Traditional Western Herbal Medicine]

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> Traditional Western Herbal Medicine

> Dr. Michael Tierra L.AC., O.M.D.

> --

>

> Traditional Western Herbal Medicine evolved from the Greeks who were

> strongly influenced by the Egyptians and Middle Eastern

> civilizations.

> In fact, with the similarities between these civilizations;

> universally based on the concepts of a pervasive life energy, the

> elements and humours, one can make a Planetary Herbal Medicine.

>

> The humoural system is elucidated in a treatise called " Affections "

> in the Hippocratic Corpus which states: " In men, all diseases are

> caused by bile and phlegm.

>

> Bile and phlegm give rise to diseases when they become too dry or

> too wet or too hot or too cold in the body " ; and the author

> goes on to state how such derangement's are precipitated by

> imbalances

> in food and drink, exercise, injuries, " smell, hearing and sight " ,

> sexual excesses and " hot " and " cold " themselves.

>

> The Four humors of the Greeks

>

> 1. Sanguine (air) hot/moist 3. Phlegmatic (water) cold/moist

>

> 2. Melancholic (earth) cold, dry 4. Choleric (fire) hot/dry

>

> Sanguine qualities in an individual exhibited symptoms of heat and

> moisture, ruddy complexion, cheerful, confident and optimistic, with

> a

> tendency toward feverish, inflammatory diseases.

>

> Melancholic qualities had opposing qualities of cold, dryness, pale

> complexion, heightened sensitivity and visionary tendencies. These

> were

> more susceptible to nervous and reproductive disorders.

>

> Phlegmatic qualities were cold and moist, duller, slower with less

> sensitivity than the sanguine. Theirs was a tendency toward diseases

> associated with congestion, stagnation, rheumatic and mucus

> conditions.

>

> Choleric qualities in an individual being hot and dry were the

> opposite of phlegmatic. They would tend to have a hot and fiery

> temperament, thus

> more easily angered. They tended to develop liver diseases, high

> blood pressure, rashes, sun sensitivity, burns and fevers with

> little perspiration.

>

> Galenical dietetics and medicine

>

> The second century Greek physician Claudius Galenos, known as Galen

> (130 a.d.), was responsible for assimilating and reorganizing

> disparate

> medical theories and transforming them on the basis of an

> interrelated

> energetic context. This was further elaborated upon by the Persian

> Ibn Sina (Avicenna) of the 11th century. For the next 1500 years

> Western medicine was termed Galenical and extended its influence

> throughout Europe and into the New World.

>

> It was superceded by the discoveries of other elements and chemicals

> by primitive 16th century chemists and finally the rationalist

> philosophy of the 18th century. It was completely overthrown by

> experiments of the

> French biochemist, Francois Magendie in the 1st decade of the 1800s.

>

> Unani Tibb medicine is based on the late 10thand early 11th century

> Avicenna and Galen. Galen believed in a vital energy or creative

> force

> that he called " pneuma " that is similar in concept to the Chinese

> concept of " qi " and the Ayurvedic " prana. "

>

> Like Hippocrates, he accepted the concept of the " humours " which

> arise out of the liver and form a subtle network throughout the

> body. He also

> assigned foods and herbs to each of the four humours that form the

> basis

> of " galenical " dietetics and medicine that was accepted throughout

> Europe and the Middle East for 1500 years.

>

> Herbs and foods were Energetically classified as hot or cold, in

> fact, there are four degrees each of hot and cold, making a total of

> eight

> possible categories into which a food may be placed.

>

> Cold in the first degree

> Cold in the second degree

> Cold in the Third degree

> Cold in the Fourth degree

>

> Hot in the first degree

> Hot in the second degree

> Hot in the third degree

> Hot in the fourth degree

>

> First degree: affects metabolism, but not in any way discerned by

> overt

> physical sensation. Slightest action. Water is an example of a

> first-degree substance.

>

> Second degree: Acts upon the body, causing metabolic change, but in

> the end is overwhelmed by the body. All nutrients belong in this

> category.

>

> Among the actions caused by second-degree substances are opening of

> pores, initiation of peristaltic action, perspiration and

> stimulation of

> digestion. Ginger is an example of the second degree.

>

> Third degree: Not acted upon by the body, but acts upon the body.

> All

> medicinal substances belong to this category. An example is senna

> pods, which overwhelm the eliminative powers of the colon and force

> evacuation.

>

> Fourth degree: Poisons. Cause cessation of metabolic function. Some

> herbs are used as medicine from this category, but only in the most

> minute strengths and under the direct supervision of a physician.

> Hemlock and belladonna are examples of the fourth degree.

>

> The difference between these degrees in terms of hot and cold

> values, is that a second-degree hot-substance would speed up

> metabolism, while a second-degree cold would slow it down.

>

> In the extreme fourth-degree, the

> difference would become more apparent, when a hot herb would cause

> an increase of metabolism beyond the limits that support life, while

> a

> fourth-degree cold substance would slow down metabolism to the point

> of death.

>

> Such theories, common to most ancient civilizations, point out the

> essential difference in perspective between the holistic objectives

> of

> traditional medicine of diverse countries, in contrast to that of

> contemporary Western medicine.

>

> Traditional vs. contemporary approach

>

> The traditional approach tends to be more integrative, emphasizing

> the attainment of health through a combined holistic integrating

> body, mind

> and spirit, using diet, exercise and lifestyle changes as well as

> ritual, chants and prayer.

>

> The contemporary Western medical approach tends to be disintegrative

> and myopic; viewing the body more mechanically as a conglomerate of

> separate physiological organs and molecules. The emphases is in

> merely relieving

> symptoms rather than maintaining health, while the ancient approach

> provides a wider perspective. Both have their respective strengths

> and weaknesses.

>

>

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