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Medical astrology (traditionally known as iatromathematics) is an ancient applied branch of astrology based mostly on ''melothesia'' (Gr. μελοθεσία), the association of various parts of the body, diseases, and drugs with the nature of the
Why Astrology is a Pseudoscience
, PSA, vol 1. University of Chicago Press, 1978.
Medical astrology (traditionally known as iatromathematics) is an ancient applied branch of astrology based mostly on ''melothesia'' (Gr. μελοθεσία), the association of various parts of the body, diseases, and drugs with the nature of the sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is a nearly perfect ball of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core. The Sun radiates this energy mainly as light, ultraviolet, and infrared radi ...
, moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet, with a diameter about one-quarter that of Earth (comparable to the width of ...
, planets, and the twelve astrological sign
In Western astrology, astrological signs are the twelve 30-degree sectors that make up Earth's 360-degree orbit around the Sun. The signs enumerate from the first day of spring, known as the First Point of Aries, which is the vernal equinox. ...
s. The underlying basis for medical astrology, astrology
Astrology is a range of divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of celestial objects. Di ...
itself, is considered to be a pseudoscience
Pseudoscience consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that claim to be both scientific and factual but are incompatible with the scientific method. Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable claim ...
as there is no scientific basis for its core beliefs.
Paul R. Thagard,Why Astrology is a Pseudoscience
, PSA, vol 1. University of Chicago Press, 1978.
Historical references
Medical astrology was mentioned byMarcus Manilius
Marcus Manilius (fl. 1st century AD) was a Roman poet, astrologer, and author of a poem in five books called '' Astronomica''.
The ''Astronomica''
The author of ''Astronomica'' is neither quoted nor mentioned by any ancient writer. Even his n ...
(1st century AD) in his epic poem
Poetry (derived from the Greek '' poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meaning ...
(8000 verses) ''Astronomica''.
Publications
* Ficino, Marsilio, ''Three Books on Life'' (1489) 'De vita libri tre''translated by Carol V. Kaske and John R. Clark, Center for Medieval and Early Renaissance Studies, State University of New York at Binghamton and The Reaissance Society of America (1989.) * Lilly, William, ''Christian Astrology'' (1647) * Culpepper, Nicholas, ''Astrological Judgement of Diseases from the Decumbiture of the Sick'' (1655) * Saunders, Richard, ''The Astrological Judgment and Practice of Physick'' (1677) *Cornell, H.L., M.D., ''The Encyclopaedia of Medical Astrology'' (1933), Astrology Classics bington, MD, 2010.See also
*Planets in astrology
In astrology, planets have a meaning different from the astronomical understanding of what a planet is. Before the age of telescopes, the night sky was thought to consist of two very similar components: fixed stars, which remained motionles ...
*Medieval medicine of Western Europe
Medieval medicine in Western Europe was composed of a mixture of pseudoscientific ideas from antiquity. In the Early Middle Ages, following the fall of the Western Roman Empire, standard medical knowledge was based chiefly upon surviving Greek an ...
*Astrological botany Astrological botany is based on the notion that if plants or seeds are to be used for medicinal purposes then their planting and collection must be carried out with regard to the positions of the planets and other heavenly bodies, which are at the h ...
*Spiritual healing
Energy medicine is a branch of alternative medicine based on a pseudo-scientific belief that healers can channel "healing energy" into a patient and effect positive results. Practitioners use a number of names including various synonyms for ...
* Astrology and science
References
* * * {{Pseudoscience Astrology by type Traditional medicine History of ancient medicine History of astrology Pseudoscience