| Flower Power: Flower Remedies for Healing Body and Soul Through herbalism, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, and Flower Essences, Anne Mclntyre, Henry Holt, New York, 1996. With ofttimes breathtaking color illustrations, this beautiful book explores one plant at a time, giving a bit of history on its use and then comparing the therapeutics of herbal and homeopathic preparations made from it with those of its flower essence and aromatherapy oil. A wonderful way to get to know the plants in depth.
Earth: Pleiadian Keys to the Living Library, Barbara Marciniak, Bear & Company, Santa Fe, N.M., 1995. |
Paul Pitchford
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 Chinese herbalism classifies it as a food that builds the yin (the body, its tissues, and fluids) and improves qi energy. Royal jelly prolongs the life span of the queen bee to thirty times that of other bees, and also makes her extremely fertile and prolific. These properties are often used to improve women's hormonal and reproductive capacities as well.
It has been postulated that menopause can be postponed through optimum nutrition and other health practices, perhaps for one or two decades. |
| With the exception of the red date used in Chinese herbalism, nearly all fruit is considered an "empty" sweet flavor which is either too cooling or too cleansing to be appropriate for weakened conditions. Most grains and legumes and many vegetables are full sweet, and their sweetness is enhanced by thorough chewing. Especially good are rice, oats, millet, barley, soy products, black beans, parsnips, rutabagas, winter squash, and small amounts of nuts and seeds.
Cereal creams and congees are used for those too weak to chew well (see "Congee" recipes). |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 The healing art of herbalism grew from hundreds of millions of personal healing experiences over centuries before the advent of scientific technology. Herbal remedies that resulted in cures were recognized, remembered, and gradually categorized by the great schools of herbal healing. They were recorded by Egyptian medicine, Indian ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and Japanese kampo; the teachings of Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Hilde-gard von Bingen, and Paracelsus; and the native healing systems of Africa, Australia, and the Americas. |
| The masters of Chinese herbalism designed this formula for a pattern of symptoms including blurred vision, dizziness, lusterless nails, pallid complexion, pain around the navel and in the abdomen, and, in women, irregular menstruation with little flow or amenorrhea. The formula is also used in China to treat hard abdominal masses or tumors.
Two of the herbs in this formula, peony and rehmannia, were traditionally known as "blood of the blood" herbs— that is, herbs that help the body create blood. |
| Most authorities on medicinal herbalism recommend that pregnant women and nursing mothers avoid kava. You also should avoid kava if you have Parkinson's disease, as it may worsen muscular weakness and twitching. Avoid taking kava for two weeks prior to undergoing elective surgery. This herb is not recommended for people with severe anxiety disorders and/or depression.
Chronic overconsumption of kava can produce dry skin, labored breathing, and alteration of red and white blood cell counts, but this generally happens only with extremely large doses. |
| The major traditional use of chaparral in Mexican herbalism is as a bath or liniment to relieve the inflammation and pain of arthritis, sometimes in combination with osha. (See osha under The Herbs in Part One.)
CONSIDERATIONS FOR USE
Chaparral should be used externally only, as a bath. (See HAND BATHS in Part Three.) In one seven-year period, there were eighteen reports of toxic liver damage from the use of chaparral in the United States. |
Rudolph M. Ballentine, M.D.
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 The perception of the plant as sacred and as possessing spiritual power is, I think, the special offering of the Native American herbalism to us, just as the modern European school elucidates the physiology of herbs and Chinese herbology teaches us the relationship of specific plants to organ complexes. In the world of natural medicine today, increasing numbers of practitioners are following more than one tradition. We seem to be moving rapidly toward a universal school of natural medicinals that will capitalize on the strengths of all the healing traditions. |
Kathi Keville
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 In Europe and Asia, where herbalism is generally more accepted than in the United States, physicians often prescribe herbs before turning to drugs.
If your blood pressure is only borderline high, like my neighbor Frederick's, you might try herbs and see if they work for you. I will admit that Frederick's doctor considered him one difficult patient—he kept asking about remedies called Baldrian and Weissdorn that he remembered from his native Germany. |
Michael Tierra, L.Ac, O.M.D.
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 It is in this area of health maintenance and longevity that Chinese herbalism, with its highly evolved concept of tonics, can prove a very positive asset. Specifically, qi is expressed in the strength of the individual organs, including respiration, nerve force, reproductive power, and digestion. The qi of plants is perceived in their growth, odor, flavor, texture, and color. Minerals have a slower qi that undergoes transformation and change almost imperceptibly over great periods of time. |
Christopher Hobbs
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 It is noteworthy that in the system of herbalism that is an integral part of Traditional Chinese medicine, many of the important tonics (such as ginseng) taste bitter and sweet and are considered warm in nature. Thus Fomitopsis officinalis may be an important first-class tonic (especially for enhancing immune strength and support-
ž asthma
ž colic ing adrenal function). This action has been disputed by one well-respected Chinese herbalist (Dharmananda, 1994), and it has not been proven by any scientific studies. See the monograph on this species for more details. |
Maesimund B. Panos, M.D. and Jane Heimlich
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 Homeopathy bears no relation to the free-spirit approach and practices of herbalism. Homeopathy is scientific medicine; its rules were developed by following the procedures of the scientific method. Homeopathic medications are prepared according to an exact process and prescribed according to the law of similars. A physician usually administers only a single remedy at one time. Finally, although many homeopathic remedies are made from poisonous herbs or plants, the potentized remedy contains only minute amounts of the original substance and is nontoxic. |
| As one herbalist expressed it, "Herbalism is more an art and a tool of divine nature than a science. ... It is very difficult for an herbalist to tell specifically why he would use this or that herb in a formula." In this system that depends on the herbalist's intuition and experience, it is standard practice to increase the effect of a formula by combining a number of herbs.
This "artistic" approach to preparing medicine has its dangers. A great many medicinal herbs are toxic, particularly when the person ingests a large amount. |
Mark Bricklin
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 Mastering herbalism. New York: Stein and Day, 1974.
One of the more ambitious—and successful—herb books. It will be especially interesting to those who want to learn every last wrinkle about traditional herb lore. Here you will find information on how to make herbal incense, herbal aphrodisiacs, herbal witchcraft potions and so-called elixirs of life, and how to plant and harvest your herbs by the phases of the moon. Covered also are the more usual topics of healing herbs, cooking herbs and herbs for beauty and perfume. |
Maesimund B. Panos, M.D. and Jane Heimlich
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| No one would mistake homeopathy for allopathy, but sometimes people confuse homeopathy with naturopathy or herbalism because of their apparent similarities.
HOMEOPATHY AND NATUROPATHY
Both the naturopath and the homeopath believe in the healing power of Nature, Hippocrates' Vis Medicatrix Naturae, or vital force. The naturopath emphasizes the importance of diet, fresh air, exercise, and peace of mind, as does the homeopath. Naturopathy is also holistic; the naturopath treats the whole person in an effort to find the cause of illness, rather than merely removing symptoms. |
Kathi Keville
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| Although herbalism in the United States and Canada is only beginning to recover its lost prestige, other countries have successfully combined it with conventional medicine. In China, for example, traditional medicine that includes herbs is fully integrated into the nation's health care system, and natural remedies are used in nearly half of the cases treated there. In fact, only about 15 percent of the world's population has access to Western-style health care services. Most people in developing nations still rely on herbal treatments. |
Lesley Tierra
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 REPPED:
The practice of herbalism can be defined as the systematic use and application of herbs and related materials for the purpose of healing. We find evidence of various systems and approaches to the use of herbs throughout ancient and native cultures of the world. The Herbs of Life shows the way by which we in the West are able to benefit from the great herbal traditions of China and India which, as it turns out, are not so unlike the way our own once were, previous to the 18th century and the advent of so-called scientific rationalistic thought. |
Kathi Keville
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| The first two of these reasons are arguments in favor of reintroducing herbalism into industrialized countries.
As public opinion begins to sway from complete faith in drugs, interest in herbs is increasing. Perhaps the day is not far off when the designations of traditional and modern medicine will have no significance, and all health care practitioners will feel comfortable working in a new system that incorporates both disciplines. chapter TWO
Herbal
Preparations
A n herbalist's definition of an herb / \ differs from that of a botanist. A. |
Ralph Golan, M.D.
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 The Herb User's Guide: The Basic Skills of Medical herbalism. Rochester, VT: Thorson's, 1987.
Kloss, J. Back to Eden. Revised and updated. Available from Back to Eden Press, P.O. Box 1439, Loma Linda, CA 92354.
Mindell, E. Earl Mindell's Herb Bible. New York: Simon & Schuster/Fireside, 1992.
Murray, M. T. The Healing Power of Herbs: The Enlightened Person's Guide to the Wonders of Medicinal Plants. Rockland, CA: Prima Publishing, 1991.
Pizzorno, J. E., and Murray, M. T. "Pharmacology of Natural Medicines." In A Textbook of Natural Medicine. |
Kathi Keville
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| He read one of the very few books on male herbs—Male herbalism, written by my good friend Jim Green. In this book, Jim describes using herbs in an herbal soak. At first, Bill was taken aback by this suggestion, but Jim's argument for using herbs sounded convincing, so Bill figured "what the heck" and dunked his genitals into a strong herb tea twice a day. Afterward, he applied a skin-healing salve that contained tea tree and lavender essential oils. After about a week of doing this faithfully, the redness and irritation ceased. |
| Some cosmetics companies are catching on to this trend toward safer, more natural ingredients and turning to the age-old beauty secrets offered by herbalism. Even so, no matter how natural a product may look, check the label. Some products that claim to be "all natural" contain ingredients that should have stayed in the chemist's lab!
It is no surprise that herbs have caught the attention of the cosmetics industry Throughout history herbs have been used to clear complexions, soften hands and make hair lush and silky. Consider some of history's legendary beauties. |
Sharol Tilgner, N.D.
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 The past year has seen a flurry of books on these topics, but unfortunately not one of them has been written by a traditional herbalist with knowledge of the clinical traditions of herbalism. Most have been written by physicians or pharmacists who are sadly ignorant about the vast literature of traditional herbal medicine, even that practiced by physicians. By throwing out all information on herbal indications from that literature, they have also thrown out the recorded empirical data of herbal traditions on contraindications and side effects. |
Mark Bricklin
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| Chapters written by experts in specific areas of herbalism offer step-by-step instructions on how to buy, plant, cultivate, harvest, store and even freeze herbs; how to use herbs for cooking and making vinegars, butters, teas and liqueurs; how to use aromatic herbs for sachets, baths, powders, oils, perfumes and insect repellents; how to use colorful herbs for dyeing; how to plant formal and informal herb gardens; and even how herbs can be used in the garden to keep insects away. |
Sharol Tilgner, N.D.
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| Paul Bergner Editor, Medical herbalism August 3,1999
Herbal Medicine
From the Heart of the Earth
Properties & Actions of Herbs
The following is a peek at a few of the numerous plant properties and actions found in nature's pharmacy. Most categories have examples included.
Abortifacient: Causes expulsion of the fetus. Practitioners should be extremely cautious if using abortifacient herbs for women's healthcare. They need to be positive the woman is not pregnant prior to prescribing these herbs. |
Mark Bricklin
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| He has studied and practiced herbalism for many years and approaches his subject matter confidently, even aggressively. You may not agree with his acceptance of the oriental yin-yang theory of disease, but you will probably find his specific dealings with herbs to be quite practical and helpful, especially for the serious student who is willing to make some of the fairly complicated teas and liniments Tierra describes. Available for a modest price in paperback.
Tyler, Varro E. The Honest Herbal. Philadelphia: George F. Stick-ley Company, 1981. |
Sharol Tilgner, N.D.
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| See "Journal Suggestions" for information on ordering Medical herbalism.
Lomatium -
Lomatium dissectum in the Umbelliferae or Parsley family.
Part used: Root.
Taste/smell: Resinous, aromatic.
Dosage: Infusion: 1-2 teaspoons of cut and crushed root, infused for 25 minutes; or a 1:1.5 fresh strength liquid extract: 10-30 drops 1-4 times per day.
Use: (a) Antifungal, (b) Antibacterial, (c) Antiviral, (d) Immunomodulator. |
| Today, articles on herbalism appear in the leading medical journals, courses are being taught in medical schools, herbs appear in almost every pharmacy in the United States. Now the majority of the U.S. public uses herbs in one form or another. A handful of herbs are now accepted as "scientifically validated." These herbs are generally used in a narrow minded, simplistic way without taking into account the depth of information about them from traditional medicine. Additionally they are not used in a way consistent with holistic medicine. We now take "this" herb for "that" condition. |
Kathi Keville
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| Back to t, £ the Future
In an ideal medical system, herbalism would be viewed as a legitimate medical therapy, not as an outsider or "alternative" therapy. Recently, instruction in herbal therapy has been integrated into some medical curricula in Germany. So there is hope.
Unfortunately, in North America, medicine is extremely drug-oriented, and the American and Canadian Medical Associations have strong ties to pharmaceutical companies. It is no surprise that doctors, who are trained to use drugs, are hesitant to study herbs. |
Christian Ratsch
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 Northern herbalism. CD 003. Kiff Records, 1996.
Hasch stopptHass—Alkohol killt. Vince Records 019, ca. 1995.
Hans Hass Ir. Magic Ganja. AIM0085. Aquarius Records, 1996.
Hempilation: Freedom Is Normal. Capricorn Records, 1995.
Highzung. LC-8248. Rockwerk Records, 1992.
Idjo. Argile. 3055-2. Schneeball/Indigo, 1995.
Jefferson Airplane. Long John Silver. NL89133. RCA Records, 1978.
Joint Venture. Dinger. Fun Beethoven Records, ca. 1994.
Marijuana's Greatest Hits Revisited. 7-5042-2. Rehash Records, 1992.
MC5. High Time. R2 71034. Orig. Atlantic, 1971; reissue Rhino Records, 1992. |
Andrew Chevallier
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 Medicinal Actions & Uses Until recently, liferoot was employed in Anglo-American herbalism much as it was in earlier times - as a means to induce menstrual periods and to bring relief to menopausal complaints. Today, the plant is recommended only for external use as a douche for excessive vaginal discharge.
Related Species See ragwort (S. jacobaea, following entry).
Cautions Do not take liferoot internally. The plant is subject to legal restrictions in some countries.
Senecio jacobaea
( Compositae)
Ragwort
Description Biennial or perennial plant growing to about 3 ft (1 m). |
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