TCM Kidney Patterns of Disharmony

• Time of day is 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

• Paired with the Bladder

• Governs water

• Controls: the Gate of Life/Ming Men, the reception of Qi, spittle, the two lower orifices

• Manifests in the hair

• Fluid is spittle

• Tissue is bones

• Sound is groaning

• Climate is Cold

• Direction is north

• Taste is salty

• Season is winter

• Sense is ears

• Odor is putrid

• Emotion is fear

• Color is black

• Development is storage

• Movement is downward

• Yin/Yang is utmost Yin

Lavender

Lavender and milky oats for nervous exhaustion and tension

Lavender and rosemary for headache with nervous tension

Lavender and feverfew for migraine

Lavender and catnip for colic in children

Lavender and peppermint for epigastric or abdominal discomfort with depression

𝗟𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

We are all familiar with lavender’s calming and tranquilizing effects. It Calms the Heart Shen, i.e., anxiety, insomnia, palpitations. Calms Liver Yang rising and Liver Wind = headache, migraine, nervous tension.

As seen in rat studies, lavender has direct antispasmodic action on the intestines (Intestinal Qi disturbances); this is beneficial for IBS, gas, menstrual cramps, Crohn’s, intestinal colic, muscle spasms, etc.

It is also has a secondary effect as a mild circulatory stimulant. This gentle moving effect can move both Heart and Liver Qi, making it useful for mild depression, indigestion, bipolar disorder, anxiety-depression, etc.

Digestive Bitters

Things to Know About Bitters

Dates as far back as ancient Egypt 

In nature animals intuitively eat bitter plants when needed

Many bitter herbs are classified as a  tonic 

Bitters can influence all stages of digestion (Cephalic, gastric, intestinal)  

Stimulates HCL production and increases digestive enzymes = helps break down foods/nutrients

Stimulates Insulin and glucagon secretions = helps normalize Blood sugar levels

Generally: 

Combine cool bitter herbs & warm bitter herbs (or spicy herbs) to create a digestive bitters formula that may be taken daily

If it doesn’t taste bitter it isn’t going to work! 

Used for: 

Indigestion, flatulence, bloating, nausea, borborygmi, intestinal cramps 

Low HCL (contributes to Gerd, IBS, Sibo, rosacea)

Constipation, diarrhea, slow transit time (how long it takes for food to be eliminated: appropriate = 18-24 hours)

Loss of appetite, malnutrition, malabsorption including poor fat and protein digestion, food allergies

Weakness due to viral or bacterial infections

Excessive sweet cravings  (which may actually mask a craving for bitter)

Depression, mood disorders

Digestive weakening due to aging, low vital energy

Anemia 

Avoid = Children under 5, acute GI inflammation/irritation, excessive stomach acid

Use w/caution =  advisement of Dr and/or trained herbalist  = Pregnancy

Cool bitter herbs for digestion 

Dandelion root

Chicory

Artichoke

Chamomile

Horehound

Blessed thistle

Gentian 

Hops

Bitter orange peel 

White poplar bark

Warm bitter herbs for digestion

Turmeric

Angelica root (archangelica)

Fenugreek 

Aged tangerine peel 

Mugwort

Warming herbs for digestion

Cardamom

Ginger

Clove

Anise seed

Fennel seed

Prickly ash

Bayberry bark

Yarrow = neutral

Recipies

Rosemary Gladstar

2 parts fennel

1 part artichoke leaf

1 part dandelion root

1 part (organically cultivated) gentian

½ part ginger

Michael and Lesley Tierra

The Tierra’s suggest making tea, drinking ¼ cup prior to meals.  Here are directions on how to make a decoction from Mountain Rose Herbs:

https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/herbal-infusions-and-decoctions

2 parts white poplar bark

2 parts (organically cultivated) gentian root

1 part bayberry bark

1 part ginger

½  part clove buds

David Winston 

1 part dandelion root

1 part orange peel 

1 part angelica archangelica

1 part artichoke

Rosemary’s folk method can be used for all the recipes 

Combine the herbs and make a tincture. Here we are using 80-100 proof alcohol as the extractant. Use fresh or dried herbs

1. Place finely chopped herbs in a clean dry jar. 

2. Pour enough of the menstruum to cover the herbs, and continue pouring until the liquid rises 2 or 3 inches above the herbs. The herbs need to be completely submerged. Cover with a tight-fitting lid use wax paper to avoid alcohol coming in contact with a metal lid. 

3. Place the jar in a warm location and let herbs and liquid soak (macerate) for 4-6 weeks. 

4. Shake the bottle daily during the maceration period. 

5. Strain the herbs from the menstruum with a fine steel mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth reserving the liquid. Store liquid in a glass bottle(s) in a dark location. 

I suggest keeping a 2 oz tincture bottle full of your bitters in the kitchen.  Take 10-15 minutes before a meal. David Winston suggests 15-30 drops in a small amount of juice or water, swish around your mouth for a bit and swallow.

TCM Liver Deficient/Empty Patterns of Disharmony

Chart #2 in the series of TCM Liver Patterns of Disharmony.

Chart #3 will concentrate on TCM Liver Combination Excess/Full and Deficient/Empty Patterns of Disharmony.

20 Things About Evening Primrose - Oenothera biennis - Sun Drops

• Native to North America

• Flowers open and release scent in the evenings and are pollinated by moths

• Parts used: root, root bark, leaf, flower, seed, stem

• Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic (muscle tension, spasms, etc), astringent, diuretic, sedative  

Uses: 

• Native Americans used poultices for bruises and wounds, ingested for bowel pains, weight loss, and muscle strength

• Whooping cough, asthma, hiccups, COPD

• Gastrointestinal uses include IBS, IBD, colitis, poor digestion, vomiting, diverticulitis, chronic indigestion, chronic diarrhea

• Blood or mucus in urine, bladder spasms, nervous bladder

• Antidepressant - depression when toxins and waste have accumulated in the digestive tract

• Sluggish Liver and Liver inflammation

• Nervous exhaustion and anxiety

• Seeds were recommended as a coffee substitute in wartime

Evening Primrose Seed Oil:

• Yin tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine 

• Contains Gamma lipoic acid (GLA) -essential fatty acids that help balance hormones and fight inflammation and Linolenic acid - contains fatty acids, supports Heart health, improves insulin sensitivity and Blood pressure

• Hypertension, anxiety, and fatigue

• Women: PMS, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, sore breasts, fibrocystic breasts

• Skin: Burns, atopic dermatitis (especially itching), psoriasis, eczema, and acne

• Anti-cancer therapy - In studies, the oil has shown antiproliferative effects against breast, hepatic, prostate, and leukemia cancer cell lines

• Benefits seen through clinical trials include diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, mastalgia, PMS, osteoporosis, and dementia.  Mixed results in trials for atopic eczema and dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, diabetic lipid metabolism, and alcoholism. 

• Osteoporosis: Combined with fish oil a trial confirmed osteocalcin levels rose (a bone formation marker) and alkaline phosphatase levels dropped (indicates an increase in bone mineral density)

     ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6003444;ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6116039;pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22414479;pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28555835;pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1185351; nccih.nih.gov/health/evening-primrose-oil; ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6116039/#:~:text=Evening%20primrose

• Granica, S.;  ´nska, M.E.; Piwowarski, J.P.; Ziaja, M.; Kiss, A.K. Chemical composition, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity of extracts prepared from aerial parts of Oenothera biennis L. and Oenothera paradoxa Hudziok obtained after seeds cultivation. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2013, 61, 801–810

• The Worst Weeds Are Your Best Medicine– The Common and Weedy Plant Materia Medica ©2005 Revised 2018 David Winston, RH (AHG) 

• Christopher Hobbs - Herbal prescriber database

• Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy - Modern Herbal Medicine Simon Mills, Kerry Bone

• Medical Herbalism - The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine David Hoffman

• The Way of Herbs - Michael Tierra

• The Admirable Secrets of Herbs, Roots & Barks - Matthew Wood