Balance must be sought between palliation and suppression, preferring remedies that support the clearing of a symptom through normal corrective life processes rather than those that directly suppress it. [[Vitalism]] **Empiricism:** Using methods that make the complaint go away with disregard for the overall effect on the system. Methods may be suppressive. **Materialism:** The philosophy that life is only the sum of material effects. Vitalism does not deny the material component, but states that the living systems are more complex than the sum of its physical effects, and possess higher properties of self-organization. So [[Vitalism]] relates more with [[Dialectical Naturalism]]. **Reductionism:** Like the materialist, the reductionist follow a philosophy that "reduces" complex ecological systems to small parts, disregarding the relations to the larger system. **Vitalism in Medical history:** Empirical vitalism in the hunter-gatherer Vitalism in Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Greek-Arabic medicine Vitalism in North American and British herbal medicine Native American European Folk medicine [[Thomsonian Herbalism]] [[Physiomedicalism]] Homeopathy [[Eclecticism]] **Materia Medica 4 Directions:** file:///home/azdevice/Pictures/Screenshots/Screenshot%20from%202025-06-02%2013-51-38.png - **North:** Folk Medicine Ethnobotany Traditional Medical Use by Previous Generations *the North is subject to “print bias.” Whoever was a good writer or had access to a printing press got their views passed on, while oral traditions equally or more valuable may have been lost. This especially affects folk and women’s traditions because for most of history women did not learn to read and write.* - **South:** Personal Experience Case Reports Experience of Colleagues in Current Generation *requires hands-on experience and an objectivity about one's own observations. It also requires communication and listening to ones peers, and comparing notes with other clinicians.* - **East:** New Information Modern Science New Materia Medica *the least reliable of the directions today for getting complete and accurate information because of the tremendously skewed research agenda. Objective science, applied with integrity is fine, but coercive and monopolistic social forces currently darken the usefulness of this direction.* - **West:** Shamanic Properties Flower Essences Homeopathy Instinctual Prescribing *Most practitioners I know, at some point in the case, “just know” what herb is right for the client or for themselves. They have taken input from other directions, but ultimately make their decision based on instincts. This ability can also be developed and strengthened through practice. Sometimes clinical success depends entirely on accurate information from this direction.* Approaching materia medica or clinical herbalism from only one direction is unbalanced, and is not likely to succeed. Taking information from all four directions will lend tremendous power to clinical practice. One of the problems herbalist make are to create a blend to fix everything that the person has, but forgets to give them something for what they came in for. **<mark style="background: #D2B3FFA6;">Support the symptoms. Don't suppress the symptoms. If we chronically suppress a symptom, we create chronic disease.</mark>** **You can relieve a symptom but still have a host weakness and get sicker because of stress, lack of vitamins etc. Always rest!!!** Don't repeat stuff just because you read it in an old book. Always cross check knowledge. Some important concepts for herbal materia medica: Hot vs cold Damp vs Dry Excess vs Deficient Superficial vs Deep Functional rather than anatomical organ descriptions, qualities, and affinities. Medical injury is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. George Washington died from a case of laryngitis when a doctor drained half the blood out of his body. Homeopathy and other herbal traditions were so popular that medical doctors as a whole almost died out in 1848 but then they established the American Medical Association to protect themselves. They were still clinging to blood letting and mercurials at this time. All the four tendencies are in everyone but some just dominate. You can turn physiological activity up or down in the human body. The easiest way to measure that is through respiration and circulation. <mark style="background: #D2B3FFA6;">Never diagnose a constitution based on one sign.</mark> **Heat** = increased circulation/metabolism/inflammation (faster pulse, pink cheeks/face, red tongue) **Cold** = Looking white, decreased metabolism / circulation, slower pulse... # Practice - Take some of the medicine you think they need and place a drop on their tongue and have them see if that makes them feel better or worse. Test these, does more make them feel better? Will something else work for them better? Test everything. - Sometimes herbs will either not work or do the opposite. Always, check to see how those medicines work for that individual. Vitalist's don't pay attention to any energetics that are 'anti' except for 'anti-inflammatory' which just means cooling. Because we work with the body, not against it. Polycrest - healing agent or remedy that is used a lot for a variety of purposes. Ex.) Echinacea If someone has heartburn, you have them keep a diet diary to see what is causing the problem. They may have a food allergy / irritant. Prilosec will cause longterm problems like a bone marrow diseases etc. that can cause death. # Patterns - ## Stomach Heat - ## Deficiency Cold - ## Cold w/ excess dampness (phlegmatic) **Amplification:** Two herbs that do the same thing. - **Ex.)** Gentian and ginger - **Ex.)** Taraxacum and Mahonia - **Ex.)** Astragalus plus Reishi mushroom **Reinforcing Action:** Add an herb to emphasize one of the first herbs actions. Agrimonia is a mild astringent for the gut, mild hepatic, and also tonic to the urinary and female reproductive tracts. - **Ex.)** Agrimonia + a hepatic (Taraxacum) - **Ex.)** Agrimonia + a urinary tract tonic (Uva Ursi) - **Ex.)** Agrimonia + a uterine tonic (Mitchella or Rubus) **Complementary Herbs:** For a total physiological effect. - **Ex.)** Systemic relaxant plus circulatory stimulant: lobelia plus capsicum - **Ex.)** Antibiotic plus immune stimulant: Uva ursi and echinacea - **Ex.)** Antibiotic through separate actions: Hydrastis and Myrrh - **Ex.)** Immune stimulant plus immune balancer: astragalus plus reishi **Pairs that balance energetics:** - Gentiana and Zingiber (heating and cooling) - Valeriana and Humulus (heating and cooling - Ligusticum plus Glycyrrhiza (drying and moistening) - Mentha plus Althea (warm, dry plus cool, moist) --- ## Skin Always distinguish between moist and dry skin conditions. As well as infected and uninfected skin conditions. You don't want to seal infection in. Topical treatments alone are not enough. The health of the skin cells is determined by the health of the extracellular fluid they are bathing in. Systemic, immune, alterative, etc. treatments are important. Consider the health of the connective tissue in the body if the skin isn't looking too good. Vitamin C, bioflavinoids, zinc, copper, silicon are critical. Some can be acquired in nutritive herbs like comfrey and horsetail. One of the causes of dryness in the constitution is a lack of fats in the diet found in fish oil, nuts and seeds etc. Alterative herbs should be considered for chronic skin conditions. Top herbs for the skin : red clover, burdock, Oregon grape root, yellow dock, dandelion, nettles etc. Oils can be applied to the skin via massage. If it's a very dry constitution apply sesame oil. If it's a very moist constitution apply flax oil. If there's a lot of heat in the system apply coconut oil. Jojoba Oil - From the american southwest. Pulverize the nut and apply the oily meat to the skin, or buy it commercially. Any essential oil on the skin is absorbed and goes straight to the blood stream. Once these oils are concentrated they really aren't natural products, they need to be diluted back out before being put on the skin. --- ### Study Questions: **What is the result of chronic suppression on an acute symptom, whether such suppression is done with pharmaceutical drugs or with herbal medicines?** **In the Vitalism view of health and healing, what are symptoms?** The life force's attempt to evolve or heal the body. For example, a cough is the body naturally creating secretions. But a doctor might prescribe something to stop the cough. An herbalist would give a moistening expectorant to support the cleansing mechanism of the cough. **Discuss briefly what you think might be some sources of error when studying books about previous folk or medical-level uses of herbs.** Print bias, those who have the ability to spread their views, whether they are correct or not, can in the end get heard the best. It also means women and those who could not read or write do not get their knowledge spread. **The Physiomedicalist school of physician-level herbalism was built on a system of folk herbalist founded by what famous herbalist?** Samuel Thomson who created the Thomsonian / Physiomedicalist tradition. **Did the Eclectic philosophy of Specific Medication include dietary and lifestyle changes?** It focused on strong suppressives and tinctures in strengths 10x or more stronger than normally used today as well as promoting proper nutrition and rest. **Are any foods digested completely in the stomach?** No, digestion is a journey from the lips to the pyloric sphincter. **What are the three key influences disrupting the upper gastrointestinal function?** Food intolerances, food irritants, and stress. **Do carminative herbs stimulate digestion?** Yes, they are warm digestive stimulants. **Name 3 conditions that vulnerary herbs might help in the upper GI tract** Lesions, poor gut integrity, and sores or ulcers. **See page 17 of the notes, The energetics of Herbal Actions. List all actions which usually have a warming effect.** Carminatives **List all actions which usually have a cooling effect.** Demulcents, Vulnerary, Bitter, Lymphatic, Antiparasitic **See page 19. What are the six actions listed that are appropriate for hot and moist conditions.** Vulnerary, Demulcent, Lymphatic, Bitter, Astringents, Antifungal **Same page. Why would bitters need to be used with caution in the cold dry patient?** Because they are already cooling and drying. **On page 21. Which media are the most warm and moist at the same time (both).** Ghee and Honey **Which media are, at the same time, the most cool and dry?** Vinegar **List the five categories on page 23 for pairing two herbs in a formula** Amplification, Reinforcing, Complementary, Balancing, Stimulating **What is the color of the tongue in deficiency type malabsorption.** Pale tongue Ex.) This is usually a cold condition and may show as a pale tongue. Fatigue is a prominent symptom, and loose stool or undigested stool may accompany.Abdominal pain better with pressure is a key indicator. **Describe the tongue coat in damp pathology in the digestive tract.** Thick tongue coat Ex.) As above, fatigue. Nausea, diarrhea. Thick tongue coat is characteristic. Pain is full or throbbing and worse with pressure. **In chronic loose stool that is not infectious, what is the first step to assess the case?** Examine the diet to find offending foods. **What is the constituent in burdock, dandelion, and elecampane that is a food for the friendly bacteria in the gut?** Inulin ## Lesson 3 Alteratives **What percentage of the water in the body is in the extracellular spaces?** 20% is in extracellular fluid. **In the table on page 32, which two herbs have the most activities listed?** Burdock & Boneset. **Give the preparation for a tea of echinacea.** Place an ounce of echinacea root and simmer in a quart of water for 30 minutes. Drink the quart over the next 3-4 hours. **Dandelion and Yellow dock both have at least mild laxative properties. Which is the stronger laxative?** Yellow Dock **What is the potential drug-herb interaction with red clover?** Blood thinning medications, including aspirin **What tissue is primarily affected by yerba mansa?** Mucous Membrane **Name five substances that can be used as poultices for boils.** - Chamomile - Slippery Elm - Cornmeal - Onion - Flaxseed - Burdock --- ## Lesson 4 Skin **True or False. Essential oils can enter the system through the skin to produce systemic effects.** True **True or False. Essential oils applied to the skin can cause neurotoxicity.** True, depending on the concentration. **What is the constituent in Red Clover that promotes healing and growth of healthy tissue (See first paragraph on Red Clover)?** Allantoin, which promotes healing and the growth of healthy tissue. **What is the constituent in Burdock root that is food for friendly bacteria in the gut?** Inulin **What are three properties of echinacea when applied topically?** It has disinfectant, antiinflammatory, and wound-healing properties. **Recent advances in nutrition have found what vitamin to be important to resisting eczema.** Vitamin D. **What two consituents, contained in both yarrow and chamomile** azulene and chamazulene, both of which are antiallergic and anti-inflammatory. **Name three categories of herbs that may be useful for Acne.** Alteratives, Demulcents, Bitter Tonics. ---- **What are three metabolic conditions that may cause non-specific itching.** - liver disease, diabetes, or autoimmunity **Name three substances that may be added to a bath to help with itching.** - Baking soda, epsom salts, & essential oils **Name three plant constituents that may act as topical anesthetics for itching** - Eugenol - Menthol - Thymol **What are two plants that have a reputation as being specifically useful for poison ivy?** - Chapparal & Jewelweed **Question 13. What is the most important danger sign from an otherwise minor infection?** - Red lines, which would indicate blood poisoning. **Question 14. What are the first two general rules for treating a wound?** - Take into account pain and infection. Clean and irrigate the wound. **Question 15. True or false. Honey should never be put on a wound because its sugars may feed the bacteria and promote infection.** - False **Question 16. Describe the kind of wound that Calendula or Comfrey should not be used on.** - Deep and open wounds. You do not want comfrey to enter your bloodstream and calendula could seal in infection. **Question 17. What are two antiseptic constituents in Yerba Mansa?** - thymol and methyl eugenol **Question 18. Name 3 non-herbal substances that might be applied to a burn to provide some relief of pain.** - Baking Soda, Butter, Cold water. --- ## Recommended Readings - **Cook's Physiomedical Dispensatory** - **Lyle's 1898 American Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics** https://www.amazon.com/American-Eclectic-Materia-Medica-Therapeutics/dp/1015577415/ref=sr_1_1?crid=TC6LWWM1RW3Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ddvG3RC-uynS_0IE3V81dnSKxT0llwSjOP03DcfISw03h2c_IahcISsMWRvoLL_JV16BNO-RbnVxMz5d64d4D4_8URF76scbny0EYoqZzSilrRutfQJ1jppxq387n8mX.B-lJximLLxjW6YZbwu1Ypafp6Xtyx3MVUmMxiMcFg5I&dib_tag=se&keywords=American+Eclectic+Materia+Medica+and+Therapeutics&qid=1748976514&s=books&sprefix=lyle%27s+1898+american+eclectic+materia+medica+and+therapeutics%2Cstripbooks%2C133&sr=1-1 - **Lyle's Physiomecial Therapeutics** https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1016088094/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 - **King’s American Dispensatory** https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1527608190/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2LE0JL3B4W7AP&psc=1 - **Lindlahr's Nature Cure** - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1603863885/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1