The full moon can have some subtle effects on humans, primarily related to sleep, mood, and certain health conditions, but many popular beliefs about its influence are not strongly supported by scientific evidence.
Effects on Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
- Studies indicate that during a full moon, people may experience less deep sleep and a delay in entering REM sleep, which can affect overall sleep quality
- This may be due to the increased brightness of the full moon affecting melatonin production, a hormone critical for regulating sleep
- Some research suggests men and women might experience different effects on REM sleep during a full moon, with men possibly having more REM sleep and women less
Mood and Mental Health
- The general scientific consensus is that the full moon does not significantly impact mood, aggression, violence, or mental health disorders in the general population
- However, individuals with bipolar disorder may be more sensitive to lunar cycles. Studies have shown that some bipolar patients experience mood shifts synchronized with the lunar cycle, possibly due to disruptions in circadian rhythms and sleep patterns
- There is no strong evidence linking full moons to increased psychiatric emergencies or hospital admissions for mental health issues
Cardiovascular and Physical Health
- Some research has found slight changes in cardiovascular parameters during full moons, such as a small drop in blood pressure and heart rate, suggesting a possible increase in physical efficiency during these times
- These effects are not consistently replicated across all studies and remain an area of ongoing research.
Menstrual Cycles and Reproduction
- Despite common beliefs, scientific studies have found no consistent link between the lunar cycle and menstrual cycles or fertility
- Menstrual cycles vary widely among individuals and are not synchronized with the moon’s phases.
Behavior and Other Effects
- Long-standing myths about increased violence, trauma, or suicides during full moons have been debunked by multiple studies showing no significant correlation
- Some animal behaviors and physiological processes may be influenced by lunar cycles, but human effects are generally weak or inconsistent
Summary
While the full moon may subtly influence sleep patterns and possibly affect people with bipolar disorder, most claims about its effects on human behavior, mood, and health lack strong scientific support. The moon’s gravitational pull and brightness have some measurable but minor impacts on physiology, but these are far less dramatic than folklore suggests
