Category Archives: Practice

Practice

Charles Whitlaw on Lobelia inflata. The Lancet (1833)

Something that every herbalist and herb user should read: Mr. Charles Whitlaw’s understanding of Lobelia inflata and how its physical state and treatment alters its therapeutic activity. Not all of Lobelia’s activities are covered, nor is any reason given to why the plant does what it does; it is 1833 after all, a time when nervous system understanding was still in its infancy, regardless though, as a Victorian-era observer the man had his finger on the pulse of the plant. My only addition is – if you don’t have access to the fresh herb, use the dried seed. And of course, Lobelia’s not totally benign. Keep dosages low (5-10 drops of the tincture) until you know what you’re doing. CWK

THE LOBELIA INFLATA.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco)
Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco)

Sir, – Permit me, through the medium of THE LANCET, to make a few observations on one of the most valuable plants which has yet been discovered, a plant calculated to relieve the sufferings of our fellow men to an equal, if not greater degree, than any hitherto known. I allude to the lobelia inflata. From long experience and patient investigation of the properties of this plant, both in England and America, I have no hesitation in saying that it merits the first place in the Pharmacopeia, and time will show that my opinion is not hastily formed. I need not repeat the high encomiums so recently passed on it by Dr. Elliotson, the most enterprising physician of the age; but as the plant is not generally known, and consequently but little used, it may not be uninteresting to many of your readers to be made acquainted with some particulars respecting its genus and natural history. Continue reading Charles Whitlaw on Lobelia inflata. The Lancet (1833) →

Practice

Constitutional Herbal Medicine

Berberis trifoliolata (Algerita)
Berberis trifoliolata (Algerita)

In essence, the label constitutional herbal medicine simply points to a type of herbal treatment that addresses an underlining tendency rather than an outward dysfunction/symptom.

The progression of tendency to dysfunction occurs thusly:

(But first: a healthy organ or unified group of tissues working in concert under normal/non-stressed conditions has an output of much less than total capacity. Let’s call this ‘steady-state’ operation. If we are fortunate enough to be born healthy and have a reasonably health-normal childhood, we start here.)

Due to a combination of every-day influences (the aging process, genetics, and long-term environmental and/or lifestyle insults) working organ/tissue effort increases in order to maintain equilibrium. That particular organ or area must work harder to complete its physiological tasks; instead of steady-state operation being achieved with only 10%-20% of total capacity, it now, for whatever reason, is called on to engage a greater percentage. Workload increases.

At moderate organ/tissue challenge (middle age or even in the healthy or young with a genetic predisposition) it’s common to approach the half to three-quarter capacity mark. But even here the body is mostly symptom free: the less efficient organ/tissue group still maintains steady-state (and routine blood work and examinations all come back normal). Enter constitutional herbal medicine: it is best used here to either stimulate or sedate an organ system or tissue group, ideally before an illness manifests.

Glycyrrhiza lepidota (Wild licorice)
Glycyrrhiza lepidota (Wild licorice)

Further along on the continuum, in response to the continued push-pull of life, dysfunction breakthrough begins to occur. This period, when symptoms of dysfunction begin to manifest and peek through an otherwise healthy, but labored internal situation, is the beginning of the transition from successful constitutional herbal application to symptomatic application. As the underlying tendency changes to definable illness, constitution herbal medicine has less sway. At this point, symptom-oriented applications will likely comprise the mainstay of an herbal treatment plan.

So basically, constitutional herbal medicine has as much to do with the what (herb) as the timing (pre-disease). By subtly targeting a particular tissue group or organ system, the premise is to head-off disease prior to its occurrence with a well-selected herb or combination thereof.