The Health Line

Hi All,
The health line of the Hepatica is often referred as the indicator of Health. However can some specific diseases be diagnosed by solely looking at it(Its length,Quality etc etc).Also some palmists refer to it as a business line as the traditional ending point is the mount of mercury referring to skills required in business and commerce.Which of it holds true?Eugene Scheimann says its the Headline of health.Experts, would you please share your opinion on the same?

Raman

Hi Raman, Great question!

The Mercury line / hepatica / business line is one of the most misunderstood on the hand (in my opinion)!

This is my take on the line, which others can feel free to disagree with / teach me more about it.
I don't think you can see specific illness in this line, but rather a more general hyperactivity of the autonomic nervous system - only when the line is striated, broken, multiple. This could be caused by a chronic illness or could be general stress that causes health problems. Usually the person has become aware of bodily processes we normally don't have to think about eg breathing, heart rate, digestion (and could even become obsessed with some health matters). It often manifests in digestive problems eg nervous "butterflies" in the tummy, overactive or erratic bowels (sorry), going off food or eating for comfort - and/or breathing dysfunction eg hyperventilation (fast shallow breathing). Basically adrenaline type stuff, the body is constantly in "fight or flight" mode. When it is very badly formed & striated at its worst can be panic attacks.
Of course as with every line you have to look at the rest of the hand for confirmation of exactly how this line is manifesting in their lives.

Whenever I see multiple, striated hepatica, I always recommend breathing & relaxation exercises, meditation, slower exercise such as tai-chi / yoga, to slow the system down and also to bring back the mind/body connection. Also some physical exercise as a positive way to use and direct the excess 'nervous energy'.

Within 6 months of doing these exercises every day, you can see an improvement in the line, striations disappearing, breaks mending, nervous symptoms & preoccupation with health matters start to disappear . You can also see increase in mental & physical function, productivity, creativity - hence the strong line is known as the business line. Strong line can even bring 'eureka' moments - solving the whole problem in a flash of inspiration, and is also good for improved communication.

Interesting that Eugene Scheimann says its the Headline of health. In 5 element hand analysis it is the minor air line (associated with nervous system) and head line is the major air line.

I read that a big island on this line can relate to asthma - I've only seen it once and the person had asthma! but for sure out-of-synch breathing can come into striated multiple hepatica.

I wonder why/where the name hepatica first came from? I have never known any associations with this line and liver problems. ??

would be interested to hear how others view this line

Lynn wrote:Hi Raman, Great question!

The Mercury line / hepatica / business line is one of the most misunderstood on the hand (in my opinion)!

This is my take on the line, which others can feel free to disagree with / teach me more about it.
I don't think you can see specific illness in this line, but rather a more general hyperactivity of the autonomic nervous system - only when the line is striated, broken, multiple. This could be caused by a chronic illness or could be general stress that causes health problems. Usually the person has become aware of bodily processes we normally don't have to think about eg breathing, heart rate, digestion (and could even become obsessed with some health matters). It often manifests in digestive problems eg nervous "butterflies" in the tummy, overactive or erratic bowels (sorry), going off food or eating for comfort - and/or breathing dysfunction eg hyperventilation (fast shallow breathing). Basically adrenaline type stuff, the body is constantly in "fight or flight" mode. When it is very badly formed & striated at its worst can be panic attacks.
Of course as with every line you have to look at the rest of the hand for confirmation of exactly how this line is manifesting in their lives.

Whenever I see multiple, striated hepatica, I always recommend breathing & relaxation exercises, meditation, slower exercise such as tai-chi / yoga, to slow the system down and also to bring back the mind/body connection. Also some physical exercise as a positive way to use and direct the excess 'nervous energy'.

Within 6 months of doing these exercises every day, you can see an improvement in the line, striations disappearing, breaks mending, nervous symptoms & preoccupation with health matters start to disappear . You can also see increase in mental & physical function, productivity, creativity - hence the strong line is known as the business line. Strong line can even bring 'eureka' moments - solving the whole problem in a flash of inspiration, and is also good for improved communication.

Interesting that Eugene Scheimann says its the Headline of health. In 5 element hand analysis it is the minor air line (associated with nervous system) and head line is the major air line.

I read that a big island on this line can relate to asthma - I've only seen it once and the person had asthma! but for sure out-of-synch breathing can come into striated multiple hepatica.

I wonder why/where the name hepatica first came from? I have never known any associations with this line and liver problems. ??

would be interested to hear how others view this line

Hi Lynn,

Absolutely agreed on your take on the health line.This is exactly what I feel too about the health line .Your response is an extension of Eugene Schieman's theory.
I have personally seen this line appearing in the hand of one schizophrenic who apart from other troubles had constant worry about the state of his/her general health.Although schizophrenia is a different aspect altogether..
In some cases even if the person is not at constant worry about his state of health hepatica is seen stretched in the lower part(Head line below to lifeline/space between luck line and lifeline).In such cases I have seen the person to have suffered from some prolonged illness at some point of time.
In one case the subject had Typhoid and Jaundice at the same time.He had two health lines stretched in the lower part of hand(Head line below)
Although the subject was not so health ( I mean to say he is a carefree person) anxious at the time of showing his hand.
Raman

Hi Raman, Martjin and Lynne,
Thanks for this interesting post and references. I find this line is the one most people struggle with when teaching palmistry, including myself.
It is very important to look at how it relates to the life line. If it runs up from the life line or fate line as a branch then it is generally a line of communication. If it seem to travel down and bisect or disrupt the life line then it is more like to be the Hepatica. Unfortunately as we rarely have the opportunity to observe lines from birth we don't have the benefit of seeing it form as a result of accruing health problems.
To add to your informative observations I would also highlight an island where the Hepatica crosses the head line I have found represents a chronic throat or lung problem, often infection which has been difficult to treat.
Felicity

Martijn (admin) wrote:Hello Raman,

Excellent question!

In general, I could say the among the primary hand lines the heart line is by far the most complex line: for it has so many different manifestations (I am prepairing a new method which should help people to classify it's major characteristics).

But beyond the primary lines... the 'fifth finger line' is also known as: 'Mercury line', 'line of hepatica', 'liver line', 'communication line'... and the 'health line'!

I think far most authors have only contributed to the confusion about this line. But I would like to recommend Ed Campbell's book 'The Enclopedia of Palmistry', for a better understanding about this line.

Ed describes very well that basically the 'health issues' related to this line usually refer to the lower half of the line (the interactions with the life line have gained the attention of many authors, and one should also notice the similarities/connections with the Via Lascivia); while the buisiness- & communication of this line relate much more the upper half of this line (where the zone below the fifth finger becomes involved - a.k.a. the mount of Mercury).

Raman, have I answered your question?


Just an appropriate illustration for this topic:

Hi Martijn,
Thanks for your opinion.Ed. Campbell mentions the same as far as the saturn line is concerned.It is related to health where the some part of the line is said be related to backbone also etc etc .I am yet to verify the same .So can not comment .
Regarding business side to it,I guess a clear and raised mount of mercury and other aspects should also be considered along with the line.Sometimes a clear and uncut mercury line,heart line above appears with the person having no inclination towards Business .Your comments??.
But one think I am convinced that if the health line is broken in pieces there is a serious health related issue.
Your opinion /Suggestions are welcome

Raman

Hello Raman,

Let me give you here the short sketch on mercury line for the better understanding.

1. Focus the begining of the mercury line as a first rule. It can begin from either bracelet lines, or fate line or life line or venus mount. However, This line more or less terminates on mercury mount or under the mercury mount.

2. If this line begin from bracelet, I have often seen, it indicates mostly financially secured , living in abroad and doing business. The same thing could be interpreted if this line begins from fate line also, but as a rule they usually found to be live in their own country. If this line begin from life line indicates leading profession related to singing , music, drama, or film, or preaching at a particular period of time. Read the life line below upwards in order to trace the time of event. If this line begin from venus mount , it should be called 'influence line', in which case, it produces either problems in family life, spouse, and profession or heart disease. However, in this particular case also we could see peoples who live in abroad. Remember, in this all cases explained above could be true only if this lines are free from major defects like break or island. In some cases, A long mercury line with defects indicates above interpretation combined with health issue .

2. Defective mercury line like island , breaks, star on line inevitably produces health issue. island on mercury line at Quadtriangular space never miss to produce either respiratory trouble or throat trouble. The quality of line whether thick or thin decides either one among this two. Tortuous line produces Liver diseases. broken mercury line at moon indicates gastro-intestinal disorder. star mark on this line produces severe troubles to the health . For example, star like formation at the junction of mercury and life line indicates death through heart disease. At the junction of head line, it produces mental agony, depression, or even suicidal thoughts, or head injury. Depends on the planetary dominant, the result changes.

3. Presence of good and long mercury line usually shows extra-ordinary brilliancy of mind. One indian school of palmistry names this line as head line. Presence of good mercury line usually produces far better results than the good fate line.

4. I see no much confusion in interpreting this line if we really trace the begining and ending of this line. Hope, it helps

Hello Stalin and Martijn
I had impression that Mercury line originates at the mount of Mercury and joins either at fate line or life line. According to your description its vice versa. Can you please provide more insight into it.

Regds
Sanjeev

Hello sanjeev,

Your understanding is infact fatal mistake. Never do again. All minor vertical lines travel upwards ie., sun, mercury, fate lines. Some of the fine and short vertical lines which are begining from the lower most crease of the fingers are consider to be descending downwards in some traditional palmistry. But, Nowhere we can find in palmistry literature that claims that mercury line travel downwards. It is fatal mistake if you understand likewise.

Martijn (admin) wrote: the 'fifth finger line' is also known as: 'Mercury line', 'line of hepatica', 'liver line', 'communication line'... and the 'health line'!



Just an appropriate illustration for this topic:

Hi Martijn,
The fifth finger line as you called it, is similarly called the Little Finger Crease in embryology as described by David Ashbaugh in Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis


It's early formation is influenced by the depth between the volar pads. Early vitality during development may influence the quality of this crease.

The "Line of Health" in your illustration ends in the a very, very unusual location. I don't think I've ever come across one that ends at the ulnar edge of the palm under the heart line.

The autonomic nervous system has been mentioned a few times in regards to the crease or creases making up this feature.

I found this interesting web page:

http://www.ndrf.org/ans.html

and particularly liked this paragraph:

The autonomic nervous system conveys sensory impulses from the blood vessels, the heart and all of the organs in the chest, abdomen and pelvis through nerves to other parts of the brain (mainly the medulla, pons and hypothalamus). These impulses often do not reach our consciousness, but elicit largely automatic or reflex responses through the efferent autonomic nerves, thereby eliciting appropriate reactions of the heart, the vascular system, and all the organs of the body to variations in environmental temperature, posture, food intake, stressful experiences and other changes to which all individuals are exposed.

This certainly is in agreement with the interpretations that relate to a person's awareness of their bodies' responses. I can identify with Felicity's comment regarding lungs and throat as I've noticed the higher up seems to move the awareness or issue up the body whereas lower on this line relates deeper into the bowels. Does anyone else notice this?

At the back of Charlotte Wolff's A Psychology of Gesture it has a glossary of terms. Here she has described the Autonomic Nervous System as "The nervous system which innervates the inner organs and the blood vessels. It is essentially different from the central nervous system. It maintains the organic functions and transmits organic sensations to the brain. It has a predominating role in the origin and expression of the emotions.

I think a good business mind is a result of not being overly affected and influenced by distractions of bodily responses and/or a clear awareness of knowing to interpret and trust these impulses, sensations and responses.

Patti, you bumped at the right place, at the right time
This thread is very informative.

B.t.w. do you/other readers here agree with(from your experience) what Ed is saying?

Kiran.Katawa wrote:Patti, you bumped at the right place, at the right time
This thread is very informative.

B.t.w. do you/other readers here agree with(from your experience) what Ed is saying?

According to Cheiro this line commences from under Mercury and proceeded downwards. This was observed by Cheiro over several years from the examination of hands of children and throughout his- over 25 years of experience. Is there enough evidence now to turn this theory over its head!

Cheiro seemed to indicate that the line relates more to the 'mind'/nervous system rather then 'intellect'. Also as always it was to be read alongwith the other indications on the lines and nails.

Health indications when the line had islands, reddish in colour, irregular/wavy, broken into small pieces, touching/moving away from the life line is already documented in his books.

hi all,

This discussion gives the best information on issues related to mercurry-line;
on one hand we health worries, a negative-issue linked to mercurry-line and on the other hand so many positive-traits are also linked to the line and this results any mistake by the palmist to miss the positive-personality-traits of the native and take the indications as health-issues
i actualy landed on the forum while searching for explanation to a fishlike formation just below the mercurry-line on moon-mt in my RH and this page was the first page of the forum i read and got highly impressed

(although whenever i use the term "fish" everyone feels annoyed , specially those who think that they have got a fish in their palm and their fish "alone" is the real-one)

i could find this page again by "serach" option, and this time i must keep note of it, so as to be able to refere it whenevr required
i extend my gratitude to all the experts who have contributed above with extremely useful information on this page

thanks
s_udit

Hello Raman and Martjin
I completely agree with you this line is mostly misunderstood . But to my experience I have seen if this line is of not of good quality , broken or wavy the person do suffer form health issues mostly stomach . And if good gives financial security and business sense and of course adds brilliance .But I suggest Mounts indicate more about health [ planet associated with mounts ]. Check both for better results.

sv-b wrote:
... It does not show headache and heart issues. give you here the short sketch on mercury line for the better understanding.

1. Focus the begining of the mercury line as a first rule. It can begin from either bracelet lines, or fate line or life line or venus mount. However, This line more or less terminates on mercury mount or under the mercury mount.

2. If this line begin from bracelet, I have often seen, it indicates mostly financially secured , living in abroad and doing business. The same thing could be interpreted if this line begins from fate line also, but as a rule they usually found to be live in their own country. If this line begin from life line indicates leading profession related to singing , music, drama, or film, or preaching at a particular period of time. Read the life line below upwards in order to trace the time of event. If this line begin from venus mount , it should be called 'influence line', in which case, it produces either problems in family life, spouse, and profession or heart disease. However, in this particular case also we could see peoples who live in abroad. Remember, in this all cases explained above could be true only if this lines are free from major defects like break or island. In some cases, A long mercury line with defects indicates above interpretation combined with health issue .

2. Defective mercury line like island , breaks, star on line inevitably produces health issue. island on mercury line at Quadtriangular space never miss to produce either respiratory trouble or throat trouble. The quality of line whether thick or thin decides either one among this two. Tortuous line produces Liver diseases. broken mercury line at moon indicates gastro-intestinal disorder. star mark on this line produces severe troubles to the health . For example, star like formation at the junction of mercury and life line indicates death through heart disease. At the junction of head line, it produces mental agony, depression, or even suicidal thoughts, or head injury. Depends on the planetary dominant, the result changes.

3. Presence of good and long mercury line usually shows extra-ordinary brilliancy of mind. One indian school of palmistry names this line as head line. Presence of good mercury line usually produces far better results than the good fate line.

4. I see no much confusion in interpreting this line if we really trace the begining and ending of this line. Hope, it helps