Clinical Herbalism: Plant Wisdom from East and West

by Rachel Lord

Overview

The only textbook of its kind, Clinical Herbalism: Plant Wisdom from East and West is an ideal resource for anyone interested in herbal therapy. With comprehensive, clearly written coverage of Western and Chinese herbs for each body system, this brand-new text offers case histories, along with easy-to-understand instructions for preparing tinctures, percolations, dual extractions, and much more.

• Integration of Western and Chinese herbal therapeutics presents health challenges from an energetic context, making it especially useful for those with minimal Chinese Medicine training.
• Complete coverage addresses a wide variety of topics, including theory, wildcrafting, apothecary, herbal remedy-making, client interaction, and creating and dispensing formulas.
• Compendium of Western and Chinese herbs covers usages, contraindications, and herb-drug interactions with an emphasis on herbal safety.
• Comparison of Western diseases and Chinese syndromes helps pinpoint which herbs and formulas best match a person’s health condition.
• Case histories present specific therapeutic principles and suggested formulas on conditions commonly faced by herbalists.
• Explicit instructions detail how to make salves, lotions, and syrups, plus tinctures, percolations, and dual extractions, including calculations, proportions, and worksheets.
• Functional medicine principles address the root causes of common chronic Western diseases.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780323721769
Publisher:	Elsevier Health Sciences
Publication date:	06/25/2021
Pages:	576
Sales rank:	536,052
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.88(h) x (d)

About the Author

Rachel Lord, Registered Nurse and Master Clinical Herbalist, has been practicing and teaching basic and advanced herbalism for thirty-five years. She created and ran a Colorado state approved herbal program. Her experience developing curriculum for her school prompted her to write this text - the one she wished she had had all along. The book covers everything an herbalist needs to know and fills in the gaps and holes for beginners, self-taught herbalists, and experienced clinicians alike. It is the perfect textbook for any herb program, complete with an online manual for educators. Rachel loves to gather, check out and commune with the wild medicine growing in her local Colorado Rocky Mountains and believes we have been gifted with an important bounty of plant medicine that we must nurture and protect.

Table of Contents

Herbal Reviewers vii

Preface viii

Acknowledgments xi

Dedication xii

Part I The Basics

1 From the Heart 1

Your Stones 1

My Story 1

Herbalism Is Community 2

Herbalism Is a Spiritual Journey 2

Herbalists Are Stewards of the Earth 3

Herbalism Is a Good Excuse to Travel 4

A Few Words of Wisdom 4

2 The History of Herbalism: A Short History of Medicine 5

Prehistory 6

Ancient Times 7

Western Europe Middle Ages 10

Renaissance and the Rise of Science 13

America 13

Merging into the Present 16

3 Philosophical Constructs of Herbology 20

Main Herbal Traditions 20

Vitalistic Versus Analytic Approaches to Herbalism and Medicine 23

Seven Steps of Healing 23

4 Taxonomy and Botany for Herbalists 29

Taxonomy and Carl Linnaeus, 1707-1778 29

The Linnaean Seven-Tiered System of Plant Classification 30

Naming Plants 32

Common Names 32

The Botanical Name, Based on the Binomial System 33

The Pharmaceutical Name 34

The Pinyin Name 34

Botany 34

Plant Families for Herbalists 38

Keying Out Plants 50

5 Wildcrafting, Preparation, Storage, and Purchasing 53

Out in the Wild 53

Harvesting 55

Preparing and Drying 56

Buying Herbs Commercially 57

Wildcrafter's Information Sheet 58

Herb Walks, No Collecting 58

6 Types of Herbal Remedies 60

Types and Uses of Various Herbal Preparations 61

Infusions and Preparation Instructions 61

Decoctions and Preparation Instructions 62

Mouthwashes, Gargles, and Preparation 63

Steams, Smokes, Baths, and Preparation 64

Capsules and Suppositories 65

External Plasters, Poultices, Compresses, and Preparation 67

External Salves, Creams, and Lotions Differentiated 67

Tinctures 68

Types of Menstruum Used as Tincture Solvents 68

Essential Oils 70

Syrups 71

7 Preparation of Tinctures, Infused Oils, Salves, Lotions, Creams, and Syrups 74

Apothecary Equipment 74

Tincture Preparation: Folk and Weight-to-Volume 77

Percolation Preparation 83

Dual Extraction Preparation 85

Glycerite Preparation 86

Worksheets for Internal Preparations 87

Preparing Infused Oils: Solar, Double Boiler, Accelerated Blender 87

Preparing a Salve 91

Preparing Lotions and Creams 91

Making Syrups 93

8 Chemical Constituents For Herbalists 96

Plant Chemistry Overview 97

Synergy 97

Definitions 97

Phytochemistry 97

Carbohydrates 98

Amino Acids 101

Lipids 102

Phenolic Compounds or Polyphenols 104

Terpenoids or Terpenes 106

Alkaloids 108

9 The Basics of Chinese Medicine 111

The Five Main Branches of Chinese Medicine 111

The Principle of Yin and Yang 112

The Fundamental Substances: Qi, Blood, Jing, Shen, and Fluids 112

The Five Element Theory 114

The Five Yin Organs and Their Yang Partners 115

The Six External Pernicious Influences 118

Assessment: Tongue and Pulse 119

The Eight Principle Patterns of Assessment: Cold-Heat, Deficiency-Excess, Interior-Exterior, and Yin-Yang 121

10 Energetics Related to Western Herbology 125

Energetics in Western Herbalism 126

The Three Primary Qualities: Taste, Warmth, Moisture 126

The Six Secondary Energetic Qualities: Stimulate-Sedate, Restore-Relax, Moisten-Decongest 134

Tissue-Level Qualities or Descriptions: Astringing, Eliminating, Solidifying, Dissolving, Thickening, Diluting 141

An Experiment in Energetics: Organoleptic Evaluations 151

Part II Materia Medica

11 Basic Materia Medica 155

Considerations for Choosing a Materia Medica 155

Monographs 156

12 Materia Medica Groupings 175

Sorting Out the Laundry List 175

Calming Herbs for the Nervous System 176

Demulcents or Yin Tonics 180

Common Adaptogens 183

Alterative Herbs that Help Detoxification 187

Expectorants, Bronchodilators, Antitussives 190

Women's Allies 193

Infections and Toxicosis 197

Part III The Herbalist in Action

13 Herbal Safety 203

General Considerations Regarding the Safety of Herbs 204

Allergic Reactions 204

Herbal Constituents That Can Help or Harm 205

Herbal Actions Can Be Therapeutic or Harmful 207

Adverse Herb and Drug Interactions 208

Cytochrome P450 Enzyme System and Herb-Drug Interactions 214

Pregnancy and Lactation Guidelines 215

14 Formulating, Dispensing, and Dosing 218

Herbal Formulation 218

Dispensing 219

Dosage 223

Conversions 226

Abbreviations 226

15 History, Assessment, and Documentation 228

Intake: Principles to Use for a Health History 228

Taking a Health History 230

The Physical Assessment 236

Herbalist's Assessment Form 239

Herbal Consult Suggestion Form 243

Keeping Records 244

Part IV Case Histories: Therapeutics and Formualtions

16 Maintaining the Body in Hearth 246

Optimum Health 247

The Microbiome 247

Inflammation: The Good and the Bad 249

Oxidative Stress 250

General Food Guidelines to Maintain Health 251

A Healthy Immune System 253

Materia Medica to Maintain Health 256

Common Conditions to Maintain the Body in Health 258

17 Infection and Toxicosis 260

Infection and Toxicosis 260

Bacteria and Materia Medica 263

Biofilms and Materia Medica 263

Viruses and Materia Medica 266

Therapeutic Principles for Treating Bacteria, Viruses, and Biofilm Infections with Case Histories 267

Parasites and Materia Medica 268

Chinese Medicine Perspective on Infections with Major Syndromes 270

18 The Gastrointestinal System 273

The Many Aspects of Gut Functions 274

Chakras 276

Chinese Medicine Perspective: The Gut with Major Syndromes 277

Good Gut Health 278

Digestive System Materia Medica 281

Common Gl Conditions 289

19 The Hepato-Biliary System 298

A Liver's Work Is Never Done 298

Liver Detoxification, the Gut, and Liver Health 300

Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Detoxification System 300

Heavy Metal Detoxification 302

Chinese Medicine Perspective: Liver and Gallbladder with Major Syndromes 302

Hepato-Biliary System Materia Medica 304

Common Hepato-Biliary Conditions 308

20 The Respiratory System 316

Methods to Keep Breathing Up to Par 316

The Fifth Chakra, Speaking Your Truth 317

Chinese Medicine Perspective: The Lungs and Major Syndromes 318

Respiratory Materia Medica 318

About Coughs 324

About Permanent Prevention of Seasonal Allergies 325

Common Respiratory Conditions 325

21 Pediatrics 336

Confidence for Everybody Is Key 337

How Children's Bodies Differ From Those of Adults 337

Chinese Medicine Perspective on Children 337

About Children's Herbs and Childhood Infections 338

Respiratory, Eye, and Ear Materia Medica 339

Common Conditions for Respiratory, Eye, and Ear Problems 340

Digestive Materia Medica 344

Common Digestive System Conditions 345

Nervous System Materia Medica 347

Common Nervous System Conditions 348

Skin Materia Medica 349

Common Skin Conditions 350

Safety with Children's Herbs 351

Ballpark Children's Dosages for Mild Herbs 352

Routes of Administration for Infants and Children 352

22 The Cardiovascular System 357

Maintaining Cardiovascular Health 357

The Heart Chakra, Unconditional Love 360

Chinese Medicine Perspective: The Heart and Major Syndromes 360

Cardiac Materia Medica 361

Common Cardiovascular Conditions 366

23 The Neurological System 372

The Mind-Body Connection 373

The Sixth Chakra, the Intuitive 373

The Gut-Brain Axis and Leaky Brain 373

Maintaining a Healthy Brain and Nervous System 374

Chinese Medicine Perspective: The Nervous System and Major Syndromes 374

Nervous System Materia Medica 375

Common Neurological Conditions 381

24 The Muscular-Skeletal System 390

Overview of the Muscular-Skeletal System 391

Pain, Inflammation, and Analgesia 391

Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System 392

The Overrated Alkaline Diet pH Test 394

Chinese Medicine Perspective: The Muscular-Skeletal System and Major Syndromes 394

Muscular-Skeletal Materia Medica 395

Muscular-Skeletal Herbs Worth Honorable Mention 395

Muscular-Skeletal Restoratives 396

Common Muscular-Skeletal Conditions 400

Rheumatology versus Arthritis 404

25 The Integumentary System 409

Overview of the Skin 409

Skin Health and Care 411

Chinese Medicine Perspective: the Skin and Major Syndromes 412

Skin Materia Medica 414

Considerations for Treating the Skin 416

Common Skin Conditions 419

26 The Urinary System 426

Overview of the Urinary System 426

Maintaining Healthy Kidneys 427

Urine Assessment 428

Chinese Medicine Perspective: The Kidneys and Major Lin Syndromes 429

Urinary Materia Medica 429

Common Urinary Conditions 434

27 The Endocrine System 439

Overview of the Endocrine System 440

The Adrenals and Stress 440

The Thyroid 441

Keeping the Thyroid and Adrenals Healthy 441

The Pancreas 442

The Endocrine Chakras 443

Chinese Medicine Perspective: The Endocrine System and Major Syndromes 444

Endocrine Materia Medica 445

Common Endocrine Conditions 452

28 The Reproductive System 457

The Second Chakra, Partnerships 458

Maintaining Reproductive Health in Women and Men 458

The Sacred Moon Cycle 459

Estrogen 461

Progesterone 462

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and Bioidentical Hormones 463

Prolactin 464

Testosterone and Male Hormone Facts 464

Chinese Medicine Perspective: Reproduction and Major Syndromes 465

Reproductive Materia Medica 466

Common Reproductive Conditions 470

Part V Getting Out There

29 Herbal Legalities 482

Historical Aspects of Herbalism in the United States 482

State of Herbalism Around the World 486

Herbal Timeline 487

30 Business Thoughts for a Modern Herbalist 491

Worldwide Popularity of Herbalism and Other Holistic Modalities 491

The Legal Status of Herbalists in the United States 492

Legal Obligations for Making and Selling Herbal Products 493

Important Herbal Organizations 496

Seed Banks and Maintaining Biodiversity 496

What Herbalists Do 497

Photo Gallery of Herbalists in Action 497

Appendix A Essential Information 504

Conversions Frequently Used by Herbalists 504

Medical Abbreviations 504

Average Doses for Adults 504

Average Doses for Children 505

Clinic Forms to Copy and Use 505

Lab Sheets to Copy and Use 505

Appendix B Answers to Chapter Review Questions, Fill in the Blanks 518

Glossary 523

Cross Index: Herbs by Botanical Name 534

Cross Index: Herbs by Common Name 540

Bibliography 546

Index 549

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Learn how to safely prepare herbal remedies to treat a variety of health problems