In the last two weeks, we have determined your personal constitution. Now we’re moving forward to identify plant energetics and how the two come together to help you on your Wellness Journey. So let’s not waste any time!
Plants, like humans, contain the four qualities of hot, cold, damp and dry. In herbalism, we match herbs to the person in a complementary fashion that follows the idea of opposites to achieve that ever elusive state of homeostasis, or balance within the body. In other words, if someone is too hot, we give them cooling herbs. Too dry; moistening herbs and so on. In other words, we match the herb to the PERSON, rather than the disease.
Plant energetics are determined in several ways. The most common and fastest way to observe a plant’s energetics is by tasting or consuming it. For example, if you had some ginger tea and then some cucumber water, you would be able to easily determine which one is warming, and which one is cooling. Experiencing this firsthand is the best way to learn and understand plant energetics.
Sometimes, a plant’s energetics aren’t so easy to determine. We may need to wait a couple of hours, like with a diuretic or a couple of months, like with a tonic herb. Since that’s not practical, we turn to those who have been doing this for centuries, using traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine, which are both based on plant energetics.
Warming herbs have the following characteristics:
· They are warming to some degree
· Stimulating as in circulation
· Increase the metabolic fire
· Move stagnation
· Relieve pain due to coldness
Some examples of this would be:
· Cayenne
· Rosemary
· Turmeric
· Horseradish
· Thyme
· Garlic
· Black pepper
Remember, these don’t only have to do with temperature, but also with the actions. For example, when you are hot, you expand and sweat. Hot herbs remove stagnation or when something is not moving properly. Also, all plants exist on a scale. Warming plants exist somewhere on a scale. For example, Cayenne and rosemary are both warming herbs, but Cayenne is much warmer than rosemary. Get the idea? Let’s move on.
Cooling herbs have the following actions or characteristics:
· They are cooling to some degree
· Address infections (clear heat)
· Relieve high fevers
· Sedative (relieve excitation)
Some examples of this would be:
· Dandelion,
· Echinacea
· Goldenseal
· Peppermint
Next are the Moistening or damp herbs. They have the following actions:
· Soothing to dry and irritated tissues
· Add moisture: demulcent, mucilaginous
Some examples are:
· Marshmallow
· Chickweed
· Licorice
· Slippery Elm
Last are the Drying herbs. There are 2 types of drying herbs, those that dry the whole person because they promote fluid loss. And those that are drying to specific tissues because they tighten and tone those tissues. As a result, the affected tissues have a drying sensation but, because the act of toning the tissues keeps moisture in, the overall effect for the organism is moistening.
Type 1 Constitutionally drying (whole person) herbs promote the loss of fluid (diuretic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue etc.
Some examples of this would be Dandelion Leaf
· Nettles
· Goldenrod
· Chamomile
· Echinacea
Type 2 -tone tissues to avoid excess fluid loss (astringents)
Some examples are:
· Yarrow
· Rose
· Meadowsweet
· Goldenseal
· Oak Bark
So that’s it for the 4 categories. But wait, there’s more! There are five
tastes within herbalism – pungent, salty, sour, bitter and sweet. Next week we are going to look at these distinctions to drill down even further and start putting it all together. I hope you’ll join us! In the meantime, if you have access to the herbs I’ve mentioned, get to know some of them this week. Make some chamomile tea or ginger tea and determine the differences between them.
If you’re interested in a deeper dive into this, schedule a Personal Consultation with me on the website at HERBGAL.org. Or, to talk in person, call me at 844-HERBGAL. Don’t forget the special discount code for all the WIKB listeners. If you use the code, “WIKB”, you’ll get 10% off any product. “WIKBS” will get you 10% off any service. Until next week, enjoy this last month of summer, don’t forget the Back to School Paks for the Kiddos, and Elderberry syrup in a Bag for the whole family and Let’s Get Better!
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