For centuries there have been myths and stories about the Moon and how it affects people.
The word lunacy derives from the Latin lunaticus, meaning “moonstruck”, and both the Greek philosopher Aristotle and the Roman naturalist Pliny believed that madness and epilepsy were caused by the Moon.
The Lunar Effect as it's known is associated with strange behaviors.
Science has taken the question of the moons effects seriously enough that there have been a number of studies examining the various claims.
While science still doesn’t accept the Moon theories, we can rely on our own experience and impressions and decide for ourselves.
For some, the Moon theories are only folklore, for many of us, it's 100% real.
While science may dismiss the Lunar Effect, it want until recently Sage Smuggling was considered folklore.
Now, science admits smudging offers great benefits, something ancients have known for a long time.
The ancient practice of burning powerful herbal material is much much more than just a primitive belief that we can simply disregard due to it being unscientific.
This is why we don’t rely on scientific approval.
Regarding the Moon, we're all aware of the age old theory that suggests since the Moon affects large bodies of water such as the ocean (tidal force) it must influence the human body which is +60% water.
Some of us might feel depleted, spiritually, physically and or emotionally during the Moon cycles, saying, ‘it must be a full moon'.
Other people feel energized, alive, transformed - it's very personal, obviously connected to whatever else is going on in your life.
Okay, we know the effect the full Moon has on werewolves, but what about cats and dogs?
There have been plenty of studies suggesting that pets get into more mischief and are injured more often when the Moon is fullest, but is lunar activity the reason?
The study, authored by Raegan Wells, DVM, and her colleagues at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said there seemed to be a correlation between an increase in emergency room visits for dogs and cats when there was a full Moon.
The study, titled "Canine and feline emergency room visits and the lunar cycle,” appears in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The data, compiled from case histories of 11,940 dogs and cats treated at the university's Veterinary Medical Center, indicates that the risk of emergencies on fuller Moon days was 23 percent greater in cats and 28 percent greater in dogs when compared with other days.
The types of emergencies ranged from cardiac arrest to epileptic seizures and trauma, and the increase was most pronounced during the Moon's three fullest stages—waxing gibbous, full and waning gibbous.
"If you talk to any person, from kennel help, nurse, front-desk person to doctor, you frequently hear the comment on a busy night, 'Gee is it a full Moon?'" said Wells. "There is the belief that things are busier on full-Moon nights."
We realize that folklore alone does not make for good science, but the research indicates that this folklore may indeed be based in fact.
Modern studies have associated the full Moon with insanity, traffic accidents, increased aggression, unintentional poisonings and absenteeism, and the female menstrual cycle, but many of the studies are a mixed bag of results.
"While the results of our retrospective study indicate that there is an increased likelihood of emergency room visits on the days surrounding a full Moon, it is difficult to interpret the clinical significance of these findings," Wells writes.
The Pagan Kitchen has 6 cats and 2 dogs and regardless of what the naysayers claim, we see our furry family members affected to some degree during the full Moon.
Because we have some knowledge of ours own cats and dogs behavior, we know when things are different.
So, what does all this mean for pet owners?
It serves as a good reminder to remain aware of your pet's environment and overall health status, and to avoid situations that would put them in harm's way.
