- Edmund Husserl -
"The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend."
- Henri Bergson -
WHAT IT MEANS TO KNOW INDIVIDUAL HERBS IN A PRACTICAL WAY
Congratulations. Now
that you've gone through the first sections
of this website, you have enough contextual background in the history
of herbal medicine and the language of herbs to go to the next level of
knowledge. If you are like most of us, the next thing you
want to know is what the "best" herbs are for treating your particular
health condition. I have to laugh at myself when I try to define
the word "best" for use on this website, as the field of herbal
medicine
is so vast. At our clinic, my wife
Nai-shing and I keep over 1,000 herbs from all parts of the world in
stock. This stock includes herbs from the three systems of herbal
medicine we have both studied, TAM (Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine)
from India and Nepal, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) from China,
and Western herbal medicine. We also have herbs from South America, the Middle East and Africa.
Simply stated,there are no "best" herbs. I doubt if 1/10 of 1% of
God's herbal gifts have been found and harnessed. However, for the here
and now, when you watch doctors from each of these systems at work,
as I have, you notice very quickly that they choose certain "great"
herbs most
frequently, based on their high levels of safety and
effectiveness. Many of these herbs are already famous. One
cannot imagine TCM without ginseng root and astragalus root, TAM
without ashwagandha root and guggul gum or Western herbalism without
echinacea and dandelion root. These are the herbs I will
discuss. I have chosen more than 90 herbs that Nai-shing and I
consider to be among the most useful available to us in effectively
treating the common diseases we see every day. About a dozen or
so less commonly used herbs have also been put in for illustrative
purposes. Remember, different herbalists use different herbs like
different artists use different colors. If you can learn 90 herbs, you can learn as many more as you want.
How do you know which herbs are really effective?
I draw my knowledge of herbal use from numerous sources:
• Traditional teachings (the wisdom handed down from the past)
• Scientific reports from around the world
• My personal experience
• Clinical experiences of my patients
• Reports from other professional herbalists and their patients
• Intuition
Of these, the traditional teachings of the past and the clinical
results experienced by my patients have the greatest influence on my
herbal choices. However, scientific finding often bring
fascinating new insights into sharp focus, and I rely on them as well.
What are the premier herbs used by Ayurvedic doctors?
In Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine (TAM), the Sanskrit word rasayana is
assigned to herbs that, although powerful in their results, can be used
safely and indefinitely with complete confidence and without side
effects. Rasayana describes an herbal preparation that promotes a
youthful state of physical and mental health and expands
happiness. Rasayana herbs have high levels of both safety and
effectiveness. They are given to small children in India as
tonics by their parents, and are also taken by the middle-aged and
elderly to increase longevity. Several of these herbs have been
administered to animals to determine toxicity, and in some cases no
toxicity is seen even when the herb comprises very high percentages. I
saw one test of a rasayan herb where it was used as 25% of
the fortunate mammal's diet. Such herbs do indeed exist.
You may have heard of many of them already, as they are quite
popular. They are as safe to consume as ordinary vegetables such
as carrots and beets. I hope to expand your knowledge of some of
these herbs, and introduce you to a few jewels you have not encountered
yet.
Are these the herbs used most often by Ayurvedic doctors to treat diseases?
Yes and no. Rasayana herbs can be found everywhere in India and
Nepal, and can be and are used by people of all ages and states of
health. Ayurvedic doctors rely on them heavily in their tonic
formulas for longevity and to treat chronic diseases. However,
these herbs only form a moderate part of the expert herb doctor's
repertoire. A good doctor from any tradition must know how to use
many, many other herbs. For example, niche herbs are uncommon
herbs that only do one thing well, but are essential for treating
certain conditions. I have included some of the more important
ones, such as ephedra. Some herbs, as simple as black pepper or
ginger root, are indispensable for helping to make an herbal formula
work properly.
What are the premier herbs used by Western and European herbalists?
The premier herbs used by Western and European herbalists generally
fall into a category known as adaptogens, herbs that bring balance back
to the body no matter what the direction of imbalance. Some
adaptogens will bring your blood pressure down if it is high, or bring
it up if it is low.
Others will regulate your thyroid whether its function is high or
low (Rege et al. 1999). Soy products
are good examples of
these substances because they can be used beneficially whether estrogen
levels are high or low. If the body's estrogen levels are low,
the mild concentration of plant estrogens in soy will stimulate cell
receptor sites (the on/off switches for cellular function).
Conversely, if the body's estrogen levels are high, the same mild plant
estrogens will block the more powerful human estrogens from reaching
the same sites. Thus, soybeans are hormonal adaptogens. They also
contain phytic acid, and so can act as chelating agents for free metals
in the blood.
What are the best Chinese herbs?
You must remember that even the best Chinese herbs, such as ginseng
root and dang gui root, cannot be used without some basic diagnostic
information. Herbal choices must be made based upon individual
needs. Following the Taoist philosophy of Yin and Yang--the
balance and union of opposites--health is a means by which we balance
and harmonize the conflicts we hold within ourselves.
Over a thousand years ago, the ancient Shennong
Bencao Jing (pharmacopoeia of herbs) included a category of herbs
suggested for use every day to strengthen vitality, increase energy and
lengthen lifespan. Traditionally,
such herbs are established tonics that are safe to use over a long
period of time because they are balanced in terms of Yin and
Yang. Many of them improve digestive function. Such herbs
are commonly used for fu zheng (immune tonification) therapy, discussed
in our section on the immune system.
You've said that some herbs are very safe for long-term use, but what about all the others?
Truthfully, few herbs can meet the highest standard of an adaptogen or
a rasayana herb, scoring high on scales of both safety and
effectiveness for general daily use. On this website I will point out to you
such herbs by calling them Gold Standard.
There are many other herbs that are of great
importance but must be used with a certain level of knowledge and
caution. These herbs, which have excellent results with no side
effects when used properly, still harbor a slight potential for
misuse. Some are very safe, but are not particularly powerful or
broad in effect. Some herbs are very useful and very safe, but
should not be used all the time. Throughout the website, I will
classify such herbs as Silver standard.
There are other herbs that, although extremely
beneficial and important in the treatment of certain conditions, have a
limited range of action or must be used with caution. Mild or
moderate diuretics, for example, may be very useful for a few weeks or
months, but I do not see the sense in taking them for long periods of
time. I will classify these herbs as Yellow standard.
The final group of herbs will be classified as Red
standard. These Red standard herbs have certain essential
properties that make them beneficial to many patients in states of poor
health, but they also pose clearly defined dangers which must be
known. Such herbs should be used only under the guidance of a
trained professional.
There's one more thing. I'm not sure any
particular herb should be used continuously without a break, unless
dictated by medical necessity. The constant intake of the same
foods is, I believe, a major cause of food allergy and other problems
such as nutrient overload or deficiency. TAM doctors place strong
emphasis on eating foods during the correct season, which causes a
natural change in dietary items during the year. By the same
token, I think it makes more sense to rotate even the best tonic
herbs. Don't get stuck in the philosophy of using one herb for
everything or using one herb forever.
Layout for "Herbs from Around the World" Monographs
"Knowledge is one. Its division into subjects is a concession to human weakness.
- Halford John Mackinder -
I have more than 900 books in my herbal library, and I've learned that
any fact you find about an herb may be somehow useful. However,
the way a writer selects, filters and presents information sometimes
reveals more about the writer than the herb. As a clinician,
there are certain books that I have always found myself going back to
again and again. It took me a while to figure out why they stood
out from the rest. The best books are not all the same, because
describing herbs is an art, unique to each plant and its
characteristics.
In many ways an herb is like a person. Descriptions are useful,
but you have to get more intimate to really know the deeper
truth. With people this means meeting them to see if your
personalities are compatible, and with herbs it means taking them to
see if they "work for you or your patients." I am going to offer the
herbs from a variety of angles here, while at the same time trying to
present the essence of each herb's usefulness in clinical situations.
Let's take a look at the layout I have chosen for the herbal descriptions that follow.
COMMON NAME Latin: Genus species
WHAT IT DOES: Here I will give
the broad properties of the herb including it's taste, it's heating and
cooling properties, an specifically what it does to the body.
RATING: Here you will find the "color" categories explained earlier.
SAFETY ISSUES: Any warnings
about contraindications; possible adverse effects caused by misuse,
overuse or use by persons with certain medical conditions, etc.
STARTING DOSAGE: Recommended starting adult dosage and preferred form.
DISCUSSION: (One or more paragraphs)
As discussed earlier, Latin names are the most exact identification
method, pretty much assuring that we know which herb we are talking
about. For our purposes, however, I will provide the common name
first, in CAPITALIZED BOLD LETTERS,
This will be followed by the Latin name, and subsequently the name of
herb as it is known in Chinese, Sanskrit or another foreign language,
indicating that the herb is used by those cultures. This is
important to avoid misidentification.
In the section called "WHAT IT DOES,"
I will explain my understanding of the essence of the herb's
action. Here I rely on traditional energetic descriptions that,
in my opinion, are essential to realistic understanding. Years
ago, I received quite a shock when reading an early British author's
writings about Ayurvedic herbs. This chap decided to leave out
all references to Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which he decided had nothing
to do with the "scientific" actions of the herbs. I'm here to
tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. The
energetic attributes of each herb are time-tested global descriptions
that are among the most important tools we have in herbal
medicine. It is these descriptions, more than anything else, that
allow herbalists to select appropriate treatments in clinical
situations.
Each herb's "RATING" provides a
designated color value for each herb, determined according to values of
safety and usefulness, as discussed earler. This results in a
color value for each herb--gold, silver, yellow or red. This is simply
an additional safety factor for people reading this website, helping
them to know when to be careful.
Following the safety rating you will find "SAFETY ISSUES,"
highlighting any warnings, contraindications or special
precautions. Contraindications are specific cautions that provide
reasons why certain people, such as pregnant women or persons taking
certain drugs, should not use the herb. Note that it is possible
to have a gold standard herb which, while safe for use by most people,
may still be contraindicated for some, such as pregnant women or people
taking certain drugs.
I have also provided a "STARTING DOSAGE"
for each herb. This offers the suggested starting dosage for an
adult, as well as different available forms of preparation for the
herb. Some herbs can be used in several different forms, while
some work only as tinctures or in dry form or after undergoing special
preparation.
Remember that the dosages listed are the approximate starting dosage
when using the herb by itself. When the herbs is used as part of
a combination, the dosage will always be reduced. In formulas, a
single herb typically represents from about 5 percent up to as much as
50 percent or more of a formula.
My final section in each herbal description is the "DISCUSSION,"
consisting of one or more paragraphs intended to provide you with
additional details, research findings, and any other information which
can round our your understanding of the herb.
For more information on individual herbs beyond what is on this website, you can go here.