bitter herbs

[Guest guest]

Paraphrasing Yifan Yang in Comparisons and Characteristics (pp. 163), some

herbs that supplement the qi may have a bitter taste. Bitter dries damp

and when combined with warmth, strengthens the spleen. Is it possible

that alcoholic extracts of bitter herbs like goldenseal and oregon

graperoot are actually bitter warm. Given that alcohol is warm and the

amount of cold herb like goldenseal is relatively small in typical

tinctures (5 g per 1 oz. or 30 ml), perhaps this may explain how the use

of bitter, cold herbs can positively affect the spleen. That the alcohol

extraction and low dose change the effects. Arguably, a small amount of

alcohol also adds just enough sweet and spicy to further improve the

spleen. Here is what Felter says about such bitter tonics,

 

" [tonics] increase muscular tone, sharpen the appetite, improve the

process of digestion and assimilation, strengthen the vascular system

[hold the blood in the vessels??] , and improve the quality of the blood.

their effect is that of slowly and permanently exalting organic action...

Tonics change the character of the pulse from flaciddity to firmness..

tonics are useful in debilitated conditions of the organs of digestion and

in depressed states of the nervous system [weakness??]. they are

especially useful in convalescence from acute diseases. when excessively

employed, tonics may induce febrile reaction [cause Heat??]. they are

contraindicated ... during active fevers. "

 

about goldenseal, he says, " it sharpens the appetite and promotes

digestion. for diseases of a subacute character and atonic states, with

increased flow of mucus "

 

Such herbs are used as distinctly cold and bitter, heat clearing, damp

drying substances in full strength powders, teas and dry extracts (I don't

think the alcohol plays much of an " energetic " role if it is removed from

the final product). Goldenseal is used in full strength chinese type

dosages in tea or caps for various infections, for which it is quite

effective. It's use in small dose alcoholic extracts is clearly quite

different. In fact, Felter would contraindicate the use of goldenseal in

such acute infections when used in alcoholic form.

 

alcoholic Hydrastis is further indicated for children and in various

" passive hemorrhages " [spleen xu bleeding??]

 

I don't have Scudder's specific diagnosis handy, but I am pretty sure it

attributes a pale, toothmarked tongue as an indication for these bitter

(warm, sweet??) tonics.

 

Given the ease of use of such products and the need of our patients for

continual Spleen Qi strengthening, perhaps we should reconsider the nature

and apparent paradox of this class of western herbs. In addition to

strengthening digestive function with longterm use, these herbs dry damp

(bitter, " catarrhal conditions " , " mucous " ).

 

As a sidenote, it is a reminder that we must always consider the presence

of alcohol in our products as a factor in the attributes of the formula.

Since the eclectics used what we would call concentrated extracts rather

than simple tinctures, this rule apparently applies to the full range of

low dose alcoholic extracts. Has anyone noticed if alcohol extracts tends

to aggravate heat when used longterm, even if the herbs in the formula are

not overly warming or problematic in decoction.

 

 

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

" Great spirits have always been violently opposed by mediocre minds " --

Albert Einstein