the energetics of western herbs by peter holmes

The ENERGETICS OF

WESTERN HERBS

Treatment StrategiesIntegrating Western and Oriental

Herbal Medicine

PETER HOLMES

Revised Third Edition

Vol. 1

Snow Lotus Press Boulder

Important Notice

The information contained in this book is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or

prescribe, and does not purport to replace the services of a duly trained physician or practitioner. The

information presented herein is correct and accurate to the author’s knowledge up to the time of printing. As

herbal medicine (like everything else) is in constant development, however, it is possible that new information

may cause future modifications to become neccessary.

The only Chinese medical terms that have been retained in their original form is the word Qi, pronouced

chee and meaning breath(s) or vital force(s), and the terms Yin and Yang.

Acknowledgement is made for permission to reprint the following:From Henri Leclerc,Précis de phytothérapie,© 1983 Masson; reprinted by permission of Masson et Cie.,

Paris, France.From Virgil Vogel, American Indian Medicine, © 1970 Virgil Vogel; reprinted by permission of the

University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.From Georg Harig,Bestimmung der Intensität im Medizinischen System Galens,© 1974 Georg Harig;

reprinted by permission of the author, Berlin, Germany.From Merlin Stone,Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood, © 1979 Merlin Stone; reprinted by permission of

Beacon Press, Boston.

Herb illustrations by Hazel ThornleyCover art by Ken BernsteinCover calligraphy by Li Ming-leeCover design by Peter HolmesWoodcut illustrations from Leonhardt Fuchs’ Kreuterbuch

FOURTH REVISED EDITION

Copyright © 1989, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004 Peter HolmesPlant illustrations © 1989, 1997, 2000, 2004 Hazel ThornleyAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system,without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

ISBN 1-890029-06-8Library of Congress Number 89-080816

10 9 8 7 6 5

Published by Snow Lotus Press, Inc.P.O. Box 1824Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.

303/443-9289snowlotus.org

Manufactured in the United States of America

The Materia Medica12Acknowledgments 21Foreword: Rediscovering our Traditional Greek Medicine Roots,by Stephen Fulder, Ph.D 23Foreword: An Historical Overview,by Ted Kaptchuk, O.M.D. 24Foreword: The Value of Integration,by Randall Barolet, O.M.D. 25

PART ONE

Integrating Western and Oriental Herbal Medicine TraditionsPrologue 29

1 Herbal Medicine East and West: Medical Philosophy 39Western and Oriental Thought: Complementary ParadigmsOriental and Greek Medical Concepts

2 Herbal Medicine East and West: Medical Theories 49The Two Paradigms: Phenomenology and Analysis The Two Polarities Essential Traditional Chinese and Greek Medical Terms

3 The Meaning of Integration 61The Need for Integrating both ParadigmsThe Two Keys to Integration Working with both Paradigms within a New ContextIntegration and Localization

4 The Materia Medica Reclassified 71Present and Past Classifications of the Materia Medica Reclassifying the Materia Medica The Twenty-Four Herb Classes

5 The Integral Presentation 79The Herb’s Definition and Nomenclature The Herb’s Nature The Herb’s Functions and Indications The Herb’s Preparations

6 Sources and Antecedents 97The Wise Woman Tradition The Greek Medicine Tradition Primary Historical Sources

7 Guidelines to Herb Administration 111Herb Selection Duration Preparation

9

Contents

DosageHerb Combining

8 Preparation Forms and Uses 121Preparations for Internal UsePreparations for External Use

Endnotes 138

PART TWO

The Materia Medica

Guidelines to Using the Materia Medica 145

Herbs for Eliminating 147

Class 1 Herbs to Promote Sweating, Dispel Wind-Cold/Heat and Reduce Fever 151Diaphoretics

Class 2 Herbs to Promote Urination, Drain Water and Relieve Edema 183Diuretics

Class 3 Herbs to Promote Bowel Movement, Resolve Accumulation and Relieve Constipation 199Laxatives

Class 4 Herbs to Promote Expectoration, Resolve Phlegm and Relieve Coughing 217Expectorants

Class 5 Herbs to Promote Menstruation and Relieve Amenorrhea 247Emmenagogues

Class 6 Herbs to Cause Vomiting 263Emetics

Herbs for Restoring 267

Class 7 Herbs to Tonify the Qi, Replenish Deficiency and Generate Strength 270Restoratives

Class 8 Herbs to Tonify the Yang, Dispel Cold and Generate Warmth 335Stimulants

Class 9 Herbs to Nourish the Blood, Replenish Deficiency and Generate Growth 409Nutritives

Class 10 Herbs to Nourish the Yin, Moisten Dryness and Generate Moisture 447Demulcents

VOLUME II

Herbs for Draining 497

Class 11 Herbs to Activate the Qi, Release Constraint and Relieve Pain 499Relaxants

Class 12 Herbs to Clear Heat and Reduce Fever and Infection 601Refrigerants, anti-infectives

Herbs for Altering and Regulating 665

Class 13 Herbs to Promote Detoxification and Resolve Toxicosis 667Detoxicants

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Class 14 Vitalize the Blood, Reduce Blood Congestion and Moderate Menstruation 739Decongestants

Class 15 Resolve Mucous Damp, Reduce Mucus Congestion and Stop Discharge 769Mucostatics

Class 16 Regulate Endocrine and Autonomic Nervous Functions 801Hormonal and CNS regulators

Herbs for Symptom Treatment 809

Class 17 Herbs to Enhance Pregnancy and Childbirth 811Pregnancy enhancers

Class 18 Herbs to Astringe and Stop Discharge and Bleeding 817Astringents, hemostatics

Class 19 Herbs to Calm the Mind and Relieve Anxiety 837Nervous sedatives

Class 20 Herbs to Stimulate the Mind and Relieve Depression 851Nervous stimulants

Class 21 Herbs to Clear Internal Wind and Stop Spasms 855Spasmolytics

Class 22 Herbs to Relieve Pain 857Analgesics

Class 23 Herbs to Promote Tissue Repair, and Relieve Pain and Swelling 861Vulneraries

Class 24 Herbs to Reduce Infection 863Anti-infectives

Class 25 Herbs to Clear Parasites 869Antiparasitics

Selected Bibliography 873Glossary of Terms 883Appendixes

Appendix A The Four Element System of Traditional Greek Medicine 889Appendix B Synthesis of the Alchemical/Shamanistic Greek and Chinese Element Systems 891Appendix C The Four Element Medicine Wheel 893Appendix D The Eight Krases (Temperaments) and the Eight Biotypes 894Appendix E The Three Constitutions 895Appendix F Pharmaceutical Name Cross Index 896Appendix G Botanical Name Cross Index 899Appendix H Common Name Cross Index 909

Repertory 919Index 947

11

The Materia Medica

Herbs for Eliminating

Class 1 Promote Sweating, Dispel Wind-Cold/Heat and Reduce Fever 151Diaphoretics

Promote Sweating and Dispel Wind-Cold 155Pungent, warm stimulant diaphoretics (arterial stimulants)

Peppermint leaf (and essential oil) Ginger root (and essential oil) Butterbur root Wild ginger root Hazelwort root Oshá root

Promote Sweating and Dispel Wind-Heat 167Pungent, cool relaxant diaphoretics (peripheral vasodilators)

Catnip leaf Calamint leaf Fieldmint herb (and essential oil) Spearmint leaf (and essential oil) Elder flower Linden flower Boneset herb Vervain herb Blue vervain herb or root

Class 2 Promote Urination, Drain Water and Relieve Edema 185Draining diuretics

Lovage root Goldenrod herb Couch grass root Squills bulb Broom tops Dandelion leaf European elder bark

Class 3 Promote Bowel Movement, Resolve Accumulation and Relieve Constipation 204Stimulant laxatives (purgatives)

Cascara sagrada bark Buckthorn bark Rhurbarb root Senna leaf Aloe resin Tamarind pulp

THE ENERGETICS OFWESTERNHERBS

12

Class 4 Promote Expectoration, Resolve Phlegm-Damp and Relieve Coughing 217Expectorants

Promote Expectoration and Resolve Phlegm-Cold 219Pungent, warm stimulnt expectorants

Thyme herb (and essential oil)Hyssop herb (and essential oil)Ground ivy herbBasil herb (and essential oil)Seneca snakerootWinter savory herb (and essential oil)Scotch pine needle (and essential oil)Bloodroot Yerba santa leafInmortal root

Promote Expectoration and Resolve Phlegm-Heat 236Pungent, cool sedative expectorants

Eucalyptus leaf (and essential oil)Pleurisy rootWhite horehound herbColtsfoot herbScabious root and herb

Class 5 Promote Menstruation and Relieve Amenorrhea 247Emmenagogues

Blue cohosh rootPennyroyal herbRue herbBirthwort root

Class 6 Cause Vomiting 263Emetics

Herbs for Restoring

Class 7 Tonify the Qi, Replenish Deficiency and Generate Strength 267Restoratives

Tonify Heart Qi, Vitalize Heart Blood, Restore Coronary Circulation 276and Relieve Precordial Oppression

Neurocardiac and coronary restorativesHawthorn berryGinkgo leafArnica flowerLily of the valley herbCereus stem and flower

Tonify Digestive Qi, Promote Absorption and Relieve Fatigue 290Sweet digestive restoratives (anastative nutritives)

American ginseng rootElecampane rootLicorice rootParsley root

THE MATERIA MEDICA

13

Tonify Urinary Qi, Harmonize Urination and Relieve Incontinence 301Urinary restoratives (antienuretics, antileucorrheals, diuretics)

Fennel seed (and essential oil)Buchu leafPoplar barkGravel rootSea holly rootButton snakeroot

Tonify Reproductive Qi, Regulate Menstruation and Treat Infertility 311Uterine restoratives (fertility restoratives)

Chastetree berry Helonias root Mugwort herb California mugwort herb White deadnettle herb and root Geranium herb (and essential oil) Rose flower (and essential oil) Jasmine flower

Tonify Reproductive Qi, Fortify the Yang and Relieve Impotence 329Reproductive restoratives (aphrodisiacs)

Saw palmetto berryDamiana leaf

Class 8 Tonify the Yang, Dispel Cold and Generate Warmth 335Stimulants

Stimulate the Heart and Circulation, Dispel Cold and Relieve Debility 340Pungent, warm arterial and cardiac stimulants (cardiovascular stimulants)

Rosemary leaf (and essential oil)Cinnamon bark (and essential oil)Camphor resin (and essential oil)Bayberry bark

Stimulate Circulation, Dispel Wind-Damp-Coldand Relieve Joint and Muscle Pain 351

Pungent, warm muscular stimulants (diaphoretic antirheumatics/antiarthritics)Juniper berry (and essential oil)Prickly ash barkSassafras root barkGuaiacum woodVirginia snakerootJamaica sarsaparilla rootBittersweet stalkCowslip rootMeadowsweet herb

Stimulate Digestion, Warm the Middle, Resolve Mucous-Damp and Relieve Abdominal Fullness 369

Pungent, warm digestive stimulants (carminatives)Calamus rootAngelica root (and essential oil)


14

From Gart der Gesundeit,Antwerp, 1533

Several themesrecur time and

again in Western and Oriental herbal medicinetoday, running deeply through these healing arts asthey are currently practiced. These themes concernthe very assumptions on which the practice ofherbal medicine rests. They affect its very rationaleand basic ways of proceeding in the areas ofpharmacology, diagnostics and therapeutics.Today, when we are witnessing a major rebirth ofnatural healing methods, they are very much at theforefront of current developments. In this chapterwe want to probe issues that have deep historicaland philosophical roots, issues whose ramificationsunconsciously affect anyone involved in Westernor Oriental medicine. We will begin to suggestanswers to such questions as What makes Westernand Chinese herbal therapies so fundamentallydifferent from each other? Why is herbal medicinein the West a forgotten art, whereas in the East ithas continued as a flourishing tradition?

We may begin to answer these questions bynoticing their common pull. Evidently, underlyingthese is a fundamental curiosity about therelationship of different parts to a larger whole.The question, How do different systems of herbal

medicine relate? is perhaps one of the most basicenquiries today.If we are to obtain concrete answers to thesequestions, however, the general historical andphilosophical terrain in which they lie needs to beexplored. Specifically, we need to take a closerlook at the significant points of similarity anddifference between two of the major systems ofherbal medicine, the Western and the Oriental. Inso doing, we can lay the foundation for a newholistic context that encompasses both systems.This context would not only clarify theirinterconnections, but also provide greater insightinto each. Establishing this larger context wouldallow us to explore ways of integrating the mostrefined and useful aspects of each system. Our aimafter all, is to further a more whole, authentic andefficacious system of herbal medicine.

There are essential points of contact amongOriental, Greek-Galenic and modern herbalmedicine. First, Chinese and traditional Greeksystems share as a common basis thephenomenological, or observational,method. Thisis a very strong similarity, as we will see shortly.Second, Greek medicine and modern herbalmedicine have the same exploratory, analyticalbias. However, the common ground of Oriental

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1Herbal Medicine East and West:

Medical PhilosophiesThe Yellow Emperor asked:

“Why is it that people these days cannot always recoverfrom their illnesses by drinking cereal broths and winedelicacies?”

Qi Bo replied:“Today, people can only recover from their illnessesthrough the internal treatment with herbs, and the exter-nal treatment of sharp stone needles and moxibustion.”

Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic ofInternal Medicine), chapter 14, 5th century B.C.

and Greek herbal systems in comparison to modernherbalism is much stronger than the commonground of the Greek and modern systemscompared to the Oriental.

The Materia Medica in this text presents thecommon ground of the phenomenologicalapproach, as expressed by both Greek and Orientalmedicine. Phenomenological thinking is simplybased on observing phenomena closely, rather thanon speculating through general theories. For thisreason, it is also called observational thinking. Thisapproach places more emphasis on the sensiblequalities that herbs possess, such as taste, warmth,texture, color, etc.; the human biotypes, i.e.,psychosomatic character types that they serve; andthe syndromes of disharmony that are theirindications.

The phenomenological method is lessconcerned with quantifiable aspects, such as thebiochemical constituents of plants, the treatment ofdisease mechanisms with these, and symptomremoval. If a text on herbal therapy is to be holisticin more than just name, and use expressions suchas “patterns of disharmony” in a way moremeaningful than a trendy cliché, then it should liveup to its purported aim by a holism of content andmethod—not merely by a holism of idealisticintent. Phenomenology, as best exemplified by theGreek and Chinese botanical systems, as well as bythe Western wise woman tradition, is the very rootof this Materia Medica. Moreover, the analyticalapproach rooted in Greek medicine (and mostclearly represented by modern herbalism) is alsointegrated into the present Materia Medica. Underthe heading Nature, for example, are listed notonly the herb’s traditional qualities of taste,warmth and moisture, but also its quantifiablechemical constituents. The section on each herb’sfunctions and indications, for example, lists notonly the traditional Chinese and Greek syndromes,but also the Western disorders for which eachbotanical has proven useful.

Clearly, we need to examine these points ofcontact between the two systems a bit moreclosely. This will allow us to truly appreciate theirrelative similarities and differences.

Western and Oriental Thought:Complementary Paradigms

Cultural Paradigms

What is it that fundamentally determines anysystem’s medical theory, in its conceptual orlinguistic aspect? Historically, it is a culture’sphilosophy, as an expression of its ontology.Cultural philosophy informs the paradigms, orbasic organization of concepts, on which medicaltheories rest. Moreover, medical language itselfreflects the philosophical heritage of any givenculture. Examining this language historicallyallows us to pinpoint, more or less specifically, thedifferences of approach to health, sickness andhealing between Asia and the West.

Before embarking on an exploration of thesimilarities in philosophy and medical thoughtbetween East and West, we may usefully begin bydefining their differences.Generally speaking, whereas Western thinking ismore based on logic, linear causality and isolation,Oriental thinking is based on patterns, relationsand synthesis (or holism). Western thought isanalytical, positivist and reductionist; Orientalthinking manifests dialectic and phenomenologicalqualities.

Western thought is based on empiricalobservation, which leads to the creation of atheory. Truth undergoes a life cycle of knowledgecharacterized by a long, slow phase ofdevelopment, followed by a sudden, short,revolutionary change—which in turn makes wayfor the germ of a new theory.1 Truth is atranscendent established paradigm or set of beliefsbehind a theory. By dominating all knowledge, thistruth tends to create a rigid, structured monopoly,in which other truths are incompatible andtherefore necessarily inadmissible. Historically thishas been true of secular truths, such as naturalscientific theories, as well as of religious truths.Truth in the West has the character of themasculine principle, authoritarian and exclusive, asreflected in societies dominated by the patriarchalarchetype.

Oriental thought, on the other hand, remainsmore connected to eidetic, precognitiveexperience. Observing in a different mode,Oriental thinking sees universal models or


40

emblems of laws in its observations.2 Truth is animmanent pool of knowledge that allows forcontinuous dialogue, ongoing cyclic changes andinnumerable variations—without altering thecontextual structure of the universal models ofknowledge itself.3 This may be seen in thereligions, arts and natural sciences throughoutChina’s history. Truth in the Orient is very muchlike the feminine principle, all-embracing withoutbeing dominating, hidden yet everywhereimmanent. Examples may be seen in societies pastand present that have a matrifocal bias. TheWestern wise woman tradition itself has retainedthe essence of this kind of thinking.

Examples of these differences in Western andOriental thinking immediately spring to mind. Inthe West, both ARISTOTLE’s concept of the fourelements, namely, water, earth, air, and fire, andGalen’s theory of the four fluids were very slow indeveloping. These two theories only graduallyevolved and changed to accommodate new factsover a period of one and a half milleniums. Duringthis entire time, the two theories held absolutesway over thinking in medicine and the naturalsciences. However, the first theory came to a rapidend in the sixteenth century among the headyfumes of the Iatrochemists’ laboratories when theyprimitively discovered chemical elements. Thesecond theory came crashing down in the cynicallysimple experiments of French biochemistFRANCOIS MAGENDIE in the first decade of the1800s. Both theories have since been replaced bythe theories of the atomic elements and cellularpathology, and more recently by other theoriessuch as electrical biomedicine. The point is that,although autocratic while they exist, the theoriesall have predictable, limited life cycles—like thoseof biological phenomena. Like biologicalphenomena, they evolve and fall.

The situation is quite different with theOriental type of thinking. Here patterns of thoughtsuch as Yin/Yang, the five elements and the sixdivisions of Yin/Yang have endured fromprehistoric times without any development orradical fall. They are still as important in the Eastas they have always been. Not being theories in theWestern sense, but universal models of knowledgeand templatal repositories of information, theyhave been interpreted, utilized and modified incountless ways. They have been applied to everyconceivable human enterprise, including

geomancy, medicine, art and historicalinterpretation, to cooking, warfare and fortune-telling. The validity, let alone the existence, ofthese giant models themselves has never beenquestioned. This would be as meaningless asquestioning the existence of sunlight, or of lifeitself. Yin/Yang simply is, and can be experiencedin life itself—that is all there is to it. Hence therehas been a stability and endurance to theseemblems, in spite of the countless variations andpresentations in which we find them. Theirconstancy and endurance very much resemble thepermanence of the cosmos itself, with its everpresent (although ever changing) sun, moon andstars.

In the West, truth is becoming. In the East,truth is given.

The Paradigms Informing Western and Oriental Medicine

Turning now to the healing arts specifically, we seethe Western paradigm exemplified by thedominance of one medical theory aboveall—whether based on fluids, vital force, tissuetone, cells, atoms or whatever. In early Greekmedicine, for example, each medical school(Dogmatic, Pneumatic, Hippokratic, etc.) had itsdominant theory to the exclusion of all othertheories. The brilliant eclectic synthesis of thesedivergent Greek theories constructed by GALEN

itself became the paramount theoretical paradigmin the hands of practitioners up to the seventeenthcentury.

The Oriental way, in contrast, is characterizedby the simultaneous coexistence of several medicalmodels. Here, both the eight principles (ba gang)and the five elements (wu xing) may be used asworking models of pathology, depending on whichbest fits the need of any given case. Anotherexample is the concurrent use of two diagnosticmodels. First, the six stages of disease according tothe six channels (liu jing), as set out in the ShangHan Lun (Treatise on Cold Diseases). And second,the four stages theory according to the four levels(si fen), as presented in the Wen Bing Lun (Treatiseon Warm Diseases).

It is clear that a culture’s basic thinkingprocesses, the paradigms that it develops and themedical theories that follow, are inextricablylinked. The theories that Oriental medicine and

HERBAL MEDICINE EAST AND WEST: MEDICAL PHILOSOPHIES

41

We need to consider a variety of factorswhen using botanical remedies: the herb

chosen, how long and how often it is taken, how itis prepared, what dosage is used, and what climateprevails. All these factors influence the therapeuticoutcome. All are part of the overall therapeuticcontext. Our aim is to find the right combination offactors for each particular condition being treated.The following guidelines are just that—indi-cations, not hard and fast rules. In any event,experience is the best teacher in administeringherbs.

To use these guidelines well it is important todecide which of the above-mentioned factors is themost important. For theoretical and practicalreasons it is often impossible to take all of theminto account. Elements such as the weather andseason usually have low priority and in practicecause only slight if any modification of thepreparation being prescribed.

In acute conditions, for example, dosage andtiming of administration is probably the mostcrucial. In chronic conditions, however, using theright preparation form may be the foremostconsideration. As another example, the varioustypes of hot conditions all require differentprescribing approaches. Full heat usually requireslarge doses of a water preparation, empty heatsmaller doses of either water or tincture prepa-ration, damp-heat and blood-heat may needrepeated smaller doses.

The following variables are presented to helpdetermine the type of herbal medication to begiven. They are presented in order of importance.

Herb Selection

The selection of an appropriate remedy, orcombination of remedies, is the core of herb usage,regardless of the case under treatment. All otherconsiderations follow from and depend on whichherb is chosen.

We should stress that all the following factorsgoverning herb selection only become effectivewhen considered in light of a differential diagnosisof the problem in question. Such a diagnosisincludes an assessment of the nature, location,origin, etiology and progression of a disorder. Thisholds true no matter whether a more analyticalWestern style diagnosis is done (based on tissueconditions, for example), or whether a moreobservational Chinese, Greek or Ayurvedic methodis used. The principle of differentiating amongvarious conditions giving rise to symptoms is thecritical element of both types of diagnosis.

When the various parameters of a conditionare assessed, whether according to the eightprinciples in Chinese medicine or according to therestore/relax, stimulate/sedate principles of vital-istic Western herb medicine, herb selection isdirectly affected. The choice of a remedy affectsall aspects of prescribing, including the dosage.

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7Guidelines to Herb Administration

If those of these times would but be, by a joyntConcurrence, as industrious to search into the secrets ofthe Nature of Herbs, as some of the former, and maketryall of them as they did, they should no doubt find theforce of Simples many times no lesse effectuall, than thatof Compounds, to which this present age is too too muchaddicted.

William Cole, Adam in Eden, 1657

The main factors to consider when choosing anherb are the following:

1) Thetreatment principle, i.e., whether treating• the constitutional individual ground preventively• the condition of disharmony remedially• the specific symptoms remedially

If treatment is geared toward treating indivi-dual biotypes on a constitutional level, then mild(non-toxic) botanicals represent the ideal firstchoice. Medium-strength herbs may be used, butonly in small quantities as part of an overall herbalformula.

If specific symptoms are being addressed,remedies from any category are suitable. The sameis true when treating syndromes or conditions.

2) Thetreatment method, i.e., whether the herb isto• eliminate• restore• drain• alter and regulate• treat symptoms

Within each of these categories, a specificmethod must be chosen. For example, for theRestoring method, should the herb• Tonify the Qi and replenish deficiency (Class 7) • Tonify the Yang and dispel cold (Class 8) • Nourish the blood and replenish deficiency(Class 9)• Nourish the Yin and moisten dryness (Class 10)

If a Restoring method such as tonifying theYang is chosen, then stimulants (Class 8) should beselected. Botanicals in this Materia Medica areorganized according to the treatment methods usedto facilitate this very selection. A full listing ofpossible herbs in each class may be found in thesumma-rizing lists at the end of the MateriaMedica (Volume 2).

3) Thetype of conditions being treated, i.e.,whether• chronic or acute• global or local• internal or external• deficient or excessive• cold or hot

…as well as whether any injuries are present,such as• infection• toxicosis

• congestion (of blood, fluids, mucus)• fever• internal wind• spirit disharmony

Chronic conditions require mild remedies thatcan safely be taken over months at a time if nece-ssary, whereas acute conditions may need strongerherbs.

Some remedies have more general andsystemic effects, whereas others have morespecific and local uses.

Most herbs treat internal conditions whentaken internally. In addition, some can treat exter-nal conditions such as wind-cold and wind-heat,wind/damp/cold obstruction, etc. (Classes 1 and 8).

Deficiency conditions require Restoringtreatment methods using restorative, stimulant,nutritive, or demulcent remedies (Classes 7-10).Excess conditions need either Draining treatmentmethods using relaxant or refrigerant remedies(Classes 11 and 12) or Eliminating treatmentmethods using diaphoretics, diuretics, laxatives,expectorants, emmenagogues or emetics (Classes1-6).

Cold conditions need stimulants that dispelcold and generate warmth (Class 8), while hotconditions should be treated with refrigerants thatclear heat and reduce fever (Class 12).

Disorders presenting specific injuries such ascongestion or infection, and those causing acutesymptoms, require appropriate herbs mainly fromthe Symptom Treatment section. For example, inconditions with infection, anti-infectives thatstimulate immunity and reduce infection (Class 23)should be chosen. In conditions with excess spiritproblems, or internal wind,nervous sedatives(Class 19) should be selected. In conditions withtoxicosis, detoxicants that promote detoxificationand resolve toxicosis (Class 13) should be chosen.

4) The individual ground being treated, especiallythe condition of the vital force (righteous Qi)

For example, if the vital force is weak, allEliminating remedies (Classes 1-6) should eitherbe avoided, or combined with Restoring herbs(Classes 7-11). The heat-clearing method (Class13) should also be used cautiously here. Conver-sely, Restoring methods should be used most often,when possible.

Every individual biotype has herbs thatrepresent restoratives for that person, whether for


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Known as diaphoretics, remedies in this classpromote perspiration in order to reduce fever andremove pathogens. The treatment strategy ofpromoting sweating is used to resolve external orsurface conditions: these involve the skin as themost external body tissue, and remain in theirinitial phase of development. External conditionsare acute infectious conditions that are usuallytriggered by viral invasion or flare-up, sometimesfollowed by bacterial proliferation. In HANS

SELYE’s model of stress and illness (1976), theybelong to the initial or alarm stage of generaladaptation within the body’s nonspecific responseto stressors. As such, they represent an acutehealing crisis in the individual’s striving for home-ostasis. Because exterior conditions can present ina few basic ways, depending on the body’s res-ponse to pathogens, energetic medicine empiricallydefines these as external wind-cold or wind-heatsyndromes.

The Nature and Dynamics of External Wind-Cold/Heat

According to records, LAZARUS RIVIERE in six-teenth-century France seems to have been the firstWestern physician to develop the use of sweatingas an eliminant method in its own right. He adop-ted this treatment strategy when the other eliminantmethods were inappropriate or ineffective. BeforeRIVIERE, Greek medicine practitioners tended torely almost exclusively on the four qualities theory(hot/cold, dry/moist) for diagnosis and treatment—the diaphoretic method is relatively unimportant inthe canonical Hippokratic texts. RIVIERE, however,had access to then exotic botanicals the Greeks didnot possess—strong diaphoretics like Guaiacumwood (lignum Guaiaci) and Sassafras root bark(cortex radicis Sassafrae). As he records in hisInstitutiones Medicae,he successfully appliedthese for clearing up various stubborn chronicdisorders. In supplementing classic four-qualitiestreatment with diaphoretic treatment, RIVIERE

brought widespread recognition to the latter as atreatment strategy in its own right.

When environing pathogenic influences,simply called wind, cold and heat in Chinese andGreek medicine, begin to disrupt the functionalintegrity of the human organism, a conflict bet-ween the person’s vital force (known as righteousQi, zheng qi) and the pathogen is set up. Theimmune system engages, and the conflict thencauses symptoms such as chills, sneezing, head-ache and a floating pulse. This is the symptompattern that characterizes an external (surface)condition. It is typically seen at the onset of a cold,flu, sore throat or other type of acute upper respira-tory infection.

The outcome of this initial struggle canassume different forms, depending on the exactinterplay of three basic factors. First, there is theperson’s own ground (terrain), i.e., her predis-position to infection in general. This is directlyrelated to factors such as constitution, mental andemotional state, and level of toxicicosis. Second,there are more immediate factors, such as thevirulence of the environing pathogen. The balanceof predisposing and triggering causes will deter-mine the third factor, the vigor of the individual’sown defense response. This vital response consistsof both the internal activity of the defense andimmune system, and of the more manifest signs offever and sweating.

If defenses are weak, then regardless of thevirulence of the offensive pathogen, the result willbe no fever or inflammation. This is a wind-coldcondition. If this condition continues over sometime, as it often does, it is liable to progress to theexhaustion stage of adaptation. In Chinese medicalterms, the condition will progress from the taiyang to thetai yin stage of disease.

If, on the other hand, the defense response isgood, and again regardless of the virulence of thepathogen, there will be a dynamic warmthresponse with fever or inflammation: a wind-heatcondition.

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Class 1 Diaphoretics

Herbs to Promote Sweating, Dispel Wind-Cold/Heatand Reduce Fever

In both cases it is the organism’s own immediatedefense response that determines the manifestationof the condition, not the nature of the pathogenitself. The pathogen is merely the trigger in thisdynamic situation. The type of defense responseexhibited has been very generally correlated to thetwo essential iris types, the blue iris (e.g., Lympha-tic, Hydrogenoid) and the brown iris (e.g., Hemato-genic, Biliary)—the first tending more to wind-heat onsets, the latter more to wind-cold onsets(BROY 1992).

In either case, the person’s defenses may eitherovercome or succumb to the pathogens. If thedefense functions win out over the pathogens, theconflict is effectively resolved. If pathogensendure, however, the condition then enters theresistance phase of adaptation and becomes chronicby nature, going into the yang mingand/or any ofthe three Yin stages of disease. If the conflict endsin a stalemate, subacute conditions ensue, usuallyin the shao yangstage.

The Treatment of External Wind-Coldand Wind-Heat

The overall treatment strategy for resolving exter-nal conditions hinges on supporting the organism’sown active defenses. As these defenses consist,first, of the warmth response called fever andsweating, the need is for botanicals that will encou-rage these functions: the diaphoretics (sudorifics)in this class. It is known that a high temperatureactually assists in reducing or stopping microbialproliferation, while the act of sweating itself notonly keeps the temperature under control, but alsospeeds up the removal and elimination of toxicdebris that results from the conflict. Promotingsweating can thereby shorten the duration of thedefense response, and in the case of timelytreatment, lenify or even prevent the conditionentirely. It is in this sense that we should under-stand the Chinese term for this treatment method,biao jie fa, “exterior-releasing method.” Moreover,because the defense response may be a weak one(in wind-cold) or a strong one (in wind-heat), thetreatment priority will be somewhat different ineach condition.

The Herbs that Promote Sweating

The energetic tendency of diaphoretic remedies is

active, light, dispersing and penetrating by nature,much like a centripetal water fountain. By pushingfluids towards the exterior and causing sweating,they effectively release the exterior and resolve theconflict. Diaphoretics invariably possess a pungent(spicy) taste and a dry nature. The majority containvolatile (essential) oils that account both for theseeffective qualities and their variously disinfectant,anti-infective, antipyretic and anti-inflammatoryactions. Diaphoretics are divided into warming,stimulant and cooling, relaxant kinds.

The hot water infusion is the finest medium forbringing out the surface-releasing action of diapho-retic herbs, This was recognized by early AmericanPhysiomedicalists WILLIAM COOK (1869) andTHOMAS LYLE (1897). Hot infusions should besipped while still hot in order to promote a warmperspiration. Note that in some constitutions thismay be an insensible sweating rather than a notic-eable one.

Promote Sweating and Dispel Wind-Cold• Pungent-warm stimulant diaphoretics

Remedies in this category are used for the onset ofviral infectious external conditions such as thecommon cold, flu, rhinitis, sinusitis and pharyn-gytis, as well as non-infectious, allergic catarrh.They are characterized by the syndromes externalwind-cold and head damp-cold. Typical symp-toms include chilliness, little or no sweating, nofever, sneezing, aches and pains (especially in themuscles), sneezing, nasal or sinus congestion, clearnasal discharge, frontal headache, a stiff neck and afloating, tight pulse. If any inflammation with painis present (as in sinusitis, laryngitis or pharyngitis),it tends to be mild.

The treatment intention here is first, to supportthe body’s defenses by stimulating an adequateexpression of fever and sweating. For this, pun-gent-warm arterial stimulant diaphoretics, such asCinnamon bark, fresh Ginger root, Peppermintherb, Prickly ash bark and Cayenne pepper areindicated. The equivalent Oriental herbs wouldinclude Cassia Gui Zhi (Cassia cinnamon twig),Ledebouriella Fang Feng (Wind-protector root) andAngelica Bai Zhi (White angelica root). Many ofthese herbs are also found among the arterialstimulants (Class 8) that stimulate circulation anddispel cold. Most stimulant diaphoretics possessexcellent anti-infective (including immunostimu-


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lant and antiviral) actions as part of their totaleffect.

Second, particular symptoms may be relieved,especially in the case of head damp-cold presen-ting sinus pain, nasal congestion and discharge.Nasal decongestants such as Wild ginger root,Peppermint herb and Magnolia bud (Magnolia XinYi Hua) should be selected, as well as anticatar-rhals (mucosal restoratives), including Goldenrodherb, Eyebright herb and Elder flower.

Promote Sweating and Dispel Wind-Heat• Pungent-cool relaxant diaphoretics

Botanicals of this type are indicated whenexternalwind-heat conditions arise from bacterial upperrespiratory infections such as pharyngitis, laryn-gitis, tonsillitis, acute sinusitis, rhinitis, conjuncti-vitis and blepharitis. These conditions are typifiedby fever, few or no chills, signs of acute inflam-mation such as painful, swollen, red throat andeyes, nasal congestion and pain with yellow-greendischarges, and a floating, rapid pulse.

The treatment priority here is to carefullycontrol and resolve the warmth response. Fevershould be steered to a resolution before the tempe-rature becomes excessive (never above 105°F or45°C). This is done by causing free perspiration, inthis case to assist cooling the exterior as well as toeliminate toxins. The remedies of choice in wind-heat conditions are pungent-coolperipheralvasodilatory diaphoreticsthat allow sweating tooccur by relaxing the peripheral vessels. Known asrelaxant diaphoreticsfor short, they count Bonesetherb, Linden flower, Catnip herb, Eucalyptus leaf,Camomile flower and Elder flower. In the Orientalpharmacy, herbs like Schizonepeta Jing Jie (Japa-nese catnip herb), Mentha Bo He (Asian fieldmintherb) and Chrysanthemum Ju Hua (Chrysanthe-mum flower) fulfill the same functions. Should thetemperature remain too high in spite of this, bitter-cold antipyretics like Boneset herb, Gentian root,Bogbean herb and Anemarrhena Zhi Mu (Know-mother root) are indicated to drain excessive heat(partly through liver stimulation) and to restore theperson’s strength.

Vasodilatory diaphoreticsare also indicatedfor hot conditions affecting the thorassic area (theupper warmer). These are mainly acute bacterialinfectious bronchial conditions, as seen in lungheat and lung phlegm-heat syndromes. Moreover,

these botanicals represent the treatment of choicein all eruptive conditions such as measles, mumps,chickenpox and scarlet fever. Here also, promotingsweating increases toxin elimination and feverresolution, with special emphasis on promoting theeruption of rashes—the visible end-result of asuccessful healing crisis on the exterior or skinlevel.

Other Uses for Herbs that PromoteSweating

It is interesting to note that the doctor credited withintroducing the sweating treatment strategy totraditional Greek medicine, LAZARUS RIVIERE,initially used it mainly for resolving difficultchronic conditions rather than for acute respiratoryinfections. Likewise, over in New England, SAMU-EL THOMSON in the 1790s developed the use ofsteam baths and the simultaneous intake of Cay-enne pepper for treating a broad range of chronicconditions. Again, his treatment strategy was tocause sweating—taking his cue from Native Ame-rican sweat lodge ceremonies rather than fromGreek medical texts. THOMSON initiated an impulsein the modern era of herbal medicine that lastedwell into the twentieth century (see also the intro-duction to Class 8).

In the first half of the nineteenth century,driven by the proselytist Thomsonian practitioners,sweating became popularized by the PopularHealth Movement in the U.S. as the all-purpose,preventive treatment method par excellence. InGermany there soon followed the popular practicesof V INZENZ PRIESSNITZ, KARL SCHROTH andSEBASTIAN KNEIPP, followed in turn later into thetwentieth century by the Nature Cure and Hygenicschool of naturopaths, which included HENRY

LINDLAHR, HERBERT M. SHELTON and HEREWARD

CARRINGTON.Hydrotherapy, or water treatments, have also

been extensively used in the West for obtaining thebenefits of sweating. JOHN FLOYER’s hydrotherapypractices in the English West Country during theearly 1700s come to mind. Although little knowntoday, JOHN FLOYER was a pioneer, among otherthings, in developing the use of bathing in hotspring mineral baths in order to generate warmthand promote sweating (see also Chapter 2, theEndnotes to Chapters 1 and 2, and the introductionto Class 8). Given the lack of bathing of any type

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in those days, it isn’t surprising that his mineralbath treatments were both effective and fashion-able with the upper classes for several decades! Inshort, there are many traditional and modernmethods for promoting sweating for health mainte-nance. Many cultures use sweat cabins or types ofhot baths, using either dry heat or damp heat,including Native American sweat-lodges, Finnishdry heat saunas and Turkish hot steam baths.

In clinical practice, promoting sweating isnormally used to manage the onset of acute exter-nal infectious conditions. When applied to internaland chronic conditions, however, sweating effec-tively promotes detoxification by stimulatingcatabolism and toxin elimination. PARACELSUS

aptly named sweat an “excretion of the blood,”while CHRISTOPH HUFELAND described the skin as“the organism’s most general and powerful organof secretion and cleansing.” In order to perform itsfunctions as an eliminatory organ, as well as anervous-sensory one, the entire skin surface needsto breathe freely and be free of toxic encum-berance. Like the lung to which it is closelyconnected, the skin rhythmically both receives andeliminates. When skin breathing is impaired, sur-face stagnation results, which thereby obstructs animportant elimination pathway. Sweating is thusalso an effective treatment for conditions thatinvolve surface skin stagnation. The three maintypes are: toxicosis with surface stagnation,water congestion with superficial edema, andQiconstraint with nervous tension.

Because diaphoresis helps the removal oftoxins that cause surface stagnation, conditionsinvolving the skin, muscles and joints respondwell to this treatment strategy. This is true of erup-tive fevers, for instance, and the syndromeswindobstruction with its acute wandering pains, and

damp obstruction with its static chronic pains (asfound in sciatica, fibromyalgia, lumbago, inter-costal neuralgia, etc.). Any condition presentingrough, dry skin with an inability to sweat is alsoimproved by the diaphoretic method. Nonin-fectious, nonallergic dry eczema typically resultsfrom reduced skin breathing: It causes skin itching,eruptions and, finally, inflammation and infection.Dry skin is often found in chronic rheumatic andarthritic conditions, as well as generally in YangMing Earth, Shao Yang and Yang Ming Metalbiotypes. All these conditions indicate the use ofdetoxicant stimulant diaphoretics such as Meadow-sweet herb, Heartsease herb, Sassafras bark, Sarsa-parilla root and Cowslip root. These remedies canalso be combined with Class 13 detoxicants.

Conditions of water congestion with upperbody edema, especially with metabolic toxicosispresent, will also respond well to this treatmentmethod. So to some extent will conditions ofgene-ral plethora presenting adiposity, cellulite, over-weight, venous and portal congestion, hyper-tension and so on.

When relaxant diaphoreticsare used to pro-mote sweating, a general relaxing effect is alsoachieved. By lowering both nerve and generaltissue tone, peripheral vasodilators can addressconditions ofQi constraint. This relaxant effect isideal in tense, excess Yang-type people prone torestlessness, irritability and spasms (autonomic andperipheral). Relaxant diaphoretics are describe inthe wind-heat section above.

Caution: Remedies in this class should not beused in conditions of copious sweating, fluidsdepletion, blood loss, venereal infections, colitisand bleeding ulcers, or in chronic deficiencyconditions such as cancer, TB and diabetes.


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NOTES

Elder Flower

Botanical source: Sambucus nigra L., S. canadensis L. (Caprifoliaceae)

Pharmaceutical name: Flos SambuciAncient names: Amantilla, Atrapasse (Lat)Other names: a) Black/European elder, Boretree, Scot

tree, Pipe tree, Bottry, Devil’s wood, Winlinberries (Eng)

European/Common/Parsley elder (Am)Sureau noir, Seu, Sognon, Hautbois (Fr)Schwarzer Holunder, Holler, Holder, Flieder,

Alhorn, Keilken, Kisseke, Schwitztee (Ge)b) American/Common/Sweet elder (Am)

Part used: the flower; also the berry

NATURE

Therapeutic category: mild remedy with minimal chronic toxicityConstituents (S. nigra): flavonoids (incl. rutin, quercetin, kaempferol), essential oil (incl. terpenes),cyanogenic glycoside (sambunigrin), alkaloid (sambucine), triterpenes (incl. [hydroxy]ursolic acid,


172

Like all other vasorelaxant diaphoretics in thissection, Spearmint leaf addresses a wind-heatonset of respiratory infections. Moreover, thisparticular mint is a true antipyretic remedy. LikeEucalyptus leaf and Boneset herb, it can lower thetemperature under most circumstances during afever. This is in contrast to Peppermint leaf which,being essentially hot and stimulating, reduces feverpurely by causing sweating and accelerating allprocesses involved in resolving an infection.Spearmint in addition is a gentle sedative to thecentral nerves, and so is appropriate for feverswith irritability, unrest or insomnia. An acupunc-ture point selection such as LI 5, TH 5, Lu 6 and10, Bl 11 and 12, and Liv 3 would do Spearmintjustice.

Spearmint leaf is a remedy for both upper andlower respiratory infections presenting heat,mucous and sputum. The main actions it brings tobear are anti-inflammatory, mucolytic and muco-static. Lung phlegm-heat with heavy expectora-

tion is here a classic syndrome indication.Spearmint leaf also has a good tropism for the

urinary tract. Here the herb is known to bothdecrease frequent dribbling urination and relievesupressed urination with its refrigerant, relaxantdiuretic actions. Many forms of cystitis—in theliteral sense of a bladder inflammation—are likelyto benefit, including interstitial cystitis.

Much like Peppermint leaf and Fieldmint herb,Spearmint leaf is an excellent choleretic andcholagogue that treats gallbladder Qi stagnationpresenting nausea, distension and flatulence. LikeFieldmint and the Chinese remedy Citrus Chen Pi,it addresses Liver Qi stasis with accumulation,not spasm. For colicky spasms, we need to go toPeppermint, Catnip or Citrus Qing Pi. For accumu-lation and spasm, we must resort to Saussurea YunMu Xiang.

Spearmint leaf is an invaluable support withstronger remedies, perfect for mild cases, and veryuseful with infants and children.

oleanolic acid, amyrin, sterols), fixed oil (incl. linoleic/linolenic/palmitic acids), phenolic acids (incl.chlorogenic acid), tannins, mucilage, saccharides, potassium nitrate, resinEffective qualities: somewhat pungent, sweet and bitter, cool, dry

stimulating, dispersing, decongesting, softening, dissolvingTropism: lungs, skin, kidneys, bladder

Warmth, Fluid bodiesLung, Spleen, Bladder meridiansdecreases kapha, increases vata

Ground: Phlegmatic krases

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

1 PROMOTES SWEATING, DISPELS WIND-HEAT, REDUCES FEVER AND PROMOTES ERUPTIONS;

RESOLVES MUCUS-DAMP AND STOPS DISCHARGE

external wind-heat with heat toxin: fever, chills, dry skin, sore throat, anxiety, irritability

COLD and FLU ONSET with FEVER

lung wind-heat with head damp-heat: cough, wheezing, purulent nasal discharge, sinus congestion,

sore throat, chills, low fever

SINUSITIS, RHINITIS, tonsilitis, laryngitis, rhinitis

ERUPTIVE FEVERS(incl. measles, chickenpox)

LOW-GRADE TIDAL FEVERS (shao yin stage) with empty heat and thirst

RHEUMATIC FEVER

2 PROMOTES EXPECTORATION, RESOLVES PHLEGM-DAMP AND RELIEVES WHEEZING;

RESTORES THE LUNGS

lung phlegm-damp/heat: full cough with copious expectoration of white/yellow purulent sputum

BRONCHITIS (acute or chronic), bronchial asthma

LUNG TB

3 PROMOTES URINATION, DRAINS WATER AND RELIEVES EDEMA;

PROMOTES DETOXIFICATION, SOFTENS DEPOSITS AND BENEFITS THE SKIN

water congestion: local or general swelling/edema, fatigue, full flabby tissues

EDEMA (incl. from febrile and eruptive diseases)

kidney Qi stagnation: headache, dry skin with rashes, abdominal distension

DEPOSITORY DIATHESIS:arteriosclerosis, urinary sand or stones

ECZEMA, PUSTULAR, SUPPURATIVE(chronic), infantile eczema, erysipelas, chronic ulcers with serous

secretions and soft borders, rheumatic and syphilitic conditions, chilblains, lymphadenitis

4 CLEARS TOXIC-HEAT AND REDUCES INFLAMMATION; SOFTENS BOILS AND DRAWS PUS

bladder and kidney damp-heat: frequent, urgent, painful urination, thirst

URINARY INFECTIONS

fire toxin: purulent sores, boils, furuncles, abscesses, ulcers (esp. in face, mouth, throat, lungs)

MOUTH, THROAT and SKIN INFLAMMATIONS, mouth ulcers, meningitis, stomatitis

EYE INFLAMMATIONS, sore tired eyes

5 PROMOTES LACTATION

INSUFFICIENT LACTATION

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PREPARATION

Use: In most European countries herbalists, as well as country folk, made (and still make) a distinctionbetween the flowers, berries, bark and leaf of the Elder tree. While to some extent they share similarproperties, for best results keep to the following guidelines:Use the flower to:

• promote sweating and all other actions under function 1• promote expectoration, etc., function 2• promote diuresis and treat other urinary conditions of function 3• clear toxic heat and inflammation, function 4

Use the berry to: • relieve acute or chronic neuralgias, constipation, deficient lung conditions and food poisoning

Use the inner bark and root to:• relieve water congestion, nephritis, obstinate constipation, rheumatism and gout

Use the leaf to: • relieve skin damp-heat (use an ointment), skin cancer, and for support in diabetesElder flower infusion is sipped hot for respiratory infections, while the tincture is used for most other

applications. Eye washes, swabs, compresses and ointments are excellent for topical conditions. Othertraditional preparations of Elder flower and/or berry include the wine, vinegar, oil, syrup, honey, puree(known as “false Theriac” in the past and made from the berry), water and smoke.Dosage: Infusion: 6-14 g

Tincture: 2-4 mlCaution: None

NOTES


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Few plant remedies have received more venerationin mythology, nor been put to greater practical usein the West for medicine and magic than the Eldertree. Its genus name derives from a Greek musicalinstrument made of its wood, the sambuke. As seenabove, every single part of the elder tree was usedat one time for specific therapeutic ends. Of these,the flower is the most versatile.

With its pungent-bitter-sweet taste, Elderflower’s energy is first stimulating, dispersing andthen downward draining. The first phase of itsenergetic movement causes a stimulation ofsecretions, including sweat, saliva and mucus,followed by a phase of drying out and eliminationof fluids and toxins. Along the way, this versatileremedy is able to tackle numerous conditions.

Central to Elder flower’s application forrespiratory conditions is the treatment ofexternalwind-heat: acute upper and lower respiratoryinfections with fever. This remedy is choice whenthese present with toxic heat (fire toxin), i.e.,swollen local infections, often purulent, such aspharyngitis, tonsilitis or conjunctivitis. Throughvasodilatory diaphoretic stimulation, Elder flowerreleases conditions on the exterior, resolves feverand, with its added diuretic action, resolves toxic

heat through resolvent detoxification. The effect issimilar to Lonicera Jin Yin Hua and Forsythia LianQiao in Chinese medicine, but without theirpowerful anti-infective action. Note the similarityof chemical constituents between these threeremedies, especially as regards their content invarious acids and flavonoids.

Elder flower also contains the important flavo-noids rutin and quercetin, noted for their anti-inflammatory and antiallergic actions. It is notsurprising, therefore, to find the remedy traditio-nally indicated for allergic and inflammatoryconditions of the upper respiratory tract, such asrhinitis, sinusitis, laryngitis and asthma (whichentails an important inflammatory component).

In addressing the syndromes lung wind-heat,lung-phlegm heat and lung phlegm-damp, Elderflower shows a versatile tropism for the respiratorytract.Its additional expectorant effect serves bothacute and chronic forms of bronchitis with copioussputum production. Like Yarrow herb, Plantainleaf and Goldenrod herb, Elder flower is also agood mucostatic that restores the mucosa tomoderate secretions in the sinuses and bronchi.

Elder flower’s drying quality is therapeuticallyimportant in resolving various damp conditions.

Linden Flower

Botanical source: Tilia cordata Miller , T. platiphyllosScopoli, T. americana L. (Tiliaceae)

Pharmaceutical name: Flos TiliaeOther names: Lime tree, Teil tree (Eng)

Basswood, Bast tree, American linden,Spoonwood, Wycopy (Am)

Tilleul, Tilleul à petites feuilles, Thé d’Europe(Fr)

Linde, Steinlinde (Ge)Duan Shu Hua (Mand)

Part used: the flower

NATURE

Therapeutic category: mild remedy with minimal chronic toxicityConstituents (T. cordata): essential oil c. 0.1% (inc. farnesol), saponins, flavonoids (incl. quercitin,hesperidin, astragalin, tiliroside), protocatechic (condensed) tannins, phenolic acids, mucilage, linarin,oxydase, sterols, iodine, tartrates, malates, phytosterols, resinic acids, manganese, vitamin CEffective qualities: somewhat pungent, sweet and astringent, cool, dry

stimulating, dispersing, relaxing, calming, dissolving, dilutingTropism: lungs, heart, kidneys blood, central nervous system

Air, Warmth bodiesLung, Liver meridiansdecreases pitta and kapha, increases vata

Ground: Choleric krasesTough/Shao Yang and Industrious/Tai Yang biotypesHematogenic/Sulphuric/Brown Iris constitutions

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175

These include mucous-damp with the nasalcongestion just mentioned, phlegm-damp withcatarrhal bronchial congestion, wind-damp in theskin and water-damp (water congestion) withedema. Elder flower’s draining diuretic action alsoserves acute forms of urinary infections and waterretention in eruptive fevers such as measles.

Elder flower also enjoys a rich legacy of use asa dermatological alterative. Eclectic physicians

chose this herb specifically for wet, suppurativeforms of ulcers and eczema. The herb’s depurant,detoxicant effect is indicated for eczema withpustules that burst and form hard crusts. The TCMsyndrome here again would be wind-damp in theskin. A dissolvent action is also evident in theremedy’s traditional European use for reducingand/or preventing hard deposit formations, suchas urinary stones.

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Tonify Reproductive Qi, Fortify the Yang and Relieve Impotence

Reproductive restoratives (aphrodisiacs)

Saw PalmettoBerry

Botanicals source: Serenoa serrulataL. (syn. SabalserrulataL.) (Palmaceae)

Pharmaceutical name: Fructus SerenoaeOther names: Dwarf palm, Sabal berry (Am)

Zwergpalme (Ge)Part used: the fruit

NATURE

Therapeutic category: mild remedy with minimal chronic toxicityConstituents: essential oil 1%, sterols (incl. ß-sitosterol), polysaccharides (arabinose, galactose, uronicacid), alkaloid, fixed oil (incl. fatty acids 25% [incl. caproic, lauric, palmitic acid, neutral lipids 75%]),resins, tanninsEffective qualities: somewhat sweet, oily, astringent and pungent, warm, moist

restoring, stimulatingTropism: reproductive and urinary organs, nerves, thyroid

Air, Fluid bodiesKidney, Bladder, Liver, Spleen,chong, ren meridians

Ground: Melancholic krasisSensitive/Tai Yin Metal and Burdened/Shao Yin biotypesLymphatic/Carbonic/Blue Iris constitution

FUNCTIONS AND INDICATIONS

1 TONIFIES REPRODUCTIVE QI, FORTIFIES THE YANG AND RELIEVES IMPOTENCE;

STRENGTHENS AND NOURISHES THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS, AND INCREASES HORMONES;

PROMOTES CONCEPTION, LACTATION AND ORGAN DEVELOPMENT

genitourinary cold (Kidney Yang deficiency): loss of sexual desire, painful dribbling urination,

clear discharges, tenderness or throbbing pain in lower abdomen or perineum

IMPOTENCE, FRIGIDITY, INFERTILITY

URINARY INCONTINENCE, ENURESIS, DYSURIA

PITUITARY DEFICIENCY with TESTOSTERONE / PROGESTERONE / THYROXINE / PROLACTIN

DEFICIENCY

BREAST / OVARY / TESTICLE HYPOTROPHY

INSUFFICIENT LACTATION

uterus cold: scanty, delayed, irregular menstruation, painful ovulation, fatigue

AMENORRHEA, LONG or IRREGULAR CYCLES, PMS, menopausal syndrome


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2 REDUCES SWELLING AND INFLAMMATION, STRENGTHENS THE BLADDER AND PROSTATE,

AND RELIEVES IRRITATION

PROSTATE / OVARY / UTERUS HYPERTROPHY or CONGESTIONwith dull throbbing pain (esp. from

testosterone/progesterone deficiency); benign prostate hyperplasia

OVARIAN CYSTS

BLADDER and PROSTATE IRRITATION,urinary incontinence

SALPINGITIS, ovaritis, orchitis, urethritis, pyelitis, laryngitis

MALE PATTERN BALDNESS

3 TONIFIES DIGESTIVE QI, PROMOTES ABSORPTION AND TREATS UNDERWEIGHT

stomach and intestines (Spleen) Qi deficiency: fatigue, underweight, appetite loss

MALABSORPTION, WEIGHT LOSS,anorexia, amenorrhea

MUSCULAR HYPOTROPHY

4 NOURISHES LUNG YIN, MOISTENS DRYNESS, PROMOTES EXPECTORATION AND RELIEVES

COUGHING; STIMULATES IMMUNITY, REDUCES INFECTION AND BENEFITS THE THROAT

lung dryness/Yin deficiency: irritating or dry cough, dry throat and mouth

lung phlegm-dryness: dry cough with scanty viscous sputum,wheezing

IRRITABLE DRY COUGHin all conditions

LUNG TB, BRONCHITIS, whooping cough, asthma (all mostly chronic)

lung wind-heat: sore swollen throat, coughing, aches and pains, fatigue

LARYNGITIS, COLD and FLU ONSET

VOICE LOSS,throat pain

PREPARATION

Use: Saw palmetto berry is prepared by decoction or tincture. The hard kernel, which is about as heavyas the remaining drupe, should ideally be removed first, as it is inert. Suppositories can be prepared forall prostate conditions, given twice a day and ideally after every bowel movement. The syrup is ideal fortreating dry, irritated conditions of the upper and lower respiratory mucosa (function 4).Dosage: Decoction: 4-8 g

Tincture: 1-3 mlCaution: Use cautiously in conditions with intestines (Spleen) damp: Saw palmetto berry has an oily,moist quality that may cause indigestion and loose stool.

NOTES

The dark red berries of the small dwarf palm, orsaw palmetto, of the American South have longbeen valued for their tonic properties. Well overtwo centuries ago, African Americans observedthat livestock feeding on them became sleeker,heavier and stronger. They soon made the sameexperience themselves and, as a bonus, noticed agratifying increase in their sexual drive andfertility. Sooner or later the word got out to thewhites (as it always did), and by the 1870s Eclecticmedics like GOSS, HALE and JOHN LLOYD begandocumenting the pleasing clinical results achievedwith the alcoholic extracts of Saw palmetto berry.They extolled the remedy’s ability to increase

nutrient assimilation, promote weight gain and,above all, to generally tonify and relax the nerves,respiratory mucosa and reproductive system.

Following rashes of research, Saw palmettocurrently enjoys scientific approbium for its abilityto treat benign prostate hyperplasia (hyper-trophy). Unfortunately, the academic overfocus onthe tree of one documented action has lead us tooverlook the whole forest of its clinical applica-tions. Currently the remedy emerges as an endo-crine restorative for deficiency conditions of thereproductive, urinary, muscular and intestinalorgans. Circumstantially it seems that Saw palm-etto may operate at least partly by enhancing

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331

pituitary functions (a pituitary-gonadal stimulant),including this gland’s hormonal influence on thegonads (via testosterone and progesterone), thethyroid (via thyroxine) and the breasts (via prolac-tin). In this connection we note the berry’s contentof the androgenic/testosteronic steroid sitosterol.Today the pharmacokinetics of sitosterol areknown to involve the inhibiting action of dihydro-testosterone on the prostate. A thyroid-toningeffect also seems evident, at least as regardssexual development and behavior (MOWREY 1987).

Considering this larger hormonal picture ofSaw palmetto’s pharmacology, the remedy’s tradi-tional key symptomatology now becomes moreunderstandable. It includes fatigue, appetite loss,underweight, amenorrhea, urinary incontinen-ce, impotence, frigidity, infertility and ovarian,testicular and mammary hypotrophy or hyper-trophy.

From the energetic perspective, Saw palmettoberry’s dominant sweet-oily, moist, warmingqualities restore and nourish weakness and cold inthe urogenital and digestive tract. The remedy isa particularly effective “nutritive tonic,” or tropho-restorative,to the reproductive organs. The syn-dromes addressed are genitourinary cold (KidneyYang deficiency) and stomach and intestines(Spleen) Qi deficiency. In both syndromes Sawpalmetto tackles the whole gamut of symptoms,with a special emphasis on relief of fatigue,normalization of ovulation, menstruation andsperm production; enhancement of sexual strength,increase of sexual organ size, if small or hypo-trophied; and increase of nutrient absorption,muscle bulk and weight gain. In treating a womanwith irregular, variable and scanty menstruationarising from Kidney Qi deficiency, for instance,Saw palmetto acts in the same way as would acu-puncture points Kd 5, Li 5, CV 3, Kd 13 and Bl 23.

Declining levels of testosterone have shown tocontribute to weakening pelvic muscles. Sawpalmetto’s testosteronic action can also strengthenbladder tone and relieve urinary leakage andirritation, making it an important urinary restor-ative. The Eclectic medical instructor BLOYER

pointedly reported that “ ... it is said to be thefriend of the old man—the most positive remedywe possess for the relief of some of the difficultiesthat beset the declining years of about four-fifthsof our old men.”

As a respiratory restorative and expectorantwith sweet-pungent, moist qualities, Saw palmettoberry has a particular soothing and moistening, yetclearing effect in dry, irritated and inflammatorycondi-tions of the bronchi and throat. It will treatlung dryness/Yin deficiency with or withoutsputum present, thereby relieving irritable cough,regardless of the disease present. Because of itsimmunostimulant and anti-inflammatory actions,the remedy is useful inlaryngitis and other sorethroat conditions.

We should remember that the majority ofEclectic practitioners regarded Saw palmettoessentially as a regulator of reproductive organsize, not merely as a trophic reducerin congested,swollen or hypertrophic, inflammatory conditions(function 2). This includes FINLEY ELLINGWOOD,writing in 1919. Eclectic physicians administeredSaw palmetto in both hypertrophic and hypo-trophic conditions of the sexual organs. Despitethis, it is ironic to see that then, as now, thereexisted rampant skepticism about the clinicalexperience of previous generations of herbalmedicine practitioners. In light of current know-ledge it is truly disappointing to read the followingpassage by FYFE (1905):

It has been employed with some success inatrophy of the prostate gland, but in view of itsenlarging influence upon other glands of thesexual system, it does not seem probable that itcan exert the great reducing action upon theprostate claimed for it by some authors ... wecannot explain why Saw palmetto shouldincrease the size of the mammae, the testes, thereproductive organs generally, and specificallyreduce the size of the prostate, and we do notbelieve that it does.

This erroneous conclusion—so typical of themodern era—represents a sobering reminder thatclinical experience is valuable in its own right, asa fact of clinical science—one that ultimately doesnot depend for its correctness, clinical or political,on the successive vagaries of theoretical specu-lation, academic research or pharmacological fash-ions. It also is a humbling reminder that plants—yes, even today—can work in mysterious ways,and achieve results simply beyond the ken of thelogical mind.

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Tonify Reproductive Qi, Regulate Menstruation and Treat Infertility

Uterine restoratives (fertility restoratives)

Chastetree Berry

Botanical source: Vitex agnus castus L.,V. trifolia L. (Verbenaceae)

Pharmaceutical name: Fructus Viticis agni-castiAncient names: Agnos, Lygnon (Gr)

Agnus castus, Salix amerina (Lat)Other names: a) Chasteberry, Chaste lamb,

Abraham’s balm b) Three-leaf chaste tree (Eng)Gattilier, Agneaux chaste (Fr)Keuschbaum, Keuschlamm, Schaffmüllen,

Kloster/Mönchspfeffer (Gr)Part used: the fruit

NATURE

Therapeutic category: mild remedy with minimal chronic toxicityConstituents: essential oil 1.64% (incl. sabinene, 1.8 cineole, alpha-pinene), glycosides (vitexinin andvitexin)Effective qualities: bitter, pungent, somewhat astringent, neutral with cooling and warming potential, dry

restoring, relaxing, calming, stimulatingTropism: urogenital organs, intestines, liver, uterus, pituitary, sinews

Air, Fluid bodiesLiver, Kidney, Spleen, Lung, chong, ren meridians

Ground: All krases, biotypes and constitutions

FUNCTIONS AND INDICATIONS

1 TONIFIES REPRODUCTIVE QI; HARMONIZES REPRODUCTION, MENOPAUSE AND SEXUALITY;

INCREASES PROGESTERONE AND INHIBITS PROLACTIN; STOPS DISCHARGE

reproductive (Kidney) Qi deficiency: sexual disinterest, amenorrhea, long or irregular cycles

HYPERPROLACTINEMIA with GONADAL DEFICIENCY, incl.:

INFERTILITY, AMENORRHEA, PMS

PROGESTERONE DEFICIENCY with PITUITARY-GONADAL DEFICIENCY, incl.:

PMS with weepiness, withdrawal, thirst, swollen or lumpy breasts, sexual disinterest, irregular cycles

SEXUAL DISINTEREST, vaginal dryness, frgidity, impotence

MENOPAUSAL SYNDROME

SEXUAL OVERSTIMULATION (satyriasis, nymphomania), PREMATURE EJACULATION

lower warmer damp: vaginal or seminal discharges

LEUCORRHEA, SPERMATORRHEA, EXCESSIVE LACTATION

2 ACTIVATES UTERUS QI AND REGULATES MENSTRUATION

uterus Qi constraint: painful, irregular periods, irritability, cramps during or before flow

SPASMODIC DYSMENORRHEA

3 STIMULATES CIRCULATION, DISPELS WIND-DAMP-COLD, RELIEVES JOINT AND MUSCLE PAIN;

PROMOTES EXPECTORATION AND RESOLVES PHLEGM

wind-damp-cold obstruction: painful joints and muscles, chills, headache

ARTHRITIS, FIBROMYALGIA

MUSCLES TENSION

lung phlegm-damp: coughing, expectoration of copious sputum, chest soreness and pains

BRONCHITIS (chronic), bronchial asthma

4 STIMULATES DIGESTION, RESOLVES MUCOUS-DAMP AND RELIEVES PAIN;

REDUCES LIVER CONGESTION, DRAINS WATER AND PROMOTES URINATION

intestines mucous-damp (Spleen damp): indigestion, flatulence, epigastric or abdominal pains,

irregular bowel movement, loose stool

GASTROENTERITIS, digestive colic

liver Qi stagnation: nausea, right flank pain, indigestion, headache

LIVER CONGESTION with DYSPEPSIA

liver water congestion: general or local water retention

EDEMA

PREPARATION

Use: Chastetree berry is taken in long infusion and tincture form. The latter is needed for the full rangeof functions above. The remedy is useful in liniments and compresses for muscles spasms and pain.Mouthwashes and gargles are helpful for mouth and throat sores. Dosage: Long infusion: 4-10 g

Tincture: 1-3 ml• To treat reproductive conditions by hormonal regulation: take 1-2 ml of the tincture daily before breakfastCaution: Chastetree berry is contraindicated during pregnancy as it is a uterine stimulant and duringlactation because of its dopaminergic effect.

NOTES


312

The small, grey, peppercorn-like grey fruit of thisplant from the Mediterranean shores is againseeing the limelight it enjoyed in the Middle Ages—but in an entirely modern vein. In the past,Chastetree berry was given names like “Monk’spepper” and “Cloister pepper” because of itsdampening effect on sexual desire. Throughout theMiddle Ages, the spicy-warm, peppery berry was astandard table spice in the many hundreds ofmonasteries throughout the Holy Roman Empire,where celibate clergy seriously had to come toterms with their sexual drives.

Chastetree berry’s reputation for controllingsexuality goes far beyond the confines of medievalChristianity, however. One of the plant’s traditionalEast Mediterranean names was agnos, meaning

infertile, which is related to the adjective hagnos,or chaste. In ancient Athens, chastetree leavesthrough cultural symbolism were associated withcertain priestesses of the goddess Demeter whotook the vow of celibacy. As proof of their chastity,or perhaps as an aid to maintaining that condition,the priestesses freely strewed chastetree leavesabout their bedrooms.

The late Roman writers SERAPIO and CONSTAN-TINE THE AFRICAN named this plant agnus castus,later translated as chaste lamb. Although this namesounds l ike the docile image of a medievalclergyman’s deeper fantasy (which type of pepper-corns had he been using?), it actually is not. Thename agnus castus actually resulted from a transla-tion mistake that PLINIUS (PLINY ) made somewhere

in his monumental Historia Naturalis. PLINIUS

mistakenly called the plantagnus, thinking that itsGreek name agnos meant “lamb.” Hence SERAPIO’sstrange yet haunting miscegenation, “chaste lamb.”

The experience of later Greek medical doctors,however, led to more differentiated conclusions onChastetree berry’s effect on sexual desire. Thegeneral concensus was that in Choleric krases (Firetypes) and hot conditions the remedy will appeasesexual overstimulation. This is in accord withChastetree’s considerably bitter nature which hasthe potential for clearing heat. In Melancholickrases (Earth types) and cold conditions, it wasbelieved, the remedy would promote sexual andmenstrual functions (e.g., J. SCHROEDER 1611, J.TRILLER 1764). This too is substantiated by theberry’s pungent taste that potentially generateswarmth and promotes menstruation through stimu-lation. In other words, Chastetree was seen as aregulator of sexuality, depending on the conditionand constitution of the person taking it. In Chinesemedical terms, we would say that the remedyharmonizes the chong and ren extra meridians intheir capacity of regulating menstrual and repro-ductive events. Hence its use for both deficienciesdisplaying premature ejaculation, for example, andreproductive (Kidney) Qi deficiency presentingsexual disinterest and amenorrhea.

It is clearly true that Chasteberry is a funda-mental harmonizer of sexual functioning andexpression on every level.

This concept is not a hare-brained Renaissancespeculation for two reasons. First, it is sound fromthe vitalistic pharmacology point of view whereChastetree berry can be seen as having the poten-tial for both cooling and warming. Second, it isreinforced by modern pharmacology which assertsthat the remedy potentially possesses both proges-teronic and estrogenic actions—although primarilyprogesteronic. This effect is thought to result frompituitary gland stimulation that would increase ordecrease progesterone or estrol levels, as needed,throughout a woman’s cycle. Interestingly, veryrecent research also indicates that Chastetree’sreproductive restorative and normalizing effect isalso due to a dopaminergic action that correctshyperprolactinemia-induced hypogonadism byreduction of prolactin release (BÖHNERT 1997).

Chastetree’s ability to regulate sexuality is therebyreflected holographically in its ability to regulatewoman’s hormones.

Today the role of progesterone in the systemand its implications for female health is becomingclearer. Unlike the more one-sided anabolicproperties of estrogen, the nature of progesterone,although essentially catabolic, is inherently moreregulating in action throughout the system (JOHN

LEE 1991). Now in clinical practice, Chastetreeberry has shown predominantly progesteroniceffects rather than estrogenic ones. This means thatthe remedy may also achieve its hormonalbalancing action through progesterone stimulation.What’s certain from actual practice is that womencoming in with premenstrual, menstrual andmenopausal disorders caused by progesterone andgondal deficiency are those that benefit the most.Typically they present symptoms of loss of self-esteem, withdrawal tendencies, painful, swollen orlumpy beasts, and fatigue. Moreover, this impliesthe use of Chasteberry for other progesteronedeficiency-related conditions such as reproductivetumors (e.g., fibroids), fibrocystic breasts andcancer (LEE 1991).

We can further deepen our understanding ofthis remedy in light of the two Vitex species used inChinese medicine, Mu Jing (Five-leaf chastetreeberry) and Man Jing Zi (Seashore chastetree berry).All three species have in common the bitter-pun-gent taste, the essential oil and flavonoid content,and antirheumatic and analgesic actions applied torheumatic, fibromyalgic, arthrititic and gastrointes-tinal pain. However, the Western Chastetree combi-nes some actions of both others, namely, expec-torant, digestive stimulant, diuretic, spasmolyticand muscle relaxant actions. Its use for myalgicand neuralgic conditions is particularly noteworthy—the result ofarterial stimulation and nervoussedation in concert (as in Blue cohosh root).Painful wind-damp obstruction is the specificsyndrome here addressed. Chastetree’sliverstimulant action was well-documented in Greekmedicine up to the time of MATTIOLI, and includeduse for liver congestion and liver edema. As abalancer of opposites, Chastetree here again dis-plays both relaxant and stimulant actions.

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313

Important: Before using the Repertory for thefirst time, please read this short introduction tobetter understand: • The concept of differential diagnosis as it relatesto the layout of the Materia Medica • The available options among herbal preparations(also see Chapter 8)• The considerations attached to the use ofmedium-strength and strong category remedies(see also page 78)• The general context of herbal treatment amongother treatment modalities

This Repertory is intended only as a quick refe-rence list. Its use should be complemented byreferring to the Materia Medica in this text, whichcomprehensively classifies remedy indications byboth Western disease and symptoms, and Chinesesyndromes. For best long-term therapeutic resultsit is usually neccessary to treat the systemic condi-tion as well as provide immediate symptom relief.This is why it is considered important in traditionalOriental and Greek medicine to address theunderlying syndrome of a manifested condition.Different syndromes can give rise to the samesymptom. This Repertory presents the possiblechoices of remedies for a manifested condition, orsymptom, only. Once you become familiar with theunderlying syndromes, you can also look them updirectly by using the General Index.

For best results, you may want to choose theparticular remedy that also treats the underlyingsyndrome causing a cough, for example. However,you may not know the associated syndrome untilyou start exploring possible remedy options. TheRepertory lists the most important remedies for aspecific symptom. The design of this book willhelp you explore the different syndromes that cancontribute to a single symptom. For instance, thecough may be related to the syndromes lungphlegm-cold, lung phlegm-heat or lung Qi cons-traint. By paying attention to the type of cough and

any other symptoms you may notice, you can usethe remedy descriptions within the text to help youdifferentiate one among the possible syndromesthat are causing the cough. This is what a diffe-rential diagnosis is all about.

All remedies listed in the repertory shouldprimarily be taken internally through oral prepara-tions such as a decoction, an infusion or a tincture.However, the same remedies may, and in manydisorders often should, also be used in the form oftopical applications such as a swab, compress,gargle, vaginal sponge, etc. Remember, topicaltreatment applications often prove more effectivewhen given in conjunction with an internalpreparation. For best results in treating a particularcondition, you must choose the most appropriatepreparation(s). For example, in the case of a coughfrom bronchitis, you can apply a topicalapplication of a compress, plaster or essential oilliniment in addition to internal use. When treatinga tissue injury, for instance, internal use ofvulnerary, analgesic, sedative, etc. remedies isusually necessary in addition to topical applicationof a swab, compress and the like.

Included in the Repertory are herbal remediesthat belong to the medium-strength and strongtherapeutic category. Those in the strong categoryare marked by an asterisk. Please read the sectionon page 78 to familiarize yourself with this impo-rtant concept. Medium-strength and strong reme-dies entail certain considerations in their use,notably concerning their dosage, pharmacologicaland therapeutic cautions, and contraindications.This is another major reason to initially consulteach remedy in the Materia Medica before using it.In particular, remedies in the strong category arefairly toxic, and in their crude, unprepared state aredifficult to use by anyone untrained. In any case,they are more difficult to find in the crude herbtrade. For all these reasons, they are better used inhomeopathic preparation form in low potencies upto 12x. For example, Belladonna* in the Repertory

919

Repertory

Abdominal distension, acute (same remedies as Indigestion)chronic: Barberry, Chaparral, Coptis Huang Lian, Dandelion, Goldenseal, Horsechestnut, Lady’s mantleLemon, Madder, Marigold, Ocotillo, Red root, Rose, Sanicle, Stoneroot, Wood sorrel, Yellow dockcramp/pain (see Intestinal colic)

Abscess(same remedies as Boil) Acidosis (see Metabolic acidosis)Acne (see also Food allergy, Hormonal disorders, Liver congestion, Toxicosis, microbial): Birch, Bittersweet,

Black currant seed (oil), Borage seed oil, Burdock, Chaparral, Dandelion, Echinacea, Evening primrose oil,Figwort, Jamaica sarsaparilla, Goldenrod, Marigold, Microalgae, Nettle, Scabious, Soapwort, Walnut,Watercress, Yellow dock(topically): Bergamot, Cedarwood, Geranium, Horseradish, Juniper, Laurel, Lemon, Grapevine, Patchouli,Tea tree, Witch hazel

ADD, ADHD (see Attention deficit [hyperactivity] disorder)Adenitis (see Lymphadenitis)Adhesion (see Scar tissue)Adrenal cortex disorders (see Astma, Debility, Edema, Hypoglycemia, Immune deficiency, PMS, Urinary,

etc.)deficiency (seeadrenocortical stimulants, p. 802)

Aging, premature: Artichoke, Asparagus, Astragalus Huang Qi, Barley grass, Coconut oil, Cornsilk, Flowerpollen, Garlic, Ginseng (all types), Microalgae, Oat, Polygonum He Shou Wu, Red clover, Reishi, Schisan-dra Wu Wei Zi, Rosemary, Sage, Wheatgrass

Agitation (same remedies as Nervous tension) AIDS (see Autoimmune disorder, Diarrhea, Fatigue, Immune deficiency, Infection, viral, Weight loss, and other

symptoms)Albuminuria (see also Urination): Blue cohosh, Broom, Canada fleabane, Cherry stalk, Cornsilk, Couchgrass,

Dioscorea Bi Xie, Echinacea, Fringe tree, Goldenrod, Helonias, Horsetail, Juniper, Knotgrass, Madder,Mistletoe, Motherwort, Mousear, Pipsissewa, Poke root, Sea holly, Silver birch

Alcoholism (see also Cerebral unsufficiency, Free radical burden, Liver congestion): Bladderwrack, Garlic,Kelp, Microalgae, Nettle, Oat, Watercress, Wheatgrass

Alkalosis (see Metabolic alkalosis)Allergy (immediate/type I; see also Adrenal cortex deficiency, Food allergies, Intestinal dysbiosis, Liver


920

means that this remedy belongs to the strong cate-gory and is best used in homeopathic form such asBelladonna 3x, 6x or 12x.

Another consideration when working with thisRepertory is that many conditions listed hererequire therapeutic measures other than herbaltreatment alone. The fact that herbal remedies aresuggested for these problems, and especially formany complex, difficult conditions, should notlead us to assume that herbal remedies aloneshould or even can be used in treatment. Thisrepertory of herbal and essential oil remediessimply represents possibilities for use in certaindisorders. It is emphatically not a therapeuticguide and in no way replaces professionaldiagnosis and treatment, herbal or otherwise. Asone of many forms of natural healing, herbalmedicine usually works best when combined withother modalities that work in conjunction with theindividual’s vital force (Qi), such as nutrition,

aromatherapy, acupuncture, massage, craniosacralosteopathy, hydrotherapy, meditation, Qi Gong andother forms of energy work.

A few format details:• Chinese herbal remedies are given by their com-pound clinical name, e.g., Ligusticum ChuanXiong. The first word is the botanical genus, andthe other words are the Chinese name. We haveavoided use of the English names of Chinese herbsbecause they are so little known in the West. Forin-depth information on any Chinese remedy,consult the author’s source-book,Jade Remedies:A Chinese Herbal Reference for the West.• Remedies in italics may, and often for best resultsshould, be used in essential oil form. • Mineral remedies are given in square brackets asfollows: [Talcum Hua Shi].• Animal remedies are given in curly brackets asfollows: {Propolis}.

congestion, Nervous tension, Neuroendocrine deficiency, Toxicosis [all types]): Asarum Xi Xin, Blackcurrant oil, Borage seed oil, Burdock, Camomile (all types), Cocklebur, Coleus, Echinacea, Elder flower,Ephedra Ma Huang, Evening primrose oil, Eyebright, Flower pollen, Garlic, German/Moroccan bluecamomile, Goldenrod, Gumweed, Heartsease, Licorice, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi, Lungwort lichen, Melissa,Mullein, Nettle, Plantain, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Scutellaria Huang Qin, Rose, Tarragon, Witch hazel,Xanthium Cang Er Zi, Yerba santa

Alopecia (see Hair loss)Alzheimer’s disease(see Cerebral insufficiency, Mineral depletion, Senility, premature, Toxicosis, heavy metal)Amenorrhea (see Menstruation, absent)Amnesia (see Memory loss)Anaphylaxis (see Allergy)Anemia (see also Appetite loss, Cerebral insufficiency, Malabsorption syndrome): Alfalfa, Angelica Dang Gui,

Artichoke, Asparagus, Beet, Bladderwrack, Burdock, Chickweed, Chicory, Codonopsis Dang Shen,Comfrey, Dandelion, Dong quai, Flower pollen, Horsetail, Iceland moss, Irish moss, Jamaica sarsaparilla,Kelp, Lemon, Microalgae, Nettle, Oat, Parsley, {Placenta}, Red clover, Suma, Walnut, Watercress,Wheatgrass, Yellow dock

Angina laryngea (see Laryngitis)Angina pectoris (same remedies as Coronary disease)Angioedema(see Allergy, Skin) Ankylosing spondylitis (see Autoimmune disorder, Inflammation, symptoms)Anorexia (same remedies as Appetite loss; see also Nausea, Weight loss))Anosmia: BasilAnuria (see Urinary obstruction)Anxiety state (see also Food allergy): Arnica, Bergamot, Biota Bai Zi Ren, Black cohosh, Black horehound,

Bugleweed, California poppy, Camomile (all types), Cereus,Clary sage, Cowslip flower, Damiana,Gumweed, Hops, Jamaica dogwood, Kava, Lavender, Linden, Mandarin, Marjoram, Melissa, Mistletoe,Neroli, Pasque flower, Passionflower, Skullcap, Scrophularia Xuan Shen, Valerian, White horehound,White pond lily, Ylang ylang, Zizyphus Suan Zao Ren

Aphonia (see Voice loss)Aphtha (see Ulcer, Thrush)Apoplexy (see Stroke)Appetite loss: Agrimony, Alder buckthorn, Artichoke, Barberry, Bergamot, Birthroot, Blessed thistle, Blue

vervain, Bogbean, Boneset, Bugleweed, Calamus, Calumba, Cascara sagrada, Chaparral, Chicory, Condu-rango, Culver’s root, Damiana, Dandelion, Elecampane, Fringe tree, Fumitory, Gentian, Helonias, Hops,Inmortal, Lobelia, Motherwort, Oregon grape, Pipsissewa, Pleurisy root, Poplar, Sage, Scabious, Selfheal,Speedwell, Stoneroot, Tansy, Thyme, Tormentil, Vervain, White horehound, Willow, Wormwood, Yarrow,Yerba mansa, Yerba santa

Arrhythmia, cardiac (see also Food allergy): Aconitum Fu zi, Adonis, Arnica, Black horehound, Bugleweed,Camphor, Cereus, Foxglove, Hedge bindweed, Lily of the valley, Marjoram, Melissa, Valerian, Whitehorehound, Yellow jessamine*

Arterial occlusive disorder (see Circulation, insufficient arterial/capillary, associated condition, symptoms)Arteriosclerosis (see also Free radical burden): Arnica, Artichoke, Asparagus, Black currant oil, Blessed

thistle, Borage seed oil, Celandine, Celery, Cornsilk, Couchgrass, Dandelion, Elder, Evening primrose oil,Flaxseed oil, Fumitory, Garlic, Ginkgo leaf, Hawthorn, Heartsease, Horsetail, Juniper, Kelp, Lady’smantle, Lecithin, Lemon, Lily of the valley, Linden, Microalgae, Mistletoe, Nettle, Passionflower, Rose-mary, Rue,Sage, Shepherd’s purse, Silver birch, Walnut, Watercress, Wood sorrel

Arthritis, acute rheumatoid (see also Autoimmune disorder, Food allergy, Infection bacterial): Camomile (alltypes), Camphor, Celery, Citronella, Clematis Wei Ling Xian, Gentiana Qin Qian Cao, Guaiacum, Lemon,Meadowsweet, Silver birch, Stephania Han Fang Ji, Tripterygium Lei GongTeng, White bryony, Wild yam,Willow

chronic rheumatoid (see also Autoimmune disorder, Connective tissue degeneration, Food allergy, Infection,viral, Toxicosis, metabolic): Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi, Alfalfa, Apple cider vinegar, Artichoke, Asparagus,Birch, Bittersweet, Bladderwrack, Blue cohosh, Blue flag, Blue violet, Borage seed oil, Burdock, Celery,

REPERTORY

921

This classic book, now extensively revised and updated, provides a creative revisioning of western herb-alism. Clear, concise and comprehensive, it elegantly defines an integrated energetic model with specificindications for the therapeutic use of western herbs. An exceptional and immensely useful text.

Chanchal Cabrera, M.N.I.M.H., A.H.G., President, Gaia Garden Herbal Apothecary, Vancouver

The Energetics of Western Herbsis an excellent resource for the practitioner. Peter Holmes’ unique andmasterful blending of Western physiological and Eastern diagnostic principles adds depth and clarity tothe art of herbal formulation. This revised edition incorporates the most recent research in plant medicine.This brilliant two-volume set is a must for any herbalist.

Linda Costarella, N.D., co-author of Herbs for Women’s Health

This is a text that deserves respect. As an account, even encyclopaedia, of traditional uses, thesemonographs and their introductions are probably the most complete and integrated anywhere ... This is animpressive opus: I believe Holmes succeeds very well on his own terms, and many practitioners will begrateful to him for illuminating their therapeutic deliberations.

Simon Mills, M.N.I.M.H., author of Out of the Earth: The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine

In this important volume, Peter Holmes has accepted [a] challenge, gone to the libraries and shown thatthere is a rich herbal tradition in the west that was discarded by the enthusiasm and ideology of thescientific revolution. Peter Holmes has creatively engaged the best of the buried western herbal traditionin a dialogue with the rich tradition of the east. The Energetics of Western Herbsis an important discus-sion that can only enhance the creativity, depth, intelligence and clinical skills of all herbalists both in theeast and in the west.

Ted Kaptchuk, O.M.D., author of Chinese Medicine: The Web That Has No Weaver

Every user and lover of Western herbs can gain tremendous insight into the nature and “energetics” ofherbs with careful study of Peter Holmes’ ground-breaking book, The Energetics of Western Herbs. Thisbook has become the de factostandard reference work for everyone interested in the integration ofWestern and Chinese herbal medicine. This is absolutely where the excitement is today!

Christopher Hobbs, L.Ac., A.G.H., author of Handbook for Herbal Healing

The largest and most important study of materia medica in the Western world. It should be on everyherbalist’s bookshelf.

Brenda Cooke, M.N.I.M.H., Editor, Greenfiles

Here is perhaps the first attempt in a millenium or more to classify Western herbs in terms of their“energetics.” Holmes views Western herbs through the eyes of a practitioner of Chinese medicine. TheEnergetics of Western Herbsis borne of the author’s lifetime pursuit of thinking of Western herbs inoriental terms. It is an impressive, massive undertaking ... This is an impact herb book, one that will betalked about reverently and irreverently for a long time.

Steven Foster, author of Herbal Emissaries: Bringing Chinese Herbs to the West

It is the original work that is sorely needed in the Western herbal tradition, and perhaps we didn’t knowhow much we missed it until it arrived ... I hope it becomes a landmark, an historical breakthrough, on theway to an authentic modern herbal medical system. Peter Holmes’ work is not merely one of refinedscholarship. It is also full of insight and practical application.

Stephen Fulder, PhD., author of The Tao of Medicine

The Energetics of Western Herbsgoes back to the roots of both Eastern and Western traditions of herbalmedicine and integrates them into a new and original work. This is an attempt to provide continuitybetween the ancient systems and present-dy practices, and classifies Western herbs according to a systemthat applies equally to all traditions. It is far and away the best study of Western herbal medicine, indeedthe only one of its kind. It is a creative and original work which has gone right back to fundamentals, andcould provide the key to the future understanding and application of herbal medicine.

Brenda Cooke, Council Member, National Institute of Medical Herbalists, England

There is no question in my mind that this book will become the classic reference work on Westernenergetics by which other herbal scholars and practitioners will measure their research.

Jake Fratkin, O.M.D., author of Chinese Herbal Patent Formulas

Peter Holmes has given us an audacious new work that is global in perspective. In this text he opens anew frontier for our exploration by revitalizing the traditions of the western world’s herbal healing art. Bymeans of his research we are introduced to the saga of the largely forgotten progenitors of the herbaltraditions in Europe and the Near East. Through the practical eye of his clinical experience as an eclecticherbalist emerges the possibility for a unified theory of herbal healing. As you move with Peter throughthis text, you will not only be offered a new integrated methodology for using herbs, but you will alsohave the enjoyment of joining in his quest to recover the past, be delighted by the stories he has to tell,and be enlightened by the insightful commentaries he has carefully crafted for us.

Randall Barolet, O.M.D., co-author of Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies

As a practitioner of Chinese medicine I find this text to be the most exciting and useful reference in mylibrary. It not only allows me the option of choosing environmentally related herbs for my patients butassists me in maintaining the status and integrity of the medicine I’ve come to know.

Douglas Vickerd, licensed acupuncturist, Victoria, B.C.

Many a satisfying winter evening awaits the herbalist who owns a copy of The Energetics of WesternHerbsby Peter Holmes. These volumes throb with the pulse of life, sing with the laughter of Artemis (towhom they are dedicated), and twinkle with the truth of the wise woman way. By looking holo-graphically, Peter has seen into the inner forms of illness and plant medicines, and shows us clearly—andwith much love—the patterns of connection. Packed with information which is easily accessed, TheEnergetics of Western Herbs—like Artemis herself—will be a lifelong friend to the student andpractitioner of herbal medicine.

Susun Weed, author of Healing Wise

the energetics of western herbs by peter holmes

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