Understanding Herbal Formulas.Pptx
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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 acGons tend to herbal formula is more than the acGons, affecGng mulGple balance out, creang a sum of the single acGons of its ingredients systems and processes more generalized acGon • Herbs can both enhance and • When matched correctly to • Have a more generalized neutralize the effects of other a person’s symptoms have acGon that affects the body herbs, so the blend is different powerful targeted acGon in a more diverse way (like a than the sum of its parts (like a rifle) shotgun) • People unskilled in herbalism oQen create “kitchen sink” • Require a lot of knowledge • Require less knowledge and formulas where they simply and skill to use effecGvely skill to use effecGvely blend together everything that has been historically used for a problem thinking that will fix everything Herbal EnergeGcs Herbs and Body Systems • Herbs have “energeGc” properGes that move • Herbs have affinity for various body systems and funcGons the body’s energies in certain direcGons, as • Formulas can be blended to support specific body systems in both structure and funcGon, such as: follows: – DigesGve formulas – Energy ProducGon: 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) Gssues formulas 1 9/18/14 Herbal ProperGes Formulaon Principles • Herbs have certain • Herbal formulas will be more therapeuGc in their properGes, which are effects when herbs are combined according to used to describe ways they affect structure common energeGcs or properGes, so that they and funcGon move the body’s energies in a unified direcGon • 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 properGes, cancel out their energeGc 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 acGon you want in • 1-2 Key Herbs • 8 oz. Key Herb the formula, which can be: (8-16 parts per herb) • 4 oz. SupporGng Herb 1 – Energec • 2-4 SupporGng Herbs • 4 oz. SupporGng Herb 2 – Body System Affinity (4-8 parts per herb) • 2 oz. SupporGng 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 acGon of the other ingredients SupporGng Herb(s) Balancing Herbs • SupporGng herbs are like • Balancing herbs are added to the kings advisors a formula to restrain undesirable properGes of • They may have a similar the key herb, such as: acGon to the key herb(s) or – Toning down harsh or may somehow enhance unwanted acGons that acGon – Masking unpleasant flavors • TCM formulas usually • They may also “fill in” contain small quanGGes 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, Bugernut are added in very small Bark, Cape Aloe amounts to enhance • Suppor9ng Herbs: the overall effect of the formula – Milder laxaves: Turkey Rhubarb, Buckthorn, Bugernut • Common catalysts – Bigers: Burdock, Barberry, Dandelion include: – Licorice root • Balancing Herbs: – Lobelia – Soothing: Slippery Elm, Licorice – Cayenne – AnGspasmodic: Wild Yam, Lobelia – Ginger • Catalysts: Capsicum, Fennel, Ginger Example 2: Sleep Formula Example 3: DigesGve Biger Tonic • Key Herbs: Hops, Valerian, Skullcap, • Key Herbs: GenGan, Dandelion, Goldenseal Passionflower • Suppor9ng Herbs: • Suppor9ng Herbs: – Aromacs: Cardamon, Chamomile, Angelica, – Nervines: California Poppy, Corydalis, Kava Kava, Ginger, Orange Peel, Peppermint Chamomile – Bigers: ArGchoke, 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: EssenGal oils Example 4: Cardiac Tonic Example 5: AnG-Inflammatory • Key Herbs: Hawthorn, Lily of the Valley, • Key Herbs: Boswellia, Devil’s Claw, Turmeric, Arjuna Willow Bark, Yucca • Suppor9ng Herbs: • Suppor9ng 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 – DiureGc: Negle 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, Negle Leaf, Oatbran, Apple PecGn, Flaxseed, Slippery Elm Goldenrod • Suppor9ng Herbs: Dandelion, Red Clover, • Suppor9ng 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 (supporGng and balancing • 2 parts Licorice (supporGng herb) herb) • 2 parts Elderberry (supporGng herb) • 1 part Elderberry (opt.) (supporGng 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 Negle Leaf (key herb) • 4 parts White Pine Bark (key herb) • 4 parts Alfalfa (key herb) • 2 parts Plantain (supporGng herb) • 2 parts Horsetail (supporGng herb) • • 2 parts Grindelia (supporGng herb) 2 parts Oat straw (supporGng herb) • 1 part Red Raspberry (supporGng 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 (supporGng herb) • 2 Yarrow (supporGng herb) • 1 Peppermint (supporGng 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 .