Bot Term 1 Class 1: Introduction to Western Herbalism PDF

BOT TERM 1 CLASS 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN HERBALISM & THE HISTORY OF HERBAL PRACTICES AUTHOR: DR. FIONA SMULDERS ND LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this class, students will be able to: 1. Describe and appreciate the historical and cultural use of herbal medicine throughout the world 2. Discu...

BOT TERM 1 CLASS 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN HERBALISM & THE HISTORY OF HERBAL PRACTICES AUTHOR: DR. FIONA SMULDERS ND LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this class, students will be able to: 1. Describe and appreciate the historical and cultural use of herbal medicine throughout the world 2. Discuss the Greco-Roman, Persian, Indian and Arabic roots of western herbalism 3. Discuss the development of western herbalism and eclectic medicine within North America through the integration of knowledge from Indigenous, African and Caribbean people and practices with the knowledge of European settlers Describe the Greek Humoral Theory in the context of herbal medicine and how this influences modern phytotherapy. Understand and use basic herbal terminology 4. 5. “Herbalism is both a wonderfully simple and a staggeringly complex therapy It is as simple as chewing on chickweed stems, and as complex as the multitude of biochemical interactions that occur among all of a plant’s chemical constituents and the various aspects of human metabolism and physiology. The degree and depth of interaction is breathtaking.” - David Hoffman WHAT IS BOTANICAL MEDICINE? Oldest form of therapy practiced by humans Medicine based on Vital Force & the relationship between plants, humans & the planet Herbs link us into a broader context of planetary wholeness A medical theory that includes issues of environment, oppression, mysticism and humanity PERSON-PLANT RELATIONS Air Water Food Shelter Clothing Medicine Spirituality BIOPHILIA An innate feeling (or emotional affiliation) for all living forms & systems, activated through our relationship & experiences with Nature Derived from our long close association throughout the emergence of our species. Accepts that other species are our kin & that we are, by species history & genetic tendency, encoded for recognition of the aliveness of the world & an emotional bonding with it LOST LANGUAGE OF PLANTS Which plants were dangerous? Which plants were effective? Which part of the plant was to be used? In which form was the plant most effective? What dose of the plant should be given? Which season/time of day/phase of the moon (!) would you find the plant most active? WHAT DO YOU THINK? How does this plant make you feel? Is it safe? Does it require caution? What do you think it’s effects may be? WHAT DO YOU THINK? How does this plant make you feel? Is it safe? Does it require caution? What do you think it’s effects may be? WHAT DO YOU THINK? How does this plant make you feel? Is it safe? Does it require caution? What do you think it’s effects may be? WHAT DO YOU THINK? How does this plant make you feel? Is it safe? Does it require caution? What do you think it’s effects may be? HISTORY OF HERBAL MEDICINE HOW DID WE GET TO WHERE WE ARE NOW? SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES Where an herb today is seen as medicine for the body, that same herb in another age may have been used for spiritual purposes or ritual cleansing These changes are not in the plants themselves but in the way we humans relate to our lives, our bodies, our world, and our universe; and in our constant fluctuation of opinions, religion and fads HOW OLD IS HERBAL MEDICINE? The earliest known written records on the therapeutic use of plants are the Sumerian tablets dating back to 3000 BCE followed by the Ebers papyrus written in 1500 BCE in Ancient Egypt Archeological studies have shown that the practice of herbal medicine dates back 60,000 years ago in Iraq and 8,000 years ago in China There is evidence that paleolithic hominins used “non-edible” herbs including willow, saint john’s wort, yarrow and chamomile ANCIENT HERBAL PRACTICES Ayurvedic Medicine (3000 BC) First Nation Traditional Medicine Ex: Ashwagandha to ground the vata dosha Ex: Cascara bark as a laxative tea used by the Coast Salish, Quileute, Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka’wakw and other nations Traditional Chinese Medicine (2800 BC) Ex: Sheng Jiang (ginger) to disperse phlegm and release heat to the exterior African Traditional Medicine Ex: Pure honey for topical wound treatment Certain seeds used in divination rituals Ancient Egyptian Medicine (3000 BC) Ebers papyrus (written in 1500 BC) contained 811 herbal prescriptions including salves, plasters, poultices, inhalations, gargles and suppositories. Ex: poppy for insomnia and to lessen pain Arabic/Sumerian Medicine (3000 BC Sumerian tablets included 15 prescriptions in za’atar (thyme) for sore throats and cough Persian/Iranian Medicine (1500 BC) Ex: Cosmetic application of pressed oils like sa and olive oil (500 BC) Greco-Roman Medicine (400 BC) Ex: Black hellebore on the 1st and 2nd days foll an accident to heal fractures GRECO-ROMAN ROOTS the Humoral Medical Theory was developed by Hippocrates & Aristotle in 4th c BC and became the first European medical theoretical system. It contained: Symbolic elements: Air, Earth, Fire & Water Qualities: Cold, Hot, Wet, Dry The humors represented 4 fluid states (“humors”) within the body: Blood, Choler (yellow bile), Phlegm, Black Bile Temperaments: Sanguine, Choleric, Phlegmatic Melancholic Galen (131-200 AD) the surgeon to the gladiators and personal physician to Marcus Aurelius (Roman Emperor) made humoral medicine the cornerstone of medicine in Europe for the next 1500 years Greek Theory Energetics Element Quality Humor Temperament Fire Hot Stimulating Choler (Yellow Bile) Exc: tingling/itching/burning, jaundice, flushing, redness Def: indigestion, bloating, loss of drive/ambition Choleric Argumentative, angry, restle decisive, hard-working Blood Exc: nervous indigestion, mania, headaches Def: atrophy, fatigue Sanguine Sociable, talkative, playful, happy, impulsive, courageou Phlegm Exc: lung infxn, bloating, loose stools Def: constipation, dry skin Phlegmatic Lethargic, passive, loyal, calm adaptable Black Bile Exc: insomnia, depression, weak digestion Def: impulsiveness, lack of focus Melancholic Moody, somber, worried, pessimistic, artistic, idealistic Cayenne Air Dry Toning Witch Hazel Water Damp Relaxing Lobelia Earth Cold Sedating Valerian HISTORIC HERBAL TEXTS Hippocrates (468-377 BC) - “father of medicine” wrote the Hippocratic Corpus containing 300 plants Dioscorides (50-70 AD) - doctor to the Roman Armies of Nero wrote De Materia Medica containing 600 plants & remained a key reference on the use of medicinal plants Around 1000 AD, the roots of early Greco-Roman medicine were integrated with Persian, Indian, and Arabic practices by Ibn-Sina (known in Europe as Avicenna) into his book, The Canon of Medicine, which heavily influenced the practice of medicine for centuries to come THE DAWN OF CHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY Paracelsus (1493-1541) German-Swiss physician and alchemist Considered by some to be the originator of modern medicine & “the founder of chemical pharmacology” Believed that the specific medicinal action of each plant depends on it’s active principle Image retrieved from https://www.britannica.co THE ACTIVE PRINCIPLE “Arcana” – meant getting to the quintessence or pure chemical part of the plant Once this was extracted from the plant and used in isolation it was thought that “it will be more effective & powerful while remaining safe” Digitalis purpurea (F PLANTS → PHARMACEUTICALS Willow Bark Aspirin Chinchona tree Quinine Foxglove Digoxin Artemisia Anti-malarial drugs Poppy Morphine, Codeine Periwinkle Vinblastine Wild Yam Steroids DOCTRINE OF SIGNATURES A concept supported by Paracelsus that plants contain visible clues to their usefulness, including colour, form, place of growth, resemblance to human organ. Yellow plants – good for the liver Fruit shaped like reproductive organs – regulate/promote fertility Fleshy lung shaped leaves – respiratory conditions Plants with a red signature were used for blood disorders Crataegus oxycantha “Hawthorn” Pulmonaria sp. “Lungwort” Chelidonium majus “Greater celandine” Euphrasia sp. “Eyebright” The Doctrine of Signatures What do you think these herbs might and/or could be used for? NICHOLAS CULPEPER (1616-1654) English herbalist, apothecary & astrologist known for providing cheap and readily available health care to the poor Translated latin herbal pharmocopeia into English in the ‘English Physician’ “I would they would consider what infinite number of poor creatures perish daily who else might happily be preserved if they knew but what the Herbs in their own Gardens are good for” Image retrieved from https://spitalfield culpeper-in-spitalfields/ WESTERN HERBALISM IN NORTH AMERICA Culpeper’s text ‘The English Physician’ (aka ‘Culpeper’s Herbal’) made its way to North America during European settlement American western herbalism is an integration of knowledge systems from European colonists, Indigenous elders and healers, and African men and women brought to the Americas through slavery. Image retrieved from https://www Physician-Complete-Herbal-Now/ WESTERN HERBALISM IN NORTH AMERICA “This melding of traditions was often not a consensual collaboration; even when knowledge was shared freely, it occurred in the context of colonization, slavery, and other social forces that created a massive imbalance of power. The ‘discoveries’ published by celebrated physicians, botanists, and herbalists of the day may often have been based on appropriated and uncredited knowledge, and many practices that have since been incorporated into the established body of Western herbalism derive from these roots.” - Herbal Academy EARLY AMERICAN “NATUROPATHS” Samuel Thomson (1769-1843) Worked as a travelling physician using hydrotherapy and herbs, vilified in the press and often taken to court Established The Friendly Botanical Society & had over 3 million members - started the “Thompsonian” movement Much of his knowledge of herbal medicine comes from Indigenous Peoples Image retrieved from https://en.wikipe THE ECLECTICS OF AMERICA Early physicians interested in blending the old & new theories of medicine Used modern science to understand the body and herbs to treat the conditions diagnosed Eclectic medicine became popular into the 20th century Devised new methods of extraction for herbal products Brought the knowledge of Echinacea from the Plains Nations to the pharmacopoeias of the world Ellingwood and Felter helped to publish Eclectic Materia Medicas Wooster Beac John Scudder John King John Uri Lloyd Finley Ellingw Harvey Wicke THE SUPPRESSION OF BIOPHILIA IN MEDICINE Between 1906-1928 scientists & physicians began systematically attacking the use of plant medicines Asserted that they were only a remnant of an unscientific past – too dangerous, wild & unpredictable to use for healing. American Medical Association (AMA) was founded in 1847 and issued licenses to practice medicine based on achieving certain standards of competence, but in doing so steered medicine away from traditional herbal practices. By 1936, many botanical, eclectic and Thomsonian schools had closed HERBAL MEDICINE TODAY Herbal medicine has seen a resurgence in the past 30 years 2004 NHP Regulations made herbal remedies deemed “safe” available OTC According to WHO, herbal medicine is still the primary form of healing employed by over 80% of the world’s population According to Gov of Canada, 71% of Canadians take natural health products (including vitamins, minerals, herbal products & homeopathy) WESTERN HERBAL THEORY HOW WE USE HERBAL MEDICINE TODAY WESTERN HERBAL THEORY Draws from various historical medical models throughout centuries Inferred by our understanding of: 1) Herbal nomenclature 2) Herbal constituents 3) Herbal actions 4) Herbal energetics Ex: Vaccinium spp. Vaccinium = berry shrub V. membranaceum (huckleberry) V. myrtillus (bilberry) V. oxycoccus (small cranberry) HERBAL CONSTITUENTS These are the “active ingredients” or chemicals of the plant (Eg. curcumin within turmeric root) One plant can have hundreds of constituents Herbal medicine* focuses on using the whole plant instead of isolating chemicals Herbs contain primary & secondary constituents CONSTITUENT EXAMPLES Flavonoids Mucilage Tannins Volatile oils Many more… HERBAL ACTIONS A term used to describe the effect an herb and its constituents have on the body Herbal actions can be written as nouns or adjectives. Ex: elecampane is expectorant and/or elecampane is an expectorant Some actions are based on historic Latin or Greek roots, some are based on more modern terminology ACTION EXAMPLES Antioxidant Anti-inflammatory Nervine relaxant Bitter Carminative Many more… HERBAL ENERGETICS Many cultures throughout the world use energetics to describe the way herbs and the body interact Herbal energetics can help fine tune herbal selection for formulation For example, we know an adaptogen would be helpful, but which one do we choose? WESTERN HERBAL ENERGETICS Four Qualities: the quality that an herb, food or disease can have on the body 1. Hot 2. Cold 3. Damp 4. Dry Six Tissue States: the physiological response of tissues to disease (temperature, moisture, tension) 1. Excitation 2. Depression 3. Stagnation 4. Atrophy 5. Laxity (Relaxation) 6. Constriction The six tissue states is an elaboration of Greek Humoral Medicine developed by western physicians and eclectics of the 19 th century. ORGANOLEPTIC EXERCISE How does the herb taste? Is it sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, spicy, acrid…? What sensation do you feel on your tongue or in your mouth as you taste it? Is it drying, moistening, cooling, warming…? How does it feel in your body? Is it warming, stimulating, cooling…? Does is change your mental state? Is it energizing, calming, focusing…? HEAT-EXCITATION Increased tissue function, overproduction, inflammation, and stimulation “Hyper” conditions – hyperthyroidism, hypertension, hypersensitivity Red, swollen, tender, hot tissues = inflammation Excessive bleeding, itching or burning Anxiety, irritability, restlessness Red tongue with yellow coat Rapid/bounding pulse What herbal actions or energetics would be helpful? COLD-DEPRESSION Lack of stimulation, insufficient tissue function or response “Hypo” conditions – hypothyroidism, hypotension Poor circulation, cold hands & feet Easy bruising, wounds are slow to heal Dull or throbbing pain Cloudy thinking, depression, lethargy Sluggish digestion, chronic constipation Pulse is deep and slow Purple/blue tongue with no coat or thick coat What herbal actions or energetics would be helpful? DAMP-LAXITY Tissues lack tone, unable to hold fluids leading to fluids that leak or run freely Free-flowing or clear mucus Copious watery and thin saliva, mucus, diarrhea, sweat Prolapsed organs Pale, cool, moist skin and mucosa Moist tongue with foam or streamers on sides Pulse is full and non-resistant (floppy) What herbal actions or energetics would be helpful? DAMP-STAGNATION Tissues hold excess fluids causing improper assimilation of nutrients Swollen, weak, inactive and poorly nourished tissues Thick, sticky, yellow mucus Poor waste excretion, constipation, infrequent sweating or urination Poor liver and metabolic function – difficult digestion, accumulation of toxins Feeling of sluggishness, dullness and fatigue Tongue is thick, floppy, pulse is dull and slow What herbal actions or energetics would be helpful? DRY-ATROPHY Tissues are dry and withered with lack of fluid and nourishment, particularly the skin, mucosa, endocrine and nervous system Dry/rough skin Dry itchy mucosa (eyes, mouth, throat, sinuses, vagina) Craves fluids Nervous exhaustion, poor memory and focus Chronic constipation with hard pebbly stools Dry narrow tongue What herbal actions or energetics would be helpful? TENSE-CONSTRICTION Tension or spasm in the tissues, particularly in MSK and nervous system Spastic/rigid muscles Muscle tension, tension headaches Digestive spasm or cramping Feeling anxious or high strung, unable to relax Irregular or changing symptoms Wiry/tense pulse, quivering tongue What herbal actions or energetics would be helpful? IN SUMMARY Herbalists and Naturopathic doctors combine herbs, treatment principles and diagnostic techniques from various traditions and herbal practices A global perspective of herbal medicine allows treatment of conditions that may not be properly addressed in the predominant medicine of an area THANK YOU. A N D H A V E A LO V E LY D AY.