Herbal Energetics
Chamomile
Chamomile is slightly cooling & slightly drying as a nervins, bitter, anti-inflammatory, disphoretic, antispasmodic, carminative, antimicrobial.
Stinging Nettle
Cooling & drying as a nutritive, astringent, anti-inflammatory & a diuretic support
Calendula
Antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, & a vulnerary
Lavendar
warming with antimicrobial, aromatic, nervine, antifungal & carminative qualities
Rosemary
Warming & drying with nervine, antimicrobial, aromatic, carminative, stimulating circulatory system & antioxidant qualities
Dandelion
Cooling & drying with leaves that are bitter, diuretic, nutritious & hepatic (supports the liver) while her roots hold the same support as the leaves but also are a mild laxative, blood nurturing & a prebiotic (high in inulin)
Milk Thistle
Neutral Energy - Neutralizes toxins, inflammation modulating, hepato protective cholerectic & cholagogue
Chickweed
Moistening & cooling with its vulnerary, diuretic, nutritive, demulcent, lymphatic, anti-inflammatory & an expectorant properties
Lemon Balm
Cooling & slightly drying & may bring support to frazzled nerves, anxiousness, depression, digestion, seasonal disorder, colic, herpes, insomnia, cognitive health, heart palpitations, spasmodic coughing, inflammation
Yarrow
Harmonizing energey. Bring balance - Astringent, diuretic, diaphorectic & antiseptic
Motherwart
Cooling & drying as a nervine, cardiotonic, antispasmodic, anxiolytic (reduces anxiety) & an emmenagogue.
California Poppy
Antidepressant, sedative, nervine, anxiolytic (reduces anxiety) & a painkiller
Rose
Cooling energy - antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, nervine & analgesic
Elder
Cooling & drying with her flowers & berries being composed of nervine, diuretic (lower blood pressure), immune enhancing, antiviral & diaphorectic (includes sweating) properties
Spearmint
Cooling and high in antioxidants. Can alleviate symptons of toothache, gas, nausea, cramps, headaches and sore threat
AYURVEDA Test
Match your unique energy to the energy of different herbs.
Vata (Air) - Elements of space, runs cold & windy
Pitta (Fire & Water) - elements of heat, runs warm
Kapha (Earth & Water) - elements of steadiness, runs smooth & stable
Opposites create balance. Example: Peppermint + Ginger
Cooling herbs
Clears infections & used as a sedatiive
Dandelion Root
Chickweed
Motherwort
Lavendar
Milk Thristle
Spearmint
Drying herbs
Used as a diuretic and astringent
Dandelion Leaf
Nettles
Chamomile
Yarrow
Calendula
Rose
Warming Herbs
Increases circulation and decreases pain.
Chickweed
Milk Thistle
Damp herbs
Soothes irritations and is mucilaginous.
Chickweed
Milk Thistle
Talk the herbal verbal
Vulnerary - Wound healer (Calendula, Aloe, Plantain, Turmeric & Chamomile)
Cardio Tonic Herbs - Support heart function (Motherwort & Rose)
Bitters - Help digestion (Dandelion leaf, Yarrow, & Chamomile)
Carminatives - Gas & Bloating (Ginger & Chamomile)
Demulcent - Soothe hot & irritated tissues *dry cough, sunburn, sore throat, etc *Mucilaginous (Chickweed)
Immunomodulating - Encourages the Immune System (Elderberry, Holy Basil/Tulsi, Shitake, Astragalus)
Anti-Inflammatory - Reduce inflammation (Turmeric, Ginger, Paprika, Chickweed, Lavender, & Plantain)
Antimicrobial - Fight against bacteria, viral, & fungal infections (Elderberry, Yarrow, Garlic, & Rosemary)
Adaptogen Herbs - Taken over time to build resiliency to handle stress (Holy Basil/Tulsi)
Emmenagogue - Promotes menstruation *AVOID IF PREGNANT (Motherwort, Ginger, Yarrow, & Parsley)
Nervine - Alters the nervous system (California Poppy, Milky Oats, Chamomile, Lavender, & Lemon Balm)
Antispasmodic - To relieve cramping muscles (California Poppy, Motherwort, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, & Ginger)
Astrigent - Tones & tightens tissue *Diarrhea or sore throat etc (Rose Yarrow, & Sage)
Diaphoretic - 2 different camps: Relaxing (Chamomile & Yarrow) or Stimulating (Ginger & Yarrow) to support during a fever
Identifying
Best to properly spot while herb is in flower, which will give a more successful determination of who is who out in the wild. Then watch her year-round before consuming to make sure you have positively picked her out.
Warning: Some plants may have hazardous interactions with certain medications. Don't eat something if you don't know what it is.
Opposite Leaves
Oval/Egg-shaped leaves with Rosette Formation
Alternating Leaves
Bi-Pinnately Compound Leaves
Medicine making
Water, vinegar, oil, alcohol, honey & glycerin are called a solvent if they are extracting medicinal compounds from herbs. A solvent is called a menstruum when creating a tincture.
Tincture
Olive Oil
Lesson wrap up (activity)
Water, vinegar, oil, alcohol, honey & glycerin are called a solvent if they are extracting medicinal compounds from herbs. A solvent is called a menstruum when creating a tincture.
- Meet herbs, learn herbal energetics & understand your dominate Dosha
- Plant & grow Calendula to give in gratitude to someone who you appreciate
- Include everyone in a picnic-bringing an item from nature to share (Tea-Fruit-Vegetable) *Learn an herbal salad recipe
- Adapt by reaching for alternative medicine in making & having on hand Chickweed Salve
- Curiously sample different herbal teas
- Master an understanding of a single herb & share you knowledge
Additional Resources
Energetic System of Herbal Medicine by David Winston
Don't Eat Something If You Don't Know What It Is