Western Herbal Medicine
Practitioner Use Clinical Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
The protocols given here are very effective and have been developed, refined and tested in a busy modern clinic, catering to the needs of a variety of patients. In order to achieve good, and in many cases remarkably swift clinical results, they require the use of high dosages for several weeks. In patients who have poor digestion, it is advisable to begin the treatment below the recommended dosages, gradually increasing the dose, while making sure that the patient is able to tolerate the medicines without gastro-intestinal upset.
As with all protocols, those given here should be applied flexibly, with due consideration given to the aetiology and pathogenesis of each patient's individual condition. Thus, both the dosages as well as formula combinations should be prescribed appropriate to each patient's individual requirements.
Herbs
Botanical Name: Adhatoda vasica
Part Used: leaf
Dose: 20 to 30 ml/week (1:2)
Energetics:
Channels:
Actions: bronchospasmolytic, expectorant, oxytocic
Cautions & Contraindications: contraindicated in pregnancy except at birth
Indications:
[restrict]- Asthma
- Bronchitis (acute & chronic)
- Gingivitis, bleeding gums (topically)
- Post-partum haemorrhage
Botanical Name: Agrimonia eupatoria
Part Used: Aerial parts
Dose: 20-30 ml/week (1:2 liquid)
Energetics:
Channels:
Actions: astringent
Cautions & Contraindications: None
Indications:
[restrict]- Diarrhoea
- Haemorrhoids
- Urinary incontinence
- Venous insufficiency
Botanical Name: Albizia lebbeck
Part Used: stem bark
Dose: 25-60 ml/week (1:2 liquid)
Energetics:
Channels:
Actions: Antiallergic, hypocholesterolaemic
Cautions & Contraindications: None
Indications:
[restrict]- Asthma
- Eczema
- Hay fever
- Hives
Botanical Name: Medicago sativa
Part Used: aerial parts
Dose: 30-60 ml/week (1:2 liquid)
Energetics:
Channels:
Actions: Estrogen modulating
Cautions & Contraindications: Avoid in estrogen sensitive breast cancers
Indications:
[restrict]- Menopause
Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis
Part Used: resin
Dose: 10-30 ml/week (1:10 liquid)
Energetics:
Channels:
Actions: Laxative
Cautions & Contraindications: Short term use only. Caution in pregnany and lactation, IBS, GI inflammation. Caution in children
Indications:
[restrict]- Conspitation
- Haemorrhoids (stool softening)
- Anal fissure (stool softening)
Botanical Name: Andrographis paniculata
Part Used: Aerial parts
Dose: 20-40 ml/week (1:2 liquid)
Energetics: Bitter, Cold
Channels: Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Lung, Stomach
Actions: Laxative
TCM: Dries Dampness; clears Heat; eliminates Toxicity
Cautions & Contraindications: Avoid in first trimester of pregnancy. Cautioned use with immunosuppressive drugs.
Indications:
[restrict]- Acute infections (viral, bacterial, parasitic)
- Acute infective hepatitis
- Chronic infections
- Intestinal worms
Botanical Name: Angelica archangelica
Part Used: root
Dose: 5-20 ml/week (1:2 liquid)
Energetics:
Channels:
Actions: Aromatic digestive, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant
Cautions & Contraindications: Caution in peptic ulcers and gastro-oesophageal reflux. May cause photosensitivity.
Indications:
[restrict]- Acute bronchitus
- Buerger's disease
- Digestive weakness
- Dyspepsia
- Hypochlorhydria
Botanical Name: Pimpinella anisum
Part Used: fruit
Dose: 20-40 ml/week (1:2 liquid)
Energetics:
Channels:
Actions: Expectorant, estrogen modulating, galactagogue, spasmolytic, carminative, antimicrobial
Cautions & Contraindications: Caution in peptic ulcers and gastro-oesophageal reflux.
Indications:
[restrict]- Acute or chronic bronchitis
- Bronchial asthma
- Gastrointestinal candidiasis
- Intestinal colic, flatulence, flatulent colic, infantile colic, dypsepia
- Parasitic infection
- Pertussis, spasmodic cough
Botanical Name: Arnica montana
Part Used: flower
Dose: topical application. Cream containing 2-5% herb equivalent
Energetics:
Channels:
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, antiecchymotic, analgesic
Cautions & Contraindications: NOT FOR INTERNAL USE
Indications:
[restrict]- Inflamed insect bites
- Bruises, sprains
- Furunculosis
- Myalgia
- Osteoarthritis
- Varicose veins
- Venous insufficiency
Botanical Name: Astragalus membranaceus
Part Used: root
Dose: 30-60 ml/week (1:2 liquid)
Energetics: sweet, slightly warm
Channels: Spleen, Lung
Actions: Immune enhancing, tonic, adaptogen, cardiotonic, hypotensive, diuretic
TCM: Tonifies spleen Qi and Lung Qi; lifts spleen Qi (raises the Yang Qi of the spleen and stomach); tonifies defensive (Wei) Qi; protects/stabilizes the body surface and eliminates pathogenic factors from the surface; discharges pus; promotes tissue regeneration; promotes urination, relieves edema; regulates water metabolism; nourishes blood (via Qi); can connect the Lungs and spleen.
Cautions & Contraindications: caution in acute infections and with immunosuppressive drugs
Indications:
[restrict]- Chronic infections
- Infection prevention
- Night sweats
- Poor immunity, chronic immune deficiency
- Fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome
- Leukopenia
- Post viral syndromes
- Congestive cardic failure (mild)
- Bronchiectasis
- During chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Organ prolapse
- HIV/AIDS
- Angina pectoris
Botanical Name: Bacopa monnieri
Part Used: aerial parts
Dose: 35-90 ml/week (1:2 liquid)
Energetics:
Channels:
Actions: Cognition enhancing, nervine tonic, anxiolytic, mild anticonvulsant
Cautions & Contraindications: May aggravate gastro-oesophageal reflux
Indications:
[restrict]- ADHD
- Alzheimer's disease
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Epilepsy
- Memory and mental concentration enhancement
Botanical Name: Scutellaria baicalensis
Part Used: root
Dose: 30-60 ml/week (1:2 liquid)
Energetics: Bitter, Cold
Channels: Lung, Large Intestine, Liver, Gallbladder, Stomach
Actions: Antiallergic, antioxidant, inflammatory
TCM: Clears heat; dries dampness; reduces fire; eliminates toxicity; stops bleeding; calms the fetus; sedates liver Yang rising.
Cautions & Contraindications: Avoid in first trimester
Indications:
[restrict]- Acute infections (especially respiratory and gastrointestinal)
- Asthma
- Eczema
- Hypertension
- Restless fetus
Botanical Name: Baptisia tinctoria
Part Used: root
Dose: 15-40 ml/week (1:2 liquid)
Energetics:
Channels:
Actions: Antipyretic, Immune enhancing, lymphatic
Cautions & Contraindications: None
Indications:
[restrict]- Acute and chronic infections (especially respiratory)
- Influenza
- Enlarged lymph glands
- Furunculosis
- Gingivitis
- Mouth ulcers
- Pneumonia
- Septic conditions
- Tonsillitis
Botanical Name: Euphorbia peplus
Part Used: sap
Dose: topical applicaton
Energetics:
Channels:
Actions:
Cautions & Contraindications:
Indications:
[restrict]- actinic keratosis (solar keratosis)
- basal cell carcinoma
- corns
- intraepidermal carcinoma
- seborrheic keratosis
- squamous cell carcinoma
- warts (HPV)
- waxy growths
Botanical Name: Cannabis Sativa (<0.3% THC)
Part Used: flower
Dose: 30-200mg full spectrum extract
Energetics: Bitter, Pungent, Sweet, neutral
Channels: Heart, Liver, Spleen
Actions:
Western
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-anxiolytic
- Analgesic
- Antioxidant
- Antispasmodic
TCM
- Calms and Soothes the Spirit (Shen)
- Settles the etherial soul (Hun)
- Regulates the Heart and Liver Qi, moves the Qi
- Consolidates the Heart and Spleen Qi
- Nourishes Yin and Blood
- Clears Heat
Cautions & Contraindications: May enhance CYP450 liver clearance
Indications:
[restrict]- ADD
- ADHD
- Anorexia and wasting associated with chronic illness
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- Dementia
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Insomnia
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinsons (shaking)
- Psychosis (higher doses)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Schizophrenia
- Seizures