<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There is a lot of talk about the importance of understanding lunar cycles and respecting the moon itself as it applies to psychology and biology in our modern day.&nbsp; Is it a legitimate thing, or just fiction?&nbsp; Turns out, there is a little bit of both tied up in it.&nbsp; Sorting out fact from fiction is helpful for everyone concerned!</p> <p><strong>The effect of the moon in biology</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The claim that the moon and its lunar phases can impact the body&rsquo;s biology is FACT rather than a myth.&nbsp; The basics of it all is that we are animals on the earth (like all the other species) and we are impacted by the moon and the natural changes that it causes.&nbsp; Some theories suggest that noted changes in a person&rsquo;s biology were due to a shift in the electromagnetic field of the earth as the moon shifted.&nbsp; Others suspected it was the fact that the &ldquo;tide&rdquo; in humans is impacted by the moon as much as the tide is oceans.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The biggest changes were seen in cardiovascular activity, though other studie show small changes in things like sleep patterns and other details related to the circadian rhythms and sleep cycles.&nbsp; While human lives often seem to be independent of nature and its pulls on other species, these studies show that we are impacted, even if we do not abide by those biological changes.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>The effect of the moon in psychology</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When looking at the impact of the moon and its lunar cycles on human psychology, numerous studies have proven that this is MYTH rather than fact.&nbsp; From one condition to another, from one patient to another, and throughout all of the lunar phases, there is no correlation.&nbsp; In studies where a change in human behavior and psychological symptoms were marked, it was concluded that those changes were due to other changes in the body (such as menstruation, sleep schedules, etc) rather than influences directly related to the moon.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There are some who feel, even still, that &ldquo;lunar lunacy&rdquo; is a thing.&nbsp; This concept originally stated that during a full moon, humans would &ldquo;shift&rdquo; into supernatural creatures.&nbsp; In modern day, many believed that the full moon brought out &ldquo;the crazies&rdquo; in those both who were mentally stable and otherwise.&nbsp; However, there is no statistically significant research to back up any version of tha theory, no matter how mild.</p> <p><strong>The bottom line</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Understanding the differences between myth and fact will help make sure that both patients and practitioners take a proper approach when looking at the interplay between the natural world and its effect on the human body and mind.&nbsp; It is interesting to note that it can impact biological and physical health, but not mental -- according to recent studies.&nbsp; It implies that we are not so different from the other species on the earth.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So, whether you were correct in your understanding of the moon&rsquo;s impact (or lack there-of) in your psychological and physiological health or not, now you know the facts that will help you move forward better informed!</p> <p><strong>Sources</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1979-26088-001">https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1979-26088-001</a></li> <li><a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0033-2909.97.2.286">https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0033-2909.97.2.286</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09291016.2013.830508">https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09291016.2013.830508</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982208008658">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982208008658</a></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p>