How Astrology Weaves Emotional, Mental and Physical Health Together / Kava Kava

artist: notnova

One of the first threads of interest that tied astrology and herbalism together for me was the discussion of mental/emotional health. I was fascinated by the correlations that existed between natal or transiting planets, triggered emotional traumas and co morbid physical conditions. Often times astrology filled in the blanks between why some people who were exposed to bacteria or viruses developed infections and some did not, and interestingly, the connection had an emotional component as well as a physical one.

Since we are in Pisces season, a common time of depression for many, I thought it appropriate to devote this month’s article to mental and emotional health--the challenging planetary aspects, tissue states and herbal allies.

The 4 Elements + 4 Bodies

Astrology is a modality that uses the 4 elements: Fire, Air, Water and Earth. These elements also describe energetic bodies found in many spiritual or philosophical frameworks as well--the spirit/soul, the mental body, the emotional body and the physical body. Theoretically, the physical body/earth element will manifest imbalances found in any of the other bodies, as they trickle down the levels of density. This is how emotional traumas can start to affect the mental state and physical body, which is a tendency that can be seen in the natal chart or by transit. Herbal medicine works with all the elements and with all of the bodies, which is what makes it truly holistic.

The Planets + Our Psycho-Emotional Health

Astrologically, all planets have the potential to contribute to psycho-emotional imbalances but there are some that are more prone than others. Specifically, it is when the planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune or Pluto harshly aspect the personal planets of the moon, mercury and mars that problems may arise. A harsh aspect would be a square, opposition, sesquiquadrate and sometimes a conjunction. 

That’s a lot of planets, so let’s go through each one and talk about their energy when out of balance, as well as how the mental/physical relates to an emotional, spiritual or karmic pattern.

Jupiter + Mania

artist: Paula Scotter

The nature of Jupiter is to magnify, so if Jupiter is involved in a challenging aspect in one’s natal chart, it can cause certain personality traits to become explosive or over the top depending on the planets aspecting it. Jupiter is also associated with belief and confidence, so when it is stressed, the beliefs can become fanciful, warped or even dangerous. We see this in classic cases of mania, when there is often times a belief that is self-aggrandizing or fantastic. 

Jupiter’s energetics are moistening, relaxing and warming, creating an environment where things can grow easily. Jupiter-dominant people also tend to live full-throttle, pushing their bodies to excess without taking the time to replenish their yin energy with rest, sleep and proper nutrition. Over time, yin depletion can cause conditions of heat to arise, conditions that can sometimes lead to manic episodes. In TCM, mania can result from several different patterns, but common among them is heat agitating the system. 

So when thinking of herbs to treat a challenged Jupiter, think of those that would drain heat by expectorating but also those that nourish yin--demulcents, relaxants or sedatives.

Saturn + Depression

artist: Vincent Van Gogh

Since we have so many planets currently occupying Capricorn, many of us have been experiencing the accompanying depressive state that Saturn’s influence brings. Saturn represents a limiting force, which can affect the mind in such a way that all you can see are negative things. In this case, the tissue state, the mental state and the emotional all become affected by Saturn’s energy of cold, slowness and hardening. 

One of the best remedies for a challenged natal Saturn or a hard Saturn transit as we have now is achievement-oriented physical movement. A new exercise regimen combined with lots of hydration and a dash of warming, spicy, relaxing and lubricating herbs is often times enough to keep the darker clouds of Saturnian depression at bay.

Uranus + Anxiety

artist: Edvard Munch

The energy of Uranus is naturally disruptive, and tends to alter the patterns of whatever planet it is in aspect to. The natural consequence of the disrupted balance is anxiety, when the body senses that something is out of whack and tries to bring your attention to it.

Uranian individuals respond well to nervines that not only soothe the nervous system but nourish it as well, as there is a high rate of correlation between Uranus activity and nerve damage. Oats and scullcap are two herbs of choice, as well as restful activities that replenish the body such as sleep.

Neptune + Psychosis

artist: Rene Magritte

Neptune is the ruler of the imagination, and so those who have strong Neptune placements are so creative that when out of balance, they have a hard time distinguishing the real from the imagined. A harshly aspected Neptune is common in the charts of schizophrenics, addicts and those with dementia, hallucinations, depression or delusions.

Physically, Neptune’s rulership of the immune system would suggest that conditions of psychosis would be associated with immune system dysregulation, and metaphorically this makes sense. One of the functions of the immune system is to distinguish self from non-self, or the real from the non-real. Therefore it follows that those who have challenged Neptunes in their natal charts or are receiving a hard Neptune transit could be potentially open to not only problems with their immune systems but breaks with reality as well. The way this would manifest depends on Neptune’s house placement and aspects to other personal planets.

Herbally speaking, this suggests that herbs that strengthen the immune system would also be helpful for the with Neptune’s psycho-emotional conditions, as would a detox protocol to address heavy metals or chemical toxins. Lymphatic herbs are good allies here, as stressed Neptune individuals can be prone to stagnation in the inner waters of the body. This goes for the personality as well--there can be stagnation in Pisces-heavy people and an inability to bring themselves out of abusive or parasitic situations, resulting in depression that can become chronic. Some way to boost confidence or motivation may actually help immune strength to increase.

Pluto + Paranoia

Pluto’s association with our sense of control leads to conditions of paranoia and obsessive thinking when under stress. Pluto is also associated on the physical plain with infections, tissue death, surgery and radiation therapies. We can usually find Pluto’s involvement in the charts of those with cancer and chronic conditions such as herpes or Lyme.

With Pluto, there tends to be a struggle for dominance over another form of life. This is why cancers and viral, fungal and bacterial infections that recur are seen frequently. In a way, the paranoia or OCD behavior that can manifest with Pluto can be understood as a defense mechanism--a way that the body is trying to tell us that we are fighting an internal war. Pluto is an archetype of death as well, suggesting that it taps into the deep, primal fear that we have of death and our instinct to survive. This could be why hard Pluto transits trigger extreme behaviors and aggression--perhaps it is a projection of our body’s desire to preserve itself.

Herbally, our clue to Pluto energetics lies in the word control. The desire to control manifests in a tissue state that is tense, suggesting that relaxant herbs that let the body release what it needs to release would be best suited for Pluto under stress. This can mean expectorants, galactagogues, emmenagogues--anything that helps the body let go.

So this is a lot of potential manifestations, but how do you know whether or not you will be prone to the effect of these planets? The answer lies in your natal chart--look to the 6th, 8th or 12th houses, as well as any connections that the above mentioned planets make to your personal planets, specifically to your Mercury, Mars or Moon.

Mercury, as it rules the mental system and thought process, can be easily swayed by the planets mentioned above. For example, Saturn-Mercury and Pluto-Mercury individuals tend to be prone to clinical depression while Mercury-Neptune thinking is easily confused and potentially illusory. Jupiter/Mercury can also be delusional or prone to grandiose thinking while Uranus/Mercury can be brilliant but quite anxiety-ridden at the same time.

On the physical level, there is often something that is affecting the individual’s nervous system, such as a virus (common with Pluto), nerve damage (common with Uranus) or inebriation/poison (common with Jupiter and Neptune). Therefore, a well-suited nervine would be called for with any affliction involving Mercury. 

Mars can be problematic when it aspects the above planets because it tends to aggravate the negative tendencies of the planet. An example of this would be Mars-Neptune, which can tip Neptune’s imagination into delusion, or Mars-Pluto, which pushes Pluto’s passion into the realms of obsession. Physically, there is often an inflammatory aspect that is exacerbating the mental condition, and so an herbal anti inflammatory would be advised.

Lastly, when the moon gets caught up in harsh aspects to the above mentioned planets, there is often times old trauma lodged in the system that is erupting as physical disease. This is where we see inherited, epigenetic or womb traumas. Moon-Neptune can have inherited toxicities, such as heavy pesticide or radiation exposure that contribute to problems with the memory later in life. Moon-Uranus can come from an altered lineage as with adoption that can leave residual, buried trauma that later affects the individual’s fertility.

Herbally, this is where energetic remedies such as flower essences really shine, because of the subtle and personal nature of the moon. Alternative therapies such as reiki, body work, hypnotic regression or breathwork are other options that would be particularly helpful.

As with all medical astrology readings, simply having one or a few of these aspects in a chart does not mean that you will develop a mental illness, just that your body systems are sensitive to a certain type of energy as reflected by the planets. You still need to assess the sign and house, as well as where the individual is at in their personal journey of growth and self-awareness. Also it is important to mention that these are all just the challenging results of the planetary placements, all of which also have positive and beneficial manifestations as well. Astrology is wonderful in that it can give us an understanding of ourselves that is non-binary--nothing is good or bad in and of itself, rather everything is an opportunity for growth.

We covered a little bit of almost every planet in this article, so selecting an herb to talk about when it comes to the broad topic of psycho-emotional help is quite a challenge, as there are many possibilities depending on the exact nature of the imbalance. But since we are in Pisces season, let’s take this opportunity to learn more about a very Neptunian herb that has been used for generations to ease anxiety, insomnia and pain--kava root.

Piper Methysticum

Kava Root

Kava is an herb native to the Pacific islands, and has been used ceremonially there for many generations. Due to the lack of written accounts from the Pacific Islands, many of these stories come to us second-hand from visitors or travelers. Several folk stories tell of how the first kava plant was discovered growing on the grave of someone who had been sacrificed, and those who partook in the traditional kava drink would themselves become sacrificial victims. In fact, too much kava can cause you to fall into a literal stupor, but just the right amount can create a lovely buzz--sedating pain, easing anxiety and inducing restful sleep.

Europeans first happened upon kava in the 18th century during the voyages of Captain Cook, documenting the native ceremonial use and preparation. According to their records, the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Islands used kava root as a mild intoxicant, chewing the root first, then pounding it into mush and covering it with water to macerated for a while before straining it out and drinking the liquid. The beverage was brown and bitter, producing psychoactive properties. Kava is still used quite frequently today in the Pacific Islands during social gatherings, as well as recreationally.

The root of kava is bitter, pungent and slightly astringent in taste and warming in action. The key constituents that have been studied as producing kava’s sedative, anesthetic and euphoriant properties are called kavalactones. In studies, Kavalactones have been found to alter levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin in the brain--the two chemicals that promote a happy mood and feelings of pleasure. They are found in the highest concentration in the rhizomes of the plant.

Kava root is used by herbalists today for a variety of nervous and spasmodic conditions where there is pain present. It tranquilizes the mind and muscles, deepens sleep, calms anxiety and reduces skeletal and bladder muscle spasms. Because it relaxes the central nervous system, it can be used to treat conditions like irritable bladder syndrome, anger, anxiety, nervousness and insomnia. It’s numbing effect also makes it useful for pains, especially toothaches.

There are some potential contraindications when taking Kava root. Some research points to liver toxicity, but the issue is clouded by questions of cultivation and processing. With the increase in kava’s popularity, there are more and more kava extracts on the market that may come from less than reputable sources. One thing that is sure, however, is that Kava will potentiate the effects of alcohol, barbituates and xanax, so caution is advised if taking any of these in conjunction. I can attest to some crazy and not so pleasant effects from mixing kava and alcohol!

How to prepare Kava from powder (from konakavafarm.com):

Strain the dried kava powder in water using a cheesecloth or muslin bags. Use 1 ounce of powder per person (2 tablespoons). Place the powder into the strainer bag, hold its edges together at the top with your hand so that none of the powder escapes. Then, immerse the bag into a bowl of cool water. The amount of water will vary according to taste but a good rule of thumb is 1 ounce of powder to a pint of water. Use your hand to knead the kava under the water or bring the strainer out and squeeze then immerse it again in the water. If you have the unpowdered root, Simply add the kava and water in a blender for about 4 minutes. Pour mixture into a nylon sieve or cheesecloth and squeeze the excess liquid into a bowl. Discard the pulp and enjoy. Approximately 2 tablespoons of kava and 8 oz (1 cup) water make for 1 serving of a drink. 

If you have a hard time with the bitter, earthy taste of the kava, try mixing it with some pineapple juice, coconut milk and a touch of honey and vanilla for a tropical punch! It tastes delicious and as a bonus, the fat in the coconut helps absorb the kavalactones from the kava extract.

Enjoy and I will see you next month!