Decoding Herbalism Volume One
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Decoding Herbalism Volume One Theory & History of Herbal Medicine By Jamie Zoe Givens Decoding Herbalism: Volume One Theory & History of Herbal Medicine with Jamie Zoe Givens Table of Contents About the Author Introduction to Herbal Medicine Medicinal Parts of the Plant How Plants are Processed Theory of Herbal Practices Herbal Professions Elements Impact of Plants on Human Development Pre-history Historic Record Summary Bibliography Started Training Herbalist Aromatherapist in 1984 Massage Educator Consultant Therapist Jamie Zoe Givens Bio Zoe Givens Jamie “Nature itself is the best physician,” Hippocrates Decoding Herbalism Volume One Theory & History of Herbal Medicine Introduction to Herbal Medicine Medicinal Parts of the Plant Roots or Rhizomes Stem or Trunk Sap Foliage: Leaves or Needles Flowers Fruits and Seeds Roots Typically found underground. Aerial roots emerge above the soil line. Roots uptake water and nutrients to benefit the whole plant. Roots used to treat acute conditions, sometimes seen as a more aggressive treatment. Stem or Trunk Provides materials like pitch or sap for medicinal use: myrrh, frankincense, pine, mastic. The bark of trees is used for medicinal materials: cinnamon, birch, sassafras, willow, hazel. The water and nutrients flow up the stem to the branches and flowers. Foliage Leaves from plants or feather needles from evergreen trees are used. Use the sunlight to create photosynthesis converting carbon dioxide into a carbohydrate. Herbs may be water-soluble, but some herbal benefits need a stronger solvent for extraction. Flowers Flowers produce fruits or seeds. Flowers hold specific frequencies to help bridge the physical to the spiritual realms enabling a healing to happen on a soul level. Not all flowers are safe to use. Some have phytotoxins and are poisonous. Fruits The rinds of citrus fruit may be used for essential oils and other medicinal teas. The fruits will ripen and produce seeds for harvesting and propagation or for medicine. The flower of the plant will produce fruit, like the rose when it drops its petal, the rose hip develops. Seeds Seeds are not the only way to propagate a plant. Omega-3 & Omega-6 essential fatty acids are found in plant seeds. Many culinary herbs which are medicinal come from seeds: cumin, coriander, fennel, mustard. Organic or Biodynamic Practices Things to Remember Never Spray with Pesticides when Growing Herbs Never Pull-up a Plant by the Roots Collect Herbs in the Morning Never Harvest from a National Park or National Monument Things to Remember Never Harvest from a State Park when Wildcrafting Always Ask Permission to Enter Private Property Do Not Take More than You Need Keep Sustainability of Plant a Priority Notes What parts of the plant have you used: What parts of the plant would you like to try: “Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another,” Juvenal How the Plant is Processed Determines Medicinal Use • Teas, Hot Infusions, Cold Infusions, Decoctions • Powders, Capsules, Pastes, Extracts • Tinctures, Syrups, Macerated Oil, Medicated Ghee • Plasters, Compresses, Poultices, Enemas • Baths, Scrubs, Masks, Essential Oils, Hydrosols, • Juiced, Culinary Products, Nutrition Supplements • Baked, Wines, Vinegars • Ointments, Salves, Lotions, Liniments • Flower Essences, Homeopathic Remedies • Smoking Mixes, Smudging, Steam Inhalation Teas: Cold Infusion: Hot Infusion: dried or fresh herbs steep in 1 oz of herbs to plant leaves or cool water for at 1 pint of boiling flowers steep in least an hour--- water steeps for hot water for also called 1 hour off of ten minutes. sun tea. fire. Powders: Decoctions: Capsules: dried herbs herbs low in gelatin capsules ground into fine volatile oils are filled with dust and used boiled in water herbal powder Herbal Products with honey, for 20-30 or other herbal ghee, milk or minutes. extracts water Notes What remedies have you made: Which remedies would you like to make: Extract: Tincture: Paste: removes the made with high- ground fresh medicinal proof alcohol herbs applied qualities of an 1 oz of herbs to as base for herb with 1 quart of grain poultice or solvents like spirit 151-190 mixed with glycerin or proof honey or ghee CO2 Syrup: 3lbs raw sugar Macerated Oil: Medicated Ghee: boiled with dry herbs mixed clarified butter 1 pint herb with quality oil, cooked to a Herbal Products infusion placed in sun golden color add to a syrup-like for 2 weeks or herbs and steep consistency warmed over low heat Notes What remedies have you made: Which remedies would you like to make: Plasters: Compresses: Poultices: can be adhesive, gauze or towel fresh or dried may induce soaked in warm herbs applied heat, first layer herb solution & directly to the can be an herbal applied to skin-- skin and paste applied to Fomentation made bandaged for cloth & placed with decoction several hours on body Enema: Bath: Scrub: cooled herbal add essential oil add herbs infusion or infusion or essential oils or decoction filled decoction to bath flower essences Herbal Products into an enema water. Avoid loose to salt bag for a herbs which can mix with oil to colon cleanse clog drain make paste Notes What remedies have you made: Which remedies would you like to make: Masks: Essential Oils: Hydrosols: herbal remedies steam distilled floral water left mixed with clay or solvent from the steam or egg whites extraction for distillation and applied to plant terpenes process, use as body found in a spray aromatic oils Juiced: Culinary: Homeopathic Parsley, basil, common herbs Remedies: ginger are used with restores balance herbs used in cooking food with potentized, Herbal Products smoothies and for taste but still highly diluted vegetable juice have medicinal preparations components Notes What remedies have you made: Which remedies would you like to make: Baked: Wine: Vinegar: decarboxylation fermentation of add herb leaf, removes CO2 in berries, roots or berry or bark to plant before flowers with apple cider herbal sugars & yeast vinegar or rice extraction vinegar Ointment: Salves: Lotions: olive oil and same as ointment Coconut oil, shea beeswax heated thick and oily butter, cocoa butter with herbs like add essential oils and beeswax Herbal Products arnica, comfrey Or flower essences melted and formed calendula for added benefit into a bar Notes What remedies have you made: Which remedies would you like to make: Flower Liniment: Essences: Anointing Oils: made with oil or Flowers and Thicker alcohol and herbs water maceration, used as a topical preparation for dense application emotional and preparation of for pain soul health oils, resins and flowers Steam Smoking Smudging: Inhalation: Mixtures: herbs like white hot bowl of herbs smoked to sage and sweet water with dilate the grass or tree herbs or Herbal Products bronchial resin burned on essential oils passages and charcoal to with towel over tone the lungs clear energy the head Notes What remedies have you made: Which remedies would you like to make: “When you’re green inside, you’re clean inside,” Bernard Jensen Decoding Herbalism Volume One Theory & History of Herbal Medicine Theory of Herbal Practices “Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died,” Erma Bombeck Professionals Who Use Herbs Herbalist Naturopathic Physician Allopathic Doctor Homeopathic Medicine Traditional Chinese Medicine Ayurvedic Medicine Herbalist Cultivates Garden-Grown Plants Collects Wild-Grown Plants Processes Plant Material into Herbal Medicine Ability to Assess Imbalances in Clients Suggest Herbal Remedies to Treat the Imbalance Herbalist Practice Herbalists will generally have an intake form for a client to fill-out. It is very important that all medications and treatments are listed on the form. Herbal medicines may interact with pharmaceutical protocols. In some cases, taking herbs while on medications will act as if you are doubling your dose. Some herbal remedies will cancel-out benefit from prescription drugs. Herbalists do not always start by treating the source of disease. Instead, they will target the body systems which aid in assisting the healing process around the main issue. They may start an herbal regime to facilitate the lymphatic system before moving into a detox program. They may suggest herbs to cleanse the blood before they offer herbs to heal the liver. It is important to note that natural supplements are not always regulated, and they are not always organic or vegan. Maintaining an open mind when starting an herbal regime is important since some herbal medicines take up to three months to accurately assess success of their usage. Notes List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: Herbalists Do Not Diagnose Medical Conditions or Prescribe Pharmaceutical Medications Allopathic Doctor Classically Trained Medical Doctor, Nurse, Technicians Pharmaceutical Medicines from a Registered Pharmacy Suppress Symptoms and Disease with Technology Western Mainstream Medicine Evidence-Based or Biomedicine Allopathic Practice While medical doctors who work in clinics or hospitals do not regularly recommend herbs to their patients, many pharmaceuticals come from plant-based medicines. Digitalis is made from foxglove. Aspirin can be traced back to white willow bark. Opiates are made from a certain poppy. Ephedra is used in cold medicines. The chemotherapy drug Taxotere is made from the Pacific Yew tree. The list is long. Herbal remedies may interact with pharmaceutical drugs. Always check with the pharmacist if you have concerns. If you are under a physician's care and treatment for a disease or condition, always consult with them before starting a protocol in herbal remedies. Notes List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: Homeopathic Medicine First Principle: Like Cures Like Second Principle: The Minimum Dose Third Principle: One Single Remedy at a Time Do Not Take Homeopathic Medicine with Caffeine or Mint Founded by German physician who did not like the direction of medicine, Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) Homeopathic Practice Homeopathic appointments start with a detailed intake of a client’s personal history.