Can you blame the full moon
for “lunatic” behavior?
Folklore also has it that full moon effects are more car accidents and a higher crime rate, more babies born and the number of suicides increases.
Many studies have tried for years to find a link between the moon phases and human behaviour. Until today, there is, however, limited proof of any connection – many studies prove no link at all.
For example, an astronomer analysed 70 million birth records and found no correlation between births and any moon phase. Similar results were recorded in regards to crime rates and suicides.
There is, however, one significant difference between a full moon night and other nights: the production of the human hormone melatonin. A lack of light is a trigger for the pineal gland to increase the level of melatonin. It is, therefore, all too obvious that during cloudless nights with full moon the melatonin level is lower than during dark nights.
One consequence is that you and I may have trouble falling asleep. Instead someone
may roam around, even the streets, and may get into much mischief. The blame is immediately
laid on the night with the full moon, which, in a far-
Sorry folks, a lower melatonin level appears to be all that can be linked to a full moon. That doesn’t sound mythical or romantic, doesn’t it?
The moon has for millions of years affected the gravitational pull of the earth, resulting in, for example, the ocean tides. When mankind came along, the moon took on a life of a mythical being. It has played a strong part in the religious life of a people from the earliest days of civilization to present belief. There was undeniable proof, of course, as the face on the moon’s disc can testify.
Many myths were debunked when man set foot on the moon. Did Neil Armstrong step on
the man-
There are, however, still some persistent myths, such as the moon’s ability to affect
the human fertility. After all, the lunar cycle coincides with the human menstrual
cycle of around 28 days. Mind you, the lunar cycle is really 29.53 days, and any
woman would soon be out-
© Copyright Manfred Kaiser 2007
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