12 categories of herbs - the school of modern herbal...

The School of Modern Herbal Medicine

1 Copyright 2015 by Steven Horne and The School of Modern Herbal Medicine

12CategoriesofHerbs

WithStevenHorne,RH(AHG)

WhenIfirststartedstudyingherbs,Iwasconfused…

•  Forinstance,IreadthatWhiteOakBarkwasgoodfor:–  Hemorrhoids–  Bleeding–  VaricoseVeins–  ExcessiveMenstrualFlow–  Swelling

•  MyquesOonwas:howcanoneherbbegoodforsomany“different”healthproblems



TasOngHerbs“ThispracOceoftasOngherbsandrootshasbeenofgreatadvantagetome,asIhavealwaysbeenabletoascertainwhatisusefulforanypar5culardisease,bythatmeans.““IwasoVentoldthatIshouldpoisonmyselfbytasOngeverythingIsaw;butIthoughtIoughttohaveasmuchknowledgeasabeast,fortheypossessaninsOncttodiscoverwhatisgoodforfood,andwhatisnecessaryformedicine.”

–  SamuelThomson

HerbalEnergeOcs•  ThebasicconsOtuentsthat

giveherbstheirvariousproperOescaneasilybedetectedusingourownsenses

•  TheeffectsofthesebasicconsOtuentscanalsobefelt(andobserved),inotherwords,experienceddirectly

•  ThisisthebasisofwhatherbalistscallenergeOcs,orhowherbsaffecttheenergiesofthebody



MyFirstEnergeOcModel•  Air=BiYers

(loosening,detoxifying)

•  Fire=AromaOcs(sOmulaOng,dispersing)

•  Earth=Astringents(Oghtening,consolidaOng)

•  Water=DemulcentsorMucilants(cooling,moistening)

Cold

Hot Wet

Dry

Air

Wat

er Fire

Earth

Bitters

Astringents

Arom

atics

Dem

ulc

ents

SevenElementEnergeOcModel



CurrentEnergeOcSystem•  EnergyProducOon

–  Warm(SOmulateorspeedupmetabolism,relieveOssuedepression)–  Cool(Sedateorslowdownmetabolism,reduceOssueirritaOon)–  Neutral(Doesnotwarmorcool)

•  TissueDensity–  Moisten(LubricateandsoVenhardOssue,reducesatrophy)–  Dry(RemoveexcessfluidfromOssue,relievesstagnaOon)–  Balancing(normalizesOssuesfromeitheratrophyorstagnaOon)

•  MuscleandTissueTone–  Constrict(Increasetone,reducesecreOon,counteractsrelaxaOon)–  Relax(Relaxspasms,increasesecreOon,counteractsconstricOon)–  Nourishing(providesnutrientstohelpOssuesheal)

12BasicHerbalCategories•  Pungent•  AromaOc•  BiYer– Simple(Non-Alkaloidal)

– Alkaloidal– Fragrant

•  Salty

•  Astringent•  Sour•  Acrid•  Mucilant•  Sweet•  Oily



PossibleArrangement?

PungentHerbs•  CharacterisOcs–  Spicyorhottaste,biOngaroma

•  ConsOtuents–  Resins–  Allyl-sulphides–  Alkamindes–  SomeessenOaloils(monoterpenes)

•  EnergeOcs– Warminganddrying



ExamplesofPungentHerbs•  Capsicum(ChiliPeppers)

•  Ginger•  Mustard•  Garlic•  Horseradish•  Blackpepper•  Thyme•  Eucalyptus

Capsicum—PhotobyStevenHorne

ProperOesofPungentHerbs•  Movebloodandenergyupwardandoutward(towardsskinandmucusmembranes)

•  DispelstagnaOon•  DiaphoreOc–induceperspiraOon•  SOmulaOng–increasebloodcirculaOonandenhanceenergyproducOon

•  CarminaOve–expelgasandaiddigesOon•  DigesOveAids–sOmulateproducOonofdigesOvesecreOons,enhanceappeOte

•  Tonifymetal,increasedefensiveqi(TCM)



ContraindicaOonsforPungentHerbs

•  Overusedepletesenergyreservesandcoolsthebody,duetoperspiraOonanddispersalofenergy

•  MayirritatedigesOvemembranesinsomepeople

•  Notforpeoplewhoare“hot”already:flushed,red,feverish,irritated,irritable

AromaOcHerbs•  CharacterisOcs–  Strongaroma,generallyusedasseasoningsforaddingflavortofood

•  ConsOtuents–  EssenOalorvolaOleoils(oilsthatevaporate)

•  EnergeOcs– Warminganddrying,butmilderthanpungentherbs



ExamplesofAromaOcHerbs•  Catnip•  Peppermint•  Chamomile•  Sage•  Lemonbalm•  Basil•  Oregano•  Rosemary

Catnip—PhotobyStevenHorne

ProperOesofEssenOalOils•  Strongnervoussystemeffects•  DiaphoreOc–induceperspiraOonwhentakenhot•  SOmulaOng(mildly)–increasebloodcirculaOonand

enhanceenergyproducOon•  CarminaOve–expelgasandaiddigesOon•  DigesOveAids–sOmulateproducOonofdigesOvesecreOons,

enhanceappeOte•  Nervine–calmorsOmulatethenerves•  Disinfectant–helptodestroyharmfulmicrobes•  NocontraindicaOonsforaromaOcherbs,butpureessenOal

oilsshouldbeusedprimarilytopicallyandwelldiluted



Simple(Non-Alkaloidal)BiYers•  CharacterisOcs–  BiYertaste

•  ConsOtuents–  Diterpenes–  Glycosides

•  Athraquinoneglycosides

•  EnergeOcs–  Coolinganddrying,butthereareafewthatarewarminganddrying

ExamplesofSimpleBiYers•  CoolingandDrying

–  Alfalfa–  ArOchokeleaf–  GenOan–  WildleYuce–  Kaleandotherdarkgreens–  Cascarasagrada–  Turkeyrhubarb–  Hops

•  Warminganddrying–  Turmeric–  DongQuai

ArOchokefromWikipedia



ProperOesofSimpleBiYers•  Moveenergyinwardanddownward•  DigesOveSOmulants:SOmulatehydrochloricacidproducOon

aswellassecreOonofbileandpancreaOcenzymeswhentasted

•  Detoxifying:BiYerstendtosOmulatedetoxificaOonprocessesintheliver,whichcanreduceOssueirritaOonandhaveacoolingeffect

•  SedaOves:somehavecalming,relaxingeffects•  Anodynes:Afewhelptoeasepain•  SOmulantlaxaOve:Herbswithanthroquinoneglycosides

sOmulateintesOnalperistalsis

ContraindicaOonsforSimpleBiYers

•  CoolingbiYerscandepletedigesOonoverOme,whilewarmingbiYersareunlikelytohavethiseffect.TheeffectofcoolingbiYersismodifiedbyaddingaromaOcorpungentherbstodigesOvetonics.

•  BiYersshouldbeavoidedbythin,weak,emaciatedanddrypeople

•  ExcessiveuseofbiYersiswasOng(i.e.,promotesdepleOonofOssuemoisture)



AlkaloidalBiYers•  CharacterisOcs–  BiYertaste

•  ConsOtuents–  Alkaloids(alkalinecompounds,namesendin–ine)

–  Examples:caffeine,nicoOne,berberine,lobeline,hydrasOne

•  EnergeOcs–  Coolinganddrying

ExamplesofAlkaloidalBiYers•  Goldenseal•  Oregongrape•  Lobelia•  Coffee•  Chocolate•  Chineseephedra•  Californiapoppy•  Barberry•  Scotchbroom

OregonGrape—PhotobyStevenHorne



ProperOesofAlkaloidalBiYers•  DigesOveSOmulants:SOmulatehydrochloricacidproducOonaswellassecreOonofbileandpancreaOcenzymeswhentasted

•  Detoxifying:BiYerstendtosOmulatedetoxificaOonprocessesintheliver

•  Specificnervousandglandulareffects:dependingonthealkaloids,alkaloidscanhavesOmulaOngorsedaOngeffectsonthenervesandglands

ContraindicaOonsforAlkaloidalBiYers

•  AlkaloidalbiYerscanhaveveryspecificindicaOonsandcontraindicaOonswhichshouldbelearnedforeachherb

•  BiYersshouldbeavoidedbythin,weak,emaciatedanddrypeople

•  ExcessiveuseofbiYersiswasOng(i.e.,promotesdepleOonofOssuemoisture)



FragrantBiYers•  CharacterisOcs–  BiYertaste;strong,butnotnecessarilypleasantaroma

•  ConsOtuents–  Sesquiterpenelactonesandtriterpenes

•  EnergeOcs–  Slightlywarminganddrying

ExamplesofFragrantBiYers•  Elecampane•  Blackwalnuthulls•  Wormwood•  Tansy•  Wormseed

Tansy—PhotobyStevenHorne



ProperOesandContraindicaOons

•  ProperOes– DigesOveSOmulants:UsedtosOmulatedigesOonlikeotherbiYers

– AnOparasiOc:Usedtodispelparasites•  ContraindicaOons– Generallynotusedlongtermorinlargedoses– Mostarecontraindicatedinpregnancy– SamegeneralcontraindicaOonsforallbiYers

AcridHerbs•  CharacterisOcs–  BiYer,nasty,burningtaste

•  ConsOtuents–  Resins–  Alkaloids

•  EnergeOcs–  Relaxing,mayalsobecoolinganddrying



Acrid•  Lobelia•  Kavakava•  Echinacea(angusOfolia)•  Blackcohosh•  Skunkcabbage•  Bluevervain

Lobelia—PhotobyStevenHorne

ProperOesofAcridHerbs•  AnOspasmodic:relaxcrampingandmusclespasms

•  Relieve“wind”disordersinTCM:problemsinvolvingalternaOngsymptoms

•  ContraindicaOons:– SomeareemeOc(inducevomiOng)inlargedoses– Largedosesorlongtermusemayadverselyaffectnerves



AstringentHerbs•  CharacterisOcs–  SlightlybiYer,withdrying,slightlypuckeringsensaOon

•  ConsOtuents:–  Tannins

•  EnergeOcs–  DryingandConstricOng

Astringent•  Whiteoakbark•  Uvaursi•  Bayberry•  Sage•  GreenTea•  Yarrow•  Wildgeranium•  Willowbark•  Witchhazel

UvaUrsi—PhotobyStevenHorne



ProperOesofTannins

•  VeryDrying:ArrestexcessivesecreOon•  Tone:OghtenloseOssueandreduceswelling•  SypOc:helpbloodcoagulatetostopbleeding•  SlowintesOnalperistalsis,toneupleakygut•  AnOvenomous:helptoneutralizeanimalvenomwhenappliedtopically

ContraindicaOonsforAstringents

•  ReducedigesOvefuncOon,interferewithmineralabsorpOon,sobesttakeninbetweenmeals

•  LargedosestakeninternallycancauseconsOpaOon

•  LongtermtopicalusecanbeirritaOngtoskinormucosa



Oligomericprocyanidins(OPCs)•  Grapine®•  CondensedtanninswithpowerfulanOoxidantcapabiliOes

•  Foundinpinebark,grapeseedandgreentea

SourHerbs•  CharacterisOcs–  Sourtaste

•  ConsOtuents–  Fruitacids(citric,malicandabscorbicacid)

–  Flavonoids–  AnOoxidants

•  EnergeOcs–  Cooling,balancing(maymoistenordry),nourishing



Sour•  Lemon•  Bilberry,Blueberry•  Cranberry•  Rosehips•  Lycium•  Hawthorne•  Schizandra•  Mangosteen•  Noni

Lycium—PhotobyStevenHorne

ProperOesofSourHerbs•  AnOoxidant:reducefreeradicaldamage,coolheatandirritaOon

•  Tonic:strengthencapillaryintegrity,OghtenOssue

•  HepaOc:AidliverfuncOon,gentlysOmulatebileproducOon,tonifyliverqiaccordingtoTCM

•  NorealcontraindicaOons



SaltyHerbs•  CharacterisOcs–  Slightlysalty,grassyor“green”taste(thinkofceleryorspinach)

•  ConsOtuents–  Saltsofmagnesium,potassium,sodiumandcalcium

•  EnergeOcs–  Balancing(maymoistenand/ordryOssues)andnourishing

ExamplesofSaltyHerbs•  Spinach,celery•  Alfalfa•  Mullein•  NeYles•  Chickweed•  Redclover•  Dandelionleaf•  Horsetail•  Seaweeds(kelp,dulse)

Mullein—PhotobyStevenHorne



ProperOesofSaltyHerbs•  NutriOve:supplytracemineralstohelptoneandhealOssues

•  Non-irritaOngdiureOcs:helptosupportkidneyfuncOonbysupplyingpotassium

•  LymphaOc:HelptopromotelymphflowandrelievelymphaOccongesOon

•  Decongestant:helptoloosenmucus•  Alkalizing:tendtoincreasealkalinity,whichaidsgeneralhealth

•  NocontraindicaOons

SweetHerbs•  CharacterisOcs–  BiYer-sweetflavor,notsugaryorstarchy,morelikethesweetnessofdarkchocolate

•  ConsOtuents–  Polysaccharides–  Saponins

•  EnergeOcs– Moisteningandneutral(maybeslightlywarmingorcooling,too)



ExamplesofSweetHerbs

•  Licorice•  Stevia•  Americanginseng•  Koreanginseng•  Eleutheroroot•  BeePollen•  Astragalus•  Codonopsis

GinsengRootsfromWikipedia

ProperOesofSweetHerbs

•  NutriOveandtonic:buildsupweakenedcondiOons,counteractswasOng,strengthensglands,buildsenergyreserves

•  Adaptagenic:Manysweettonicsmodulatestressandimproveoverallhealth

•  Moistening:CounteractdrynessandagingofOssues•  ImmuneTonics:OVenstrengthentheimmunesystem

•  OVenusedforelderlypeopletoregainormaintaingoodhealth



ContraindicaOonsforSweetHerbs

•  Mostoftheseremediesareverybenignandsuitableforlongtermuse

•  Tendtoencourageweightgain•  Someofthestrongertonicherbs(especiallytheginsengs)canbeabusedassOmulants,especiallybyyoungerpeople

MucilantHerbs•  CharacterisOcs–  Slipperyslimyfeelwhenmoist,generallyblandorslightlysweettaste

•  ConsOtuents– Mucopolysaccharides(mucilageandgums)

–  Glucoaminoglycans

•  EnergeOcs– Moistening,coolingandnourishing



ExamplesofMucilantHerbs•  AloeVera•  SlipperyElm•  Psyllium•  Marshmallow•  Comfrey•  IrishMoss•  Kelp•  Okra•  ChiaSeeds

AloeVera—PhotobyStevenHorne

ProperOesofMucilantHerbs

•  Coolandmoistenhot,dryandirritatedOssues•  BulklaxaOve:holdmoistureinboweltopromotenormaleliminaOon

•  Vulnerary:HelpinjuredOssuesheal•  ImmuneSOmulant:EnhanceimmuneacOvity,especiallyonmucusmembranes

•  FeedfriendlygutbacteriatopromoteintesOnalhealth

•  AbsorbirritantsfromGItractandskin•  Mayhelptoreducecholesterol



ContraindicaOons•  CanreduceabsorpOonofnutrientsandmedicaOons

•  CanalsocoolandslowdowndigesOvefuncOonwithexcessiveuse,butthiscanbecounteractedbyaddingaliYlepungentoraromaOcherbs

OilyHerbs•  CharacterisOcs–  Oilytasteandtexture

•  ConsOtuents–  Oils–  FaYyacids

•  EnergeOcs– Moistening,CoolingandNourishing



ExamplesofOilyHerbs•  Flaxseed•  Blackcurrentseed•  Eveningprimroseseed•  Pumpkinseeds•  Sunflowerseeds•  Borageseeds•  Hempseeds•  Coconut•  Olives

BlueFlax—PhotobyStevenHorne

ProperOesofOilyHerbs

•  Nourishing:providethebodywithfaYyacidsforenergy,immune,nerveandglandularfuncOon

•  Cooling:canhelpreduceirritaOon•  MildlaxaOve:lubricatethestoolforbeYereliminaOon

•  Moistening:lubricatedryOssues,aidOssueflexibility

•  NocontraindicaOons



SomeAcknowledgments•  EdwardMiloMillet–whohelpedmeunderstandthebasic

acOonsofherbs•  L.CarlRobinson–whoworkedwithmeonthedevelopment

ofthefourelementenergeOcmodel•  MaYhewWood–whodevelopedthemodelofthesix

(seven)Ossuestates,andhelpedmeidenOfythe12herbalcategories

•  DavidWinston–whohelpedmeunderstandthe12herbalcategories

•  ThomasEasley–whohelpeddevelopthedirecOonsofherbalacOonmodel

AnyQuesOons?

12 categories of herbs - the school of modern herbal...

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