The Moon influences everything from tides to animal and plant behavior. The sap in plants increases with a new or full moon. That is why now is the ideal time to replant. It stands to reason that the moon's cycle would have an impact on individuals. A person's mood may be affected by the phase of the moon - sometimes called the lunar effect. There are several studies showing a correlation between manic episodes and full moons, while others report a connection between depression and new moons. The moon can also influence disease incidence. For example, there is evidence that people who live in places where the moon causes clouds and rain often experience higher rates of illness than those who live in areas where it doesn't. This is because diseases such as influenza and measles are spread through contact with objects such as coughs and sneezes. When it rains, these objects get washed away, which prevents transmission of the disease. Another example is that people who live in places where the moon changes shape frequently experience higher rates of cancer than those who don't. Again this is due to the fact that cancers spread like viruses, and so if a virus can't hang out in dry air, it means you haven't transmitted it to another person. Finally, the moon can affect how some drugs work. For example, carbamazepine (also known as Tegretol), is used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder.