Every culture on Earth has used plants as medicine since the beginning of time. Each culture in every region of the world developed their own healing systems in which plant based medicaments were an integral part. The modern tradition of herbal medicine that I have been trained in and currently practice is what is called Western Herbalism. This healing art is based on a synergy of Traditional European and Native American plant based healing. I was also trained, to a lesser degree, in Chinese Five Element theory and Ayurveda, but continue to return to the precepts of Old World medicine that is now called herbalism. I am grateful to have gained the knowledge and some minimal understanding of these other modalities, but feel most adept at fully understanding, embracing and providing to clients with the practice of my ancestors and of the First People of my bioregion. Perhaps this is because of my deep love and connection to the beauty and wisdom of the Northeast forests that are brimming with Native plants and vast meadows where many European plants have proliferated and naturalized. Many of these plants have crossed with similar Native species and are oftentimes impossible to tell which is which.
Much of Western Herbalism is based on what once was practiced all over ancient Europe originating in ancient Greek, Rome, and Arab-Persian cultures. This ancient wisdom has been passed through the centuries in a variety of texts that were written by such Old World physicians as Nicholas Culepepper, Paracelsus, Galen of Pergamum and Dioscorides. These works provided the foundations for the herbal medicine movements of the 1800’s that began with the Eclectic physicians and the Physiomedicalists in early America. Both of these schools evolved from the even earlier Thompsonian medicine system that was developed by Samuel Thomson (1769-1843) . The Eclectics came first and integrated Thompsonian and Native American medicine creating a healing system that has been modernized and is still used in herbalism today. The Physiomedicalists based their method on the healing and liberation of the “vital force” which is a fundamental precept of current herbal practice.
Another facet of modern herbalism has been handed down through the Wise Woman herbal tradition. This herbal medicine practice was prevelant in Pagan Europe and was intuitive, heart-centered and Earth based. This traditional healing system was practiced mostly by peasant women and was not written done, but passed from healer to apprentice and , thereby, nearly lost during 400 years of witch hunts where women healers were executed for heresy as their healing practice integrally corresponded to the religious and spiritual beliefs of ancient Europe. According to herbalist Peter Holmes in The Energetics of Western Herbs, “This tradition has roots that sink deep into the soil of pre-Hellenic matriarchal societies of Crete and Malta”. I perceive the Wise Woman tradition as holding the ancient feminine essence of modern herbal healing that is currently being brought forth to remedy 21st century physical disease and emotional wounding.
To briefly outline Western Herbal practice, we can look at the energetics of Western herbs and conditions with focus on the six tissue states, the four qualities and their relationships to health and disease. The four qualities are applied to the specific plants and their medicinal activity when used to treat illness. These qualities are hot, cold, damp and dry. Each plant contains the energy of one of these qualities in varying degrees and combinations, although there are also some that are considered neutral. Examples are; Lemon Balm which is cooling and therefore used to treat fever, Marshmallow being mucilaginous is moistening, Yellowdock is dry , Cayenne is obviously hot.
The six tissue states which correspond to these qualities are Hot/Excitation, Cold/Depression, Dry/Atrophy, Damp/Stagnation, Damp/Stagnation, and Wind/Tension. I learned much of this from Matthew Wood and it is all outlined in his book The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism, Basic Doctrine, Energetics, and Classification.
- Hot/Excitation: includes a tissue state that can be hot, red, overstimulated, and swollen.
- Cold/Depression: involves a state of coldness, lack of response to stimuli, cold extremities, and sluggish digestion.
- Dry/Atrophy: lack of water, oil, and fluids in general, dry skin, constipation, and generally withered tissues.
- Damp/Stagnation: involves an excess of fluid that is somehow trapped expressed as lymphatic stagnation, edema, thickened mucus and lack of ability to effectively excrete and eliminate
- Damp/Relaxation: involves dampness where the fluids are continually being lost because of laxness of tissues resulting in excessive perspiration, urination,saliva, etc.
- Wind/Tension: the word “wind” has been coined by Matthew Wood and is adopted from Asian tradition that corresponds to states of tension and nervousness that come and go quickly, move around to different places in the body or mind.
I will explore this concept further in future posts. I will also further discuss other facets of Western Herbalism including herbal actions, the eight categories, the five tastes, and the energetic laws. This can seem quite overwhelming at first, and is obviously “life’s work”, but becomes much more comprehensible when we begin to learn the individual plants and interact with them in our daily lives. It is important to understand that herbalism involves a much deeper understanding than simply knowing what herb for what ailment. Herbalists strive to eliminate the conditions that create opportunity for disease, not just to heal symptoms. Modern herbal medicine has its roots in a tradition that has integrated aspects of natural systems from all over the world and brings those systems together to create a bridge between the great plant wisdom of the past and the need for a holistic and balanced approach to healing in the present and the future.
Excellent outline
I look forward to the continued series on Herbalism.
I myself, strangely enough, was trained mainly in the Wise woman Tradition and still frequent the Susun Weed forum. Since I have not had any formal study on Ayurveda or other eastern-themed herbal practices, it's always interesting to me to read about their methods and history.
Keep up the great work, both on this site, and teaching in the classroom. :)
outline
Thanks Maebius,
The Wise Woman tradition belongs to both men and women and Susun Weed is definitely an amazing herbalist who has been instrumental in bringing this tradition to modern consciousness. The Wise Woman teachings are deeply rooted in the soil of human history and transcend gender and culture. It is a universal language.
ll eventually be writing more on Ayurveda and Chinese medicine and the experiences and teachings that I have to share about them. They have been a great complement to my herbal studies and practice.
I'm glad that you are enjoying the blog and classes!
~ Lisa~
Post new comment