Herbology Handbook: Part 2 - Herbs and Herbalism

by Jason J. Duke - Owner/Artisan

Fresh Content: July 31, 2022 23:50

Herbalism Uses Herbs As Healing Medicine 

Herbalism is the practical uses of externally applying herbs and ingesting edible and non-toxic, non-intoxicating, and non-poisonous herbs and foods that are used for their medicinal properties in supporting health and promoting the body's own healing capacity.

Herbalism is a method of herbology that combines classical hands-on study of medicinal remedies with the modern scientific research of herbal medicine.


Herbalism is the Use of Herbs

Herbs, in herbalism, refers to any edible life from the kingdoms of biology, such as plants, fungi, animals, protista, and monera, and any of their parts that are used medicinally and/or nutritionally, including minerals. Minerals are turned into a bioactive form with the kingdoms of biology by how they grow and interact with stone and soil. 

A large amount of herbs and their various parts are available to use and study. Parts of herbs include: flowers, twigs, stems, leaves, bark, roots, seeds, berries, fruits, algae, kelp, mushrooms, insects, animals, fermented foods, and minerals.

Herb Plant Parts Terminology:

  • Tops: flowers and small leaves near ends of stems
  • Aerials: above ground portions stems, leaves, flowers
  • Bark: exterior surface of tree trunks or roots
  • Roots: below ground portions of plants including rhizomes, tubers, and bulbs
  • Seeds: gathered and stored whole and dry when ready for harvest
  • Berries: generally harvested ripe and may be dried
  • Fungi: The fruiting body portion of fungi is the blooming above ground or exterior to the bark of a tree part. of edible fungi may be harvested at the appropriate time and dried

Major Types of Herbalism

The three main types of herbology and associated methodologies.

  • Indigenous and Western
  • Classical Chinese
  • Ayurvedic

Indigenous and Western Herbalism



Ayurvedic Herbalism

  • Tridosha - Pitta, Vata, Kapha
  • Energy (virya)
  • Flavors (rasa)
  • Post-digestive Effect (vipaka)
  • Special Potency (prabhava)

Herbs Make the Diet Better

Medicinal herbs are used as dietary supplements which are best added as part of a complete meal within a balanced diet to make them work. Sometimes a remedy may be taken between meals to increase absorption, or before bed to promote rest and recovery.

  • Turmeric root can easily be added to any meal because it contains the antioxidant curcumin to promote liver function, support heart health, and relieve discomfort in the joints and muscles.

Herbs are Food

Medicinal herbs may be included in a recipe to increase the overall absorption of nutrition within a meal.

  • Chicken soup is a good nourishing meal that is also a medicinal remedy because it contains many culinary herbs and spices that heal the body, such as garlic, black pepper, oregano, and/or thyme, among any others used.

Herbology Handbook
Navigation

You are currently in:
PART 2

Scroll and Click Buttons Below to Navigate Handbook