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Medical Alchemy: Capricorn and Winter Solstice Date Published: by Marcia Starck

Bio: Marcia Starck

You can write to Marcia with your health questions c/o Medical Alchemy, The Sun, 1807 Second St. #29, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Please include your date, time, and place of birth.

Marcia Starck is an astrologer who works with Medical Astrology, psychological astrology and relationships, and Astro*Carto*Graphy®. She also facilitates and conducts rituals. Marcia has authored six books on astrology, healing, women's rituals, and the shadow side; the most recent being Healing with Astrology.

The Sun enters Capricorn on Dec. 21 this year; winter solstice is one of the four cardinal ingresses and is extremely significant as it marks the re-birth of the light, the time when the Sun begins to increase in light after the shortest day and longest night. Mercury entered Capricorn Dec. 4 and retrogrades in Capricorn on Dec.23; though it turns direct on January 12, it will still be in Capricorn until Feb. 8. Jupiter is in the last degrees of Capricorn and will conjoin Neptune on January 9 in 27 degrees before moving on to Aquarius.

With four planets in Capricorn this month, we could easily feel cold and need some extra layers of clothing as well as some warming herbs and supplements. Drinking tea made from ginger root is often helpful unless the liver is too heated already (symptoms like hot flashes, red and itchy skin, or flushing indicates a hot liver). A good tea for cold extremities is a mixture of 3 parts prickly ash bark (or berries) and 1 part ginger root.

Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, governs the body structure, the teeth, the bones, and also the gall bladder. The gall bladder stores bile which is then carried by the liver to the small intestine in the process of digestion. If the gall bladder is sluggish, constipation results. Bitter herbs such as golden seal leaf, gentian root, wormwood, and barberry stimulate the production of bile and help to clear the liver of any toxic substances. If there are problems like gall stones, some of these herbs plus a combination of olive oil and lemon, drunk first thing in the morning, can be helpful. The key to keeping the gall bladder functioning effectively is not to eat too many fats or heavy foods. Incorporating some dark green leafy vegetables such as mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, kale, or chard with holiday meals will help digestion in general, and the liver and gall bladder specifically.

Saturn can also cause people to feel depressed and withdraw into themselves. Some of the Bach Flower remedies are very helpful for depression. Mustard aids those who feel deeply depressed and melancholy. It helps build a sense of inner stability and joyfulness especially for those who may have their Sun, Moon, or several planets in Capricorn. Gentian works with those who lack faith which would enable them to overcome certain setbacks. Their depression is from a known cause, so it is different from that experienced by those who need Mustard. Oak is another good remedy; it is used for those individuals who continue to persevere in the face of difficulties. They tend to overwork and shoulder the responsibility of others, often hiding their own despondency. These people often have planets in Capricorn or an elevated Saturn in their horoscope. Gorse is for those who are utterly hopeless and in despair. They may have been suffering for a long time, or have an illness that has given them little hope of recovery.

While flower remedies bring us the essence of spring, aromas can help cheer us and warm us this holiday season. Aromas can be used directly on the body or put in an inhaler or steamed over the stove. Cinnamon oil is very warming when placed on the body or inhaled. Cardamon oil is also very warming; it is helpful to the digestive system and is often used in laxatives. The oil has a sweet spicy smell and can add to the smells of baking cookies and fruit cakes. Eucalyptus oil is a great oil to rub on the body if there are areas that are numb or need more circulation. It is also excellent to inhale if there is any lung or bronchial congestion. Pine oil is excellent for infections of the respiratory tract such as bronchitis and pneumonia; it is also good for inflammation of the gall bladder and gall stones. Externally, pine may be rubbed on the body for rheumatism or gout.

Capricorn need not be a time for colds and flus if we watch our food combinations, continue to exercise, and utilize some of these warming herbs and aromas.

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