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Energetics of Western Herbs
Unfortunately, in the modern practice of Herbal medicine we have not had access to the depth from which its skill arose. This depth is none other than the energetic qualities of botanicals properly applied to the energetic imbalance of the individual.
Modern western herbalism, is a descendant from Greek herbal medicine and is typified by a reliance on understanding the nature and function of a remedy i.e. on pharmacology and pharmacognosy. Western herbal medicine is a remedy – orientated system, taking as its criterion for treatment a thorough knowledge of medicinal plants themselves. What counts in this approach are plant qualities, properties or active constituents
In contrast oriental medicine has a clinical orientation. By its very nature it relies on knowing the practical, clinical uses of a remedy i.e. the exact signs and symptoms that call for its use. In Chinese medicine the yardstick for successful treatment is simply a knowledge of the symptoms, conditions and diseases that indicate the use of a botanical formula.
Essential Chinese and Greek Medicine
YIN/YANG
This dyad is used throughout medical literatures in various ways. It designates polar yet complementary positions between any two structures, functions or processes, in other words Yin/Yang defines relationships. YIN – is the structive aspective in this relationship. YANG – is associated with incipience, setting loose, dynamisation, inducing change, development and determination. The solid organs for example are considered Yin while the hollow active ones are said to be Yang. Yin/Yang, describe physiological energies which may be in excess of deficiency.
Qi, Blood and Fluids
Qi, blood and fluids are the fundamental entities in Chinese medical physiology. They are the substances of human pathology from both a material and energetic point of view. Qi is best translated as “breaths”. Breaths direct, organise and activate all physiological processes. Qi is considered to be Yang by nature. Blood is used here not only to describe the red circulating fluid. It also carries out and manifests all physiological processes. Qi and blood being an active/structive dyad like Yin/Yang, together bring about all physiological (e.g. metabolic) functions.
Fluids refer to the inner fluid environment, and, is synonymous with the fluid organism. In the sense of traditional Greek medicine, fluids include blood, phlegm and bile in addition to interstitial fluid. Various organs, systems or body parts possess varying amounts of Qi, blood and fluids. If these entities are not harmonious, imbalances of the affected part occur. Examples of these would include intestines (spleen) Qi deficiency, lung Qi constraint and liver blood deficiency. Stomach dryness, for example, indicates a lack of fluids.
On the other hand, the imbalance of Qi, blood or fluid may be systematic. This generates syndromes like Qi deficiency, Qi constraint, fluids depletion, general fluids dyskrasia, etc. The treatment of Qi, blood or fluids disharmonies varies greatly with the organ or part concerned and with the type of condition itself.
Hot/Cold, Dry/Damp
These terms describe the fundamental effective qualities. They are used to describe both the nature of botanicals and pathological conditions. Hot/cold define qualitative aspects both of an objective and subjective nature, of both signs and symptoms. The person who feels hot and one who has an inflammation are both said to display a hot condition. Dryness/damp, are used in the same way. These qualitative terms are favoured because they describe phenomena in terms very close to our daily experience. Large intestine dryness, for instance, is a syndrome whose nature is not difficult to imagine. Certain combinations appear frequently, such as damp heat and damp cold. Here two qualities simply combine, as in the syndrome head damp cold. At times the word fire is used to indicate a very manifest type of heat, as in the syndromes stomach fire and liver fire. Hot conditions are treated by the method of clearing heat; cold conditions by generating warmth. Dry conditions are treated by providing moisture; damp conditions by promoting astriction.
Deficiency/Excess
These terms are used in pathology only, and indicate either an insufficiency or a superfluity of some substance or process. Deficiency refers to a lack of some positive quality or quantity, as in lung Qi deficiency. Excess always refers to a redundancy of some kind, whether of a fluid causing an obstruction, as in liver fluid congestion, or an energetic one, as in Yang excess. Usually the excess nature of a condition is implied in a syndrome, but not spelled out. Liver Qi stagnation, liver damp heat are both liver syndromes of the excess type, for example Deficiency conditions by definition are treated by restoring methods of treatment. Excess conditions are treated by eliminating methods.
External/Internal
These terms describe the location of a condition in both time and space. External conditions describe the initial stages of conflict between pathogens and the body’s “defensive” Qi, i.e. active defence responses. They are acute conditions. They are said to occupy the superficial exterior aspects of the body: the skin and muscles. External conditions like external wind cold are usually treated by causing sweating. Internal conditions are defined as being established and usually chronic, entailing that they do some degree of collapse of defence response, and a nesting of pathogens. They are located in the internal areas of the body, even if they manifest on the exterior (through skin rashes, bleeding, pulse, tongue and urine changes for example). Any syndrome that does not start with the word external automatically describes an internal condition. Internal conditions are treated variously according to the further nature of the condition, which might be hot or cold, deficient or excess.
The Twenty – Four Herb Classes
There are five sections embodying the five main treatment principles. These sections then divide into 24 distinct herb classes embodying treatment methods.
Herbs for eliminating: Promoting sweating and dispelling wind/cold heat: diaphoretics Promoting urination and draining fluid congestion: diuretics Promoting bowel movement and resolving accumulation: laxatives Promoting expectoration and resolving phlegm: expectorants Promoting menstruation and clearing stagnation: emmenagogues Cause vomiting: emetics
Herbs for Restoring: Tonifying the Qi and replenishing deficiency: restoratives Tonifying the Yang and dispelling cold: stimulants Nourishing the blood and replenishing deficiency: nutritives Nourishing the Yin and moistening dryness: demulcents
Herbs for draining: Circulating the Qi and releasing constraint: relaxants Clearing heat and reducing infection: refrigerants
Herbs for Altering and Regulating ` Promoting detoxification and resolving Toxicosis: detoxicants Vitalising the blood and removing congestion: decongestants Resolving mucous damp and removing congestion: mucostatics Regulating endocrine and autonomic nervous functions: hormonal and CNS Regulators
Herbs for Symptom Treatment Enhancing pregnancy and childbirth: pregnancy enhancers Promoting astriction and stopping discharges: astringents Calming the spirit: nervous sedatives Lifting the spirits: nervous stimulants Clearing internal wind: spasmolytics Relieving pain: analgesics Promoting tissue repair: vulneraries Reducing infection: anti-infectives Clearing parasites: antiparasitics.
Herbal (phytotherapeutic) medicine is used to assist the body in its own instinctive attempts at self healing. Non-suppressive medicines strengthen immune reserves and help overcome disease. Plant medicines bring to the body a force which stimulates the energy-production system. A plant synthesises its own chemicals to protect itself against disease, which also proves to be effective in humans.
all copyright belongs to Lynne Wheatman, Natural-Homeopathy Hide and Seek fairy, courtesy of artist Selina French
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