***
Astrology and Diet Part One...

Your astrological chart/profile describes your unique constitutional makeup. From this, a medical astrologer can identify health issues you are most likely to experience, as well as specific recommendations of what you can do to regain and maintain optimum well-being. Astrology identifies four basic constitutional types: fire, earth, air and water.
A simple way to identify your constitutional type is to start with your Sun sign, the Sun being symbolic of one's essence and vitality. If you are familiar with your birth chart, you can look beyond the basic Sun sign to see if you have a large number of planets in any one of the four elements. If you do, you can apply the information below to that element in addition to your basic Sun sign.
The fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, and are considered to possess the most energy and vitality of all the signs. The air signs, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius, are considered the second most vital, though more reactive to external stimuli. The water signs, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, are more changeable and emotionally reactive. The earth signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, and possess great steadiness and endurance, though not the vital spark of fire or air.
The maintenance of health is a process of constant readjustment to change. We each tend to experience periods of excess or deficiency of our constitutional element, which require adjustment of diet, lifestyle or even supplementation.
Fire Constitution: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius
Fire rules the function of internal combustion or digestion—the burning up or absorption of food. Fire also purifies the system by burning off toxins, viruses, bacteria and fungus. Fire signs easily fight disease. Their constitution naturally tends toward high temperatures and inflammations in this process.
Excess Fire
Fire signs, when unbalanced to excess or overstimulation, are prone to burning themselves out. They do not naturally conserve or pace themselves. Excess fire burns with adrenalin energy, is ardent and excitable. Excess fire can be impatient and angry, or internalizes it into hypertension, heart problems, ulcers or inflammations. Excess fire is brought back into balance by foods that are cold, moist and heavy, or slow-burning foods that ground energy, such as grains and root vegetables.
Anything that stimulates the system aggravates excess fire, such as spicy foods or red meat. Herbs, particularly relaxants (such as chamomile or lemon balm) and sedatives (skullcap, valerian) serve to cool the system, draw energy down and disperse excess fire.
Low Fire
When your fire is low, it may be hard to burn off or fight disease. Digestion and absorption of food are inadequate. Eat foods that are hot, light, dry and aromatic. Avoid cold foods. Hot spices and sour foods such as lemons and yogurt are good, as are whole grains cooked in oil. Bitter greens such as kale, mustard or collard greens support digestion. Keep dairy and meat to a minimum, and eat frequent light meals.
A main meal eaten at lunchtime takes advantage of maximum fire at midday. Use digestive stimulants such as cayenne, mustard and cloves, circulatory stimulants such as cinnamon and garlic, or ginger, which is stimulating to both the digestive and circulatory systems.
Air Constitution: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius
Air rules the nervous and circulatory systems and the function of movement, peristalsis, urination and breathing. Air people are easily stimulated, with quick and extremely sensitive minds that are easily thrown off balance and overwhelmed.
Excess Air
Overactive, restless, sensitive minds and nervous exhaustion plague air signs, as does dry skin, hair and mucus membranes, insomnia and memory loss from systemic overload. Excess air benefits from scheduled windows of quiet, with minimal stimulation, to allow the nervous system to recharge itself.
Air energy tends to collect high in the body, and benefits from a diet rich in earthy foods that draw the energy down, such as grains and root crops. Raw foods aggravate excess air and should be avoided, except in the summer months. Instead, use lightly steamed or even boiled vegetables served with oil dressing, nuts or croutons. Avoid yeasty foods and refined sugars. Enzymes allow nutrients to be better absorbed.
Low Air
When the air element is low, there is difficulty with the flow of energy through the body. A weakened nervous system benefits from mineral supports such as calcium and magnesium, and circulatory stimulants such as gingko, cayenne, garlic and ginger. Gotu kola and FoTi stimulate brain activity. Low air responds well to dairy (especially easily-digested yogurt, kefir).
Foods that are light, drying and stimulating are supportive. Avoid heavy foods, eat plenty of raw foods, vegetable juices and sprouted seeds. Oats in any form—oatmeal, oatstraw tea or oat tincture, are tonifying to a weak nervous sytem without being sedating. Bitter tonics such as dandelion root or angostura bitters stimulate the digestive process and draw energy down through the body.
Part Two of this article explores the water and earth elements. More -->

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gretchen Lawlor, N.D. is an astrologer and naturopath. Send an email to the author.For more information about Gretchen Lawlor, click here.
Other StarIQ articles by Gretchen Lawlor:
Your Health and Moon Sign
11/20/2000
Mercury, the Nervous System and Energy Medicine
10/2/2000
Mercury, the Nervous System and Herbal Support
9/18/2000
Astrology and Diet Part Two
4/3/2000
What Can Medical Astrology Do for You?
2/21/2000
**
***
***