<div data-elementor-type="wp-post" data-elementor-id="53035" class="elementor elementor-53035" data-elementor-post-type="post">
                    <section class="elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5f21c4af elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default" data-id="5f21c4af" data-element_type="section">
                    <div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default">
                <div class="elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1daf6a55" data-id="1daf6a55" data-element_type="column">
        <div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated">
                    <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-2b5f0c8e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="2b5f0c8e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
            <div class="elementor-widget-container">
                                <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Have you ever wondered how science views medical astrology or whether it has been proven &#8220;true?&#8221; Should we consider astrology a valid tool for understanding health, or is it just pseudoscience?</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Astrological medicine is a central part of our approach to herbal medicine here at The School of Evolutionary Herbalism, so it&#8217;s a topic we discuss regularly. Today, we&#8217;re breaking down medical astrology&#8217;s relationship to scientific and pragmatic truth and proof, and what really matters.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here&#8217;s what you&#8217;ll find in this post:</span></p><ul><li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The goal of the tools we use—what matters most?</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is scientific proof?</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Can astrology be proven scientifically, and does it matter?</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Comparing scientific and pragmatic proof and truth</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The role of medical astrology in practice</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What&#8217;s truly important for serving our clients well—addressing skepticism</span></li></ul>                              </div>
            </div>
            <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-70346536 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents" data-id="70346536" data-element_type="widget" data-settings="{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;],&quot;container&quot;:&quot;#my-content&quot;,&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}" data-widget_type="table-of-contents.default">
            <div class="elementor-widget-container">
                        <div class="elementor-toc__header">
        <h3 class="elementor-toc__header-title">
            Table of Contents           </h3>
                        <div class="elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand" role="button" tabindex="0" aria-controls="elementor-toc__70346536" aria-expanded="true" aria-label="Open table of contents"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down" viewBox="0 0 448 512" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z"></path></svg></div>
            <div class="elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse" role="button" tabindex="0" aria-controls="elementor-toc__70346536" aria-expanded="true" aria-label="Close table of contents"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up" viewBox="0 0 448 512" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z"></path></svg></div>
                </div>
    <div id="elementor-toc__70346536" class="elementor-toc__body">
        <div class="elementor-toc__spinner-container">
            <svg class="elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading" aria-hidden="true" viewBox="0 0 1000 1000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z"></path></svg>            </div>
    </div>
                    </div>
            </div>
            <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-2e8a4071 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video" data-id="2e8a4071" data-element_type="widget" data-settings="{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https://youtu.be/_IhNSu5Ll_Q&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}" data-widget_type="video.default">
            <div class="elementor-widget-container">
                        <div class="elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline">
        <div class="elementor-video"></div>     </div>
                    </div>
            </div>
            <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-2b36e9cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-html" data-id="2b36e9cc" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="html.default">
            <div class="elementor-widget-container">
                <iframe title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/35877850/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/faf7f0/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes" height="192" width="100%" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" oallowfullscreen="true" msallowfullscreen="true" style="border: none;"></iframe>               </div>
            </div>
            <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-18efd64 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="18efd64" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
            <div class="elementor-widget-container">
                                <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Working with a client&#8217;s astrological chart can provide valuable insight into their health—body, mind, emotions, and spirit. It helps us orient ourselves and determine the most effective therapeutic direction for healing.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ultimately, healing is the goal of any tool, system, or approach we use. Whether we&#8217;re conducting an in-depth intake, performing a physical exam, assessing a client&#8217;s constitution, or making recommendations, the objective remains the same: understanding their condition and applying remedies that move a person toward health and well-being.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As modern herbalists, we have many tools at our disposal. The key is to find tools that resonate with us personally and professionally and provide reliable insights. Our tools and methods support us in identifying a person&#8217;s underlying imbalances and guide remedy selection in a way that leads to real, tangible healing. There are many paths to the top of the mountain, and it doesn&#8217;t matter which path we take so long as we get there. The goal of each path is the same: understanding the people we work with and supporting them to restore their health.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While many people are open to or at least curious about astrology, others are skeptical. Some don&#8217;t know that medical astrology even exists, while others reject it, claiming there&#8217;s no scientific proof that planetary bodies out in the solar system can influence human health here on Earth. This skepticism raises an important question: What constitutes proof?</span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is Scientific Proof?</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is vital to define proof and truth: what does proof look like? What is truth? These are essential questions because we need to clarify the words we use to understand one another. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Science is a method of inquiry, a way of testing initial hypotheses to arrive at a consensus on what is accurate, valid, and can be proven to be &#8220;true.&#8221; However, the scientific method can be misapplied. How does science help us uncover the truth? Unfortunately, some people treat science like a religion, believing on faith that it&#8217;s the only way to get to the truth and the only measure of reality. Often, this is because they don&#8217;t understand scientific methodology, which may be why they put science on a pedestal. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The scientific method exists to provide boundaries and ground rules to standardize how research is conducted, but what happens when this method isn&#8217;t applied in a way that reveals the truth or when this method reveals a truth that is later overturned?</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scientific knowledge is constantly evolving. Many ideas accepted as truth a century ago have since been proven false or deemed only a small part of a greater truth. Likewise, concepts that seem nebulous or unfounded today may be validated in the future as our understanding deepens and discoveries are made.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Furthermore, science is not always applied objectively. Researchers may have biases, financial incentives, or career goals that influence their findings, leading to flaws and skewing research away from getting to the truth. Studies often begin with a predetermined agenda, shaping outcomes in ways that may not reflect reality.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The scientific approach often assumes something is true until proven false. Yet, astrology is frequently treated as false until proven true. This double standard limits our ability to explore the full spectrum of tools available to our human experience and healing.</span></p><figure id="attachment_32314" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-32314" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-32314" src="https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2023/02/PLANTS-Red-Clover-Trifolium-pratense-flower-blossom-leaf-sun-sun-rays-Square-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="602" srcset="https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2023/02/PLANTS-Red-Clover-Trifolium-pratense-flower-blossom-leaf-sun-sun-rays-Square-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2023/02/PLANTS-Red-Clover-Trifolium-pratense-flower-blossom-leaf-sun-sun-rays-Square-1020x1024.jpg 1020w, https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2023/02/PLANTS-Red-Clover-Trifolium-pratense-flower-blossom-leaf-sun-sun-rays-Square-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2023/02/PLANTS-Red-Clover-Trifolium-pratense-flower-blossom-leaf-sun-sun-rays-Square-768x771.jpg 768w, https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2023/02/PLANTS-Red-Clover-Trifolium-pratense-flower-blossom-leaf-sun-sun-rays-Square.jpg 1076w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-32314" class="wp-caption-text">Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)</figcaption></figure><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Can Astrology Be Proven Scientifically?</span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A fundamental question remains: Can astrology be tested using the scientific method? Many aspects of human experience cannot be quantified in a laboratory setting. Just because science has not yet explained how planetary influences work doesn&#8217;t mean they don&#8217;t exist. It simply means we have not yet developed the tools to measure them.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scientific studies require measurable, repeatable results. Yet, astrology works on a more complex, interconnected level that doesn&#8217;t easily lend itself to reductionist analysis. Science seeks to isolate variables, but the reality of astrology and healing is holistic and multifaceted.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This brings us to another important distinction: the difference between scientific proof and pragmatic truth.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is Pragmatic Truth?</span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Results determine pragmatic truth. If something works repeatedly across cultures and generations, it holds validity —regardless of whether science can explain it.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Astrology has been used in medicine for thousands of years, guiding some of history&#8217;s greatest physicians, philosophers, mathematicians, and scholars. If it were ineffective, wouldn&#8217;t it have been discarded as a method long ago?</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Medical astrology has persisted because it provides useful insights that make our application of medicine more effective. It helps us to determine what is out of balance in a person and how best to correct it, and it can be used to make other tools, such as herbalism, more effective. This is pragmatic truth—something that works in practice, whether or not it is scientifically validated.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If people demand scientific proof for astrology to validate the existence of these things, maybe we should be asking why when the real question is whether these tools work.</span></p><figure id="attachment_49915" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-49915" style="width: 1620px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-49915 size-full" src="https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2024/03/PLANTS-Burdock-Arctium-lappa-Leaf-Bur-Sun-Landscape-scaled.jpg" alt="Burdock (Arctium lappa)" width="1620" height="1080" srcset="https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2024/03/PLANTS-Burdock-Arctium-lappa-Leaf-Bur-Sun-Landscape-scaled.jpg 1620w, https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2024/03/PLANTS-Burdock-Arctium-lappa-Leaf-Bur-Sun-Landscape-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2024/03/PLANTS-Burdock-Arctium-lappa-Leaf-Bur-Sun-Landscape-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2024/03/PLANTS-Burdock-Arctium-lappa-Leaf-Bur-Sun-Landscape-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2024/03/PLANTS-Burdock-Arctium-lappa-Leaf-Bur-Sun-Landscape-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/app/uploads/2024/03/PLANTS-Burdock-Arctium-lappa-Leaf-Bur-Sun-Landscape-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1620px) 100vw, 1620px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-49915" class="wp-caption-text">Burdock (Arctium lappa)</figcaption></figure><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Role of Medical Astrology in Practice</span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since we&#8217;re speaking about astrological medicine and those who have relied on it for hundreds of years, we should specifically consider physicians. Physicians tend to be pretty pragmatic people. If they try a method that doesn&#8217;t work, they probably won&#8217;t continue with that method for long.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The history of medicine has had some dark periods, and at times, practices have been unethical and extreme. George Washington was killed by excess bloodletting for a case of bronchitis! Poorly prepared mercurial medicines poisoned many people. Eventually, patients demand better care, and physicians generally want to be associated with success.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If we look at the practice of medical astrology, it has been practiced for a millenia, both in Eastern and Western traditions, and it very likely wouldn&#8217;t still be in use if it didn&#8217;t yield helpful results. Why did many physicians incorporate it into their practices?</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As herbalists, we can use astrology to better understand our clients and the remedies we work with. It helps us pinpoint underlying imbalances and refine our therapeutic approach. In my experience, it is a powerful tool for understanding both the physical and esoteric dimensions of healing.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I once attended a workshop with two esteemed teachers: Matthew Wood, an expert in herbal medicine, and Judith Hill, a master of medical astrology. They conducted an intake together on the same person. Matthew used physical assessment techniques—pulse and tongue diagnosis and questioning, while Judith examined the individual&#8217;s astrological chart. They arrived at nearly identical conclusions through completely different methods. This affirmed for me that multiple paths can lead to the same truth.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although I integrate astrology into my work, I do not present it as a standalone service. Just as acupuncturists rely on pulse and tongue diagnosis without announcing it to clients, as herbalists, we can use astrology as an internal guide rather than a primary selling point.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I gather standard intake information, including birth date, time, and place, and use the chart on the backend to refine my understanding of the case. Clients are not necessarily aware that I am using this tool, nor do they need to be. What matters is the outcome—and the outcome is getting well. While it&#8217;s important not to be attached to outcomes, we all want our clients to get well, and it&#8217;s important to believe it&#8217;s possible.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Addressing Skepticism—What Really Matters</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some people will inevitably dismiss astrology as unscientific. For those individuals, I offer this perspective: the effectiveness of a system is not contingent on its scientific validation. Herbs have been used successfully for millennia, long before science identified their active constituents. The proof is in the results.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Astrology is just another tool to understand what&#8217;s going on with someone—what is making them ill? What is the diseased organ, system, or tissue of the body? How is that diseased organ system or tissue specifically afflicted? What is the corrective path? </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you have a tendency to think we shouldn’t use tools that aren’t validated by scientific methodology, ask yourself, “How did people heal themselves before drugs were invented?”, which was not so long ago. Plants have been used effectively, cross-culturally, for thousands of years, so whether science can explain how herbs work doesn&#8217;t matter.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of course, it&#8217;s exciting when science can point to a complex of flavonoids in turmeric called curcumin and tell us here&#8217;s what we&#8217;ve learned about it—it&#8217;s fascinating. But do we need that? No. Is it interesting? For sure. Does it lead to potentially novel uses of herbs? Absolutely. That&#8217;s where science has an exciting role in herbal medicine. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Through scientific discoveries, we might find novel and interesting ways to apply specific remedies based on what science learns about a particular herb that might differ from what we previously knew. But I don&#8217;t think we need to rely on science to explain or prove how and why herbal medicine works. If you don&#8217;t feel well, take an herb and feel better. What more proof do you need? If something works, it works—whether or not we understand exactly why. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The same applies to astrology. If it helps guide effective treatment, then it is a valid and valuable tool. Science may one day catch up and provide an explanation, but until then, the pragmatic truth remains: astrology has stood the test of time because it yields meaningful results in healing.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For those open to it, medical astrology offers an additional layer of insight that can enhance our understanding of health and deepen our connection to the rhythms of nature. It is complex and has a steep learning curve, so it won&#8217;t appeal to everyone. Whether we choose to use it or not, the ultimate goal is to help people heal. In the end, the goal of any healing practice—whether rooted in science or tradition—is to help people get well. If astrology is a tool that does that, then its value is self-evident.</span></p>                             </div>
            </div>
                </div>
    </div>
                </div>
    </section>
            </div>