Planets in Medical Astrology: Saturn

Posted Thu, 2009-10-01 18:55 by Yubraj Sharma


Saturn is the Lord of Karma and as such is a major factor in karmic causes of disease and chronic weakness of any part of the body. Saturn's influence in the disease process is through restricting, obstructing, hardening, crystallising, depleting, suppressing, contracting and inhibiting. These verbs describe the essential nature of Saturn and often take place in the part of the body governed by the sign in which it is placed at birth. What lies behind this pathophysiological process is usually fear or guilt, the origin of which, is usually past life. An experience that a soul could not resolve during life or between death and rebirth is transformed into a force that conditions the physical body in the subsequent life thereby forcing the soul to deal with it. By engaging consciously with the illness or under active organ the individual clears his karma much more rapidly than if he or she were to lament his or her fate and be resigned to the illness. It is through this process of engaging consciously with one's fears, guilt and karma that many karmic illnesses can either be alleviated or even reversed.


The seven-year cycle associated with Saturn often sees the timings of illnesses. The onset of degenerative illness such as arteriosclerosis, arthritis and senility often takes place at the second Saturn opposition, which occurs at around 42-44 years of age. The Saturn square frequently sees the worsening of any chronic illness, as does transiting Saturn passing through the sixth house (the house of health and illness).

The first lunar month of pregnancy comes under the influence of Saturn and is the time the whole foundations of the child are laid.

Saturn is often described as the 'Great Malefic', and a major negative influence on health. Nonetheless, it is an essential energy for balancing other forces such as the Moon and Neptune (dissolving), Mars and Pluto (activating, fiery). Saturn deals with all processes that are:


  1. Contracting in nature, where tissue densifies. This imparts coagulation to the soul forces, and enabled the ego during the Greco-Roman period to more greatly possess the physical body. Excessive contraction is connected to the Chinese concept of exterior/interior Cold invasion, which is usually affecting the kidneys, spleen and intestines and is related to kidney yang deficiency. Contraction problems include knotted tense sensations inside (e.g. Anacardium strange/rare/peculiar symptoms). Extreme contraction may lead to atrophy of body parts.

  2. Cold states, with shutdown of blood circulation. Without enough of the cold dynamic, there is excessive heat, vitality and a quickening of the metabolism - which could lead to such diseases as hypertension, hyperthyroidism, peptic ulcers etc. Hence a weak Saturn could lead to such hot diseases. Excessive cold dynamics, however, leads to the opposite of organ underactivity and failure, such as hypotension/cardiac failure, hypothyroidism, renal failure, atonic paralysis of organs.

  3. Decelerated slow states. This relates to the parasympathetic nervous system (especially the vagus nerve) to slow down the heart conduction and reduce bronchial airway lumen. The T lymphocyte suppressor cells slow down cellular antibody reactions during infections. Hormones to slow down glandular and tissue activity at the negative feedback control cycles of the hypothalamus and pituitary. A decelerating dynamic within the physiology enables rest, recuperation and regeneration of the physical-etheric body, especially during sleep and recovery after disease.

  4. Densification and hardening states. This relates to the coagulation of the blood during bleeding or injury. Also the mineralization of bone and teeth through the incorporation of calcium phosphate (and the action of parathyroid hormones, vitamin D and kidney activation of vitamin D). Insufficient hardening therefore leads to osteoporosis, osteomalacia, easy bleeding, fatty degeneration and hydrocephalus (a waterlogged softened brain).

Particular systems relevant to Saturn with pathologies are:

Rules the spleen


This also pertains to pancreatic function and is connected to the Chinese Earth element. The spleen rules the muscles, thus spleen deficiency can lead to muscle atrophy, usually after suppressed of viral flu that becomes lodged as chronic debilitating inflammation within the nervous system and muscles. Spleen deficiency also leads to malabsorption due to deranged immunity within the gut, leaky gut symptoms and diarrhoea. Also blood dyscrasias, excessive red blood cell haemolysis, platelet disturbances with excessive or deficient clotting. There is especially a relationship to the Moon and Neptune with reference to the spleen. Thus malabsorption, easy bleeding and prolapse/laxity of tissues suggests excessive activity of Neptune not balanced enough by Saturn. Excessive clotting and constipation would relate to an overactive Saturn.

Skeletal system


This encompasses the bone mineralization, final shape of the skeleton during growth, the timing of the fusion of the epiphyseal (growth) plates and the teeth in general (especially the enamel outer covering, which is the hardest part). Thus the activity of parathyroid hormones, vitamin D, calcium-phosphate metabolism, kidney physiology is also relevant. If the cartilage is affected also consider the influence of Jupiter, which governs the formation of gels. Excessive Saturn forces leads to arthritis, stiffness, bony deformities (add the influence of Mercury if there is deformity and the syphilitic miasm), and eventually teeth and bone breakdown. For Pagets disease also consider the influence of Mars and Sun, here there is excessive blood flow into the bones.

Skin


There are multiple planetary influences on the skin, such as Mercury for the communicative aspects (sensory and pranic chi flows), Moon and Neptune for integrity and boundaries, Jupiter for its metabolism and toxicity levels. Saturn provides for the drying of the surface epidermis, the prevention of excessive blood flow and the slowing down of nerve signals (such as pain, pressure, vibration, proprioception). Thus, where Saturn is underactive or has weak activity problems can include:


  1. Excessive moisture in the skin(moist damp eczema, pustules, blistering diseases such as pemphigus (consider also Neptune, Moon and Jupiter)

  2. Excessive blood flow, such as psoriasis, heat flushes (consider also Mars influence)

  3. Excessive nerve signals, such as phantom pains after amputation or surgery, ataxia-incoordination, neuropathy with persistent neuralgic pains, vertigo, crawling unusual skin sensations (consider also influence of Mercury)

However, where Saturn is overactive at the skin, problems may include:


  1. Excessive dryness of the skin with dry itching eczema (often the case after steroid suppression and vaccinations)

  2. Deficient blood flow, such as poor circulation, Raynaud's disease, gangrene (where the blood has become obstructed at a deeper level), poor wound healing after injury (consider also the influence of an afflicted Mars or Sun)

  3. Suppressed nerve signals, causing numbness, loss of sensation, peripheral neuropathy (motor or sensory or mixed). This especially features in diabeties, also heavy metal poisoning such as from lead. There is then often recurrent or chronic effects of injury that had been unnoticed by the individual. Consider also the influence of an afflicted Mercury.

Retrograde Saturn


It may appear very difficult for the native to feel any sense of optimism for the future and for their healing journey. Thus they keep repeating patterns (behavioural and physical habits) that lead to disease. There is a stuckness in the karma of their disease.

There may also be particularly strong rigidity within the musculoskeletal system (e.g. with crippling arthritis, severe rheumatism) from the ego having become overly fixed with beliefs, ideas and perspectives on life.

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