HERBS and TERMS

Vulnerary herb

Wound healing: accelerate tissue repair, reduce inflammation at the wound, antimicrobial protection against infection.

typically used externally: poultices, salves, washes, or compresses applied directly to cuts/burns/scrapes/bruises and other skin injury.

**Caution** some vulneraries are so effective at stimulating tissue repair, that if it’s a deep wound, the top could heal before the inside is healed.

Herbs: calendula, comfrey, yarrow, plantain, aloe Vera.

Antispasmodic herb

Relieves involuntary muscle spasms and cramping.

Soothes muscles in digestive tract and uterus and skeletal muscles (like Charley horse or back spasm.)

***Their effects are often felt quick!

Herbs: cramp bark, valerian, black cohosh, wild yam, chamomile.

Bitter herbs

Stimulate digestion: when bitter herbs touch your tongue receptors, signals travel to your digestive organs promoting release of saliva/gastric acid/bile/digestive enzymes

best taken 15 to 30 min before meals, must actually be tasted to work, so swallowing a capsule bypasses the bitter taste and will be far less effective.

herbs: gentian, dandelion root, artichoke leaf, chamomile, yarrow.

Emollient herb

Softens, soothes, and protects the skin.

***focus on the external skin surface***

Typically rich in mucilage fixed oil or other compounds that lock in moisture, reduce irritation, and create a protective barrier

Ex of use: salves, balms, creams, infused oils for dry/cracked/irritated/inflamed skin

Herbs: calendula, comfrey, plantain, aloe Vera, chickweed

Tonic herb

One that strengthens/nourishes and restores vitality to the body or to a specific organ system overtime.

**Safe for long term use and can be taken regularly/daily/several times per week rather than just when a problem arises.

**** nourishment for your bodies deeper systems

Ex of use: digestive tonic - digestion; nervous system tonic - builds resilience against stress; cardiovascular tonic - heart and circulatory health.

Herbs: nettle (nutritive tonic), hawthorn (heart tonic), ashwagandha (adaptogenic tonic), oat straw (nerve tonic), astragalus (immune tonic)

Astringent

Herb that tightens and tones tissues, helping to reduce secretions, bleeding, and inflammation of mucous membranes.

Anti inflammatory

Substance that reduces inflammation, swelling, redness, and heat in the body.

Vulnerary

herb that promotes the healing of wounds, cuts, and skin damage when applied externally

Hot conditions in the body

• redness, heat, inflammation, burning sensations, irritability, tendency to feel overheated

a person running hot may have a red face, no feel warm to the touch, prefer cold beverages, and have a fast pulse.

**** cooling herbs used for hot condition****

Peppermint, chamomile, chickweed, elderflower (they help bring down excess heat)

Cold condition in the body

Pallor, chilliness, sluggishness, poor circulation, and weakness.

Cold hands/feet, slow digestion, low energy, and a tendency to feel cold even in mild weather

****warming herbs are used for cold conditions****

Ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, rosemary. (They stoke the bodies inner warmth, improve circulation, and energize sluggish systems

Damp conditions of the body

Involve extra moisture in the tissues: copious mucus, water retention, weepy skin conditions, a feeling of heaviness, and a thick coating on the tongue.

• sinus congestion with profuse watery discharge

**** drying herbs used for damp conditions****

Astringent herbs like: yarrow, raspberry leaf, and sage (aromatic herbs also tend to be drying)

Dry conditions of the body

Insufficient moisture: dry skin, dry coughs, constipation from dry stool, cracked lips.

****moistening herbs are used for dry conditions****

Demulcent herbs like: marshmallow root, slippery elm, licorice root (add moisture and soothe parched tissues.)

Tense (constricted conditions)

Tightness, spasm, rigidity, and tension. Muscle cramps, tension headaches, tight chest, and a knotted stomach (all expressions of excess tension.)

**** use relaxing herbs****

antispasmodics/nervine relaxants: cramp bark, valerian, chamomile, passionflower (release excess tension.)

Lax (relaxed) conditions

Excess looseness and weakness in the tissues: swollen gums, varicose veins, a prolapsed organ, chronic loose stools, muscles that feel weak/lack tone.

***use toning/tightening herbs***

• astringent herbs like: white oak bark, witch hazel, raspberry leaf (firm tissues that have become too loose.

Observing condition/tissue state in yourself

1. Tongue (red tongue - suggests heat; pale tongue - suggests cold) (Thick coating suggests dampness; dry/cracked tongue suggests dryness)

2. Thirst (craving ice cold drinks suggests heat; prefer warm drinks suggests cold) (intense thirst with dry mouth suggests dryness; little thirst with a sense of heaviness suggests dampness.)

3. Skin (hot/red/inflamed? Cold/pale/clamy? Dry/flaky? Oil/congested?

4. Energy (agitated/restless/wired-heat and tension??) (sluggish/heavy/depleted - cold&damp&laxity.)

5. Digestion (burning/acid reflex/loose urgent stools suggest heat) (bloating/slow digestion/and a heavy feeling after eating may suggest cold and damp) (constipation with dry hard stools suggest dryness)

What do bitter herbs taste like and what do they do to the body?

Taste: sharp, unpleasant, makes you want to wrinkle your face.

• the great digestive activator

when bitter herbs contact the taste receptors on your tongue, your body launches a “bitter reflex”, variety of signals that stimulate production of saliva, hydrochloric acid in the stomach, bile from the liver and gallbladder, and digestive enzymes from the pancreas.

Other aids: bitter herbs also help support liver function, regulate blood sugar, and a mild cooling and drying effect on the body. (They move things downward and outward.)

key herbs: dandelion root, gentian, burdock root, artichoke leaf, chamomile, yarrow, motherwort.

pungent/spicy - the taste and what it does to the body?

Taste: sharp, hot, biting

Warning and drying

Examples: raw ginger, cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic, raw onion, horseradish

What they do to the body: THEY GET THINGS MOVING… pungent herbs are the circulatory movers. They dilate blood vessels, increase blood flow, promote sweating, and warm the body from the inside out.

Pungent herbs are great for the cold, stagnant conditions, poor circulation, sluggish digestion, congested sinuses, and chilly phase of a cold.

Sweet - the taste and what it does to the body?

Taste - pleasant, satisfying, full

Cooling/moistening/relaxing

Examples: cooked grains, root vegetables, licorice root, astragalus, or marshmallow root.

Does what to the body? It’s nourishing and building. Nutritive, moistening, and restorative, build tissue, supply energy, soothe irritation, sense of calm/satisfaction,