Spilling The Green Tea

Today is the beginning of the Full Moon Cycle. November’s full moon is called the Beaver Full Moon. Why? Some speculate it’s due to the time of the year when Native American Indians set beaver traps while others speculate it’s the time when beavers start to build their dams for the cold season.

A full moon is when the moon is entirely illuminated from Earth. It appears when the Earth is between the sun and the moon.

The role of the moon itself includes:

• stabilizes the Earth on its axis
• stabilizes the Earth on its rotation
• influences ocean tides
• responsible for the length of day
• acts as a source of light

However, did you know that a full moon can affect one’s physical and mental health? And, no, I am not talking about people turning into werewolves!

When I was battling the double tick infections, Babesia and Bartonella, there were a few particular days each month where my symptoms felt stronger and/or lasted longer. I was keeping a symptom journal at the time and had taken note on the intensified symptoms.

After attending a Lyme conference and talking with my naturopath, I learned that a full moon does indeed affect our bodies, both physically and mentally. I had looked back at my symptom journal, and confirmed that those days where my symptoms were stronger, were in fact full moon days.

Sounds crazy right? But it’s true. Everyone knows the stories and legends of humans turning into werewolves during a full moon. Stories revolving around vampires also pay tribute to the full moon. Why would these old legends created many, many many years ago, associate a physical and mental change with a full moon? Did people way back then know the connection between our bodies and a full moon?

Here are some ways the full moon can affect your health:

• Sleep: because a full moon is brighter, it may throw off your circadian rhythm and cause you to not fall asleep as quickly or cause interrupted sleep
• Immune System: sleep is a necessity when it comes to our immune system and sleep is regulated by the hormone, melatonin, but if sleep is interrupted it can cause a weakened immune system and increased inflammation
• Migraines: referred as “full moon migraines” some people tend to feel an increase or intensity of migraines around a full moon cycle; it may be caused by an interrupted or lack of sleep
• Kidneys: our bodies are made up of 60% water and because the moon affects the tides (water), scientists have found a correlation of kidney stone pain and the full moon; it may be due to the fluid balances being influenced by the gravitational pull of the moon
• Menstrual Cycles: it has been shown that women’s menstrual cycles synchronize with the moon, a full moon has long been held as a symbol for fertility
• Mental Health: with lack of sleep or increased headaches due to the full moon’s effect, it can cause one to feel anxious, depressed, jittery or angry.

While there is no solid scientific evidence to support the moon, especially a full moon, affects our bodies, I tend to be a believer especially after noticing my tick symptoms became more severe around the full moon cycles. Was it just my imagination? I personally don’t think so.

The National Maritime Museum in London is in possession of a Mesopotamian tablet dating back to 172 B.C. The tablet describes how to ward off evil spirits during a lunar eclipse, evil spirits that may threaten the king.

Ancient Greek scholar, Aristotle, believed the brain being the moistiest part of the body, the moon, being a controller of the tides, had an affect on mental health.

In the 16th Century, the moon’s phase was an essential part in medicine. Here is a chart doctors used when evaluating a patient:

Per Louise Devoy, Curator of Royal Observatory Greenwich: “They used the black spokes on these rotating paper discs – volvelles’ – to keep track of the Moon’s position. The waxing phases of the Moon were thought to enhance the benefits of bloodletting. In contrast, the Full Moon was thought to intensify a patient’s fever. Similarly, apothecaries created herbal remedies using watery plants that were thought to be influenced by the Moon.”

In Othello, William Shakespeare wrote: “It is the very error of the moon. She comes more near the earth than she was won’t. And makes men mad.”

According to almanac.com, 81% of mental health specialists and 43% of healthcare professionals believe in the “lunar influence”. In fact, the word moon comes from the Latin “lunar” and is the root word for “lunacy” and “lunatic” and “loon”. Coincidence? You decide!

There is even a diet called the “Lunar Diet” (also called “Werewolf Diet”) where people take advantage of the moon’s cycles and its affect on our bodies. People claim it helps the body to detox and lose weight. Here is the breakdown:

Full Moon: fasting begins with no solid foods; only water, fruit and vegetable juices, and detox teas like sage, dandelion or green tea.

Waning Moon: drink 8 glasses of water to flush out toxins; eat only healthy solid foods

New Moon: no solids and only fluids; same as the Full Moon

Waxing Moon: no sweets or fats and only balanced meals; eat until you are full; drink plenty of fluids and no eating after 6pm

I am in NO WAY endorsing this type of diet. Personally, I think it is way to extreme and could cause more harm than good. This is just something to show you as another example of how the moon is associated with our bodies.

I will share that last night, the 26th, I was sleepy but ended up not falling asleep until 2am. I felt restless and couldn’t get comfortable. I didn’t have any caffeine before bed and didn’t take a nap during the day so my body should have fallen asleep around the normal time of between 9pm and 10pm. Yet it didn’t. Was it the approaching full moon affect? Was it coincidence? I happen to think it was the moon.

If I have peaked your curiosity, try keeping a journal and log any ongoing symptoms you may have and see if a stronger affliction is associated with full moon days. Please share your experience in the comments below.

That would be a tre-moon-dous!