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Herbal Formulation Stratedgies

Writer's picture: Logan KeisterLogan Keister

Herbal Formulation Strategies

By Logan Keister

1/13/2024


When you work with a single herb, we call it a simple in folk herbalism, but when we combine two or more herbs we begin to formulate! Many traditional medicine systems rely heavily, if not almost entirely, upon herbal formulas for their practice. In systems such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is much written on the art and practice of herbal formulation that dates back countless centuries. Here in North America, we are blessed with an abundance of medicinal herbs, but not much written on the theory and practice of herbal formulation with these plants. There is a big gap in the knowledge and literature written on this topic.


Through this article I share theories behind much of our North American Folk Herbalist practices so we can better understand how to combine herbs in a way that is beneficial to the people we serve. We can do this by having an understanding of herbal qualities (energetics), the influence of flavor, the traditional elements (fire, earth, air, water), herbal actions, organ affinities, and specific indications. When we view a single herb with all these concepts in mind, the process of combining these herbs becomes more natural. In the beginning, it will feel more like an intellectual exercise, but when you get to know specific plants very well it becomes intuitive to figure out which herbs work well together. 


Start With The Simples


Working with single herbs is a great way to work with herbs. It is great when you know the plant you are administering well, have a clear idea of how that plant works and the desired effect you are trying to achieve. Working with simples allows us to be specific and targeted, and gives us confidence in our remedy selection process. For folks new to herbalism, I recommend they start working with a few herbs on their own and get to know them very well.


However, there comes a time in most herbalist's journeys when it becomes clear that two or more herbs may be indicated for an individual. In these instances, it is fine to give that individual multiple simples. However, if you start loading that person up with three or more herbs they are supposed to take daily it can quickly become cumbersome and may be hard for your client to remember to take them all. This invites the herbalist to consider combining these simples into a formula.


One major criticism, I see herbalists make about using herbal formulas is that so often they use a “shotgun” approach when formulating. Whereas a simple is targeted and aimed right where you want it. The shotgun approach is when an herbalist adds a bunch of herbs together in hopes that at least one of them will have the desired effect. The problem with this shotgun approach is that often the herbs that may work well for that individual have now become diluted by other herbs in the formula and if this formula ends up having an undesirable effect it becomes hard to pinpoint which herb may be the culprit. Most herbal formulas I see on the market use this shotgun approach. 


Pedicular groenlandica
Pedicular groenlandica

Some major herb companies seem to look up the research done on herbs for a specific issue and just combine all those herbs together. From a marketing standpoint, or a more reductionist standpoint, this may seem like a good idea. However, those more experienced clinical practitioners trained in herbal energetics who know their plants well often see the flaws in these formulas. For one, just because there is research to show an herb is useful for a specific illness or disease doesn't tell us when or how it is useful for that disease. I often see herbs that are useful for preventing one from getting sick combined with herbs that are useful for treating a specific symptom during the acute stages of sickness. 


The preventative remedies often require us to take them for extended periods before we get sick to reap the benefits such as Astragalus membranaceus or Reishi (Ganoderma spp.). These herbs (or mushrooms) are not useful during the acute stages of illness and will likely dilute the herbs that will be helpful in the formula for the acute stages of sickness. 


An herb may be useful for a specific symptom of a disease that may or may not be present. For instance, when someone gets the flu I may select an herb to treat their fever symptoms. My herb selection for that person’s fever will depend on the current state of that fever. The herbs I would choose for someone who has a very hot fever but is not sweating would be different from someone who has a hot fever and is sweating profusely. Maybe that person is very cold and has a low-grade fever that I want to bring up by using warming herbs. Those warming herbs may be contraindicated for someone experiencing a very hot fever. Maybe someone is coughing because they have excess mucus that needs to come out and need herbs that are drying expectorants. Someone else may be coughing because their throat is too dry and requires moistening herbs with mucilage to increase mucus production.


Yes, this is an article on how to formulate and the benefits of herbal formulation. It is important though to discuss the issues around herbal formulation I see in the marketplace first. This is not to discourage people from formulating but to encourage them to make better formulas. Because there is so much crap out there, if you have some knowledge on how to make good formulas you are doing way better than most of the companies out there marketing their weak products. In the end, these products only help feed into the skepticism the majority of conventional Western society has against the efficacy of herbal medicine.


Now that we have that out of the way, let’s discuss what makes a good herbal formula. A good herbal formula is crafted with the knowledge of each individual herb going into it and how those plants will interact together. A good herbal formula takes into account the qualities or energetics of those herbs so the formula is well-balanced either for a specific person or for a broad spectrum of people.


To understand how to make a good herbal formula, it is helpful to look at herbs in a few specific categories. The categories I see as most important are Flavor, Qualities (Energetics), Herbal Actions, Organ Affinities, and Specific Indications (Special Potency). Looking at a single herb and determining how it fits into these categories helps us determine if the herb matches all that our client requires, or if it they require two or more herbs.


Form of Formulation: Internal and External Medicines


When you begin working with an herb it is important to first decide what form of medicine you want that herb to take. Each method has pros and cons and can vary in efficacy depending on what herb it is and how it is processed.


Infusions and Decoctions


This is the most basic category of herbal medicine. It is simply extracting the herbs with water. The only process needed before adding water is drying the herbal material. This can be done using drying racks or hanging herbs in a dry space with decent airflow away from sunlight. It can also be done using a dehydrator setup.


This method of formulation is ideal for making nourishing herbal infusions, is acceptable to folks who don’t like alcohol tinctures and is great for coating large areas, whether inner or outer, with the healing constituents within the liquid.


With infusions, we simply pour hot water over our herbs and let them steep for some time. With a decoction we let the herbs simmer typically on low heat for a while. In general, most herbs extract best through the decoction method. I think most people end up not making herbal teas properly because they use too little herbal material (tea bags are way too small in my opinion) and only let the herbs steep for a few minutes. I suggest steeping the herbs for at least 30 minutes or up to several hours. Often my herbal teas and decoctions are filled 1 ⁄ 4 of the way full with herbs and the remaining 3 ⁄ 4 with hot water. Make sure there is enough herbal material and enough time for extraction to maximize the healing benefits of your tea.


Tinctures


Tinctures are one of my favorite methods of formulating for a few reasons. Tinctures are very concentrated and therefore can exert their medicinal effects at low doses. This means that a small 1-2oz bottle could potentially hold enough formula to last a person many days, weeks, or months. This makes them very convenient, and easy to store and carry around. Compared to a tea or decoction it also means less work to prepare and they are less bulky to carry around.


The drawback of tinctures is that some people are intolerant of alcohol. This can be due to a history of alcoholism, sensitivities to alcohol, or moral or religious reasons. Some people make their tinctures from vegetable glycerin instead for that reason. However, glycerin is less effective at extracting most medicinal constituents compared to alcohol. Glycerin seems to work well with certain herbs, and is not very effective with others. 


Since people consume smaller amounts of tinctures due to the high alcohol content they are not good for adding bulk nutrition. Teas and decoctions do best here with mineral and nutrient-rich herbs.


When formulating with tinctures it is best to make a simple (single herb tincture) and then combine them once the formula recipe has been decided. Some herbalists like to add all the herbs into the alcohol to extract together. The reason I prefer making my herbal formulas from combined simples is that some herbs macerating into alcohol give up their medicinal constituents more readily than others. This means one herb in the mix may dominate the formula while others may not have the chance to extract before the alcohol is saturated. 


By making our simples before combining, we ensure that each herb is fully extracted and achieves the desired potency before being combined into a formula. You can try each simple on its own so you know the proper dosage to achieve the desired effect. This makes it easier to determine what ratio of each herb should be in the final formula. Herbs with strong flavors or potent actions can be used in a smaller ratio while gentler herbs with milder flavors can make up a larger portion of the formula. 


If using a tincture topically we refer to it as a liniment. Liniments absorb through the skin rapidly and therefore confer their benefits almost immediately. They also have the disinfectant benefit of the alcohol in cases of infection.



Herbal Oils


Herbal-infused oils are most often employed topically and can address a variety of external issues. They are often formulated with herbs that benefit skin health. They can be used in first-aid situations to speed up healing and prevent infection.


My favorite oil to use is olive oil as it is fairly neutral in aroma and stores medicinal constituents well. When I make my oils I use freshly dried herbs. By freshly dried I mean herbs that are fully dried so as not to spoil the oil with their water content and fresh in that they have been recently dried. The more recently dried the better but most herbs are fine used in oil if used within a year or less.


I make sure the herbs are chopped fairly fine to increase the surface area while extracting with oil. To make a very potent oil, one may cover the herbs in 95% abv. and let them sit out in an open container for a day or two to allow the alcohol to evaporate off of them. This allows the alcohol to help extract and strip volatile oils from the herbs that oil has trouble extracting on its own.


Once the alcohol has evaporated off most of the way I then pour my oil over the top and gently warm the oil with an open lid to allow any excess water or alcohol still be in the herbs to dissipate. You can warm your oil like this for a few hours. Let the oil and herbs sit in a closed container away from direct light for at least 40 days. I then strain the oil through cheesecloth and bottle it up in a container for use.


To formulate these oils simply mix each oil together at the desired ratio. Similar to tinctures I prefer to make my oils separately as single herbs and then combine them later at the desired ratio.


To make this oil into a salve simply melt some beeswax into your herbal oil on low heat while slowly stirring the solution. Allow it to cool, stirring occasionally so it is properly mixed together. 


I do not like working with slaves and prefer herbal oils, because the beeswax in salves makes it more difficult for the skin to breathe. In cases of infection this seals in the wound and can make the infection spread. I have seen and experienced this myself on multiple occasions. Herbal oils also absorb faster into the skin and have a quicker effect. The main benefit of a salve is that it holds to the skin longer, its shelf life is longer, and some people prefer the creamy feel of a salve versus the greasy feeling of oil.


Herbal Qualities (Energetics)


Herbal qualities are at the foundation of most traditional medical systems. They describe the effects of herbs, the constitutions of people, the expression of disease, and the influence of diet, environment, and lifestyle in terms of pairs of opposites. These pairs are hot and cold and wet and dry. I also consider the qualities of stimulating and relaxing.


This way of understanding herbal medicine is key to assessing how to treat a particular issue or to help determine the nature of the illness. In Galenic medicine from ancient Greece, they looked at the degree of each herb to determine how strong its influence would be. These degrees typically ranged from 1 to 3 or 4. Herbs in the first degree were said to be the most gentle and therefore acceptable to almost all people. Herbs in the 3rd or 4th degree were considered very strong in their influence. They therefore should be reserved for more extreme conditions and for those with constitutions that are antipathetic (opposite) to the qualities of that herb. For example, an herb like Cayenne (Capsicum annum) is very hot in the 4th degree and could aggravate someone prone to excess heat. It would be more useful in cold constitutions or in cold conditions which would benefit from its hot quality. An herb like fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) however is gently warming in the 1st degree and therefore acceptable to both hot and cold constitutions and conditions, however, will have a better effect over cold conditions.


Just to note that when I speak about blood it is both in terms of our modern medical understanding of blood, but also in the herbal folk tradition concept of blood. Blood is understood a bit differently in folk medicine. In folk traditions, it is considered as the life essence which carries one's vitality and its quality is reflective thereof. It carries nutrients throughout the body and its quality changes in accordance with the seasons, diet, and lifestyle factors.


Hot (Fire)


Herbs that are considered hot or warming generally have their influence by stimulating the circulation of blood toward specific tissues. On a systemic level, this is usually a shunting of blood away from internal organs out to the periphery. An increase in heat and blood brings more activity to those tissues. This increases the metabolic activity of those tissues and increases their function. Heat can also present as inflammation as inflammation is a sign of increased blood to tissues.


Heat is associated with folks who have high energy, fast metabolism, are more prone to anger, and tend to be more athletic. When working they can be prone to over-doing things i.e. “burning the candle at both ends.” People prone to excess heat often have a more red or carmine pink skin tone. Their tongue may be muscular, coming to a point (flame-shaped), with raised red papillae, and red or carmine pink coloration. Pulse tends to be superficial, full, and rapid.


Warming herbs include Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Cayenne (Capsicum annum), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), and Garlic (Allium sativum)


Cold (Earth)



Cooling herbs work to either release heat, reduce inflammation, or depress metabolic function. On a systemic level, this is a shunting of blood away from the periphery (skin) inwards towards internal organs. Cooling herbs are often applied to hot inflamed tissues, overactive tissues, or organs, or for releasing heat through diaphoresis. On a mental level cooling herbs can be employed to depress excess mental activity and nervous overstimulation. 


Folks with a cooler constitution tend to work more slowly and methodically, have a slower metabolism, and are more prone to depressive tendencies when out of balance. Cold people tend to have paler complexions. Their tongue may be paler or grayish. Pulse tends to be deep, low, and slow.


Cooling herbs include Cucumber (Cucumis sativus), Huckleberry (Vaccinium spp.), Mint (Mentha spp.), Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum), and Rose (Rosa spp.).


Wet (Water)



Moistening herbs help promote the production of mucus, lubricate joints, and nourish dried atrophied tissues. Often these herbs contain mucilaginous polysaccharides which have a slimy texture. When this slimy herbal mucilage makes contact with our tongues it initiates a reflex action throughout our body to tell our mucus membranes to begin secreting mucus. We not only experience mucus through our respiratory tract but all of our internal organs contain mucus membranes which help to lubricate them and protect them. This is especially true in the GI tract where mucus membranes help prevent the corrosive Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) in our stomach used for digestion from causing damage to our internal tissues. Many folks who experience esophageal reflux and heartburn benefit from the protective mucilage coating these herbs offer, helping to prevent ulceration.


Folks with a moist constitution tend to be more emotional. They have a stronger sense of belonging to groups and family bonds. They are not necessarily very extroverted and social around new folks, but desire long standing relationships built over time. They like having a group identity whether through family, community, or religious group.


Excess moisture in the body shows up as excess adipose tissue (fat), swollen limbs (edema), high blood pressure, excess phlegm, and slower metabolism. The tongue will often be large and thick, have a coating (usually white), and ridges on the sides (scalloped). The pulse tends to be full, thick, and slow.


Moistening herbs include Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Chickweed (Stellaria media), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), Marshmallow (Althea officinallis), Chia Seeds (Salvia hispanica), and Sweet Violet (Viola odorata). 


Very few herbs are moistening so I recommend that most herbalists memorize as many moistening herbs as they can and assume all others are drying to a certain degree.


Dry (Air)



Drying herbs help dry out excess secretions and moisture, improve the tone of loose tissues, and help knit wounds back together. Drying herbs are employed when excess fluids like phlegm bog down the person causing the movement of fluids like blood to become slow and sluggish. They are also employed when tissues become loose or flabby, losing the ability to hold fluids in place. When fluids aren’t contained within well-toned tissues (like our arteries and other blood vessels) the fluids fall out of place, pool up, and stagnate. For this reason, drying herbs are considered to be tonifying to the tissues. Many of these herbs are either drying through astringent or diuretic action.


Folks with excess dryness in their constitution tend to be thinner and emaciated, have excess nervous activity, are “thin-skinned,” have low appetites, a more dry intellectual bent, and prone to anxiety when out of balance.


Excess dryness shows up in the body as dry skin, lips and hair. Lack of moisture on mucus membranes including those around internal organs, mouth and respiratory tract. They may lack adequate digestive juices like HCl and enzymes. They are more prone to constipation, bloating, and gas. They tend to have a high metabolism and burn through energy quickly. The tongue tends to be thin, pale in color, have cracks down the middle, and may quiver shortly after being extended. The pulse tends to be superficial, thin, weak, and quick.


Drying herbs include Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), Ladys Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris), Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), and Nettle (Urtica dioica). 


Most herbs are drying, therefore if you know it's not a moistening herb you can assume it to be drying. Astringent, diuretic, and high mineral aquaretic plants tend to be the most drying.


Flavor Through The Elements


Flavor is where I like to start when determining the influence of a particular herb. Flavor can help us determine the other categories, such as what the quality of that herb is, as well as what its herbal actions and organ affinities might be. Through understanding flavor, we can determine the influence of herbs we haven’t tried before.


The major tastes are sweet, salty, bitter, and sour. I also include pungent (aromatic) and acrid as flavors.


In the folk herbalism tradition I practice, each flavor is said to correlate with the traditional Galenic or Stoic elements of earth, air, fire, and water. A more esoteric 5th element of ether (some call it quintessence, space, or pneuma) also exists but will be less relevant for this discussion.


It is said that everything in the universe is composed of these elements. In this way, we have all the elements within us. However, the elements are not in perfect balance. When we are born we tend to have a greater preponderance of one or two of these elements while others will be deficient. We also influence the elements in our body through our lifestyle and environment.


Determining a person's constitution or elemental composition can help us determine which remedies will work best for them. Each herb will influence the elements, either acting to increase or decrease a particular element. When we determine a person's dominant element or elements, we call that their constitution. 


In Ayurveda, they distinguish between the constitution you were born with and the one you acquire through diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors. For example, a hot dry place like the Mojave desert in the summer has a strong fire element, as do hot spicy dry foods like cayenne pepper. One who has a lot of fire (e.g. tends to be hot and dry) will find this environment and these foods aggravating to their constitution. Imagine if this same fiery individual moved to Anchorage Alaska in the winter which is very cold and wet, worked a sedentary desk job, and ate lots of cold ice cream every day. This would be less aggravating to the excess fire they were born with. However, over time they may develop a more cold and wet constitution that we associate with water. At that point, it may be more difficult to determine that their underlying constitution is fire if they begin to develop a more cold and moist constitution through environmental and lifestyle factors.


Having a basic understanding of how each person has a unique constitution helps us with remedy selection and making better formulators. Formulas given to a specific person should be targeted to their unique makeup. Formulas meant to be sold at the marketplace should strive to be well-balanced or contain mostly gentle herbs that will not likely throw someone's constitution far out of balance. Understanding how each herb influences the constitution will be important in this way.


Sweet (Earth)


Sweet is correlated with the earth element. Sweet is not only sugars and fruits but also relates to bland flavored carbohydrates such as potatoes, rice, and flour.  The sweet or bland flavor relates to earth in the way that sweet is a building flavor. It is indicated for those who lack earth, meaning they typically are more thin, emaciated, and weak. It is contraindicated for those with a strong earth in their constitution. This means folks who tend to gain fat very easily will find sweet foods to bulk them up to excess. Excess earth is associated with obesity, stubbornness, hardheadedness, slowness, sluggishness, drowsiness, and laziness and creates difficulties with the movement of fluids and nutrients throughout the body. A proper balance of earth creates one who is steady, dependable, reliable, and strong. Diseases of the earth in this way can be hyperinsulinemia, diabetes, obesity, chronic fatigue, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol/triglycerides, or musculoskeletal conditions from lack of movement and excess weight gain.


A good example of a sweet (bland) herb would be Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). While most herbs classified as being adaptogenic are usually stimulating, Ashwagandha is known to help promote better sleep when used regularly. It is indicated for folks who lack earth e.g. those who are thin, emaciated, and weak. Ashwagandha helps to boost their vitality, promotes restful sleep, improves thyroid function, decreases excessive reactions to stressful situations, and improves sexual vitality.


Salt (Water)


The salty flavor is associated with the water element. This is not just table salt but includes herbs high in electrolytes (e.g. minerals and salts). Plants like seaweeds, Nettles (Urtica dioica), and Kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) I consider mineral-rich salty plants.


Those familiar with osmosis know that it is water's natural tendency to follow the salt. If you put fresh water into a balloon with a permeable membrane into a bucket of salt water, the salt would enter the balloon until it reached an equal concentration of salinity with its surrounding environment. Our cells are no different. That is why we become dehydrated if we drink water from the ocean. Very salty water will increase the salinity in our bodies when we drink it. The only way our bodies can remove excess salt is by expelling water from the body to carry out the salt through urination. Salt influences our blood pressure in this way too as excess salt in the body will hold onto more water, therefore raising the blood volume and increasing pressure.


Salts are electrolytes. Electrolytes contain both a positively charged element and a negatively charged element. In the case of table salt, sodium chloride (NaCl), we have a positively charged sodium atom bound to a negatively charged chlorine atom. When placed into a polar solvent like water, the sodium and chloride atoms bonds fall free from one another. These atoms now disperse evenly throughout the solution through osmosis. Since one atom has a positive charge and the other a negative, this solution is capable of conducting an electrical current. That is why we call them electrolytes. Electrolytes are essential for our health for conducting electrical impulses throughout our body. No need to buy fancy electrolyte powders or drinks now that you know all they are is a small quantity of salt mixed into water!


So now that we understand the scientific understanding of salt’s relationship to water, we can better appreciate folk herbalists who relate salt to the water element. The water element is also associated with emotions. Water people tend to make decisions based mainly on their emotions. They are more family or group-oriented individuals who feel comfortable around those they have long-term ties with but more uncertain around new people. In excess, they tend to hold more water in the body in the form of adipose tissue (fat), edema, varicose veins, spider veins, and high blood pressure. They are more prone to depression, sluggishness, laziness, and can become overly emotional. Those lacking water tend to be lean, skinny, and have a dryer more intellectual bent versus being more emotional.


Bitter (Fire)


Bitter is associated with the element of fire as no other flavor seems to promote the digestive fire to the extent that bitter flavor does. Some systems classify bitter under air and fire as sour. Since fire is opposite to water, the bitter flavor is neutralized when mixed with salt. Don’t believe me? Try putting some salt into your black coffee or eating some bitter greens with and without salt. You will see that when Water (salt) is poured over Fire (bitter), the bitter loses its strength.


Many classify bitter as a cooling flavor, which is why they may associate it with air and ether in Ayurveda. Certainly, when one tries a very bitter flavor it often sends a shiver down your spine like you were hit by a cold wind while standing buck naked in the arctic tundra. Greek humoral medicine even developed the concept of having a cooling bitter salad in the summertime to help bring down heat while that same salad was discouraged during cold months when digestion was slower and couldn’t handle raw uncooked greens as well. In this way, the bitter flavor certainly has cooling aspects to it which seems apathetic to the nature of Fire. However, as we will see, the bitter flavor plays a crucial role in stimulating our digestive fire, making it in my practice and Western Folk Herbal tradition a quintessential flavor of the Fire element. 


Bitter works by reflex action upon the GI tract. When we get the bitter flavor making contact with bitter taste receptors on our tongue, the reflex action upon our GI tract begins to take place instantaneously. First one may notice an increase in saliva. This increase in salivation helps lubricate food so it may pass down the esophagus more easily and also coats the food in salivary enzymes. Amylase and other enzymes for the digestion of carbohydrates are particularly high in saliva.


The bitter reflex also stimulates the production and release of HCl and enzymes, followed by bicarbonate in the stomach. Food is carried through the GI tract by smooth muscles through peristalsis stimulated by the bitter reflex. This not only increases the amount of peristalsis but also helps improve the tone of these smooth muscles in the GI tract.


The bitter reflex also works on the timing of the opening and closing of various sphincters throughout the GI tract. An example would be our esophageal sphincter or our duodenal sphincter. Without the proper opening and closing of these sphincters, one may find food unable to pass through the GI tract accordingly or find gastric juices coming up and causing damage to tissues. When the timing is off people often suffer from esophageal reflux, GERD, and heartburn which can lead to gastric ulcers. We develop esophageal ulcers and duodenal ulcers when HCl from the stomach goes unimpeded by the sphincters which are supposed to close during the digestive process. In this way, we can use the bitter flavor to help train our body’s GI tract to have proper timing during digestion. Be careful if one already suffers from the above-mentioned conditions, as the bitter flavor stimulates the production of HCl as well. In these cases of ulceration and GI reflux, I recommend someone start with demulcents and work with a practitioner to slowly train their gut back into proper equilibrium.


The bitter flavor helps stimulate the processes of elimination, excretion, and detoxification. While many of the herbs known to directly stimulate the assimilative and eliminative functions of the liver are bitter, not all bitter herbs are “liver herbs.” They do however seem to exert an influence upon eliminating feces and gas from the body. Bitter herbs that do influence the liver act to stimulate the detoxification pathways of the liver. Remember that every substance we consume or make contact with must go through the liver at some point before it leaves the body.


People with a strong fire in their constitution tend to be athletic, courageous, magnanimous and more prone to anger and irritability. They have a strong digestive fire, are lean, and muscular, and have a fast metabolism. Fire when out of balance makes one prone to accidents and injuries (think adrenaline junkies). These people are more prone to inflammatory conditions and diseases, infections, adrenal overexertion and burnout. Those lacking fire tend to be slower, weaker, have slow digestion, and lack motivation.


Sour (Air)


The sour flavor is associated with the air element as the sour flavor tends to promote dryness. When we look for sour-flavored herbs we often find our antioxidant-rich berries and fruits. Antioxidants work to scavenge free radicals which cause oxidative damage to tissues. This oxidative damage often results in an inflammatory response. As these antioxidants within sour berries help prevent oxidative stress and inflammation they are generally viewed as cooling due to their anti-inflammatory nature.


We also find the sour flavor in vinegar and fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi and yogurt. Vinegar does have a bit of a warming influence on digestion since it stimulates the production of stomach acid. In this way, some sour flavors can be considered warming although the aspect of dryness is still present which is the main trait of the air element in stoicism. This warming influence in increasing HCl during digestion is why lemon or other citrus added to water is often recommended as a morning beverage.


The sour flavor aids in the digestion of proteins. It is very common to see many marinades made for meat which include sour flavors from sources like citrus or vinegar. The acidity helps make the meat or other proteins easier to digest. A great example of this is ceviche where raw fish is “cooked” in acidic citrus juice. Any sour marinade added to protein-rich foods, especially when allowed to marinate for some time aids the digestive process.


People with strong Air in their constitution tend towards dryness in their skin, hair, tongue, and mucus membranes. Dryness in the GI tract leading to less digestive juices makes them more prone to constipation, having small hard “rabbit pellet” style stool. They tend to be thin, lean, narrow-shouldered, highly intellectual, adrenergic, anxious and quick thinkers. The sour flavor benefits them by aiding in the digestion of proteins and warming the GI. However, the dryness often associated with sour foods makes the inclusion of  sweet mucilaginous wet foods important to not throw them out of balance. Those who lack Air are more prone to weight gain, and damp stagnation, and are more emotional as opposed to dry and intellectual.


Pungent


The pungent flavor encapsulates all of our aromatic and spicy plants. These can be warming in the case of spicy plants like Cayenne (Capsicum annum) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale), or cooling aromatics in the case of herbs like Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and the Mints (Mentha spp.). 


The one thing that all pungent aromatic plants share in common is that they are all carminative. The carminative herbal action describes the benefits of relieving gas and bloating and stimulating digestion from consuming aromatic plants. They achieve this action through their volatile (essential) oils which are gently irritating to tissues. When a tissue is gently irritated it stimulates blood flow to that tissue. The increase in blood flow in turn increases metabolic functions of that tissue. 


One can observe this effect when applying a concentration of aromatic plants to the skin. If you rub an aromatic plant like Lavender (Lavendula sp.) on the skin, or pour a strong tea or diluted essential oil of lavender on the skin, you will see reddening of the skin. This stimulates circulation to the tissues and is useful in cases of bruising or poor circulation when used externally. When taken internally these volatile oils coat the GI tract and stimulate blood flow to the tissues. Just knowing that a plant has an aromatic flavor means it will have these benefits.


Aromatic oils help stave off predation and pathogens for the plant and confer this same benefit on to us when applied to tissues at risk for infection. 


The above statements apply to all aromatic plants in their ability to benefit digestion as carminatives, stimulate circulation, and have disinfectant properties. However, the uses of various pungent plants are broad. One must know a pungent plant's herbal actions and organ affinities to utilize it effectively. 


Acrid


The acrid flavor is generally unpleasant and therefore not as familiar to most people. Herbalists may be familiar with acrid herbs such as Lobelia inflata, Kava Kava (Piper methysticum), Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), and the polypore mushroom Agarikon (Fomitopsis officinallis). Many of our more potent toxic herbs Like Datura spp. and Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) are acrid indicating to the one tasting not to consume (or at least only to be taken in tiny doses). These herbs often have a diffusive effect helping drive the constituents of the herb to their desired tissues. This makes acrid herbs effective “drivers” in herbal formulation. Knowing the specific organ affinity of an acrid diffusive remedy means we can add them to formulas to help drive the active medicinal constituents to their desired tissues.


Herbal Actions and Organ Affinities


Organ affinities are pretty self-explanatory. In what area of the body is the herb exhibiting its medicinal influence? This isn’t just for individual organs but also entire organ systems, tissues, or cells. 


The major organ systems I use to categorize my organ affinities are Cardiovascular, Digestive (GI tract), Endocrine, Integumentary, Immune/Lymphatic, Musculoskeletal, Nervous, Urinary, Reproductive, and Respiratory.


Herbal actions describe the specific physiological response that is exhibited when an individual consumes a particular herb. There are many herbal actions and I will attempt to describe what I see as the major herbal actions one is most likely to encounter. 


When it comes to herbal formulation I like to think of each herbal action in terms of what its organ affinities are. That way when I am creating a formula I can ask myself what organ affinities am I looking to address and what type of influence (action) I want to have over that particular organ. For me, this makes remedy selection much easier to narrow down. It does however have its drawbacks since many herbs and herbal actions may have a systemic effect on the organism. In a sense all herbs do. If an herb improves digestion and all of our cells are composed of what we digest, wouldn’t all herbs that improve digestion have an affinity with all organ systems? Yes, they would, but to keep things easy to categorize we would look at herbal actions that have a specific affinity to the Gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) or a specific organ within the GI tract.


Adaptogen 

Organ affinities: Endocrine

This is a modern herbal action developed by scientists during the 1980s. They created this term to help describe the influence of Eleutherococcus senticosus in experiments on rats. They showed that administering this herb to rats allowed them to swim longer without drowning versus placebo. They therefore concluded that Eleutherococcus exhibited a hormonal effect that improves one's response to stress (Martinez et al. 1984).


For this reason, it is not my favorite herbal action, yet it has become a popular one. Herbs like Ginseng (Panax sp.), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Reishi (Ganoderma sp.), and Rhodiola rosea have all been categorized as adaptogens. All of these herbs have markedly different influences on the body. What I see they share in common is when taken regularly they help one to adapt to stress. They all influence hormonal regulation so I categorize their organ affinities as endocrine. 


Some adaptogens are more stimulating like Rhodiola rosea while others are more relaxing like Reishi (Ganoderma sp.). Therefore I think it is important to view each adaptogen on its own terms. 


I often see stimulating adaptogens being overused. People will often take them to deal with stress or to compensate for low energy due to nutritional deficiencies. This does not address the underlying issues they are dealing with. It only leads to masking their underlying symptoms, pushing them further into a state of disease.


Take each adaptogen on its own terms and don’t let this herbal action on its own determine your understanding of these herbs.


Alterative 

Organ Affinities: Immune/Lymphatic, Respiratory, Integumentary


Many herbs are classified as alternatives. It is a nebulous term that is difficult to understand or define. The definition I was first taught by my teacher Howie Brounstein was that an alternative helps to strengthen the body's natural processes in the face of disease. This is really what alternatives are all about, yet it is not super clear what an alternative does. To be fair though, no one really knows what an alterative does physiologically but this describes how an alterative is used medicinally. Other definitions define it as having an influence over metabolism to stimulate the assimilative and eliminative functions of the body. Looking at both these definitions gives us a rough understanding of what an alternative is and why you might use one.


The next step to understanding an alternative is to understand its specific organ affinity. One of my favorite alterative herbs is Oregon Grape (Mahonia nervosa). Mahonia is an alternative for the skin, GI, liver, and immune system. It increases the assimilative processes of the GI through its bitter tonic properties as well as helping to eliminate wastes through the bowels, liver, and skin. It increases immune function and strengthens the body’s natural defenses in the face of disease as well as having a direct antimicrobial effect. It is useful in cases of dry scaly eczema, psoriasis and acne through its influence increasing the eliminative metabolic functions of the liver.


Some alteratives like Red Root (Ceanothus sp.), and Chickweed (Stellaria media) are specific alteratives for the lymph. When selecting an alterative it is key to determine the organ affinity and the strength of that particular herb. In the above example Red Root is a strong lymphatic alternative that is very astringent and drying while Chickweed is a very mild lymphatic alternative that is gently moistening. Chickweed can be administered in high doses daily with no ill effects in most people. Red Root on the other hand I typically use in small infrequent doses during acute illness or with chronic issues where lymphatic stagnation has built up over a long period. Since Red Root is so drying it works best for damp conditions.


Anti Inflammatory and Inflammation Modulator

Organ Affinities: Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal, Digestive, Urinary, Respiratory


Most herbs aren’t true anti-inflammatories like anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals such as NSAIDS and cortisol-mimicking drugs. In reality, most herbs categorized as anti-inflammatory help to modulate the inflammatory response of the body generally to a state with less inflammation. This is an important distinction to make as inflammation is part of the body's innate healing response. Inflammation helps to protect the body from pathogens and to bring blood and nutrients to areas in distress. Of course, many folks deal with chronic inflammation that is often unnecessary so working with herbs that tend to downward regulate the inflammatory response are very useful.


In herbal formulation, this is a very useful action to work with as chronic inflammation can make it difficult for the herbal constituents to travel to their desired tissues. Adding an inflammation-modulating herb to your formula in most instances will only help to improve the effectiveness of said formula. That is why Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is used in many Chinese herbal formulas. Licorice extends the half-life of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is our endogenous anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressing hormone in the body. It is because of this that Licorice is best used only in small quantities since it is a true immune suppressant and anti-inflammatory. Elevated cortisol may feel good when we are having an allergic reaction but it can have deleterious effects as well, raising your heart rate, suppressing immunity, and putting one at risk for dependence on Licorice the same way one gains dependence on cortisol-mimicking drugs.


Antispasmodic

Organ Affinities: Nervous, Musculoskeletal, Urinary

Antispasmodic herbs help to suppress spasms, contraction, tension, and tightness in the body. They are often employed in instances of cramping or injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus) and Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) are classic antispasmodic remedies. 


They are used in nervous system conditions where mental stress or anxiety makes one tight and tense. Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) is a classic remedy for folks who hold nervous tension in the neck and shoulders. 


Antispasmodics are also employed sometimes when one is trying to release a kidney stone through the urinary tract. Caution must be taken however as it is the spasm of muscles within the tract which helps to push the kidney stone through. It is usually employed when excess tension is making it difficult to pass the stone. I would prefer the use of urinary demulcents and calming nervines over antispasmodics in most cases.


Anodyne and Analgesic

Organ Affinities: Nervous, Musculoskeletal

Anodynes help to relieve pain without numbing. They help to relax or sedate the nervous system to help get one's mind off of the pain or irritation. Herbs like California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) and Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) are used traditionally as anodynes.


Analgesics help to relieve pain through numbing. A classic herbal analgesic is Spilanthes officinalis which is a remedy used to numb the mouth in cases of periodontal pain.



Astringent (Vulnerary)

Organ Affinities: Integumentary, Urinary, Digestive, Cardiovascular

Astringents help to dry, draw, and shrink swollen inflamed tissues. They are often used in skin issues (integumentary) to speed up the healing process of wounds. In these cases, they are referred to as vulnerary. They accomplish this by helping to knit proteins back together, reducing inflammation, drawing out material that causes infection, and are mildly antimicrobial. They can be employed in cases of venomous bites and stings to help draw out venom through their drawing action. They provide relief from itching for a few hours when applied in sufficient concentrations to the affected area. In cases of itching remember that astringents are drying and excess drying of tissues may aggravate the condition. In these cases apply an emollient (moistening) remedy as well.


Many astringents are specifically suited to the urinary tract and help disinfect as well as provide more tone to the smooth muscles lining the urinary tract. This is useful in cases of having trouble holding back urine and poor bladder control. Its disinfectant properties also help in cases of urinary tract infection. 


For urinary tract Infections herbs in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family that contain the glucoside arbutin like Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), Manzanita (Arctystaphylos patula) and Pipsissewa (Arctostaphylos pipsissewa) are often employed. When arbutin is consumed, it undergoes hydrolysis in the stomach or intestinal tract which converts it into hydroquinone. Hydroquinone is antimicrobial and is exited through the urinary tract as hydroquinone glucuronide or sulfate (Michael, 2020).


Astringents can also help improve the tone of the cardiovascular system. Blood vessel walls that have lost tone and tightness with age will have more difficulty in allowing the smooth passage of blood to its desired tissues. Capillary fragility in this way can be addressed with astringents to prevent pooling and stagnation of blood and allow fresh nourishing blood to reach the necessary tissues.


Bitter Tonic

Organ Affinities: Digestive


We covered the uses of bitter tonics thoroughly in our section on the bitter flavor. A brief summary is that bitter tonics help to stimulate digestion by increasing the secretions of HCl, bicarbonate, enzymes, bile, and other digestive juices. They help to regulate the timing of the opening and closing of various sphincters throughout the GI tract. They not only promote digestion but also the excretion of waste products through the bowels and skin. Some but not all have a specific affinity for stimulating the liver promoting detoxification.


Carminative

Organ Affinity: Digestive


We covered many of the uses of carminatives in our pungent flavor section, as all pungent aromatic plants are carminative. A brief summary is that carminative herbs help to stimulate digestion and relieve gas and bloating.


Demulcent and Emollient

Organ Affinity: Digestive, Urinary, Integumentary, Respiratory


These are our slimy mucilaginous moistening herbs. Demulcents are used internally while we call them emollients if they are used externally. They promote moisture to mucus membranes by stimulating the secretion of mucus. They are used for digestion in cases of hot acidic digestion. They are useful for GERD, ulcers, leaky gut syndrome, and as a prebiotic to help feed our gut flora. They are employed for Urinary issues like lubricating the urinary tract to help pass stones or to cool hot acidic urination. They are useful for the skin (integumentary) when the skin is dry, hot, or inflamed. Especially in cases of scalding to the skin from burns. Demulcents are probably most well-known in cases of respiratory ailments. Their main use is for dry coughing. They help to promote mucus which relieves the dry throat which can’t stop coughing.


Diaphoretic

Organ Affinities: Immune, Integumentary


Diaphoretics help to promote sweating. These are usually employed in cases of fever. The job of a fever is to help cook out the pathogen as its protein shell will dissociate at these higher temperatures. A warming diaphoretic like Cayenne does this by stimulating blood flow out towards the periphery. This is useful when the person feels cold and feeble, needing to help kick up the body temperature to help cook out the pathogen. 


A cooling diaphoretic like Mint (Mentha sp.) is employed when the person feels hot and tense but is not sweating. These cooling diaphoretics help to relax the pores of the skin so the person can help release the heat that's been building up and sweat out the pathogen. It is like a house with a roaring fireplace that has grown very hot inside. The cooling diaphoretic is like opening a window to help release all the heat that has built up.


Diaphoretics can also be employed for skin issues where there may be lingering cysts, boils, or pustules that haven’t fully released from the skin. The skin is a major organ of detoxification as well. This makes diaphoretics potentially useful for excreting heavy metals and other toxins through the skin. 


Since sweating is used to cool the body they are often employed in hot climates to help release heat through the periphery and cool off. Knowing this, it is no surprise that cultures from countries with hot climates like Mexico and Thailand have a love for very spicy foods. 


Diuretic

Organ Affinity: Urinary


Diuretics increase urination. A true diuretic does this by stimulating the kidney or bladder. Most herbs listed as diuretics like Nettle (Urtica dioica) and Dandelion Leaf (Taraxacum officinale) are actually aquaretics that increase urination through increasing mineral concentration in the body. The section on the salty flavor gives a thorough explanation of how this increase of salts in the body promotes urination through osmosis.


Diuretics are employed in cases of edema, varicose veins, spider veins, releasing stones, and maintaining healthy blood pressure.


Emmenagogue

Organ Affinity: Reproductive


This action stimulates menstruation. Emmenagogues are often employed when the period is delayed (amenorrhea), slow and sluggish (dysmenorrhea), irregular,  or to help prevent pregnancy. Some herbs like Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) and Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) do this through relieving tension while others like Queen Anne's Lace (Dacus carota) do this through stimulation.


If doing so for the prevention of pregnancy be sure to do your research as it is not a foolproof way to prevent pregnancy and certain herbs can be dangerous to one's health used this way. Be sure to know your herbs well first and follow a safe protocol.


Expectorant

Organ Affinity: Respiratory


The expectorant action promotes the coughing reflex. This is useful in cases where the person has stuck mucus in the respiratory tract that needs to be expelled through a healthy cough. Some expectorants are moistening like Mullein (Vebascum thapsus) which is best used for dry cough while others are drying like Osha (Ligusticum porteri) which is best used in cases of wet cough with excess mucus.


Nervine

Organ Affinity: Nervous


Nervines have their influence over the nervous system. The ones most often employed herbally are calming nervines and stimulating nervines. Calming nervines work to help relax the nervous system. They are generally employed in cases of anxiety, nervous tension, insomnia, circular thought patterns, and aggravation. Calming/relaxing nervines include Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), Pedicularis spp., Kava Kava (piper methysticum), and Valerian (Valeriana spp.). 


Stimulating nervines help to activate and stimulate the nervous system. They are employed in cases where the person is slow, sluggish, and dull in the senses. Stimulating nervines include Coffee (Coffea arabica), Rhodiola rosea, Green Tea (Camellia sinensis), and Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica). 



Trophorestorative

Organ Affinity: Depending on Category; Urinary (Kidney), Nervous, Digestive (Liver)


A trophorestorative helps to restore the structure and function of a particular organ or organ system. A popular kidney trophorestorative is Nettle Seed (Urtica dioica) which is used in cases of kidney disease or damaged kidneys but is not useful for kidney infections as its action is for restoration rather than a disinfectant. A popular formula for restoring a burnt-out and depleted nervous system is Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), Milky Oats (Avena sativa), and St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum). A couple of useful trophorestorative for the liver include Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) and Reishi (Ganoderma spp.).


Specific Indications (Special Potency)


This is our final category for classifying herbs into an herbal formula. As hard as we try to organize and classify things into neat little boxes, plants, and fungi always find ways to break down our barriers of confinement. This is what I mean by special potency. What does a specific herb do that no other herb does that makes it unique and different from all other herbs?


The term specific indications shows how an individual doesn’t just have one symptom that needs to be addressed but displays an overall pattern of disharmony that may be addressed by an herb that fits in with their specific indications. For example, there are plenty of bitter nervine antispasmodic herbs out there. Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) however is specifically indicated for someone with a bit of a perfectionist bent, who is overly critical of themselves and others, loves making to-do lists, and holds tension in their neck and shoulders (Astrologers think Virgo). Certainly, other bitter calming nervine and antispasmodic remedies would be helpful for said person, but Blue Vervain has these specific indications making it exceptionally good for this specific type of person.


Special potency may address more of the archetypal nature of the herb. I work with the significations of the inner planets in astrology often to help me determine the special potency of the herb as an archetypal correspondence.


The Art of Formulation


Now that we have covered all the categories for looking at a single herb we can now look at how we can use this format to allow us to formulate! Next, we will look at a few simple categories used in TCM they use to help them formulate.


Chief Herb

This herb or herbs represents the main driving action of the formula. Focusing on the main pattern of disharmony or symptom of concern for the individual.


Deputy Herb

This herb works to either support the main action of the chief herb or to provide secondary supportive actions. An example would be a chief herb addressing digestive complaints while the deputy herb addresses lymphatic stagnation that is also present in the client. Lymphatic stagnation may indirectly be impeding the elimination of wastes and therefore will be supportive of the digestive issues addressed by the chief herb. 


Assistant Herb

The assistant herbs work to balance the energetics of the formula or help to smooth out potentially undesirable side effects of the chief herbs. An example would be adding a moistening herb to a formula that may have no direct benefit for the main symptom of concern but helps to counteract the drying nature of the chief herb which could aggravate an already dry constitution.


Messenger (Driver) Herb

These herbs help to move the herbal constituents through the body to their desired location. In my practice, these are often circulatory stimulants, anti-inflammatories, or acrid diffusive remedies. Increasing circulation helps to move herbal constituents through the body to their desired target. Inflammation modulators help to bring down inflammation as to not impede the transport of herbal constituents through the body.


One does not need to have an herb to fill each of these categories as often a single herb or pair of herbs may address all the needs. An example would be someone complaining of swollen lymph nodes as their main symptom, who bruises easily and has a cold moist constitution. An herb like Calendula officinalis could address lymphatic stagnation the main symptom of concern (Chief Herb), help clear up bruising (Deputy Herb), address the person's cold and moist constitution (Assistant Herb), and stimulate circulation and bring down inflammation to move the herbal constituents throughout the body (Messenger Herb). 


Formulation Key


The key to herbal formulation now is first choosing one herb as your Chief Herb. From here we analyze the herb through all 5 categories we have gone through. Flavor, Qualities (Energetics), Herbal Actions, Organ Affinities, and Specific Indications (Special Potency). See if your chief herb addresses all of the main issues with your client  or if it will require a deputy, assistant, or messenger.


We will do this process together so you understand how to put all these pieces together. Let us pretend we are an herbal medicine maker who has an excess of Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) who wants to begin formulating with this herb. Let’s go through the process step by step to determine how we can use Rosemary in our herbal formulas.


Herb: Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)


Flavor:

Bitter, Pungent, Astringent


Qualities

Warming (2nd degree), Drying (1st degree)


Actions

Bitter Tonic, Caminative, Circulatory Stimulant, Nervine Relaxant, Inflamtionmodulator, Antimicrobial, Antiseptic, Disinfectant, Vulnerary (Astringent)


Organ Affinities

GI tract, Nervous System, Integumentary System, Cardiovascular


Specific Indications

Solar herb, herb of remembrance (improves memory recall), for protection against dark forces (demons, evil sorcerers and black magic), for invigorating those with a weak vital force.


Putting all this together we can see that Rosemary is quite versatile in what it can address. Looking first at its specific indications we see it works best for those with poor memory and weak vitality, who are prone to possession or black magic being used against them. 


We can now look at how we can tailor an herbal formula utilizing Rosemary for a specific individual. Let us imagine we have a client whose main complaint is poor memory with a cold dry constitution.


Looking at its qualities and flavor we see that Rosemary is well suited to addressing someone with a cold constitution due to its warming nature through its pungent flavor. However, the drying nature of Rosemary may need to be counteracted with a moistening herb. I would make a note at this point that this person will require an assistant moistening herb to be added to their formula.


Looking at actions we see that Rosemary meets the criteria of a messenger herb with its circulatory stimulating and inflammation modulating actions. The circulatory stimulating properties of Rosemary help bring more blood flow to the head making it helpful for memory and warming the constitution. The bitter tonic and carminative properties will help improve digestion to increase the person's vitality through improved assimilation of nutrition.


The organ affinities of Rosemary address poor memory through its affinity with the nervous system and vitality through its affinity with the digestive system.


From here we see that Rosemary combined with a moistening herb should be well suited to this individual. However, we can take it a step further and ask ourselves if there are other herbs we could add that may help address the main concern of the client’s poor memory. One may think of an herb like Bacopa monnieri or Ginkgo biloba since like Rosemary they are both circulatory stimulants that help improve memory and concentration. These herbs may synergize well together making a more effective formula than just Rosemary on its own. It may however become redundant adding multiple herbs addressing the main problem with similar actions and energetics. It may start to feel more like a shotgun approach.


If we choose an herb like Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) that is useful for poor memory but does not do so through stimulating circulation to the brain like the others just mentioned but does so through repairing nerves, then we bring in a new method for addressing the main symptom. Of course in real life as herbalists, we would be more holistic and find out whether the underlying issue of their poor memory was based on poor circulation, damaged nerves, nutrition or something else. For the sake of this exercise, we will imagine they are elderly with poor circulation and therefore both Lion's Mane and Rosemary are indicated.


Looking at Lion’s Mane I know it is a remedy that requires a large dose taken regularly. Rosemary on the other hand is quite strong in its flavor and actions in low doses and therefore we only need a small amount of it in our final formula. For a moistening herb as our assistant herb to balance the energetics of the formula I will select licorice as it only takes a small amount to help moisten a formula, and it helps to bring down inflammation. Using an herb that requires a smaller quantity like licorice means I won’t worry about diluting my Lion’s Mane which I want as a large quantity.


Our Final Formula

Chief Herb

80% Lions Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

Deputy Herb

10% Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

Assistant Herb

10% Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)


Anytime you make a formula make sure you know all the five categories of classification for each herb before mixing them. Doing this properly means understanding your herbs well as simples before mixing them.


Organ Affinity Formulas


When I make formulas that are intended for general use rather than for a specific individual, I often formulate with a specific organ affinity in mind. The reason I like this method of formulation is that someone who may not have a deep understanding of the practice of herbal medicine can still acquire herbal medicine that will work for them based on knowing what organ system in their body needs support. They see the word heart, liver, kidney, or some other organ written on the formula and have a general sense that this formula may benefit their specific issue.


This method isn’t always holistic of course. Consider someone with memory issues who purchases a formula marketed to be useful for memory. If that person has memory issues due to nutritional deficiencies then no matter how much of that herbal formula they take, it will never correct the underlying issue of inadequate nutrition. The formula may certainly help the person to some degree and if using gentle herbs in an energetically balanced formula it will likely provide some benefit without harming them.


Not everyone will spend the time and money to see a holistic practitioner to help address their underlying issues. Even if they do see a practitioner, it is not guaranteed that they will get better either. People often try to be their own healers, researching their health issues and trying to find solutions. However, this becomes difficult when you are confronted with the massive amount of holistic health products being marketed. People also wind up deciding which modalities seem most appealing to them. Often there is a lot of competing information among the scientific models for health and most people haven’t been trained to interpret scientific research and base their interpretations on the interpretations of others. 


Others are more attracted to what they see marketed to them as traditional healing knowledge. They may hear of a concept or herb in Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, or European Folk Herbalism, and pick and choose which concepts and herbs seem most appealing. However, if they are not well versed in the totality of any of these healing systems then they may end up doing themselves more harm than good. It is like trying to build a house without first building a solid foundation for that house to stand on. 


An example would be a person who is diagnosed with a kidney infection by a conventional doctor. They may decide that they don’t want conventional treatment and want to seek out a more “holistic” treatment on their own. They find some Chinese herbs online that are said to be good for various kidney issues and have a history dating back centuries. They may think they have found a holistic solution by finding a natural herbal remedy that has a long history of use for kidney issues. What they miss out on though is not understanding the foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is that our modern concept of the kidney and its functions is far different than those who are practicing TCM. The nuances between the kidney yang, the kidney yin, and their influences on the 5 Chinese elements. Not to mention the fact that the concept of an invading pathogen causing an infection in TCM does not exist and they focused more on treating the imbalances within the individual rather than on the eradication of an invading pathogen. 


In the end, their “holistic” treatment isn’t really holistic because all they are doing is following a modern conventional model of “take this for that disease”. A holistic treatment looks at the whole person. Their diet, lifestyle, environment, constitution, exercise, work, ect., before selecting a particular remedy for them. That is why folks making herbal formulas for a broad range of people have to realize that we are limited in our capabilities to help people. The best we can do is to ensure that people receive formulas that are generally beneficial in the sense that taking something that is nourishing is beneficial even though it may not get to the root cause of a person's disease. 


If one decides to make a formula designed for a specific organ affinity it is best to select herbs that are trophorestorative and formulate around them. The idea here is that the function of a trophorestorative is to improve and repair the function of an organ or organ system. Most trophorestoratives that I work with tend to be gentle, meaning that they don’t often push someone out of balance in terms of qualities. This makes them acceptable to a broad range of people and in most cases can only help and not hurt the situation. One can also pair a trophorestorative with other herbs that have supportive actions related to that organ system. We will run through a few example formulas to show you how this process works.


Liver Formula


For a good liver formula I usually start with the most utilized liver trophorestorative herb I see being used in the European folk tradition, Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum). Not only has it been used traditionally to treat various liver issues but modern research has markedly demonstrated its efficacy. “Silybum marianum is a medicinal plant that has long been used as a hepatoprotective remedy. It has been used for the treatment of numerous liver disorders characterized by functional impairment or degenerative necrosis. Its hepatoprotective activity is unique and acts in different ways, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, cell permeability regulator and membrane stabilizer, stimulation of liver regeneration, and inhibition of deposition in collagen fibers, which may lead to cirrhosis (Bahmani et al. 2015).”


For this formula, I also look at various medicinal mushrooms that have demonstrated hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects on the liver. My favorites to work with are Reishi (Ganoderma spp.), Red Belted Conk (Fomitopsis pinicola), and Chaga (Inonotus obliquus). Although it is not an herb I have worked with extensively, Schisandra chinensis has been well-researched and used within Chinese Medicine for its liver antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and restorative properties (Peili et al. 2019). As the “5 Flavor Berry '' it is considered to be beneficial to most people since it contains a little of every flavor's energetic quality.


Now that we have a few herbs that I consider to be liver trophorestorative, we can look at herbs that have supportive actions (Deputy Herbs) or help to harmonize and balance the energetics of the formula (Messenger Herbs). Here I am looking for our liver stimulant herbs. The 3 I love to work with are Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Burdock (Arctium Lappa) and Oregon Grape (Berberis nervosa, B. aquifolium). Each of these herbs stimulates the liver to help promote detoxification as well as conferring the benefits of a bitter tonic. 


As all of the herbs we have spoken of so far are drying, the final piece of this formula puzzle is selecting a moistening herb. The ideal moistening herb for a liver formula I would say would have to be Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Not only is Licorice moistening and antiinflammatory making it an ideal messenger herb but it has also been used in TCM and researched for its hepatoprotective properties and is used in cases of liver disease (Jian-Yuan et al. 2014). Of course, due to its anticholinergic and cortisol-mimicking properties, it should make up no more than 5%-10% of the final formula.


Liver Formula Recipe

Chief Herb: Milk Thistle (30%-60%)

Deputy Herb: Reishi, Artist Conk, or Chaga (30%-60%)

Assisting Herb: Dandelion, Oregon Grape, Burdock, or Schisandra (20%-40%)

Messenger Herb: Licorice (5%-10%)


I gave a relative percentage of each herb so one knows what the bare minimum amount should have in the formula to be able to achieve a beneficial physiological effect with that herb. One can play around with these ratios and add or subtract herbs depending on what they have available. I would also say that if one does not have Milk Thistle for their Chief Herb then one can use any of the deputy herbs as their chief herb instead. Do not go below the 30% recommendation as a ratio for your chief herb as all these herbs mentioned require larger doses to achieve the desired effect and will not be nearly as effective if diluted down too much. 

 

I encourage people to work with herbs that they know best and to find other herbs I may not have mentioned. These are simply guidelines and not rules to be set in stone. I however can attest to the efficacy of this formula and all the others which I have made various iterations of many times before.



Nervine Trophorestorative Formula


This formula is quite popular. It is designed for those who feel like they have overexerted their nervous system due to stress, anxiety, overwork, and overexertion. Some folks use the term adrenal fatigue or adrenal burnout. Many contest whether these terms are real physiological issues in the sense that the literal adrenaline glands have become fatigued. Either way, these terms all convey the same state of feeling exhausted and burnt out.


Nervine trophorestorative herbs help to replenish a depleted nervous system. They are not stimulating nervines like caffeine-containing plants as those usually push one deeper into burnout. They are like nourishing food specifically for our nervous system.


Nervine Trophorestorative Formula

Chief Herb: ⅓ St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Chief Herb: Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

Cheif Herb: ⅓ Milky Oats (Avena sativa)


Each herb is a trophorestorative to the nervous system, yet each one does so in its own way. Milky Oats are the fresh seeds of oat (yes like oatmeal oats) which when they reach ripened maturity exude a white milky latex when squeezed. It is sweet, mineral-rich, and nourishing to a burnt-out nervous system. 


Skullcap is both a nervine relaxant and a trophorestorative. This makes it useful for not only building up and nourishing a depleted nervous system but also relieving stress and helping to relax the nervous system. One of my teachers postulates that it also improves the absorption of magnesium which is indicated for those who hold excess tension in the body. As a bitter herb, it improves digestive function which usually suffers when folks have been riding the fight or flight adrenaline train for too long.


St. John’s Wort not only helps to replenish a depleted nervous system but is useful for nerve pain and other nervous conditions. Some describe it as liquid sunshine for its use in treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other mild depressive states. I think it has been overmarketed as an herb for depression as depression has many causes and ranges of severity. However, it seems to work well for those in the case of SAD who have mild depression that can be helped with the return of sunshine in their life. I see it as internal sunshine so it works for those who need a bright sunny day to feel happy again, but not so good for those who have gone beyond that mild depressive state and need deeper care.


All three of these herbs combined in equal parts can work wonders for a broad spectrum of people dealing with excessive stress and anxiety. I sometimes will add Reishi (Ganoderma spp.) or Lions Mane (Hericium erinaceus) to this formula. Reishi has a nice adaptogenic effect without stimulation, making it useful for those needing more attention to the heart, cardiovascular health, or immunity. I add Lion's Mane if the person has issues that point towards neural degeneration issues. If I add one of these mushrooms I will make the formula equal parts of each herb (¼ of each) or make it so the mushroom is around 40% and the other 3 herbs are at 20% of the formula.


Heart Restorative Formula


Many herbs relate to the heart but I will focus on my favorite allies for this formula. First and foremost our chief herb has to be Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.). This herb is an excellent trophorestorative for the heart. It is useful for bringing down inflammation in the heart, improving the strength of the heart muscle, and useful for a large variety of heart conditions. It helps to regulate the heart rather than force it physiologically into a specific action so in this way it is useful for both high and low blood pressure. Bland and slightly sour in flavor, its fruit provides these benefits. Its flowers on the other hand seem to have more of a relaxing tranquilizing effect on the heart making them useful for heart palpitations.


The deputy herb in this formula is Reishi. Its use as a heart and cardiovascular tonic goes back centuries in TCM. Similar to Hawthorn, it influences the regulation of the heart's rhythm, improves the heart muscle so that it pumps nourishing blood throughout the system more efficiently, and reduces inflammation throughout the cardiovascular system.


Reishi and Hawthorn make a great pair on their own and could be used fifty-fifty in the formula. Both are gentle in their qualities with Reishi gently warming and Hawthorn gently cooling. This makes them safe to administer to just about anyone.


Other herbs to consider adding to this formula would be Lemon Balm (Mellissa officinale), Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), and Cacao (Theobroma cacao). Lemon Balm and Motherwort are specifically useful for addressing heart palpitations. Their dosage is around 15-30 drops in tincture to stop palpitations. They both have a nice relaxing effect. Lemon Balm I would describe as a very joyful plant that always puts a smile on my face. Lemon Balm tastes wonderful especially when extracted in brandy. Children love Lemon Balm as well. I found this especially true when I was leading a plant walk for elementary school kids and I watched as roughly 40 little kids start surrounding and devouring the plant before my eyes.


Motherwort has a nice nervine relaxant action and is warming. It warms through relaxing the pores helping to bring heat out to the periphery. This gives me and others the warm feeling of being hugged. Some say it is indicated for those who need a hug from mom. It is very bitter but has some nice warming volatile oils. One contraindication to be aware of is that it is a potent emmenagogue. A few drops can make someone menstruate far before their usual cycle so be cautious especially if you plan to make this formula to sell to the general public.


Cacao is a bronchodilator and stimulates the heart muscle to increase blood flow. Many of us love chocolate and the connection to Cacao as a tonic for the heart is ancient. 


To add moisture to this formula and to improve taste I like to add honey. Honey is sweet, moistening, and uplifting to the spirit. Though I don’t feel that medicine should need to taste like candy, it does provide the benefits of adding moisture and increases the likelihood that one will consume their herbal medicine with regularity. Of course, be careful with those with blood sugar issues


Heart Tonic Formula

25% Hawthorn (Chief Herb)

25% Reishi (Deputy Herb)

20% Lemon Balm (Assisting Herb)

20% Cacao (Assisting Herb)

10% Honey (Assisting Herb)



MSK Restorative Formula


This formula is designed for someone suffering from a musculoskeletal injury. Looking at herbs that relieve pain through relaxing tension that impedes the healing process. As far as herbal actions go we are looking for antispasmodics, inflammation modulators, circulatory stimulants, anodynes, nervine relaxants, and moistening herbs specific for the musculoskeletal system.


MSK Formula

10% Black Cohosh (Chief Herb)

10% Lobelia inflata (Chief Herb)

20% Blue Vervain (Deputy Herb)

60% Solomon's Seal (Assisting Herb)


Black Cohosh and Lobelia are both potent antispasmodic remedies specific for relieving spasm, tension, and tightness caused by musculoskeletal injuries.Black Cohosh and Lobelia combined are known to be very helpful for whiplash and torsion after an accident. Their ability to relieve spasms helps significantly with relieving pain so they are considered to be anodyne under these circumstances.


 Black Cohosh is also an emmenagogue so caution must be taken when administering to folks who menstruate and avoid it during pregnancy. 


Some folks are very sensitive to Lobelia and may vomit if a large enough dose is administered. Traditionally Lobelia was revered for its emetic and purgative properties. However today most people will be upset if they puke and stop taking an herbal medicine even if it's good for them. That is why Lobelia only makes up 10% of the formula. 


Blue Vervain is a potent antispasmodic and nervine relaxant. It has a specific affinity for the neck, shoulders, and cervical spine. Its potent nervine relaxant properties make it great for those who become transfixed on their pain symptoms and help relax them so they don’t hyper-fixate on the pain. 


Solomons Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) is a demulcent moistening remedy with a specific affinity to the joints and tendons. In this way, it helps to lubricate dry creaky joints. A good way to tell if someone could benefit from Solomon's Seal would be to find out if when they stretch they hear lots of cracking and popping. If so, this can be due to a lack of lubrication in the joints. Solomon's Seal has inflammation-modulating properties as well, making it useful for bringing down inflammation.


The dosage for this formula is 10-30 drops, 3-7 times daily depending on sensitivity to the herbs and severity of injury. Start with 10 drops and work your way up until you feel relief without any unpleasant side effects such as nausea.


GI Restorative Formula


This is a classic formula used for various GI complaints. It is especially useful for those who have damage to their GI tract due to issues such as chronic inflammation in the gut, a history of poor diet, use of systemic antibiotics, gut dysbiosis, Leaky Gut Syndrome, GI-related autoimmune conditions, and intestinal permeability. Since the GI tract is vast and has a lot of tissues to cover, this formula works best as a tea. A tincture or other small dose medicine will not have a large enough quantity to coat and bathe the GI tract with the healing herbal constituents.


This formula requires a few different herbal actions to help heal and improve the function of the GI tract. One, it must contain vulneraries, and herbs that will help to heal the inside lining of the GI tract. These can be gentle astringents or any herb known to speed up the healing process. Think that anything that heals the outer skin can heal the “inner skin”. 


 It must also contain a bitter tonic and carminative herb. These will confer the benefits of stimulating the digestive process, improving the tone of smooth muscles, regulating the timing of the opening and closing of GI sphincters, and relieving gas and bloating.


It must also contain a demulcent herb. All of our organs have mucus membranes that help lubricate and protect them. This is especially important in an organ like the stomach which contains hot hydrochloric acid which must be contained and protected.


One final action to consider would be a lymphagogue. Often when one is dealing with chronic digestive issues it can lead to an accumulation of lymph. This is because the majority of our immune and lymphatic tissue is located in the GI tract. Our immune system must stay active as we bring objects from the outside world into our bodies when we consume them.


GI Restoration Formula

~25% Calendula (Vulnerary, Lymphagouge)

~25% Plantain (Vulnerary, Astringent)

~25% Chamomile (Bitter, Carminative)

~25% Marshmallow (Demulcent)


One can mix and match different herbs into this formula that fit the herbal action categories listed. This particular formula has certain herbs playing multiple roles like Calendula as a vulnerary and lymphagogue, and Chamomile as a bitter and carminative. One is encouraged to work with other herbs in these categories and to play around with the ratios. 


One is expected to drink large quantities of this tea (2 cups to a quart) daily for an extended period of time. Do whatever you can to make this tea taste good so that the person or persons will be willing to follow through on their daily herbal infusion protocol.


Conclusion


Herbal Formulation is both an art and a science. A science in the sense that one must carefully study each remedy to understand its therapeutic actions well and to combine them strategically. It is an art as well in the sense that it is similar to crafting a delicious meal where various components are combined artfully to create a desirable experience. In the end, it will take much time and practice to be able to craft effective formulas. As an herbal practitioner, I always take meticulous notes with all of my clients to review what effect my protocols are having on their health. This is the empirical scientific process that I undergo to hone my craft. I also take time to taste each remedy to feel its qualities firsthand to see if it is balanced and if its flavor will be suitable for whoever it is intended for. This aspect cannot be measured and therefore brings in the art of the craft.


Remember to follow the process of understanding each category of an herb before combining it. When we understand the herbal qualities, the influence of flavor, herbal actions, organ affinities, and specific indications of each herb, we know that we are coming in with a holistic perspective. Without this understanding and just mindlessly combining herbs that we think might be beneficial, we cease to be holistic and become shotgun formulators.


Test every formula on yourself. Remember that even if you have a negative experience with a particular formula doesn’t mean that it’s not a good formula. It may just be better suited for someone else with a different constitution than yourself. Not all herbs are grown and processed equally so don’t just set your mind on a specific recipe and expect it to work the same every time. That is why I taste every formula I craft before sending it out to someone.


This article is intended to add to the body of literature on Western folk herbal formulation which I see as enormously lacking. I hope that this will inspire others to build upon this work adding more to our rich cultural healing traditions. I invite critiques and criticism, on the grounds that those who have shared such notions will do their part to help educate other methods of practice rather than simply negating ones that currently exist. It is easy to say something is wrong but much harder to present something that one thinks is better.


In the end, this craft of herbal formulation is kept alive by those of us who have heard the call of the plants and heard the cries of the sick. With life, there's always illness, and where there is illness, medicine will always be needed. Our purpose as herbalists isn’t to market a successful product but to help alleviate some degree of suffering in this world. Do your part. Learn your herbs, hone your craft, take good notes, and make medicine that helps and doesn’t harm people and or the planet.



Citations

1.

Bahmani M, Shirzad H, Rafieian S, Rafieian-Kopaei M. Silybum marianum: Beyond Hepatoprotection. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 2015;20(4):292-301. doi:10.1177/2156587215571116


Martinez, B., and E. J. Staba. "The physiological effects of Aralia, Panax and Eleutherococcus on exercised rats." The Japanese Journal of Pharmacology 35.2 (1984): 79-85.


Michael T. Murray,

120 - Uva ursi (Bearberry),

Editor(s): Joseph E. Pizzorno, Michael T. Murray,

Textbook of Natural Medicine (Fifth Edition),

Churchill Livingstone,

2020,

Pages 887-889.e1,

ISBN 9780323523424,


Peili Zhu, Junkui Li, Xiuqiong Fu, Zhiling Yu,

Schisandra fruits for the management of drug-induced liver injury in China: A review,

Phytomedicine,

Volume 59,

2019,


Jian-yuan Li, Hong-yan Cao, Ping Liu, Gen-hong Cheng, Ming-yu Sun, "Glycyrrhizic Acid in the Treatment of Liver Diseases: Literature Review", BioMed Research International, vol. 2014, Article ID 872139, 15 pages, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/872139









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