Taurus
Venus governs over Taurus and controls the lower jaw, the throat, and insulin production. That leaves bulls prone to throat infections, thyroid conditions, stiff necks, tonsillitis, and ear infections when they’re especially worried or acting stubborn.
Gemini
The twins are ruled by Mercury, which deals with dual body parts (arms, legs, and so on) and the respiratory system. That leaves those of us under this sign with chronic coughs and colds, bronchitis, sore shoulders, and tendonitis—probably as a result of constantly socializing and being on the go.
Cancer
Crabs are tied to the stomach and digestive system, which is why they’re highly intuitive and emotionally charged. When they bury their feelings and don’t let go of anger or pain, the moon’s influence can lead to indigestion, intestinal maladies, and acid-reflux disease.
Leo
The Sun watches over Leos and affects their hearts, circulation, and spine. They’re naturally authoritative and confident, so if anything’s causing them to feel otherwise, it can invite back problems, heart ailments, and lethargy.
Virgo
Virgos are ruled by Mercury as well, but the health focus for this sign is on the digestive tract and intestines. Virgos tend to rush through things and have too much of a one-track mind. Without enough relaxation time to balance their worker-bee tendencies, ulcers, constipation, and food allergies could result.
Libra
Venus has jurisdiction over Libra and controls kidney and bladder functions. Librans thrive on pleasure (both giving and receiving), but too much of one over the other can cause excretory problems.
Scorpio
If naturally intense Scorpios get too jealous or obsessive, or if negativity motivates their actions, Pluto can wreak havoc on their reproductive systems, as well as on their kidneys and bladders. Potential issues include painful and/or irregular menstruation, bladder infections, and diabetes.
Sagittarius
It’s all about the thighs, hips, liver, and sciatic nerve for Sagittarians, thanks to Jupiter’s dominance. Health problems range from spinal disorders and rheumatism to detoxification issues.
Obviously, being a certain sign doesn’t guarantee the development of certain diseases. But according to astrologists, it could make issues in those areas more likely, so being mindful of them can’t hurt. Books like Astrology and Your Health and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Astrology (both of which I consulted for this story) emphasize the connection between health problems and straying too much into your sign’s negative side. Whether that’s true or not, it’s a useful reminder to be good to ourselves, both emotionally and physically. You don’t have to be an astrologist to predict the positive outcome of adopting that attitude.
Updated February 10, 2011
