Herbal Medicine I - Energetics

Question 1

Four forms of traditional medicine

Answer 1

Four forms of traditional medicine developed in ancient times:
1. Ayurveda(South Asia: India).
2. Chinese medicine (East Asia: China).
3. Galenic medicine (Ancient Greece and Rome).
4. Unani Tibb (Arabic world).

• They have distinct characteristics, but use broadly identical ‘energetic’ approaches to classify and treat diseases, and maintain good health using herbs, foods and lifestyle.

Question 2

Energetic Qualities

Answer 2

Energetics is based on the ‘qualities’ of hot, cold, dry and wet:
* A balance of all qualities I simportant for good health, but imbalance leads to excesses and characteristic patterns of disease (physical and mental).
* ‘Energetics’ fell out of favour in the West and was replaced by biomedicine. By contrast, in India, China and the Middle East, it is still very much alive.

Question 3

Excess heat: Signs

Answer 3

Signs:
* Inflammation, redness, infections, burning sensations, high blood pressure, loose stool, stress, irritability, anger.

Question 4

Excess heat: Causes

Answer 4

Causes:
* Hot climates and seasons, very hot food and drinks, hot ‘pungent’ herbs i.e. chilli, dry ginger, garlic.
* Oily foods, chemical food additives, refined sugars, stimulants i.e. coffee, alcohol also increase heat.

Question 5

Excess cold: Signs

Answer 5

Signs:
* Chills, poor circulation, muscle spasm, fatigue, low mood, weak digestion, hypometabolic conditions i.e. low thyroid function.

Question 6

Excess cold: Causes

Answer 6

Causes:
* Cold climates and seasons, too much cold, refrigerated, frozen foods and iced drinks, too much raw food, salad, bitter leaves e.g. chicory, green smoothies, ‘bitter’ (detoxifying) herbs such as golden seal.

Question 7

Excess dryness: Signs

Answer 7

Signs:
* Weakness, emaciation, stiff joints, dry skin and mucous membranes, constipation, gas and bloating, anxiety.

Question 8

Excess dryness: Causes

Answer 8

Causes:
* Dry, windy climates and seasons, too much dry food e.g. popcorn, low fluid intake, gas-forming legumes, drying ‘astringent’ herbs e.g. green tea. Excess hot spices and diuretic herbs (increase urine output) e.g. dandelion leaf can also lead to dryness.

Question 9

Excess moisture: Signs

Answer 9

Signs:
* Weight gain, fluid retention, lethargy, mucus, watery discharges, cysts, lymphatic congestion, over-emotional.

Question 10

Excess moisture: Causes

Answer 10

Causes:
* Wet climates and seasons, too much dairy, gluten, sweet, high water-content fruit and veg. e.g. melon, cucumber; slimy ‘mucilaginous’ foods and herbs such as okra and linseeds.

Question 11

Energetic Balance

Answer 11

For good health we must restore and maintain energetic balance, ideally leaning slightly towards warmth and moisture:
* At this balance point, the vital force which maintains health and regulates healing in the body, is active and flows well.

Question 12

Balancing excess heat: Reduce

Answer 12

Reduce:
* Heating influences i.e. spices, oily foods, very hot foods and drinks, stimulants, processed foods.

Question 13

Balancing excess heat: Focus on

Answer 13

Focus on:
* Focus on: Cooling influences i.e. fresh air, cool water, raw foods, salads, bitter detoxifying herbs such as neem.

Question 14

Balancing excess heat: Note

Answer 14

Note:
* Treat acute heat problems i.e. fever with spices and warm baths to promote sweating and cool the body (‘like treats like’).

Question 15

Balancing excess cold:
Reduce

Answer 15

Reduce:
* Cooling influences i.e. cool water, raw foods, salads, bitter herbs.

Question 16

Balancing excess cold: Focus on

Answer 16

Focus on:
* Warming influences i.e. food and drinks taken hot, spices including ginger, rosemary, black pepper to stimulate digestion, circulation and energy.

Question 17

Balancing excess cold: Note

Answer 17

Note:
* Small amounts of bitter herbs e.g. gentian stimulate digestion and metabolism (‘like treats like’).

Question 18

Balancing excess dryness: Reduce

Answer 18

Reduce:
* Drying influences i.e. dry, crunchy food e.g. popcorn, ‘astringent’ herbs (contain tannins) e.g. green tea, excess hot spices and diuretics.

Question 19

Balancing excess dryness: Focus on

Answer 19

Focus on:
* Moistening influences i.e. plentiful hydration, high water content fruit and veg., nut milks, smoothies, soups, mucilaginous foods and herbs such as okra and flaxseeds.

Question 20

Balancing excess moisture: Reduce

Answer 20

Reduce:
* Moistening influences i.e. watery fruit and veg., mucilaginous(slimy) foods and herbs, smoothies, dairy products.

Question 21

Balancing excess moisture: Focus on

Answer 21

Focus on:
* Drying influences i.e. dry, crunchy foods, legumes, starchy grains, ‘astringent’ herbs e.g. green tea. Spices e.g. ginger and diuretics e.g. dandelion leaf also balance excess moisture.

Question 22

Energetic Differentiation: Hot

Answer 22

Look for energetic features in diseases to establish imbalances:
* Hot: Red, ‘angry’ eczema. Use cooling bitter burdock root.

Question 23

Energetic Differentiation: Cold

Answer 23

Look for energetic features in diseases to establish imbalances:
* Cold: Cold hands and feet, slow healing. Use warm circulatory cinnamon.

Question 24

Energetic Differentiation: Dry

Answer 24

Look for energetic features in diseases to establish imbalances:
* Dry: Flaky, itchy skin. Use mucilaginous(slimy) external marshmallow root.

Question 25

Energetic Differentiation: Moist

Answer 25

Look for energetic features in diseases to establish imbalances:
* Moist: Weeping skin lesions, hives. Use astringent(dry) external rose petals.