My first herb school was an evidence based herb school. I appreciate it for what it was (it has since closed) but it left a LOT to be known. Even the beautiful wise woman tradition steps were torn apart and reworked for their ideology. It was a “here is the protocol for this ailment” herb school and the staff wasn’t really open to much discussion unless it lined up with their beliefs.
I went to a new herb school shortly after completing the master herbalist program with them and was introduced to energetics. Learning this I quickly realized was crucial to plant medicine. While that herb school would go on to give protocols for ailments, which then became what all the herbalists followed, for me - it gave me a deep understanding on plants and a motivation to know them. (I no longer recommend that herb school not because its information is bad but due to I find it more of a diploma mill now that a proper herb school).
Another herb school after that….this one a slight different focus than clinical herbalism. But its becoming more and more clear that teaching of formulation in these programs based on a deep knowing of energetics and how herbs works in the body, is becoming less of a focus (or never really was) and more of “here is a formula for you.” Now, I understand that these are incredibly helpful formulas BUT it puts a demand on having THOSE specific herbs and not understanding the plants you have in your area and how to use THEM.
For instance, Ox-eye daisy. This is not really sold in commerce. Its seen as just a meadow flower. You wont find it for sale as a medicinal herb. You won’t even find much in the literature about its uses. In the Native American Medicinal Plants (an ethnobotanical dictionary) you will find some of the traditional uses. In Midwest Medicinals you will find some information. Matthew Wood’s Earthwise Herbals also briefly talks about it. Some folks say that if an herb falls out of flavor, perhaps like Ox eye daisy, its that it wasn’t medicinal enough, didn’t get studied enough, and/or doesn’t make enough $$. I tend to believe the last 2 of that list but thats just me.
Ox eye daisy is drying - typically an air element happening. Aromatics tend to be warming so we are looking at ox eye daisy being a warm/dry. So now we are looking at what conditions would we want that energetic profile. Runny nose maybe? Wet cough? Mmmm, definitely makes it easier than trying to ensure you have the specific plants a formula has.
**Tip - as you are learning energetics, write the energetic profile on your label.
While a lesson (or 10) on energetics really can dive deep into adjusting formulas based on the constitution of a human, this post is not for that.
We are looking at the energetics of the ailment in the person and then deciding on herbs for that profile.
A very easy example - is fire cider. Fire cider is a hot remedy and we use it to keep cold conditions at bay. A hot bath with no herbs is also an energetic based medicine. Chicken soup…same.
Sometimes, herbs are used to balance the energetics in a formula to ensure its not too one way. A cooling formula can get an addition of Licorice or Ginger to balance because herbs are potent enough to potentially swing the other way.
For example - I HAVE to balance my personal formulas with warmth. When I was postpartum with Hawthorn (age 5), I was drinking Nettle nourishing infusions regularly. Within a week or so of it almost daily, I started to notice I was just “off.” As I am naturally an earth element so it was aggravating cold/dry conditions (which postpartum already makes us susceptible too). I began adding Oatstraw in heavily and it helped balance that out.
To learn what your herbs energetics are, you can experiment by tasting them and see how your body reacts. Bitters on the tongue you will register right away. Aromatics you may feel move through the body.
You will see them in herb books usually listed in the beginning of the plant profile, but I find that many people overlook at that or don’t grasp fully what it means.
Energetic Herbalism by Kat Maier is a really beautiful way to get into this understanding without a lot of information flying all at you at once.
My subtitle for today was “how people get it wrong but blame the plants.” I am hoping that at this point you can start to understand why I gave it that subtitle but I’ll go a little further.
I had a guy who was really excited using herbs got sick. He was sick with a cold and was wanting a formula of “this herb for that,” specifically wanting an “herbal Mucinex.” I told this that is not how I practice but went on to discuss the herbs I generally use in these conditions and why. Trying to find an “herbal Mucinex” formula will act like a shotgun formula and, while it may work, you will become reliant on that formula and next time, it may not work because your illness is slightly different this time.
I have had multiple clients come in consult and talk about the herbs that they used but didn’t work and then as we talked more, I realized they didn’t work because the energetics of their condition were aggravated by the herbs. Usually this reveals they got their herb recommendations from a Google search (which I get) or a friend (also absolutely get.) As we discuss energetics in each consult, I tend to see the light click on in their eyes and many times they find a desire to start their own deep dive into herbal medicine.
People want to use plant medicine as their medicine but there is so much noise on what to take and how to take that its more overwhelming than anything.
Its in that overwhelm that they turn to premade formulas which may work THAT time but not the next and then loudly proclaim to the void of FB and anyone that starts to talk about wanting to use herbs that “herbs don’t work.’ I actually wrote a whole article on that for the TND program at Rockwell School of Holistic Health.
I 100% get that and its why I have maintained that my job as an herbalist is to work myself out of my job. That not only are you feeling better, you have learned how to use plant medicine on your own.
You may be looking back at my post of what I’m harvesting and how I use it, go back to that post and think about the energetics and actions of that.
Blackberry leaf/root - drying/astringent as diarrhea is a very wet condition (sorry for the imagery!). Its cooling which can also help with the irritation diarrhea causes in the body.
Ginger - warming, making it an excellent digestive fire aid (also a must for postpartum mothers who are susceptible to cold conditions).
Energetics aren’t woo-woo (which is what my first herb school labeled them as), it is a practice that is cross cultural and when something cross cultural, pay attention to it because its how we survived/thrived as a species. It has wisdom beyond our understanding.
I will discuss another day how we can use organ system affinities for synergistic effects in plant medicine that will blow ya mind (cue Gwen Stefani…anyone?)
Grow Seed,
Jacqueline