The Astrological Judgement and Practice of Physick

Saunders’ work is a demanding yet rewarding expedition into the intricate world where celestial mechanics met corporeal well-being. It stands as one of England’s earliest detailed treatises on healing through the stars, meticulously outlining diagnostic methods using planetary positions. However, this text is not for the casual reader seeking light entertainment or modern scientific validation. Those expecting contemporary medical advice or simple astrological horoscopes will find its dense, historical approach inaccessible. It requires patience and an interest in esoteric history, serving best as a scholarly reference rather than a practical manual for today’s wellness trends.

Readers fascinated by the intersection of astronomy, medicine, and history will find immense value in this comprehensive guide. It offers a rare, practical window into the diagnostic methods and cosmic timing used by practitioners three centuries ago. Those interested in the daily realities of healthcare during the 16th and 17th centuries will appreciate the rich historical detail embedded within its pages. This book is essential for anyone seeking to understand how celestial bodies were believed to dictate human health, providing both a scholarly resource and a glimpse into a worldview where the stars literally governed the body.

Celestial Diagnostics

Saunders provides a systematic framework for understanding how planetary placements in signs dictate specific illnesses. He details the astrological correlations of various ailments, offering a methodology for diagnosis that integrates zodiacal energies with the physical manifestation of disease, allowing the practitioner to map celestial influences directly onto a patient’s condition.

Humoral Medicine

The book is steeped in the traditional medical philosophy of humors, describing conditions through the lens of hot, cold, dry, and moist qualities. Saunders interprets symptoms and remedies within this ancient framework, linking imbalances of choler, phlegm, blood, and melancholy to specific planetary and elemental influences on the body.

Astrological Timing

Beyond diagnosis, Saunders offers precise guidance on when to administer medicines or conduct treatments. Utilizing planetary hours and other astrological considerations, he demonstrates how aligning medical interventions with auspicious cosmic timings can significantly enhance their efficacy, reflecting a deep belief in the synchronicity between the macrocosm and the microcosm.

“And you shall understand that this Plague was not infectious, because it came of a cold cause; and there was nothing that bred it so soon as the eating of fresh Herrings and Cucumbers and fruit, and such things as breed slimy Flegm and Water; and most commonly where it took a house, it went round amongst children and servants, that were all of one”

“Saunders speaks of humors and winds, of conditions hot, cold or dry, of the cholerick and fiery, etc.”

🏛 Books from this publisher Astrology Classics