What Is an Herb

It is medicinally used from Korea to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. In Korea, the plant is used as an aphrodisiac for males and the elderly. In Japan, a decoction of the root is drunk to treat cough, invigorate, and treat tuberculosis. In Taiwan, the plant is an external remedy for snake bites. In Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, the roots are used to treat bronchitis, amnesia, and to stimulate memory and urination. The antitussive property is very probably owed to polygalasaponins, which are known to abound in the plant (24-26). It would be interesting to know whether the tonic properties mentioned here are owed to serotoninergic mechanisms. What is the alkaloidal content of this herb ... 

Conversely, active constituents may have cooperative effects and together act in an additive or synergistic (supra-additive) manner. In such cases, it would be better to consume the whole plant or extract, because the combination of constituents would give a greater effect than one alone. Thus, to blindly advocate either the use of whole herb or refined single constituents is naive. To fully know what is best for the desired effect, herbs must be considered on a case-by-case basis and the nature of the interactions between the chemical constituents must be carefully considered. Not only must we understand what the plant s chemical constituents do, we must also investigate how they interact. The Use of Herbal Medicine The Current Prevalence of Alternative Medicine... 

Tilke is enthusiastic in his praise of the herb "I have found it such a clarifier of the blood, that by drinking an infusion once or twice a day, sweeted with honey, instead of tea, it would be a perfect cure for the headache, or what is commonly called the meagrims." The same writer recommends it as a salad "instead of watercresses."... 

Chemical composition of herbs is always a complex subject. A medicinal herb can be compared with a chemical factory due to presence of number of chemical constituents. The literature on this aspect is scattered and what is required today is a textbook covering all aspects including chemical formulas, structures and standards applicable to isolated constituents with special reference to biological activity. This book is an attempt in that direction. 

The present edition also includes a separate classification system to address what is known about the potential for an herb to interact with any drugs. Each of the herbs listed here is identified in one of three interaction classes to differentiate between those for which no clinically relevant interactions are expected and those for which clinically relevant interactions are biologically plausible or are, in fact, known to occur. 

Each herb is placed in two classes based on all of the information included, along with the experience of the Expert Advisory Council. The first is the Safety Class, which evaluates the safety of a particular herb. The second is the Interaction Class, which provides information on what is currently known about the potential for an herb to alter the effect of prescription or non-prescription drugs when the herb and drug are used concomitantly. Central to the appropriate application of this document is the understanding that classifications are based on an assumption of rational, informed use of herbs and herbal products. 

With an eye to the Sun and Moon s disposition, we gather some fresh Rosemary, chop it finely and place it into a flask with a little water to make paste. We let it stand awhile to loosen up, then steam is injected into the herb paste and the hot vapors arising are captured in a cooling condenser. This distillate contains water from the steam and floating on the water will form a layer of oil—the essential oil of Rosemary. This oil we collect. It is the first of the Three Essentials and represents what the alchemists called the Alchemical Sulfur of the plant. The oil is a material analog or vehicle for the subtle principle of Sulfur, the Soul or character of the plant. 

When combining herbs in mixes consider also their planetary and zodiac combinations. What complements what, what adversely affects what this would include planetary rulership, fall, exaltation and detriment. Try to combine the herbs of like nature, which in itself is essential for the nature of an operation. 

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