Formulation Flashcards
To understand principles of formulation
what are the different categories of information needed from the client?
- Etiology
- Quality and occurrence of the complaint PQRST
- Concomitant symptoms
- Constitution
What does PQRST stand for?
provocation: Does anything seem to bring on the complaint? What makes it better? What makes it worse?
Quality: What is the character of the complaint? Burning, Cold, throbbing?
Radiation: Does the sensation/pain travel? Is it associated with any other organ or symptom?
Severity: on a scale of 1 - 10, how severe is it? Does it interfere with any other activities, like work, sex etc?
Timing: Timing throughout the day? throughout the month(hormonal fluctuations), throughout the year(seasonal allergies, seasonal affective disorder?
What questions are related to etiology?
What is your primary concern?
How long has it been happening?
How did it begin?
How has it evolved over time?
What else was going on in your life at the time?
Are there any other symptoms or problems accompanying your complaint?
Any previous episodes? Any family members?
What are the predominant emotions that accompany the complaint? Did it begin during a period of grief, anger, anxiety etc?
Did it begin following a particular activity
What questions are associated with concomitant symptoms?
When this occurs, do you feel hot or cold, lethargy, weakness or anxiety?
Does it occur during times of activity or rest?
What categories of information is needed to assess the constitution
complexion tongue pulse muscles appetite thirst sex drive sleep patterns
What is meant by the formulation rationale?
the thought process that went into determining the goals, actions, and herbs represented in the formula.
What is the maximum amount of herbs one should use in a formula?
6 herbs
What is the main principle that inspires formulas?
Synergy.
How does the principle of Synergy operate in formulas
Different herbs, when taken together, potentiate each other’s effects which lower the dosage requirement and increases effectiveness
What is meant by the negative interaction of herbs within a formula?
certain herbs reduce the bioavailability and absorption of others
tannins will bind to alkaloids and mucilage, making them less bioavailable
mucilage will slow the absorption of minerals
for example, making an infusion of tea, comfrey, and cinnamon. The tannins in the tea will bind to the alkaloids and mucilage in comfrey, and to the mucilage in the cinnamon rendering the comfrey and cinnamon less effective
What are herbal catalysts?
Herbal catalysts often work by stimulating the circulatory system and are utilized to ensure that herbal constituents within a formula will be carried to the place in the body that you want them to go. Catalysts can be added in small amounts to increase the delivery of the rest of the herbs in the formula.
What are some common catalysts?
Herbal catalysts include black pepper (Piper nigrum) fruit, ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) leaf, ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizome, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) aerial parts, lavender (Lavandula spp.) bud, and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) bark
What are the two main considerations when considering the energetics of a formula?
1) The constitution of the person to whom you are giving the formula.
2) The energetics of the disharmony in the body that you are aiming to affect.
This can get tricky, because often you’ll have a cold person with a hot condition or vice versa. In such cases, it is best to provide a well-balanced formula that is not too warming or too cooling. The same could be said for a moist person with a dry condition: the formula should not be too drying or too moistening.
Generally speaking, formulas should not be freezing cold, blazing hot, sopping wet, or bone dry, anyway! It is possible to moisten a dry person with a dry condition too much. Most formulas should be well balanced with a slight leaning toward an energetic shift that you’d like to make. Another good reason to keep formulas relatively neutral is because it can be very difficult to decipher the root energetic cause of disharmony in the body.
How do seasonal considerations affect our formulation?
If someone is taking a tonic herbal formula for longer than a few months, it may be a good idea to change the formula slightly as the seasons change. Just as we crave cooling foods in the summer and warming foods in the winter, our body is balanced by different energetics and herbal actions as the seasons change. Adding warming, and maybe even moistening, remedies during the fall and winter months and more cooling and perhaps drying herbs during the spring and summer can be helpful.
What are some general guidelines for determining dosage
More for Nutritive, adaptogenic herbs Less for energetic herbs Less for specific use More for Kappa types, less for Vata types Less for children and elderly
What is the maximum daily dose for tinctures?
15ml per day, usaully given 3 times a day at 5 ml a dose
What is the recomended dosage for infusions or teas?
Dried: up to 5 grams per cup of 250 ml water 3 times a day
Fresh: up to 15 grams per cup of 250 ml water 3 times a day
Superinfusion: 30 grams dried herbs per liter over 1 to 2 days
What are the basic steps in a SMART formulation?
- Set Goals
- Match Actions
- Align Herbs and Dosage
- Reckon the Formula
- Think through the rationale
What is the triangle method of formulation?
Primary/Builder Herbs: The first point of the triangle is called the primary herb and is designated by a “+” symbol. This is the specifically indicated plant, perhaps the most important plant in the formula, which addresses the primary goal or problem (Phillips & Phillips, 2005). This herb usually increases the function and/or the energy of a specific body system, and can be more than one herb. These might include sweet tonics, demulcents, blood builders, or liver supportive herbs (Wood, 2003) or any herb that will accomplish the primary goal.
Supporting/Tonic Herbs: The second point of the triangle is the neutral tonic of the formula, designated by the number “0.” This herb is meant to soothe, tone, and nourish in order to support a body system or organ (Phillips & Phillips, 2005) and as a result can improve normal function. This herb may soothe tissues and act as a harmonizer, balancing the energetics of a formula. Supporting/tonic herbs might include astringents, demulcents, and herbs that are both building and eliminating, and thus neutral (Wood, 2003).
Eliminator/Catalyst: The last point of the triangle, the eliminator (“-”), sometimes referred to as the catalyst or cleanser, eliminates what the body needs to get rid of in order for the other herbs to be able to perform their actions. The eliminator might bring warmth and movement to eliminate tension or stagnation or excess fluid, in effect activating a body system. A catalyst can also potentiate the other herbs in a formula (Phillips & Phillips, 2005). These might include herbs like circulatory stimulants, dispersives, laxatives, alteratives, and diuretics (Wood, 2003).
What ratios are used in a triangle formula?
primary 80%
supporting 10%
Eliminator 10%
What the BSS alternative to the BNE( Builder, neutral, eliminator) triangle?
Base, Specific, Synergist
The Base of the triangle is what the entire formula rests on and it consists out of herbs that restores the main organ and tissue state as healing begins with nourishing and tonifiying
The specific and Synergist forms the two diagonal sides of the triangle which points the formula into a specific direction.
The specific side contains herbs that are specifically indicated for the specific symptoms
The synergist side contains herbs that deals with underlying or indirct contributors to the problem and thus supports the specific herbs.
Describe Tierra’s PSAD method of formulation
primary action
Stimulant
Antispasmodic
Demulcent
Describe the NID or Balancing triangle of a formulation.
Nourish: This is the base of the triangle, which the rest of the formula rests on. This part of the formula focuses on nourishing/building/strengthening and tonifying the weakened state of the organ
While nourishing is general and nonspecific, Increase and Decrease points the formula into a specific direction
Increase: This part of the formula focuses on Stimulating a specific Action or increasing a specific funciton of the organ.
Decrease: This part of the formula focusses Eliminating toxins, pathogens or decreasing certain conditions.
