Publication:

Investigating rahu (North lunar node) placement in the sixth house of the natal horoscope with special reference to irritable bowel syndrome: an exploratory case control study

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, multifactorial disorder of gut-brain interaction. In Jyotisha (Vedic astrology), the sixth house (Shashtha Bhava) is traditionally linked to disease, and placement of Rahu (North Lunar Node) in this house is hypothesised to influence disease susceptibility. This exploratory case-control study evaluated whether Rahu's placement in the sixth house is significantly associated with Rome IV-confirmed IBS.

Methods This case-control study was conducted in an institutional outpatient department from December 2025 to March 2026, enrolling 176 participants (88 Rome IV-confirmed IBS cases and 88 healthy controls). Natal horoscopes were generated using validated AstroSage software from documented birth details and independently verified by a qualified astrologer for presence of Rahu in the sixth house. Association with IBS status was analysed using the Pearson chi-square test, and OR with 95% CI was calculated by the Woolf (logit) method.

Results Rahu was identified in the sixth house in 76.1% of cases compared with 15.9% of controls (χ²=64.25, df = 1, p<0.001; exact p=1.10 × 10⁻¹⁵), yielding an OR of 16.86 (95% CI: 7.94–35.80). Sex distribution did not differ significantly between groups (p=0.543).

Conclusions A statistically significant, strong association was found between Rahu's placement in the sixth house and Rome IV-confirmed IBS, lending preliminary support to the Graha Chikitsa hypothesis. As an exploratory observational study, this cannot be interpreted as causal; multicentre validation adjusting for biological, dietary, and psychosocial confounders is warranted before clinical application.