What is Traditional Herbal Medicine?

Traditional Herbal Medicine uses herbs according to their historically observed clinical effects.

I do not use such methods because I want to keep old practices alive, or from a fondness for herbs.

The one and only reason to practice traditional herbalism is because it works.

Due to toxicity, poor food and high levels of stress people in the modern world are sick. To combat we need highly individualized strategies that truly heal and get to the cause of illness. Herbal medicine when practiced according to tried-and-true methods can help.

Traditional herbal practices such as Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, Western (or European) herbalism and Native American herbalism share basic concepts.

One is that of “energetics.” The term may sound wishy-washy, but it just refers to physiological and psychological patterns in the body. For example, if a patient feels hot, with a pointed red tipped tongue and a fast heart rate, I could say she has a “hot” condition. “Hot” is not a disease, but much is contained in that one word is relevant to herbal medicine.

Constitutional effects and Tissue states

The following examples are meant to show how understanding energetics and tissue states help in prescription of herbal medicine. This is not a comprehensive list.

Hot versus cold

Ginger is a very hot and warms the body. Mint on the other hand is cooling.

This can get more complicated. Cinnamon is hot and improves peripheral circulation. Bee Balm is also hot but moves internal heat out, and is useful in infections. Yarrow is similar but often seen with a crack down the middle of the tongue indicating internal heat and dryness. Elecampane is hot diaphoretic with affinity for the lungs. So it’s not just if an herb is warming or cooling, but how the herbs has these effects on the body.

Damp versus dry

Marshmallow brings water and moisture into the body. It can be used in cases of constipation. Yellow dock, commonly used for the liver and detoxification is drying. It can be used in cases of diarrhea, but also in skin conditions causes by stress on the liver.

Tension

There can be several causes for this. Tight muscles, lack of water or excess heat can cause tissues to dry out and constrict. Agrimony is the herb I’ve used most this. People who are tense, can’t sleep and sick from having to act happy and cheerful at work when then are really miserable.

Dryness and heat

This can be seen with hot and dry mucous membranes in the mouth. There may be constipation or scanty urination. The body needs nutritional support. Mashmallow (the herb, not the candy) is one consideration. Marshmallow plant has thick, gooey, mucilaginous substance. It’s very nutritional but was also once used to make candy. Then they stopped using the plant and so marshmallows changed their name to marshmellows.

Relaxation and fluids not staying in their compartments

This can be see this with varicose veins or diarrhea. Astringent herbs bind membranes together and keep them tight. Green tea and persimmons are high in astringents, which is why they can cause the lips to pucker. Horsechestnut is the classic herb for varicose veins. I’ve used it many times for that, especially with pain. It works very well. It can work when blood vessels get swollen elsewhere as well.

Organ Affinity

This is fairly simple. Some herbs have a more direct actions on specific organ systems:

Milk thistle – Liver
Motherwort – Heart
Black cohosh – Uterus
St. Johns wort – Nervous system
Red clover – Lymphatics
Bugleweed – Thyroid

Specific indications

Examples are sweaty palms (lemon balm) or prominent blue veins (Lady’s mantle). I ask clients to give as much detailed descriptions of symptoms as possible.

Many specific indications relate to tongue analysis. A crack down the middle that feathers open indicates yarrow. White and red patches match dandelion.