skin energetics Flashcards
What are the 3 energetic qualities
Temperature -hot/ cold
Moisture - dry/damp
Tone - tense/ lax
What are the 6 tissue states?
Rate(metabolism) -Exitation/ Depression
Moisture - Damp(stagnation, flowing)/Atrophy
Tone - constriction/Laxity
4 elements
Element - Quality - Tissue State - Balancing Taste - Balancing Actions
Fire - Hot - Exitation/irritation - bitter/Sour - relaxant/refrigant
Water - Damp - Damp flowing/laxity- bitter -Astringent
Air - Dry - Atrophy/constriction - Sweet/Salty - demulcent
Earth - Cold - Depression/stagnation - pungent - aromatic/stimulant
3 doshas and the elements
Kapha - Earth/Water
Pitta - fire/water
Vata - Air/Space
What is Energetics?
Energetics is a model for describing patterns in human physiology and the influence of herbs, foods, environmental factors, and activities on physiology (Wood, 2004). Herbalists relate the essential forces or elements that we see in nature to the functions of the human body, thus recognizing the body as a microcosm (the body’s own ecosystem) that is a reflection of the macrocosm (the greater environmental ecosystem) and an expression of the fractal nature of the universe.
Heat
In living organisms, heat is associated with the stimulation of tissue function. This can manifest in different ways; for example, an increase in blood flow, stimulation of the inflammatory response, or an uptick in bile secretion all point to tissue stimulation.
When tissue function is stimulated, this tends to coincide with improved blood flow; when blood flow to a particular tissue increases, heat delivery also increases. Often, we can feel increased blood flow as an increase in temperature in the local area or even systemically. Similarly, we refer to a plant as heating if it stimulates or increases heat in specific body tissues or systemically.
heat in the skin may appear in the form of any of the following signs:
Redness and/or red blotches Flushing Sensitivity Itchy, irritated, hot, and/or burning skin Skin prone to welts, hives, and/or bumps Overheating easily Skin that is easily sunburned
Cold
Tissues are described as cold when tissue function is understimulated, depressed, or dormant. Poor circulation can be a root cause of cold tissue states—less blood flow means less heat delivered locally and systemically. When tissue isn’t receiving proper blood flow, it may also lack adequate oxygenation and nutrient delivery, causing impaired local immune function, slow wound healing, and a general loss of vitality.
symptoms of cold in the skin may manifest as:
Pale face, nail beds, and/or lips Blue or dark circles under the eyes Feeling cold easily Cold extremities/poor circulation Rough skin Bruising easily Slow-to-heal wounds
Damp
Dampness is evident when there is some amount of stagnation or laxity in the tissue. Stagnation occurs when fluid accumulates in swollen tissue and does not drain properly, often due to obstruction of some sort. Stagnation may affect absorption, metabolism, and eliminatory processes, all of which can impact tissue health (Wood, 2004). Laxity refers to a state in which the tissue has lost its tone and has become flacid or prolapsed, losing its ability to retain fluids such as mucus, sweat, and urine (Wood, 2004).
When dampness occurs with heat, we see what is referred to as pitta dosha in Ayurveda and as the choleric humor in ancient Greek medicine. Some examples of damp heat include acne, herpes, shingles, and yeast infections. Dampness combined with cold is associated with kapha dosha in Ayurveda and phlegm in the ancient Greek energetic model (Wood, 2004). Examples of cold, damp skin conditions include edema, clammy skin, and slowly healing wounds with pus, such as diabetic skin ulcers and pressure ulcers.
we see that signs of damp may show up as:
Skin that appears shiny by midday Sweating freely Very visible pores Skin that is prone to acne/blackheads Hair that is thick and/or shiny “Weepy” skin conditions Liquid-filled blisters, bumps, or lesions Skin that is prone to fungal skin conditions
How to balance energetic imbalances?
herbalists choose an herb with the opposite energy of the symptom they are addressing. For example, a hot, dry, irritated skin condition, such as a peeling sunburn, may benefit from the cooling, moistening quality of aloe (Aloe vera) leaf gel. Alternatively, herbalists may choose a cooling, drying herb such as rose (Rosa spp.) petal to address a hot, damp skin condition like cystic acne.
How to balance energetic imbalances?
herbalists choose an herb with the opposite energy of the symptom they are addressing. For example, a hot, dry, irritated skin condition, such as a peeling sunburn, may benefit from the cooling, moistening quality of aloe (Aloe vera) leaf gel. Alternatively, herbalists may choose a cooling, drying herb such as rose (Rosa spp.) petal to address a hot, damp skin condition like cystic acne.
This said, we often need more than energetics alone to guide us, because plants, like humans, are complex organisms and may have constituents and mechanisms that result in outcomes that may not be intuited by energetics alone. Here’s an example: rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) aerial parts may be used on a hot, inflamed, congested skin condition, such as a boil, even though rosemary is heating and increases circulation. At first glance, rosemary may not seem appropriate for a hot condition, however, rosemary has antimicrobial constituents that can address the underlying infection. Additionally, by increasing circulation locally, rosemary can improve the flow of nutrients and immune cells to the boil site and help to clear the site of waste products, thus helping to resolve inflammation and cool the tissue (C. Sinadinos, 2008, personal communication). These actions function in concert with rosemary’s energetic profile. This example illustrates why a nuanced understanding of energetics, constituents, and physiology can guide us in choosing the most appropriate herbs for the situation at hand.
Balance Earth with Fire
Balance Fire with Earth/Water
Balance Water with Air
Balance Air with Water
Moistening Herbs
Tends to be demulcent and emollient
Moistening plants generally have demulcent and emollient properties. (Emollient herbs soothe, moisturize, and protect irritated skin or external mucosa, while demulcent herbs soothe and protect mucous membranes inside the body, such as the lining of the gastrointestinal tract.) These herbs tend to be rich in mucopolysaccharides, complex carbohydrate compounds that easily absorb and become swollen with water, which then can be offered back to the tissue with which the herbs come into contact (Willard, 1993).
One precaution to note is that if moistening herbs are consumed in a dry form, such as a powder, without pre-moistening or without additional consumption of water, they may instead absorb water from the tissues and cause dryness, like a dry sponge sopping up water (Willard, 1993). Notably, unsoaked polysaccharide-rich herbs may drastically swell or expand in the gut (think of warnings you may have received about not consuming excessive quantities of dried oatmeal), potentially causing obstructions in extreme situations. For these reasons, herbalists suggest consuming sufficient water and/or presoaking when using demulcent herbs.
Commonly used moistening herbs include aloe (Aloe vera) leaf gel, oat (Avena sativa) seed, comfrey (Symphytum spp.) leaf and root, marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) root, slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) bark, chickweed (Stellaria media) aboveground parts, shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) root, and violet (Viola spp.) aerial parts.
Moistening herbs have wide ranging applications for the skin. They nourish and moisten when there are signs of dryness and depletion, and they can soothe when there is heat. Examples of skin conditions that may benefit from moistening herbs include sunburn, eczema, psoriasis, and dry rashes (Romm, 2003). Emollients can be combined with astringents to provide balanced vulnerary and antiseptic action for irritated, oozy skin conditions; the astringent herb tightens and dries the swollen tissue and supports barrier function in the structure of the skin, while the emollient herb soothes irritation and protects raw tissue.
Cooling Herbs
Tends to be Vulneraries and Anti-Inflammatories
Herbs with a cooling effect may modulate and decrease excessive tissue function, including excessive blood flow, enzymatic activity, or inflammation (Wood, 2004). These herbs may cool the tissue physically as a result. In chemistry and physics, heat is activity, and cold is an absence of activity; it is no different in physiology.
Cooling herbs that are used for the skin tend to have vulnerary and anti-inflammatory properties. Many of the emollients discussed previously are also cooling. Cooling herbs can soothe the heat of a skin infection and reduce the flow of energy, fluid, or blood outward to the surface of the body (Wood, 2004).
Cooling herbs include lavender (Lavandula spp.) flower bud, rose (Rosa spp.) leaf, flower, and fruit, raspberry (Rubus spp.) leaf, chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) flower, plantain (Plantago spp.) leaf, comfrey (Symphytum spp.) leaf and root, chickweed (Stellaria media) aboveground parts, and violet (Viola spp.) leaf.
Cooling herbs are especially prized by modern herbalists for resolving hot, irritated, oversensitive, or infected conditions (Wood, 2004). These herbs are often applied to wounds, infections, styes, boils, burns (chemical, thermal, or radiation), and skin reactions to plant substances, such as urushiol-induced contact dermatitis from poison oak, ivy, or sumac, and photosensitization reactions, such as those caused by Apiaceae (carrot) family plants. Cooling herbs are also used to soothe allergic reactions, flushing, and autoimmune-related skin conditions.
Warming herbs
Tends to be Circulatory Stimulants
Warming plants are those that tend to stimulate function, often by encouraging local or systemic circulation. They may catalyze the inflammatory process necessary for wound healing and open capillaries to promote blood flow to the surface of the skin. In some cases, the skin is gently stimulated with counterirritant herbs, such as cayenne (Capsicum annuum) fruit and horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) root, in order to encourage blood flow to the surface of the skin. Herbalists can also utilize more systemically warming herbs, such as tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) aerial parts and turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome, to help revitalize dull, undernourished skin, as increased blood flow will deliver needed nutrients and vitality to the skin. Warming herbs can also be used to support stagnant conditions, such as bruises and slow-to-heal wounds, as the increased circulation will promote the delivery of fresh nutrients and immune cells and increase the efficacy of the removal of waste products.
Warming herbs include rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) aerial parts, ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizome, tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) aerial parts, turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome, cayenne (Capsicum annuum) fruit, and arnica (Arnica spp.) flower.
Drying herbs
tends to be astringent
Astringent herbs contain tannins, a class of chemically similar phenolic compounds widely distributed among plants. Tannins play an important role in plant physiology and are often found in barks and roots to protect them from water and microbial damage.
Tannins denature proteins, which results in the contracting, firming, and tightening of body tissues, leading to a diversity of functional effects. By tightening lax tissue, tannins help to prevent fluid loss and prolapse (Wood, 2004), reduce excessive discharge and secretions, and close the pores of the skin (Miller & Miller, 1995). When astringents are applied to damaged skin or mucous membranes, they can reestablish barrier function, contract capillary tissues to reduce bleeding, and keep raw tissue from losing moisture (Miller & Miller, 1995).
Tannins and astringent herbs can also suppress microbial growth by inhibiting bacterial enzymes, damaging bacterial cell membranes, inhibiting fibrin production necessary for biofilm formation, and starving bacteria of necessary metals, such as iron, via chelation (Akiyama et al., 2001; Marciano, 2019). Many types of tannins have antibiofilm actions that can suppress the antibiotic resistance of microbes, including MRSA, thus potentiating the action of other antibacterial herbs or medications (Bergner, 2016; Hatano et al., 2003, Shimizu et al., 2001; Shiota et al., 1999; Shiota et al., 2000).
Tannins are best extracted in water, and tannin-rich herbs can be prepared as infusions, decoctions, hydrosols, or poultices. Astringents should be used with care in order to avoid overly drying the skin; to counter this side effect, they are often combined with emollients, which help to establish healthy barrier function by moistening the tissue.
Drying herbs include rose (Rosa spp.) leaf and flower, witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) bark, raspberry and blackberry (Rubus spp.) leaf, green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaf, yarrow (Achillea millefolium) aerial parts, calendula (Calendula officinalis) flower, and meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) aerial parts.
Some drying herbs, such as calendula (Calendula officinalis) flower, actively counter laxity and bring tone to tissue, while others, such as witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) bark, have a more overt drying effect on the skin. Drying herbs are especially useful for damp and weepy skin conditions such as the oozy stage of poison oak or ivy, weeping eczema, fungal skin infections, and skin conditions with pus (e.g., boils, styes, cystic acne, pimples, and liquid-filled blisters, bumps, and lesions).
Drying herbs can also be utilized cosmetically for those with the signs of constitutionally “damp” skin mentioned in Unit 1, Lesson 1, such as excessive perspiration, prominent pores, and proneness to acne/blackheads.
Hebs for a damp tissue state
Astringents (Calendula, green tea, witch hazel, Yarrow)
