Werewolves & Full Moon Hangovers

A random thought ran across my mind.  If full and new moons affect the tides, are we affected too? After all, we are 50-65% water. Maybe I was just looking for a valid excuse for a poorly paced run but it was a curious thought that could only be satisfied with an answer. So a short refresher.  It is primarily the gravitational pull of the moon, and the sun to a lesser degree, on a rotating earth that causes tidal movements.  The greatest effect happens during new moon/full moon phases and that is where my technical explanation ends. So various studies have proven that yes we are effected, but none of the reports mentioned anyone that grew hair, fangs and claws and took on the form of a wolf. Hmmm...so what did they find?

Effects on Sleep
A study from the University of Basel, the Swiss Institute of Technology, and the Switzerland Centre for Sleep Medicine was conducted on 33 people over the course of 3 years. They discovered that even on several of the days before and after a full moon it took 5 minutes longer to go to sleep and people slept 20 fewer minutes. Deep sleep was decreased and melatonin levels were decreased. The funny thing is that none of the participants were aware of the study being related to the lunar cycle and the studies were done in enclosed labs. We know that lack of deep sleep can effect our performance. In fact, the subjects in this study described feeling sluggish the next day, hence the full moon hangover. So maybe our sleep patterns are cyclical according to lunar phases. The hole in this study was that sleep was not tested on all phases of the lunar cycle. Another note, tidal action attributed to the moon happens with oceans but the effect on smaller bodies of water and the earth is so small in comparison that is goes undetected by us on a daily basis. This topic is debated in other studies as well so perhaps you will have to conduct your informal study.

Effects on Fitness Performance
Do lunar cycles affect fitness? A  U.S. National Library of Medicine report stated that the gravitational pull of the lunar cycles may have an effect on fluid compartments of the body and thus may affect the cardiovascular system. To be noted, the study conducted showed enhanced physical efficiency during new moon and full moon phases due to the cardiovascular changes. So I am thinking I should choose a race that coincides with a full moon!

Effects on Behavior
It is agreed that living things are effected by seasons, lunar phases, and circadian rhythms (recurring naturally on a 24 hour rhythm). Lunar phases are said to affect fertility, menstruation and birth rate. Claims of higher than normal activity in emergency rooms, higher than normal crimes rates and more accidents seem to be associated with lunar phases but the jury is still out on that.

In summary: There is no doubt that the whole earth and all living things function in cycles and rhythms and that many of those are related to gravitational pulls and rotating planets. I have no doubt that a very simplistic explanation but intelligent process is causing us to act according to these, but for the time being, when you wake up feeling sluggish call it a Full Moon Hangover. When you come to Metabolic and you are dragging butt call it a Full Moon Hangover. When you put your clothes on inside out, upside down and forget to comb your hair and brush your teeth call it a Full Moon Hangover. When someone asks 'what is wrong with you?' blame it on the moon! When you walk up to a complete stranger's car, hop in, and then realize it isn't even the same color as your car, well that might be bigger than a Full Moon Hangover.  Call for help. ;)


Wishing you no Full Moon Hangovers, only Better than Average Days!

For more detailed information on this subject:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140708092135.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23161271
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16407788