9/18/14

Why Herbal Formulas?

Understanding Herbal Formulas

Steven Horne, RH(AHG)

Rifle or Shotgun? Herbal Recipes

• Like creang a single dish from Single Herbs Herbal Formulas a recipe of ingredients, an • Have deep and subtle • Subtle acons tend to herbal formula is more than the acons, affecng mulple balance out, creang a sum of the single acons of its ingredients systems and processes more generalized acon • Herbs can both enhance and • When matched correctly to • Have a more generalized neutralize the effects of other a person’s symptoms have acon that affects the body herbs, so the blend is different powerful targeted acon in a more diverse way (like a than the sum of its parts (like a rifle) shotgun) • People unskilled in herbalism oen create “kitchen sink” • Require a lot of knowledge • Require less knowledge and formulas where they simply and skill to use effecvely skill to use effecvely blend together everything that has been historically used for a problem thinking that will fix everything

Herbal Energecs Herbs and Body Systems

• Herbs have “energec” properes that move • Herbs have affinity for various body systems and funcons the body’s energies in certain direcons, as • Formulas can be blended to support specific body systems in both structure and funcon, such as: follows: – Digesve formulas – Energy Producon: Herbs can warm (speed up – Respiratory formulas metabolism) or cool (slow down metabolism) – Urinary formulas – Minerals and Fluids: Herbs can moisten ssues or – Nervous system dry ssues formulas – Tissue Tone: Herbs can relax ssues or constrict – Cardiovascular (tone) ssues formulas

1 9/18/14

Herbal Properes Formulaon Principles

• Herbs have certain • Herbal formulas will be more therapeuc in their properes, which are effects when herbs are combined according to used to describe ways they affect structure common energecs or properes, so that they and funcon move the body’s energies in a unified direcon • Herbs can be blended • Herbal formulas will be more nourishing in their by combining remedies effects when herbs are combined in ways that with similar properes, cancel out their energec effects, so they don’t such as: move the body’s energies strongly in any – Nervines – Blood purifiers direcon

A Plan for Designing Formulas Key Herb(s)

Components Example • The key herb(s) has the primary acon you want in • 1-2 Key Herbs • 8 oz. Key Herb the formula, which can be: (8-16 parts per herb) • 4 oz. Supporng Herb 1 – Energec • 2-4 Supporng Herbs • 4 oz. Supporng Herb 2 – Body System Affinity (4-8 parts per herb) • 2 oz. Supporng Herb 3 – Property • 0-3 Balancing Herbs – • 2 oz. Balancing Herb 1 A Combinaon of the Above (2-4 parts per herb) • • 1 oz. Balancing Herb 2 The key herb is like the king • 0-2 Catalysts or emperor of the formula; it • (1-2 parts per herb) 1 oz. Catalyst directs the acon of the other ingredients

Supporng Herb(s) Balancing Herbs

• Supporng herbs are like • Balancing herbs are added to the kings advisors a formula to restrain undesirable properes of • They may have a similar the key herb, such as: acon to the key herb(s) or – Toning down harsh or may somehow enhance unwanted acons that acon – Masking unpleasant flavors • TCM formulas usually • They may also “fill in” contain small quanes of effects wanted in the herbs with opposite effects formula that are not of the main herbs to ensure supplied by the key herb(s) the effect of the formula isn’t too harsh

2 9/18/14

Catalysts Example 1: Laxave Formula

• Catalysts are herbs that • Key Herbs: Senna, Cascara Sagrada, Buernut are added in very small Bark, Cape Aloe amounts to enhance • Supporng Herbs: the overall effect of the formula – Milder laxaves: Turkey Rhubarb, Buckthorn, Buernut • Common catalysts – Biers: Burdock, Barberry, Dandelion include: – Licorice root • Balancing Herbs: – Lobelia – Soothing: Slippery Elm, Licorice – Cayenne – Anspasmodic: Wild Yam, Lobelia – Ginger • Catalysts: Capsicum, Fennel, Ginger

Example 2: Sleep Formula Example 3: Digesve Bier Tonic

• Key Herbs: Hops, Valerian, Skullcap, • Key Herbs: Genan, Dandelion, Goldenseal Passionflower • Supporng Herbs: • Supporng Herbs: – Aromacs: Cardamon, Chamomile, Angelica, – Nervines: California Poppy, Corydalis, Kava Kava, Ginger, Orange Peel, Peppermint Chamomile – Biers: Archoke, Myrrh Gum, Turkey Rhubarb, – Nerve Tonics: Milky Oat Seed, Ashwaganda, Burdock, Turmeric Jujube Dates, Hawthorn • Balancing Herbs: Kelp, Irish Moss, Licorice, • Catalysts: Licorice Root, Anise, Lobelia, Anise Spearmint • Catalysts: Essenal oils

Example 4: Cardiac Tonic Example 5: An-Inflammatory

• Key Herbs: Hawthorn, Lily of the Valley, • Key Herbs: Boswellia, Devil’s Claw, Turmeric, Arjuna Willow Bark, Yucca • Supporng Herbs: • Supporng Herbs: Ginger, Hops, Valerian, – Cardiovascular: Night Blooming Cereus, Ginkgo, Holy Basil, Feverfew, Skullcap, St. John’s wort, Prickly Ash, Guggul Chamomile, Licorice – Nervine: Passionflower, Motherwort, Linden • Catalysts: Black Pepper, Ginger – Diurec: Nele Leaf, Goldenrod • Catalysts: Capsicum, Ginger

3 9/18/14

Example 6: Fiber Blend Example 7: Allergy-Reducing

• Key Herbs: Psyllium Hulls, Guar Gum, • Key Herbs: Burdock, Eyebright, Nele Leaf, Oatbran, Apple Pecn, Flaxseed, Slippery Elm Goldenrod • Supporng Herbs: Dandelion, Red Clover, • Supporng Herbs: Bayberry, Brigham Tea, Plantain, Walk Yam Blessed Thistle, Osha, Goldenseal, Horehound • Balancing Herbs: Ginger, Black Pepper, • Balancing Herbs: Elderberry, Licorice, Mullein Cinnamon • Catalysts: Lobelia

A Dash of Experience A Few of My Favorite Formulas

• Learning to blend herbs is a lot like learning to be a great cook • It’s not about strictly following a recipe • It’s more about knowing your ingredients well and being able to adjust them to get the effect you want

Children’s Composion Dry Cough

• 2 parts Yarrow (key herb) • 4 parts Mullein Flower (key herb) • 2 parts Elder Flower (key herb) • 4 parts Marshmallow (key herb) • 2 parts Peppermint (supporng and balancing • 2 parts Licorice (supporng herb) herb) • 2 parts Elderberry (supporng herb) • 1 part Elderberry (opt.) (supporng and • 1 part Peppermint (balancing herb and balancing herb) catalyst) • 1 part Chamomile (opt.) (catalyst)

4 9/18/14

Damp Cough Formula Herbal Minerals

• 4 parts Wild Cherry Bark (key herb) • 4 parts Nele Leaf (key herb) • 4 parts White Pine Bark (key herb) • 4 parts Alfalfa (key herb) • 2 parts Plantain (supporng herb) • 2 parts Horsetail (supporng herb) • • 2 parts Grindelia (supporng herb) 2 parts Oat straw (supporng herb) • 1 part Red Raspberry (supporng herb) • 1 part Cinnamon (balancing herb and catalyst) • 1 part Peppermint (balancing herb and • ½ part Lobelia (catalyst) catalyst) • ½ part Dill (balancing herb and catalyst)

Lymphac Formula Tummy Tonic

• 4 Echinacea (key herb) • 4 Catnip (key herb) • 4 Red Root (key herb) • 4 Fennel (key herb) • 4 Elder Berry (balancing herb) • 2 Meadowsweet (supporng herb) • 2 Yarrow (supporng herb) • 1 Peppermint (supporng herb and catalyst) • 1 Thyme (catalyst) • 1/2 Lobelia (catalyst) (opt.)

A Dose of Common Sense

• Just as you can adjust a recipe with different ingredients, the specific ingredients in a blend are less important than the overall result • You don’t have to be precise with herbal remedies except when dealing with toxic botanicals • There’s a wide margin of safety in both preparaon and dosage

5