The ancient wisdom keepers understood something profound that modern medicine is only beginning to rediscover – that we are not separate from the cosmos that surrounds us. The same cosmic forces that govern the movement of planets also flow through our bodies, influencing our health, our emotions, and our very essence!
This is the foundation of astro-herbalism – the beautiful fusion of astrology and herbal medicine that recognises the energetic correspondence between celestial bodies and the plant medicines that grow beneath their influence. Just as each zodiac sign carries its own unique archetypal energy, so too do certain plants resonate with these same cosmic frequencies, offering us a pathway to deeper healing and balance.
In the spirit of “as above, so below,” the hermetic principle that connects the macrocosm to the microcosm, we can work with plants that either mirror our astrological nature or provide the balancing energies we need to thrive. This approach to healing honours both our individual cosmic blueprint and the plant wisdom that has supported humanity for millennia.
Below I discuss some of the rulerships of the signs, and their corresponding plant medicines.
Aries. The Warrior’s Medicine
Those born under the sign of Aries carry the fire of initiation – bold, pioneering, and always ready for action. This cardinal fire sign rules the head and muscular system, making Aries natives prone to headaches, muscle tension, and the occasional burnout from their relentless, impulsive drive.
Rosemary, with its needle-like leaves reaching toward the sky, embodies pure Aries energy. This aromatic herb stimulates circulation to the brain, relieving the tension headaches that plague many Rams. Its invigorating nature supports memory and mental clarity – perfect for the Aries who’s enery is concentrated in the head, who always charges ahead, but sometimes needs help staying focused.
Wood Betony offers a more grounding medicine for Aries. This gentle herb has a special affinity for the nerves of the head, helping with neuralgia, and to calm the anxiety that can arise when Aries energy becomes too scattered or intense. It’s particularly valuable for those moments when all that fire gets stuck in the head, creating tension and restlessness.
Taurus. Nourishing the Earth Temple
Taurus, ruled by Venus, seeks beauty, sensuality, comfort, and stability. This earth sign governs the throat and thyroid, and many Taureans struggle with thyroid imbalances that can affect their metabolism and overall vitality.
Seaweed may seem like an unlikely match for this earth sign, but its high iodine content makes it invaluable for thyroid health. Interestingly, seaweed grows in the depths of the ocean – a Scorpionic realm that represents Taurus’s opposite sign, showing how we sometimes need the medicine of our cosmic opposite to find balance.
Rose, the queen of flowers, speaks directly to Taurus’s Venus-ruled heart. This luxurious botanical opens the heart chakra and helps release the rigid patterns that can develop when Taurus energy becomes too fixed or stubborn. Rose reminds the Bull that true strength includes the ability to bend and flow.
Gemini. Calming the Mercurial Mind
Gemini’s airy nature brings quick thinking and adaptability, but it can also create anxiety, nervous tension, and digestive upset. This mutable air sign rules the respiratory system, all passages that air passes through, and the nervous system, making Geminis particularly sensitive to stress and environmental stimuli.
Lavender, with its ethereal purple (crown chakra!) blooms and calming volatile oils, offers the perfect antidote to Gemini’s scattered energy. This gentle sedative helps quiet the racing thoughts that keep many Geminis awake at night, has antimicrobial uses for upper respiratory infections, while also soothing the spasmodic digestion that can result from nervous tension.
Peppermint provides another aerial medicine for this air sign. Its cooling menthol clears respiratory congestion while its uplifting scent brings mental clarity without sedation – allowing Gemini to maintain their natural curiosity while finding greater focus.
Cancer. Nurturing the Inner Mother
Cancer, ruled by the Moon, is deeply connected to the rhythms of emotion, intuition, and nurturing. This water sign governs the stomach and breasts, making Cancers particularly susceptible to digestive upset during times of emotional stress.
Chamomile, despite being ruled by the Sun, offers perfect medicine for lunar Cancer. Its gentle, maternal energy soothes upset stomachs and calms frayed nerves – particularly valuable for Cancers who tend to internalise their emotions and hold stress in their stomach.
Marshmallow root provides the ultimate comfort food for Cancer’s sensitive digestive system. Its mucilaginous properties coat and protect irritated mucous membranes, offering the same kind of gentle, nurturing support that Cancer natives long to both give and receive.
Leo. Igniting the Solar Fire
Leo, ruled by the Sun, governs the heart and circulatory system. When Leo energy is balanced, it radiates warmth, confidence, and generous love. But when dimmed, Leos can experience depression, heart troubles, and a loss of their natural vitality.
Hawthorn serves as both physical and spiritual heart medicine for Leo. This plant strengthens cardiac muscle while opening the heart to give and receive love more freely – essential for Leos who need to feel their light shining brightly in the world.
St. John’s Wort, with its bright yellow flowers that seem to capture sunshine itself, helps restore Leo’s natural radiance when depression threatens to dim their inner light. This solar herb literally brings sunshine to the nervous system, helping Leos reconnect with their inherent joy and confidence.
Virgo. Grounding the Perfectionist
Virgo, ruled by Mercury but grounded in earth, seeks order, purity, and practical service. This mutable earth sign governs the digestive system and nervous system, making Virgos prone to nervous tension that manifests as digestive upset.
Skullcap offers nervous system support for the anxious Virgo mind. This gentle sedative helps quiet the internal critic that can keep Virgos in a constant state of stress, allowing them to find peace with imperfection.
Oats provide the kind of deep, nourishing support that resonates with Virgo’s earth-sign nature. This nervous system tonic rebuilds depleted nerve reserves while offering the grounding energy that helps Virgos feel more centered and less scattered.
Libra. Finding Perfect Balance
Libra, ruled by Venus, seeks harmony, beauty, and balance in all things. This cardinal air sign governs the kidneys and skin – the body’s primary organs of balance and beauty.
Burdock root supports Libra’s quest for physical beauty by cleansing the blood and supporting liver and kidney function. This deep-acting alterative/depurative helps clear skin conditions like acne and eczema, allowing Libra’s natural beauty to shine through.
Ashwagandha, as an adaptogenic herb, embodies Libra’s core mission of finding balance. This powerful plant helps the body adapt to stress and maintain homeostasis – the perfect medicine for Libras who can become depleted from constantly trying to keep everyone else happy.
Scorpio. The Deep Cleanser
Scorpio, ruled by Mars and Pluto, governs transformation, elimination, and the hidden realms. This fixed water sign rules the reproductive organs and elimination systems, making Scorpios natural detoxifiers who benefit from deep cleansing medicines.
Poke root embodies Scorpio’s transformative power with its ability to stimulate lymphatic drainage and eliminate toxins. This powerful plant medicine requires respect and proper preparation, much like Scorpio energy itself.
Wormwood offers another form of Scorpionic cleansing, traditionally used to eliminate parasites and clear negative energies. Its intensely bitter taste and occult associations make it a perfect match for Scorpio’s fearless approach to shadow work.
Sagittarius. The Adventurer’s Recovery
Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, embodies expansion, adventure, and philosophical wisdom. This mutable fire sign governs the liver and thighs, and Sagittarians are known for their love of excess and physical adventures that can sometimes lead to injury.
Dandelion root perfectly matches Sagittarian energy – its seeds blow freely across vast distances while the root provides essential liver support for those Jupiter-ruled overindulgences. Every part of this plant embodies freedom and wanderlust.
Arnica serves as the adventurer’s first aid kit, healing bruises and muscle strains that result from Sagittarian physical recklessness. This mountain flower understands the price of bold exploration and offers gentle healing for the inevitable bumps along the way.
Capricorn. Building Strong Foundations
Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, embodies structure, endurance, and long-term building. This cardinal earth sign governs the bones, joints, and structural systems, making Capricorns prone to issues with their physical foundation.
Comfrey, known as “bone-knit,” offers exactly what Saturn-ruled Capricorn needs – the ability to rebuild and strengthen bones and connective tissue. This powerful healing ally helps Capricorns maintain the physical structure they need to support their ambitious goals.
Horsetail provides mineral-rich support for bones, tendons, and structural integrity. Its high silica content helps prevent the brittleness and fragility that can develop when Capricorn energy becomes too rigid or depleted.
Aquarius. Smoothing the Electric Current
Aquarius, ruled by Saturn and Uranus, governs innovation, community, and electrical systems. This fixed air sign rules the circulatory and nervous systems, making Aquarians prone to erratic energy patterns and nervous system irregularities.
Velvet Bean contains L-dopa, a dopamine precursor that helps regulate movement and mood – perfect for unpredictable Aquarian energy. This tropical legume helps smooth out the electrical sparks that can make Aquarius feel scattered or ungrounded.
Green tea offers the perfect combination of stimulation and relaxation for Aquarian energy. The caffeine provides the mental stimulation Aquarius craves, while L-theanine promotes calm focus and supports healthy dopamine levels.
Pisces. Strengthening the Boundaries
Pisces, ruled by Jupiter and Neptune, embodies compassion, intuition, and spiritual connection. This mutable water sign governs the lymphatic system and feet, and Pisceans often struggle with boundary issues both physically and emotionally.
Goldenseal helps strengthen the mucous membrane barriers that Pisces struggles to maintain. Whether addressing leaky gut, infections, or energetic boundaries, this bitter herb provides the astringent support that helps Pisces maintain their integrity while remaining open-hearted.
Cleavers supports Pisces’ lymphatic system, helping to move the waters of the body and prevent stagnation. This gentle spring green helps Pisceans maintain healthy flow while supporting their natural role as emotional and spiritual cleansers.
Embracing Your Cosmic Medicine!
Working with astro-herbalism isn’t about limiting yourself to only the plants associated with your sun sign. Rather, it’s about understanding the cosmic energies at play in your life and choosing plant allies that support your journey toward greater balance and wholeness.
Consider not just your sun sign, but also your moon sign (emotional nature), rising sign (how you interface with the world), and any planetary transits you may be experiencing. Sometimes we need the medicine of our opposite sign to find balance, or the grounding energy of an earth plant when our fire energy burns too hot.
As you explore these cosmic correspondences, remember that the most powerful medicine is always the one that resonates with your individual constitution and current life circumstances. Let the stars guide you, but trust your own inner wisdom to choose the plants that call to your soul.
In working with astro-herbalism, we honour both our cosmic inheritance and our earth-bound experience, creating a bridge between heaven and earth that allows us to live as whole, integrated beings. May your journey with these plant allies bring you deeper into alignment with your truest self and your highest healing potential.
My name is Ash and I’m a naturopath and medical astrologer based in Kalamunda, Perth Hills.
If Medical Astrology or Astro-Herbalism (astrological herbalism) calls you, perhaps you’d like to take my course “Introduction to Medical Astrology and Astro-Herbalism“, or book in for your own in-depth Medical Astrology reading!
