Lunar Eclipse 2020: Can Lunar Eclipse Actually Impact Our Health?
A majestic lunar eclipse will be sighted on the intervening night of June 5 and June 6 at 11:15 pm and will go on till 2:34 am. A lunar eclipse is an astronomical event in which the Earth comes in between the Sun and the Moon, forming a straight line. As a result, the blue planet completely or partially blocks the sunlight from reaching the surface of the Moon.
02/7All about the lunar eclipse 2020
The lunar eclipse taking place tonight is actually a penumbral lunar eclipse which happens when the Earth’s outer shadow (the penumbra) covers the moon which is a lot fainter than the dark core of the Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra. As seasoned sky gazers wait with bated breath for the eclipse to begin, it should be noted that it is the second of the four penumbral lunar eclipses of 2020.
03/7The link between eclipses and human health and behaviour
Beliefs linking eclipses with an adverse impact on human health and state of mind have been prevalent since time immemorial. Infact, there is a specific set of do’s and don’ts for pregnant women, in addition to dietary restrictions during the length of the eclipse. A certain school of thought also dictates that the radiations produced during the eclipse can be harmful to the health, especially if something is eaten or cooked when the eclipse is taking place.
Before we dive into the consequences of eclipses on the human body and our overall health, it is important to note that humans have watched eclipses since the beginning of the time, long before our understanding of these celestial events came to being. This can explain some of the ancient beliefs surrounding the impact of eclipses which are prevalent to date.
04/7Does the lunar eclipse impact human health and well being? Let’s find out
Age-old beliefs dictate that during a lunar eclipse, strong ultraviolet rays are emitted, which make the precooked food unsafe to eat and even cooking is avoided during the eclipse. Some even believe that drinking water is also contaminated during the course of a lunar eclipse, so it should be avoided as well.
05/7What does the study say about the impact of the lunar eclipse on animals
According to a study published in PubMed.gov titled ‘The Lunar Cycle: Effects on Human and Animal Behavior and Physiology’, the lunar cycle may have an impact on the human reproduction, including fertility, menstruation, and birth rate.
The research also highlights that the lunar cycle may also impact hormonal changes in insects and even the daily variations “in melatonin and corticosterone disappear during full-moon days in birds”. Another impact of the lunar cycle may be noted on laboratory rats when it comes to their taste sensitivity and even the ultrastructure of pineal gland cells which regulates melatonin. Several studies have shown that oysters have also fine-tuned their clock to the lunar rhythm.
06/7How the full moon impacts the sleep cycle in humans
Another study published in PubMed.gov, which has been titled “Evidence That the Lunar Cycle Influences Human Sleep” sheds light on the link between a full moon and poor sleep. As per the research, which was conducted on 33 people, it was found that an indicator of deep sleep was decreased by 30 per cent and even the time to fall asleep was reduced by 5 minutes during a full moon.
While the study claims that it is the “first reliable evidence that a lunar rhythm can modulate sleep structure in humans”, further research needs to be conducted to understand the lunar effects on the human sleep cycle.
07/7 The take away
According to an article published in sciencing.com, as per NASA, there is no particular evidence that lunar eclipses have any physical effect on people. The website further claims that it is the beliefs that people hold about the impact of lunar eclipses which may cause “profound psychological effects.”