3. Strategies for combining herbs (Flavors & Natures)

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So far we've looked at the use of guide herbs which can direct the

effects of other herbs to the areas where they are needed and the use

of harmonizing herbs which take the edge off other herbs in a

formula. Today we look at the consideration of flavors and natures

in concocting a formula. Even though the application of this is

advanced herbalism, it's an easy concept to understand.

 

The flavor or taste of a food or herb often will correlate with other

properties the herb or food has. For example, acrid (spicy) herbs and

foods tend to have a drying effect on the body. They also tend to

move Qi and Blood. Because they have a dispersing nature, too much of

this flavor can deplete Qi. They tend to move Qi upward and outward.

The majority of them have a warming effect on the body (Hot or Warm

thermal energy), but there are some acrid herbs that have Cold, Cool,

or Neutral thermal energy. (Like the ones in the subclass Acrid, Cool

Herbs That Release the Exterior.)

 

The 5 traditional flavors are Acrid (spicy), Bitter, Salty, Sour, and

Sweet. There is a 6th flavor, Bland. Substances with a Bland flavor

tend to seep out Dampness. Herbs with a Bland flavor can reach

Dampness that other herbs can't. Perhaps the most well-known (for

draining Dampness) herb and most-often used is Fu Ling (Sclerotium

Poriae Cocos). It's a fungus that grows on the roots of certain

trees. Too much bland for too long and the digestion can become

sluggish.

 

Philippe Sionneau gives some examples of the effects of combining

certain tastes as well as thermal energy. For example, combining

sour and sweet can " engender yin " and can relieve " spasms &

contractions " . Dui Yao: The Art of Combining Chinese Medicinals,

Phillippe Sionneau, translated by Bernard Cote, p. 13.) (It depends

on which particular herbs are combined.)

 

Combining acrid and sweet and warm (thermal energy) can have the

effect of " upbearing yang. " (p. 11.) This combination also can

arouse " the spleen " and transform phlegm. (p. 11.) On the other hand,

combining salty and cold (thermal energy can have the effect

of " calming the liver & downbearing yang " . (p. 13.)

 

When it comes to thermal energy, it's the overall average of the

formula which usually is the most important. Combine an herb with

Cool thermal energy with one which has Warm thermal energy, and they

cancel each other out in terms of thermal energy. The average of the

combination is Neutral and the combination neither warms nor cools

the body. (I'm simplifying things here.) Sometimes an herbalist will

include one or more herbs in a formula to keep the concoction from

being too heating or too cooling for the person.

 

BTW, the TCM idea of a balanced meal is one that includes all 5

flavors. The ratio of flavors will vary according to the individual's

needs at the time, but all 5 flavors will be present.

 

BTW, one herb that the Chinese particularly value is Wu Wei Zi

(Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis). They value it because it has all 5

flavors. " Wu Wei Zi " translates as " five-flavor seed " . Its

predominate flavor is Sour. Not surprisingly, its primary

classification in the TCM Materia Medica is in the " Herbs that

Stablilize and Bind " category. The sour flavor tends to contract.

Think about how you pucker up when you eat a lemon. Herbs in this

class do what I call " stop leaks " . Too much sweating, diarrhea,

incontinence, certain abnormal discharges from the vagina, vomiting,

etc. In some cases of bleeding an herb from this class which

specifically " plugs " bleeding is needed in addition to an (or herbs)

from the class " Herbs that Regulate the Blood, subclass " Herbs that

Stop Bleeding. "

 

However, there are times when one needs to be very careful about

stabilizing and binding too much or at all. " Contraindicated when an

exterior condition is not cleared, when there is heat from excess in

the interior, or in the early stages of coughs or rashes. " (Chinese

Herbal Medicine Materia Mewdica, Revised ed., Dan Bensky and Andrew

Gamble, p. 377) (At a certain stage one wants the measles or whatever

rash to erupt. It's a route for Evils to leave the body. And there

are herbs to bring on the eruption of a rash. They tend to move

things outward.)

 

Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi) does have some slight toxicity. At least when

given to mice.

 

Bensky and Gamble mention in the intro to the Herbs That Stabilize

and Bind chapter that these herbs are used only to treat Branches,

not Roots. The Root cause of the " leaks " usually is Deficiency, and

the Deficiency will have to be addressed. What the herbs in this

class do is they make it easier to treat the Deficiency. Take the

example of excessive sweating due to Qi Deficiency. Qi is lost

through sweat. It's a lot easier to build Qi up when it's not being

lost through excessive sweating.

 

Some herbalists include another category: Astringent. Often Sour and

Astringent are lumped together. Bensky and Gamble do tell when an

herb is Astringent, or Sour and Astringent. The main difference

between Sour and Astringent is that Astringent tends to be more

drying and Sour tends to be more moistening. It's the combination of

Sour and Sweet that can engender Yin (Dui Yao, p. 13), not Astringent

and Sweet.

 

BTW, not all the herbs in the Herbs That Stabilize and Bind category

are Sour and/or Astringent. These are general trends.