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 Jamie Zoe Givens Bio Therapist Massage Training Started Started in 1984 Educator Herbalist Aromatherapist Consultant “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 Herbal Products flowers flowers steep in volatile oils are boiled in water plant leaves or dried or fresh hot water hot water for ten ten minutes. herbs low herbs low in Decoctions for 20 minutes. Teas - : 30 : cool water cool water for at ground into fine least an hour dust and used herbs steep in Cold Infusion ghee, milk or dried herbs with with honey, also called Powders sun tea. water : --- : gelatin capsules water water steeps for 1 pint of boiling 1 oz of herbs to or other herbal herbal powder herbal powder Hot Hot Infusion 1 hour off of Capsules filled with extracts extracts fire. : : Notes

What remedies have you made: Which remedies would you like to make: Herbal Products 3lbs raw sugar to a syrup qualities of an consistency solvents like removes the boiled with 1 pint herb glycerin or medicinal herb with infusion Extract Syrup CO2 CO2 : - like : dryherbs mixed made with high 1 oz of herbs to with with qualityoil, 1 quart of grain Macerated Macerated Oil for 2 weeks or placed in sun spirit 151 proof alcohol Tincture warmed warmed proof - 190 : : - golden color add Medicated Ghee herbs and steep clarified butter honeyor ghee herbs applied over low overlow heat ground fresh cooked to a as base for mixed with poultice or Paste : : Notes

What remedies have you made: Which remedies would you like to make: Herbal Products can be adhesive, can be an herbal paste paste applied to decoction decoction filled heat, heat, first layer cloth & placed into an enema colon cleanse cooled herbal mayinduce infusion or Plasters bag for a on body Enema : : Fomentation made water. Avoid loose decoction decoction to bath herbs which herbs which can add essential oil applied to skin soaked soaked in warm herb solution & with with decoction gauze gauze or towel Compresses infusion or clog drain Bath : : -- flower flower essences essential essential oils or mix with oil to directly tothe several hours herbs applied fresh fresh or dried bandaged for make paste add herbs Poultices skin and Scrub to salt : : Notes

What remedies have you made: Which remedies would you like to make: Herbal Products herbal remedies vegetable juice smoothies and mixed with clay Parsley, basil, herbs used in and applied to or egg whites ginger are Juiced: Masks body : for taste but still havemedicinal common herbs steam distilled Essential Oils plant terpenes cooking food components extraction extraction for aromatic oils used with used with Culinary or solvent found in : : restores balance with with potentized, process, process, use as from the steam floral water left highlydiluted Homeopathic Homeopathic preparations preparations Hydrosols Remedies distillation a spray : : Notes

What remedies have you made: Which remedies would you like to make: Herbal Products beeswax beeswax heated decarboxylation removes CO2 in arnica, comfrey with with herbs like oliveoil and plant before extraction extraction Ointment calendula Baked herbal : : Or flower essences same as ointment add essential oils for added benefit berries, roots or fermentation of sugars & yeast thick and oily flowers flowers with Salves Wine : : butter, cocoa butter melted and formed Coconut Coconut oil, shea berryor bark to vinegar or rice add herb leaf, and beeswax and beeswax apple cider into a bar Vinegar Lotions vinegar : : Notes

What remedies have you made: Which remedies would you like to make: Herbal Products alcohol and herbs herbs smoked to used as a topical made with oil or tone the lungs passages passages and application bronchial Mixtures Liniment dilate the Smoking for pain : : resin burned on herbs like white sage and sweet preparation preparation for emotional and grass or tree clear energy Flowers Flowers and charcoal charcoal to Smudging soul health Essences Flower Flower water water : : oils, resins and with with towel over Anointing Oils preparation preparation of essential essential oils maceration, hot bowl hot bowl of Inhalation water water with the head herbs or Thicker flowers Steam dense : : 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. They assess and treat imbalances as either acute or chronic. The remedies are not all made from herbs as they may also originate from an animal or mineral source.

The practitioner will assess the characteristics of the client’s complaint, and then select a remedy which most resembles the condition, thus “like cures like” to stimulate the healing process. In order to bypass any negative side-effects from herbal treatments, homeopathic remedies are made by a series of dilutions. More diluted the remedy, the more potent of a solution creating a minimum dose. The idea of ‘Less is More’ comes directly from homeopathy.

By keeping treatments simple with a single remedy, the practitioner is able to ascertain if the protocol is working. Without taking other herbs or medicines, the homeopath can focus on how their client’s body responds and make adjustments accordingly. The goal is to stimulate the client’s own healing process. It is considered to be a holistic therapy. Notes

List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: Naturopathic Physician

Primary Care Provider Focused on Prevention

Believes Nature is Capable of Intelligent Self-Healing

Identifies and Relieves Underlying Cause of Disease

Treats the Individual with the Value of Wholeness

Educates and Respects Patient’s Right to Chose Treatment The Naturopathic Practice

A Naturopathic Physician is well rooted in both western and eastern medicine. Some are regular medical doctors, physician assistants or nurse practitioners. The profession is regulated state-by-state in the United States of America, and usually, they have clinical and laboratory diagnostic capabilities. The first school founded by Dr. Benedict Lust graduated their first class of Naturopathic practitioners in 1902.

They are trained in herbal medicine, nutrition, use of vitamins and minerals, physical manipulation (Osteopathy), homeopathy, acupuncture, intravenous & injection therapies like chelation treatments, and pharmaceutical medications.

Naturopaths believe in a wholistic approach. They inquire about diet, lifestyle habits, hygiene, emotional or spiritual needs. Their main goal is to facilitate the healing process by removing the obstacles to wellness. Notes

List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: Traditional Chinese Medicine

Uses Herbs and Acupuncture for Restoring Balance

Herbs Combined & Decocted into Time-Tested Formulas

Herbal Remedies Include: Teas, Poultices, Pills, Tinctures

Use of Herbal Liniments for Topical Application

Chinese Herbs Differ from European or American Herbs Acupuncture Practice

While a diagnostic appointment might include the Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine taking your pulse and assessing the color of your tongue, they are most interested in balancing the energy of the body. They claim that pain is the equivalent of stuck chi or vital energy which has both receptive (yin) and restless (yang) qualities.

Chi follows along invisible channels called meridians. The Yin Meridians are the heart, lung, pericardium, spleen, kidney and liver. The Yang Meridians are the large intestine, small intestine, triple warmer (san jiao), stomach, bladder and gall bladder.

The elements in nature are expressions of the yang and yin qualities of chi. Each meridian corresponds to an element. Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes these elements as Fire (heart & small intestine meridians), Earth (stomach & spleen meridians), Water (bladder & kidney meridians), Wood (liver & gallbladder meridians) and Metal (lung & large intestine meridians). Herbal formulas help clear the movement of energy to restore balance to the body. Notes

List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: Ayurvedic Medicine

Considered the Oldest Written Healing Method

Originated from the Vedic Texts Written in Sanskrit

Recognizes Each Person’s Unique Pattern of Energy

Three Types of Energy or Dosha: Vata, Pitta and Kapha

Herbal Remedies Create Harmony between the Energies Ayurvedic Practice Like the Chinese Medicine Doctor, the Ayurvedic Practitioner will check the tongue and pulse in diagnosing imbalances of the body. Unlike Acupuncture, which can be used in lieu of Allopathic Medicine, Ayurveda is not a substitute for Western Medicine. However, it is a wonderful counterpart as it assists people who are recovering from debilitating disease to gain strength and fortitude faster in their recovery.

Ayurveda is a powerful tool for helping detoxify systems of the body. The practitioner takes into consideration the mind, body & spirit of an individual to assess the dominate quality of energy expressing itself. Maintaining a balance in the doshas is a goal of treatment.

Herbs are classified as warming or cooling. The taste of the herb relates to an element. A sweet taste relates to the earth and water elements. A sour taste relates to the fire and earth elements. A salty taste relates to water and fire elements. A pungent taste relates to fire and air elements. A bitter taste relates to the elements of air and ether. An astringent taste relates to the elements of earth and air. Herbs are recognized as having their own dosha. They can be pitta dominate, kapha dominate or vata dominate. Notes

List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: More Herbal Practitioners

Aromatherapist Flower Essence Practitioner Chiropractic

Wiccan Shamanism Indigenous Practices Aromatherapy

Steam Distillation to Create Essential Oils & Hydrosols

Uses the Terpenes of the Plant for Medicinal Content

Some Essential Oils, like Rose, known as an Attar

Unifies the Physiological, Psychological & Spiritual Process

Application of Aromatic Essence to Restore Balance Aromatherapy Practice

Aromatherapy is based on the use of the essential oils extracted from plants. They are highly concentrated, one drop could potentially be equal to one ounce of plant material. Because of this, many people do not recommend internal use of essential oils. External use allows the uptake through the dermis. The body also absorbs the medicinal components through the olfactory system which allows quicker access to the brain.

Modern aromatherapy begins in World War One using lavender essential oils to treat mustard gas burns. Essential oils are used in baths, steam inhalations, massage oils. A room spray can be made with a few drops in a spritzer bottle filled with water. There are diffusers available to dissipate or atomize the terpenes. Terpenes are the medicinal and chemical components of the distilled oil.

An aromatherapist will complete an extensive intake with the client to assure no allergic reactions. They may do treatments in the office, or they may create a blend of essential oils in a neutral carrier oil for the client to take home. The therapy may be used with other herbal treatments. Notes

List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: Flower Essence Practitioner

Assists Client with Healing Soul Patterns

Bridges the Spiritual with the Physical

Flower Essences Help with Life Transitions

Remedies Catalyze Healing Integration

Creates a Series of Essences for Each Client Flower Essence Practice

Flower Essences are made with fresh flowers in a glass bowl with spring water sitting in the early morning sun for three hours. Plants whose flowers are woody or a plant which blooms at night, the preparation may be boiled for thirty minutes. Some practitioners use live flowers only. These processes produce the Mother Stock when mixed with an equal part of brandy.

The Mother Stock is diluted two drops to 30 ml of brandy. This creates one of the small bottles found at the health food store. It is common to mix four or five flowers together in a different bottle adding a bit of water to mix for a tailored formula. Using drops of the flower essences in a mister is perfect to spray the sheets of your bed which creates a cocoon of energy for the sleep space.

Taking the drops of flower essences internally two to three times a day will help people integrate information, ease the transition out of addiction, gain clarity and focus, clear issues with family, and prepare the soul for a further evolution. They may be used in massage therapy. Dr. Edward Bach standardized the practice around 1930. Notes

List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: Doctor of Chiropractic

Not all Chiropractors Use Herbs

Chiropractors Use Herbs to Help Stabilize the Body

Herbs Used for Re-building Ligaments and Tendons

Chiropractors May Use Herbs for Emotional Healing

Standard Processing is a Common Brand Chiropractic Care

With earliest beginnings in 1860, some Doctors of Chiropractic offered herbal remedies to assist stabilization of the spine. Today, not all of them use herbs. If you would like chiropractic care combined with herbs, try making phone calls to different offices and ask about the services they offer.

Standard Processing is one product brand which is common in many offices. Other’s may offer nutritional or homeopathic support as well. Some techniques include kinesiology or muscle testing to test the bioavailability of the remedy and target what will be tolerated and effective.

If ligaments are weak, these supplements may assist with strengthening the body’s system. If trauma or injury has caused the issues, the chiropractor will use the remedies to ease shock. This will also help the body hold any adjustments. Notes

List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: Wiccan

Roots of this Tradition Trace to the Paleolithic Period

Use of Herbs in Binding Rituals

Herbal Uses Not the Same as Regular Herbalism

Herbs For Safe Travels

Herbs For Creating Love Potions Wicca Practice

Not all who observe the Wiccan religion practice Witchcraft, and not all people who practice Witchcraft are Wiccan. People who practice some sort of ritual on traditional Pagan Holidays do not always use binding spells with herbs. These terms are not inter- changeable. A Neo-Pagan is someone who practices a tradition from the 20th century.

Herbs are used in ritualized systematic protocols and utilize words to bind the action. The traditions date to a pre-Christian era. While many people relate to a Celtic tradition, Wiccan is not exclusive to this lineage. Herbs are used for divining practices like scrying. They are also used to enhance psychic abilities for stronger medicine.

The benefits of the herbal remedies are sometimes a little different in a Wiccan tradition than in a modern herbal tradition. The herbal medicine is not always reciprocal with other herbal medicinal uses. Notes

List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: Shamanism

Not all Shamans are Herbalists

A Shaman Will Journey to Upper, Lower or Middle Worlds

Shamans Bring the Medicine Knowledge Back from Journey

Shamans Listen for the Voice of the Plant

Belief in the Higher Spirit of the Herbs Used in Medicine Shamanic Practice

Globally, the modern Shaman can be differentiated into two categories: Core Shamanism and Classic Shamanism. Core Shamanism is a voluntary act of stepping into a tradition. The Classic Shaman has no choice but to answer the calling as they believe that there will be retribution if they turn their back to the tradition.

Shamans are just as likely to journey to another dimension to bring back the wisdom of the plant medicine than to actually create the medicine out of herbs. By drumming or using a rattle, they are able to shift brain waves to a Theta brain frequency. This allows them to exit their system to other worlds.

They are able to do practices like soul retrieval and exorcism. They have helping spirits, and they use animal medicine which assist in the healing rituals. Notes

List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: Indigenous Practitioners

Primary Care Practitioner for the Village or Tribe

Looks to Plant’s Job in Nature for Herbal Wisdom

Watches How Animals Respond to Plants

Smells and Sounds, Botanical Environment Considered

Specializes with a Working Knowledge of Local Herbs Indigenous Practices The Doctrine of Signatures is the practice of looking at a plant’s design as to know how it will help heal the body. If the herb looks like a body part, like a kidney, then the herb will be considered good for urinary problems. Plants used for anxiety and nervous conditions have long tendrils like the nerves in the body. This is how indigenous practitioners look at plants along with where the plant is found, type of soil, and how it sounds and smells.

Depending on the tradition and culture, Indigenous Healers care for the physical, mental and emotional wellness of the community. They may believe that illness is caused by a natural reaction to the environment or a haunting by a spirit, or the illness is caused by a curse.

The Indigenous Healer is a term which has different meanings depending on the customs and practices of the local community. They may use sweat lodges, dancing, drumming, creating sand mandalas, incantations, smudging and other ceremonies with the herbal medicine. Notes

List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: Herbs may be used to regulate hormones at different times in a woman’s life. Herbs may be used to help with WOMEN’S cramping during menses. Plant medicine can help a woman ready her body for HEALTH pregnancy. Herbal remedies may help with breast milk production. Midwife

A Midwife is a skilled birth attendant who practices compassionate care for the mother, newborn and family. Midwifery may include the use of herbal medicine, but not all certified people in Midwifery are herbalists. Midwife is different than a Doula. A Midwife is a health care practitioner, a Doula is more like a birth coach. Midwife has ability to use western medicine to monitor and treat women of childbearing age, new mothers and infants. A Midwife knows the herbs which are contraindicated for pregnancy. They know which trimester to use which herb. Midwifery Practice

A woman who wants to work with a midwife during her pregnancy should begin looking for a practitioner before becoming pregnant. Depending on where you live, a midwife may be popular and difficult to book an appointment. Your area may have specific laws about midwifery, and it is best to know how the profession is supported in the local medical community. The first appointment will be around the tenth week of pregnancy. Then, the follow-up appointments will be discussed. Have a list of questions ready to ask the practitioner at the pre-natal appointments. Ask if the midwife has admitting privileges at the local hospital. The midwife should have the ability to work in a clinic setting as well as a home birth set-up. Water-soluble herbs are best during pregnancy. A midwife will be able to let a new mother know which herbs are good to use and when to use them. Some herbs are contraindicated for a first trimester but good to use in the third. Notes

List the pros of this modality: List the cons of this modality: Each practitioner will ask for detailed health and lifestyle information.

Some herbal remedies act quickly Things to consider and some treatments take longer. when selecting an May need to quit all supplements herbal practitioner: while taking new herbal remedy.

Find the modality and practitioner which feels the most comfortable. “May my soul bloom in love for all existence,” Rudolf Steiner Anthroposophy

Created by Rudolf Steiner

Uses Biodynamic-Grown Herbs

Founder of the Waldorf School

Doctrine of Signatures: Herb Resembles the Human

Uses Healing Herbs to make Compost Anthroposophy

Anthroposophy is described as the art and science of becoming fully human. Rudolf Steiner was born in 1861 in the Astro-Hungarian area of Europe, and he had clairvoyant capabilities. After a brief time with the Theosophical Society, Rudolf Steiner, with his followers, created Anthroposophy. The traditions of Biodynamic Farming and the Waldorf School come from this movement.

Biodynamic Farming uses herbs and herbal medicines to amend the soil as part of their common practices. Compost is created by using healing herbs like chamomile, stinging nettles and yarrow. Steiner recognized that humans are a part of the whole of creation and how the inner reflects the outer.

Anthroposophy is included here because of the importance of biodynamic practices in today’s world. Using this agricultural practice is beneficial for all soils producing plants used for the creation of medicinal formulas. Notes

Do you choose biodynamic grown food? How could herbs grown with biodynamic Would you garden using these practices? practices be healthier than herbs grown with pesticides? “Herbalists are connectors that bring life and love to both sides of the human-plant relationship,” Guido Mase Most herbal traditions consider the elements in theories of practice.

Elements are not the same in the The different global healing traditions. An element may be connected to Elements a compass direction. Energetic qualities of herbs are associated with an element. The Elements

When we think of the elements, generally we are referring to fire, water and earth. Some traditions like Ayurveda and Wicca recognize aether and air as elements. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine theory lists metal and wood as elements. Some herbal practitioners will only recognize fire, water, air and earth as the elements. We can think of the elements as aspects of the natural forces. Each represent a quality, and they all combine to represent the wholeness of Nature. Earth is known for its support, its grit, its workability. Water is known as the realm of emotions and play. Air translates to the mind and mental acuity. Fire is passion and spontaneity. Aether represents spirit and space. Wood represents the growth process in the springtime, and metal represents a shedding like the time in autumn when trees drop their leaves. The Elements

There are many things an herbal remedy can do such as dry out a cough, take the fire out of inflammation, regulate water weight from hormones, stoke digestive juices and bring clarity to the mind. They can help us adapt to environmental changes like the shift in seasons. How an herb functions in nature is one of the first clues to how it provides healing in a remedy. Where the plant grows, the soil drainage, the weather conditions help determine an herb’s composite profile and elemental disposition. The North and South Americans, and other shamans will call out to the directions of north, south, east and west. Often, an element will be associated with a direction. However, these traditions are not consistent with each other. Chinese medicine also attaches an element to a direction, but it is not consistent with shamanic practices. The Elements

The Chinese teach that wood feeds fire, and fire creates earth with its ash, earth gives birth to metal, metal holds water, and water feeds the growth of wood. Transversely: wood splits earth apart, earth absorbs spilled water, water puts out fire, fire liquifies metal, and it is with metal that we chop wood. This is the story of how the elements interplay together to form the basis of Nature. Polarity Therapy is a form of bodywork which works with the elements in treating conditions. It is very similar to how an herbalist will view the herbal remedy needed for healing. Assessing if the body has too much water---does it need more air to dry it out, or does the body need to metabolize the water with fire. If the body is out-of- balance with fire, does it need more water regulation or less earth. If the mind is too spacey, does it need the grounding of earth or more direction of focus with the air element. Has the weather been cool and damp or hot and dry as this may play a contributing role with the body’s imbalance. Notes

List the pros of considering the elements: List the cons of considering the elements: “Nettle Juice is good for washing old rotten stinking sores,” Culpepper Decoding Herbalism Volume One

Theory & History of Herbal Medicine Impact of Plants on Human Development “There’s rosemary, that is for remembrance…” William Shakespeare Impact of Plants on Human Development

Oral Tradition

Knowledge passed down by wisdom keepers.

Anthropology History

Knowledge gleaned Knowledge recorded from the in the fossil record. written word. Esoteric Beginnings

Oral tradition, trance channelings, shamanic journeys together with original source material written by Plato, Herodotus and other Greek writers document a culture known as Atlantis. The ancient Greeks who transcribed the Egyptian writing, claim Atlantis as being from a time before the unification of the upper and lower kingdoms in Egypt around 3100 BCE.

Original source material claims that Egypt was a colony of Atlantis. One day, the academic records may push-back the beginnings of human historical development. Documentation of the age of the Sphynx is under scrutiny due to geographical evidence of the wear patterns on the stone which points to earlier origins. Investigation of sites in Africa advance the theories which support Atlantis. Written about in the historical record. Detailed geographic coordinates listed as instructions to find it. Oral tradition includes information from channeling and trance induced states. Atlantis Temple-like healing centers worked in advance technologies with aromatic herbs, light and sound. Specialized in crystal and magnetic healing therapies. More ancient than Atlantis, it is from the epoch before Atlantis rises in prominence. Traditional point-of-view locates it in the Pacific area, to the Land of Mu. Lemuria Spiritually significant interaction with flowers. Practice of unity consciousness. Herbal remedies came to them from the nature realm, they did not go to the herbs. Notes

What are your thoughts about Atlantis: What are your thoughts about Lemuria: PRE-HISTORY Taking into account the academic point-of-view that history does not start until the advent of human writing, anything which takes place before recognized writing is considered pre-history. In this first section, we will discuss the early traditions of the impact of plants on pre-history human development. Early Hominids

Food from plants helped shape the musculature of the masseter (jaw) muscle and wear patterns on teeth. When early hominids adapted the use of fire to cook barks and roots, the shape of the skull and teeth changed. The fossil record indicates changes shifted over 200,000 years. Shamanism dates its practice back over 100,000 years ago.

Neanderthals, early hominids, are known to have used medicinal herbs. Traces of chamomile and yarrow were found on teeth. Plant diets were prevalent in fossil remains at some locations but less so in fossils found at other sites. Scientists determined this by studying plaque on the teeth and undigested food found in digestive tracts. There are seventeen Neanderthal sites on public record. Flower pollen found in the stratigraphy at burial sites indicate a ritualized death practice with flowers at a 50,000 year old Neanderthal archeological dig in Iran. Hollyhock, cornflower, St. Barnaby’s thistle, ragwort, hyacinth and pine were found in graves. Hunting & Gathering

In the paleolithic times, hunting and gathering cultures were nomadic. This is not just to chase the game animals but to follow the seasons for collecting ripening berries and fruit, flowers, seeds, roots and bark. Tools for gathering such as digging sticks and winnowing baskets are made from organic materials which disintegrate over time.

The first stone tool directly related to gathering and processing plants dates back 16,000 years. It is a curved scythe used for cutting ancient grains and grasses. It is this same time period when mortar and pestles start appearing at archeological sites.

By the end of the Neolithic period, around 11,000 years ago, agriculture started to become practiced. 1991, in Italy, the “Ice Man” was found embedded in snow. He dated back to the late-Neolithic. He was found wearing a medicine bundle containing medicinal herbs and seeds. Did he carry seeds for planting? Gobekli Tepe

Located near the Syrian border in Turkey, Gobekli Tepe was discovered in the 1960’s but not studied in depth until the mid-1990’s.

The site dates back to 12,000 BCE. Gobekli Tepe has evidence that it was intentionally covered with dirt.

Bone fragments consist of game animals and human bones. There is a lack of evidence of plant medicine which indicates its use as a temple or a burial site. Early Traditions

Anthropologists point to the use of plants and herbal medicine from the earliest hominid development by use of stratigraphy and fossil remains. The archeological evidence shows a symbiotic relationship between plants and early hominids in spiritual practices, healing the sick, and as a food source for the clan. 7,000 BCE, Harappan cities develop a network of cultural exchange and trade routes across the land and sea from the Indus Valley. Herbal medicines were commodities bartered amongst the different cities popping up across what is now modern Pakistan, Afghanistan and parts of India. They had writing, but we do not know how to interpret the meaning of the symbols.

Harappan society declines around 3300 BCE. The archeological evidence points to climate change as a cause for the decline of this ancient civilization. It ends as the Sumerian and Egyptian cultures rise creating the written languages, cuneiform and hieroglyphics which we now understand and transcribe. Notes

What are your thoughts about the pre-history What do you think about the evidence of how of human development and herbal plant use: plants helped create human culture: Historic Record While we acknowledge the Harappan script written before what classical academics label, “The start of writing,” we now take a look at the cultures which left a detailed account of herbal usage that has been recovered and translated through the work of archeologists. We will also discuss the trade routes which carried herbs from one part of the globe to the other. “He preferred to know the power of herbs and their value for curing purposes, and heedless of glory, to exercise that quiet art,” Vergil Cuneiform tablets reveal a working knowledge of medicinal herbs. Clay tablets with recipes for herbal remedies and invoices for bulk herb sales detail Sumerian Sumer culture . Medical tablets date back to around 4000 BCE. Sophisticated understanding of how the body works, how organs function, and the role of plants for healing. Recent Egyptian finds include a mummified body from 3700 BCE with tree resin used as a body preservative. In depth understanding of brain functioning and herbal medicine Egypt for the mind. They used words as incantations to work with the herbal medicine. Used metals like gold and copper together with herbal remedies. The Caral people grew cotton in ancient Peru. They knotted yarn as a type of record keeping. They date back to 3500 BCE. They domesticated llamas, guinea pigs and alpacas. Peru Herbal medicine intrinsic part of their culture for healing sickness. They developed the potato as a food source. Notes

Which came first Sumer, Egypt or did human’s What has surprised you the most about lineage development of writing start in Peru? of herbal medicine and human development? Basis for Traditional Chinese Medicine’s tradition traces back to 2600 BCE. Earliest surviving script is on a silk scroll which dates to 1600 BCE. The book recounts a series of China conversations between the Yellow Emperor and his physician. The book, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine is still available and taught in acupuncture schools today. Ayurvedic traditions start around 1500 BCE with the writing of the Vedas. These holy scripts contained much of what now makes up the modern religion, Hinduism. Parts of the Vedas detail proper Vedic India dietary models, herbal remedies for prevention and for maintaining balance. Vedic historians believe that the information in the texts come from an older time period considered a golden age of wisdom. Notes

How has China’s healing traditions survived? How has India’s healing traditions survived? In 1600 BCE, the Olmecs harvested tree sap and boiled it Mexico to create rubber. The Olmecs traded the rubber as & a commodity. The Maya herbal traditions started around 1800 BCE and Central lasted to 250 AD, to the present. The Aztec dated at 1428 AD. Their doctors worked with an America extensive herbal compendium before the Spanish arrived in the Americas. Notes

Which era in Mexico’s history do you want to How far do you think ancient trade routes learn more about and why? extended into the areas of the southwestern United States? Greeks concerned with why herbs worked. Scientific probing 500 BCE. Movement from the superstitions and incantations to more scientific approach. Greeks Quality of skepticism enters the dialog, mystery schools keep sacred knowledge. Hardening intellectual and philosophical discipline of herbal medicines researching cause and effect. As the Roman Empire grew in land mass, so did access to plants.

Herbs used to counter or purge the excesses of cultural choices. Romans Herbs to make a person vomit, herbs for poisoning political opponents, herbs used to abort. Roman culture fell back into superstition accompanied with herbalism like mixing blood with herbs for plasters. Notes

What do you notice with the timeline of human When do you think humans started planting development in regards to writing and herbal seeds for herbal or medicinal use: use: “Then God said, ‘Let the Earth bring forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it. And so it happened,’” Genesis 1:11 Both Old Testament and New Testament refer to the use of plant medicine. Uses include for medicine, for health and wellness, for beauty and pleasure. The Bible Gift of the Magi included plant products. Detailed use of anointing oils used for rituals. Anointing oils are thick, condense and unctuous. Trade routes extend back into pre-history. Unique to Homo Sapiens. No evidence of a Neanderthal trading culture. Ginger, black pepper, turmeric, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves Silk Road were traded for Roman goods. Trade allowed for the exchange of ideas in healing and religion. Trade route linking China with Rome officially opened in 130 BCE. Notes

Do you feel trade played a part of the Have any of your ideas or beliefs about development of herbal medicine: herbalism changed after reviewing the past: The dark times of inquisition, up to 80% of the people who died in the inquisition were women who practiced herbalism. Move from paganism to Christianity. Europe Herbal oral tradition wisdom keepers shifts to alchemy. Colonialism brings global access to herbal medicines. Wars fought over poppy flowers. International trade, slavery, agriculture all are commodities exchanged. Indigenous cultures had a refined herbal medicine practices. Trading of herbs and medicine at gatherings designed for celebration and barter. North America Gathering of plants done by all members of the community with specific gender roles. Areas where herbs or plants were gathered were passed down through the matrilineal line. Notes

How has the history of herbalism played into What plants grow in your local area which were popular attitudes about herbal use today? collected by indigenous people? “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” Hippocrates Ancient Herbal Texts

Sumer: Nippur clay tablets 2200 Egypt: Ebers Papyrus, a BCE detail herbal cures. The complete 110 page scroll on Treatise of Medical Diagnosis and diagnosing illness & use of herbal Prognoses dates to 1600 BCE. medicine practices 1500 BCE. China: Yellow Emperor’s India: herbalism sources back Classic of Internal Medicine to the Vedas written around tradition dates back to 2600 1500 BCE, but traditions date BCE. back to the ancient Rishis. Greece: father of modern Rome: Galen of Pergamum medicine, Hippocrates 400 BCE lived between 131-201 AD. His writes over 60 medical texts clinical study of the body shaped called the Hippocratic Corpus. healing for the next 1500 years. Summary of Earlier Traditions Plants directed impact on human development effected the shape of the skull, nomadic gathering traditions, death rituals, beauty and pleasure enhancement, as well as health and nutrition. Humans traded herbal medicine and processed plants through established trade routes.

Written records of herbal medicines are found in some of the earliest writings on the planet. Oral tradition has kept herbal traditions alive and viable even during the days of the Spanish Inquisition.

Herbal medicine traditions in the west had a resurgence as the traditions and techniques start to include homeopathic medicine, Rudolf Steiner’s work, essential oils, flower essences and the opening of Chinese and Indian medicine systems. The next class in the series, Decoding Herbalism: Volume Two, gives a detailed list of individual herbs, when & how to use herbal medicine, and it will provide definitions of herbal terminology. Reference Books

Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. New York: Avery, 2002. Chen, Ze-Lin & Mei-Fang M.D.. Chinese Herbal Medicine. Edison: Castle Books, 1999. Coon, Nelson. Using Plants for Healing. Emmaus: Rodale Press, 1979. Frawley, David and Lad, Vasant. The Yoga of Herbs. Santa Fe: Lotus Press, 1986. Gerber, Richard MD. Vibrational Medicine. Santa Fe: Bear & Company, 1988, 1996. Heinerman, John. Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs. West Nyack: Parker Publishing Company, 1988. Kaminski, Patricia and Katz, Richard. Flower Essence Repertory. Nevada City: Earth-Spirit Inc., 1986. Kaptchuk, Ted J. O.M.D.. The Web that has no Weaver. Chicago: Congdon and Weed, 1983. Keller, Erich. Aromatherapy Handbook. Rochester: Healing Arts Press, 1991. Reference Books

Lavabre, Marcel. Aromatherapy Workbook. Rochester: Healing Arts Press, 1990. Lucas, Richard. Secrets of the Chinese Herbalists. West Nyack: Parker Publishing Company, 1977. McIntyre, Anne. Flower Power. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1996. Metcalf, Joannah. Herbs and Aromatherapy. New York: Seafarer Books, 1994. Rose, Jeanne. The Aromatherapy Book. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1992. Scheffer, Mechthild. Bach Flower Therapy Theory and Practice. Rochester: Healing Arts Press, 1988. Rito, Daniele Lo, MD.. Bach Flower Massage. Rochester: Healing Arts Press, 1995. Tierra, Michael, C.A., N.D.. Planetary Herbology. Twin Lakes: Lotus Press, 1988. St. Joseph, The New American Bible. New York: Catholic Book Publishing, 1970 Photo Credits in lectures go to www.pexels.com Decoding Herbalism: Volume One Theory and History of Herbal Medicine

By Jamie Zoe Givens For more information, please go to www.jamiezoegivens.com.