At CNM, herbalists learn different approaches to Herbal Medicine, the most common are Western, Ayurvedic and Chinese. Outlined Below is how these approaches differ and how they work wonderfully together.
- Western Herbal Medicine –
Uses constituents in the herbs to bring about an action in the client’s body. Different phytochemicals (beneficial plant chemicals) have different actions in the body.
For example,
A diaphoretic is a herb that has the power to cause or increase perspiration. The skin sweats to aid normal thermoregulation and in fever management.
- Cool Diaphoretics
– Help sweat out a hot fever
Eg: Peppermint, Elderflower, Lemon balm, Yarrow
- Warm Diaphoretics
– Help sweat out a chilled fever
Eg: Sage, Thyme, Ginger, and Cinnamon
- Traditional Chinese Medicine:
TCM has been used for thousands of years. Remember our ancestors did not have MRI scans, X-rays, urinalysis, blood testing or even bio-resonance scanning yet they were able to accurately diagnose by careful examination, listening and observing the clients symptoms. TCM uses careful examination of the face and body as well as the tongue and pulse to help with diagnosis.
The TCM herbalist uses 8 principles to guide them to understand:
- is the condition an internal or external one?
- is the person Yin or Yang?
- are they in deficiency or are they in excess,
- are they Hot or are they Cold?
Two clients may in Western terms present with the same complaint but depending on the 8 principles may need very different herbs. Clients also differ in terms of the ‘The Pathogenic factors’. Many factors influence wellness, lifestyle, foods, excess of emotion, climatic and environmental change all intermingle with our individual constitutions. Sometimes this causes the body to go out of balance, to suddenly have too much heat, cold, damp, dryness, wind or summer heat in our bodies. Herbs can be used to restore this balance. The TCM approach sees health as a complete state of wellbeing and uses herbs to achieve that. In the West we tend to view health as merely the ‘absence of disease’.
Example:
Yang represents the energy that is responsible for warming and activating our body’s many functions. When yang is depleted one’s energy is sluggish, the body begins to slow down and the body systems display signs of under-activity.
One of the first signs of yang deficiency is feelings of coldness or sensitivity to cold.
Many men need yang tonics when there libido is low or when someone has a chronic and debilitating illness such as MS or ME.
Examples:
- Saw palmetto (specific for the prostate),
- Fenugreek seeds
- Indian ginseng (Ashwaganda)
Most people are aware that medicinal herbs are good for your health but many do not know why or how a herbalist selects the right herbs for you.
By CNM Graduate and Herbalist Sorcha Taylor
Join CNM on Saturday 27th January, where you will gain an insight into studying herbal medicine at CNM.
Find out more about our Herbal Medicine Diploma course and Herbs for Everyday Living Short Course by visiting www.naturopathy.ie or call 01672 5036.
Don’t miss out on a fascinating day of discovering natural health, book your place at the CNM Open Day in Dublin Saturday 27th January.
