General Spagyric Traditions

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In the case of properties of specific herbs it would be the properties

described in works of spagyrists such as Paracelsus, van Helmont.

Agricola, Valentine, Culpeper, Glauber and Maveric who had medical

training and/or were physicians.

 

Cheers,

 

Dr. G.

 

, " "

@e...> wrote:

>

> > " busy alchimiste " <busyalchimiste@h...>

> > Western traditions, chinese herbs

> >

> > In most cases, his assessment of their properties is more or less

> > the same as in general spagyric traditions. I have worked a fair

number

> of

> > chinese herbs in a spagyric fashion. They respond much the same

as their

> > western cousins with similar properties. As an example, Coptis

sinensis

> > extracts more or less the same way as goldenseal.

> >

> Could you please clarify exactly what you mean by, " general spagyric

> traditions. "

>

>

> > The quality of western herbal tinctures is gerally so-so. For

example,

> > echinacea's optimal extraction menstrum is 70% alcohol. Anything else

> > results in leaving most of the phytochemicals in the marc.

>

> This is simply false! There are many companies that produce excellent

> products. What are you basing this statement on?

> Nearly all the studies on echinacea (until the last couple of years)

have

> been on juiced leaves and/or flower heads. The use of 70% is

apropriate for

> dried herb but the fresh herb is best and that is done with 95% alcohol,

> ending with about 75%. The seeds are processed dried and 70% is best for

> them.

>

> BTW: The chemicals in echinacea and astragalus are NOT particularly

> " similar " as Dr. Weil stated. Echinacea has isobuminlides (sp?), which

> stimulate the immune system and astragalus has polysaccarides which

> stimulate and supplement the immune system. Echinacea has no

tradition of

> using it long term, Astragalus does! Perhaps the Native Americans didn't

> pick up on using echinacea long term, but neither did the

Physiomedicalists,

> Eclectics, or anyone since then. It has only been since clinical

evidence of

> it stimulating the immune system has come to the forefront. I have

discussed

> this topic with many Western herbalists who have used this herb for

10-35

> years and nearly all of them agree that the herb should only be used

short

> term.

>

> The useful

> > goldenseal coumpounds are not water soluble from the root.

>

> Also false! Goldenseal has berberine in it, which is the same

compound found

> in coptis. We all know it is water soluable. Hydrastine, the main

compound

> that separate Goldenseal from Coptis is only slightly water soluable, so

> alcohol is best. However, Goldenseal was used for millenia by the Native

> Americans without the use of alcohol. They generally used either direct

> application or a draft but decoctions were also used.

>

> I could go on

> > but my feeling is that Dr. Holmes books are well written and the

> discomfort

> > with them stems from something else than the " properties " of the herbs

> > described.

>

> What do you speculate the, " discomfort with them stems from

something else "

> is?

>

>

> I love lively debate :-}

>

> thomas

>

>

>

> Chinese Herbology and Acupuncture

> acupuncture and herbal information

>

>

> @e...

> " Knowing nothing, you will be aware of everything. "

> Lao Tzu