Herbal Powder Dosage

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

Is there a herbal book which discusses the dosage of herbs in there

powder form?

Or the only way is to divide bensky's dosage by six?

I must admit that altough i'm at the end for my fourth year in

studying tcm, the subject of dosage is somthing that is still vague

to me.

Is there any suggestions about specific books or any experience on

the subject?

 

Thank You,

Danny .L

[Guest guest]

The only text that I've see that really gets into the topic of how to

use extract powders is a few chapters in:

Kampo Treatment for Climacteric Disorders by Yoshiharu Shibata, M.D. and

Jean Wu.

Its ISBN number is 0-912111-51-8

 

This book really answers a lot of questions regarding extract

treatments, including info on adverse reactions, dosages, timing etc...

 

Plus lots of cool charts on how to treat climacteric/menopause.

 

dany_lv wrote:

>

> Hi,

>

> Is there a herbal book which discusses the dosage of herbs in there

> powder form?

> Or the only way is to divide bensky's dosage by six?

> I must admit that altough i'm at the end for my fourth year in

> studying tcm, the subject of dosage is somthing that is still vague

> to me.

> Is there any suggestions about specific books or any experience on

> the subject?

>

> Thank You,

> Danny .L

 

--

Al Stone L.Ac.

<AlStone

http://www.BeyondWellBeing.com

 

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

[Guest guest]

...the subject of dosage is somthing that is still vague

to me. Is there any suggestions about specific books or any experience on

the subject?

 

I may have missed some posts, but I have the impression that there has been

very little response to your email despite the fact that dosage and dose

protocol is a very important and, as noted, an under-appreciated topic.

 

I cannot cite the best places in historical literature to search out answers

(maybe Zev or Bob can) but here are a few considerations and generalizations

from my experience, (with plenty of room for disagreement!):

 

1) The larger the dose, the shorter the time before your body will reject

the therapeutic influence of the medicinal. For example, if you feel a

person needs a particular formula for 6 months, then don't give the maximum

dose. If you want to treat something acute with a strong effect, then use a

strong dose for a short time. I have been trying to figure out what range

of dose can be easily tolerated by most over a long period of time. Of

course that will vary depending on the targeted effect and the ingredients

chosen, but as a general statement, I find that when using powdered

extracts, three grams per dose, two to three times a day can be tolerated

quite well for months, if the herbs are well chosen. For a stronger dose

that might be used for a month or two, I generally use 4 grams two to three

times per day.

 

2) The fewer the ingredients, especially if you are using single ingredient

treatment approaches, the shorter the time before the body rejects its

therapeutic influence as too targeted or unbalanced. In some ways I think

of single herb therapy like drinking straight olive oil, which might make

you feel sick, or flush your liver, maybe, but the same amount on bread or

vegetables (i.e. formulated) will not have the same effect and will be

easily tolerated and beneficial when taken in the same amount over the long

term.

 

3) Certain herbs result in rejection by the body more quickly than others.

For example, gan cao and wu wei zi are such herb from my experience. Keep

an eye out for this. If someone has a negative reaction to a formula, it

may only be one ingredient. But whatever it is, they are better off without

the 7 herbs that might help than trying to tolerate the one that their body

is rejecting.

 

4) Herbs that up-regulate the immune system should not be taken

continuously. I have undertaken studies that lead me to believe that the

increased T-cell proliferation attributable to ingredients like huang qi and

yin yang huo, are actually enlisting limited stores in such a way that the

body cannot replenish those stores as fast as they are being called into

action, if the dose is too large and taken for too many days in a row. Yes,

the replenishment does happen more efficiently with the use of these herbs

but the body needs a rest from these herbs, for at least 3 to 5 days every

couple of weeks.

 

5) When trying to dry chronic dampness, don't try to do it all at once. It

takes time so use doses that can be tolerated over the long term.

 

6) I suggest a majority of herbs before meals, on a relatively empty

stomach. If you mix them with food, unless called for, then I believe you

dilute their effect. Digestive herbs, like lai fu zi (raphani), often

relieve fullness more effectively when taken after the meal. But they can

be taken on both ends. When taken after the meal, a slightly stronger

dosage may be required. Say 4 grams instead of 3.

 

That's all I have time for today but the considerations go on and on... and

you'll inevitably hear dissenting opinions.

 

Stephen Morrissey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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