All 52 chapters
  1. Part 1 · The sky and the chart
  2. The sky above us
  3. Time and place of birth
  4. Two zodiacs
  5. How a chart is drawn
  6. Part 2 · The building blocks
  7. The 9 planets
  8. The 12 signs
  9. The 27 nakshatras
  10. The 12 houses
  11. The lagnas
  12. Part 3 · How planets work together
  13. How planets interact
  14. Friends, dispositors, exchanges
  15. House lords
  16. Reading one placement
  17. Part 4 · Strength and condition
  18. Dignity in depth
  19. A planet's mood
  20. Planetary strength
  21. Ashtakavarga in depth
  22. Part 5 · Patterns: yogas and doshas
  23. Yogas
  24. Doshas
  25. Part 6 · The nakshatras up close
  26. Reading a nakshatra
  27. Tara Bala
  28. Part 7 · Divisional charts
  29. Divisional charts
  30. Navamsa in depth
  31. Part 8 · Timing
  32. Dashas
  33. Transits
  34. The annual chart (Tajika)
  35. Part 9 · Relationships
  36. Compatibility
  37. Marriage in depth
  38. Part 10 · Advanced systems
  39. Special points
  40. Jaimini astrology
  41. Arudha padas
  42. KP astrology
  43. Nadi astrology
  44. Part 11 · Choosing the moment
  45. Panchanga
  46. Muhurta
  47. Prashna (horary)
  48. Part 12 · Life areas
  49. Career, money and business
  50. Travel, abroad, spirituality
  51. Health and longevity
  52. Karma and past lives
  53. Remedies
  54. Rectifying a birth time
  55. Part 13 · Western astrology
  56. Western astrology basics
  57. Aspects and chart shapes
  58. Western prediction
  59. Synastry
  60. Horary and electional
  61. Part 14 · The wider world
  62. Mundane astrology and eclipses
  63. Astrocartography and branches
  64. Part 15 · Putting it all together
  65. How it all fits
  66. How AstroMatch4u scores a chart
  67. Using astrology well
Part 12Life areas
CHAPTER 39

Health and longevity in tradition

What do the texts say about the body, and about lifespan?

Read this first. Medical astrology is a symbolic tradition. It is not medicine, it cannot diagnose anything, and it must never replace a doctor. If you have a health worry, please see a qualified medical professional.

Planets and the body

SunVitality, heart, bones, eyes.
MoonBody fluids, the mind, sleep, the chest.
MarsBlood, muscles, inflammation, injuries and surgery.
MercuryNerves, skin, speech, lungs.
JupiterLiver, fat, metabolism, growth.
VenusReproductive system, kidneys, hormones.
SaturnBones, joints, teeth, long-lasting conditions.
Rahu and KetuUnusual, hard-to-diagnose or slow-to-clear conditions.

The houses read are the 1st (general health and resilience), 6th (illness and recovery), 8th (chronic or sudden problems) and 12th (hospitals and rest), and the charts are the D6, D30 and D60. Each sign also maps to a body part (the signs chapter). An afflicted planet or sign is read as an area to look after; a dasha of the 6th or 8th lord as a time for extra care.

Longevity (ayurdaya)

The classical texts spend many pages on ayurdaya, estimating lifespan in three bands: Alpayu (short, up to about 32 years), Madhyayu (middle, about 32–64) and Purnayu (full, 64 and beyond; the exact limits differ by text). They use the 8th house and its lord, Saturn, the lagna lord, the D3, D8, D30 and D60, Jaimini's three pairs of factors, and the maraka houses (2 and 7) and badhaka house for danger periods.

AstroMatch4u never predicts death or lifespan. These methods are unreliable, frightening and easily misused, and responsible astrologers refuse to make such predictions. They are described here only so that you understand the words if you meet them.

the Medical Astrology page reads the classical body links for your chart, as tradition, not medicine.

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