Describe Before You Name - Herbs

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2d (edited) • Herbal Use

Before we decide that something is “hot,” “dry,” “tense,” or “stagnant,” it helps to begin with something simpler. what are we actually observing? Someone might say, “I have congestion.” But that name does not tell us very much yet. Is the mucus thin or thick? Clear or colored? Does the person feel warm or chilled? Are the tissues dry and irritated, or moist and heavy? Does movement help? Does warmth help?

Is there tightness or a feeling that things are not moving well?

Those observations begin to show us a pattern. This is different from diagnosing a disease. We are learning to describe what is happening well enough to notice useful relationships. That matters because two people can use the same word for what they are experiencing while the underlying pattern looks quite different.

Over the next several weeks, we will begin working with patterns such as heat and cold, dryness and dampness, tension, weakness, and stagnation. But the first step is not memorizing those names.

Describe what you observe before you decide what to call it.

What Comes First? Someone tells you, “I’m congested.”

Before deciding what pattern is present or what herb might fit, what is the best first step?

Choose an herb commonly used for congestion

Decide whether it is a hot or cold pattern.

Describe what you can observe, such as thin or thick mucus, warmth or chill, dryness or moisture, tension, and what makes it better or worse.

Make a stronger preparation so it covers more possibilities.

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Describe Before You Name - Herbs