet,
with minimal stimulation, to allow the nervous system to recharge itself.
Air energy
tends to collect high in the body, and benefits from a diet rich in earthy
foods that draw the energy down, such as grains and root crops. Raw foods
aggravate excess air and should be avoided, except in the summer months.
Instead, use lightly steamed or even boiled vegetables served with oil
dressing, nuts or croutons. Avoid yeasty foods and refined sugars. Enzymes
allow nutrients to be better absorbed.
Low
Air
When the
air element is low, there is difficulty with the flow of energy through
the body. A weakened nervous system benefits from mineral supports such
as calcium and magnesium, and circulatory stimulants such as gingko, cayenne,
garlic and ginger. Gotu kola and FoTi stimulate brain activity. Low air
responds well to dairy (especially easily-digested yogurt, kefir).
Foods that
are light, drying and stimulating are supportive. Avoid heavy foods, eat
plenty of raw foods, vegetable juices and sprouted seeds. Oats in any
form—oatmeal, oatstraw tea or oat tincture, are tonifying to a weak nervous
sytem without being sedating. Bitter tonics such as dandelion root or
angostura bitters stimulate the digestive process and draw energy down
through the body.
Part Two of this article explores the water and earth elements.
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