Medical Jyotish for Ayurvedic Practitioners

Medical Jyotish has enhanced my competency and skills as an Ayurvedic practitioner.

It’s also been important to study the classical texts, hone my clinical skills, and research treatment methodologies. I want to offer my clients as many resources as possible to assist them on their path to healing.

Often I meet clients who have tried multiple healing modalities, both holistic and allopathic, with little success. In addition to ashta vidha pariksha (eight-fold examination) for these individuals, I survey their birth chart for supporting information.

Combining Ayurveda and Medical Jyotish (Vedic astrology) has proven to be an invaluable resource for both my clients and myself.

An astrological chart is a road map of a person’s karma, which includes how an individual manages his or her health and the type of ailments he or she may experience. There are astrological houses which are correlated to health. Additionally, supporting charts describe the person’s chronic health ailments, acute health issues, propensity for surgeries, hospitalization, and the capacity for recovery. The chart can sometimes indicate that there has been improper diagnosis of a disease. It also highlights when the client will experience an upswing in health.

In Jyotish, we continually experience planetary cycles or dashas. The Sanskrit word for planet is graha. Graha means “to grasp or to seize.” The planets grab a hold of us during their dasha and exert their influence on us according to their significance in a chart. By looking at a client’s dasha sequence, I can ascertain which graha is most influencing him or her at any given time. Then, I analyze that graha to see if it will be favorable for the individual in terms of health.

The Elements and Your Constitution

Ayurveda is based on the theory of the five elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth. In Jyotish, we also classify each sign of the zodiac, as well the grahas, with an associated element. We can also categorize the grahas as Vata, Pitta, or Kapha.

The ascendant or first house of a person’s horoscope gives shape to a person’s physicality and vitality. While there is no substitute for pulse diagnosis in assessing a person’s prakruti and vikruti, the nature of an individual’s first house will certainly help define the person’s physical tendencies. For example, if a person has a fire sign ascendant, and fiery grahas (i..e. Sun and Mars) are in the ascendant, then we would certainly expect the individual to have a Pitta predominant prakruti. The person may be prone to Pitta disorders, such as hives, rashes, inflammation, and acid indigestion. Jyotish would allow us to have this information in advance and counsel the client accordingly

Each of the twelve signs (Aries to Pisces) and houses (1-12) of the zodiac corresponds to a particular bodily region. Aries and the first house represent the head …with Pisces and the twelfth house representing the feet. Careful interpretation on the part of a trained Jyotishi is required to know which body parts may create health challenges, and at what periods of time they may occur.

Disease through the Lens of Medical Jyotish & Ayurveda

Both medical Jyotish and Ayurveda deal with that which is unseen, but they manage to provide the information in complementary manners. Disease may not be apparent to the casual observer, but we can see what is indicated via the tongue, face, nails, pulse, etc. Similarly, a person may appear to be the picture of health, but the astrological chart can indicate where potential physical weaknesses lie, which would otherwise be unknown.

In Jyotish, each graha is also correlated to a dhatu (tissue system). I determine which grahas are most likely to cause health complications and the timing of vikruti associated with a specific dhatu. Then, I make appropriate herbal suggestions to support that dhatu. There are also various health pro-formas which suggest the type of vikruti an individual may experience.

The Gunas, or Qualities

Ayurveda also places great emphasis on the qualities or gunas that correspond with each dosha. Planets can be characterized as dry, wet or windy. If dry grahas primarily influence the ascendant, then the person may be prone to dryness; if it is mainly wet grahas influencing the ascendant, then the person may have issues with bloating or circulation of fluids within the body. This information can be used in conjunction with the correlations of body parts to each house, to determine which parts of the anatomy may be prone to specific health conditions.

Treating at a Deeper Level

The longer that I have been working with a client, and the better I understand the factors contributing to vikruti, then the more his or her chart will provide me with the ability to treat the individual at a deeper level. I can fine-tune his or her herbal remedies or suggest pranayama techniques or yoga asanas to improve his or her health. The chart can indicate what would be a successful modality of treatment at a particular period. Using this information in combination with a thorough Ayurvedic assessment can provide the guide posts to a healthier life.

Clinical Example of Medical Jyotish & Ayurveda

One client I have been working with for years is a man, whom I will call Mark. We initially discussed his multiple health issues (thyroid, heart, cholesterol). I made herbal recommendations for him and suggested lifestyle modifications. As time went by, Mark was able to modify his dependency on allopathic medicine and his health improved.

A few years ago, I saw that Mark was going to start an unfavorable dasha for his health. I advised him to take certain preventive herbal measures, start a particular type of pranayama, and recite mantras for his health. As predicted, Mark underwent periods of hospitalization and surgery. With the help of medical Jyotish, I selected astrologically auspicious dates for surgery and commencing treatment. There were questions about which mode of treatment to pursue, and again, I used Jyotish for guidance. His doctors commented on the progress that he had made. Even during a difficult astrological period, he was able to reduce his dependence on allopathic medicine. I was also able to pinpoint times of better vitality and methods to best utilize his improved stamina. Mark continues to rely on both Ayurveda and medical Jyotish to maximize his well-being.

Proactive Health with Medical Jyotish

Ideally, if a person is prepared for periods of low vitality, then he or she can augment vitality with Ayurvedic herbs and lifestyle regimens specific to his or her needs. Since Ayurveda is both preventative and curative, this guidance may be even more beneficial if applied during astrological periods which deem that vigilant attention to one’s health is necessary.

Knowledge of which dhatus are weak or prone to vikruti can empower us to take better care of our lives with appropriate diet, counseling, and exercise. Each of us may face health challenges within our lifetime, but we can use the tools found in the Vedas, particularly Jyotish, to be proactive, rather than reactive, in maintaining our well-being so that we can lead a harmonious life each day.

AYURVEDA PROFESSIONALS: MEDICAL JYOTISH TUTORING with Madhavi Rathod

Madhavi Rathod is Everyday Ayurveda’s Jyotish professional.

Now you can get personal Medical Jyotish tutoring to enhance your professional Ayurveda practice and add proficiency to your analysis and treatment of a client’s current and future Vikruti.

LEARN MORE!

Save