Skullcap

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In honor of Mother’s Day, May’s Herb of the Month is Skullcap.  Skullcap is known by many names, including ‘Mother’s Little Helper’ and ‘Blisswort’ for its ability to soothe nervous tension, irritability (common symptoms of motherhood) and put some distance between you and your stressors.

Skullcap feels like it’s gently coating your skull with a protective layer that drowns out the background noise and quiets down the stimuli that can cause us to feel overwhelmed.

Another name for skullcap is ‘Mad Dog Weed’ because it used to be used as a remedy for rabies, which is an extreme example of cerebral excitation (symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, agitation & hallucinations). Read on to learn more about the benefits of skullcap:

Botanical Name: Scutellaria lateriflora

Common Names: Skullcap, European Skullcap, Blisswort, Mad Dog Weed, Mother’s Little Helper

Family: Lamiaceae (mint family)

Parts used: Aerial portions

Energetics and Tastes: bitter, cooling, drying.

Actions and Properties: Neurotrophorestorative (restores function to the nervous system), anxiolytic (reduces anxiety), nerve tonic, bitter tonic, antispasmodic, sedative, slightly astringent, analgesic, anticonvulsive, anti-seizure.

Meridians/Organs/Tissue States: Nerves, Small Intestines, Stomach

Constituents:  Flavonoid glycosides (including scutellarin, baicalin and baicalein), amino acids, iridoids, volatile oil, waxes and diterpenes.

Description: It grows from 60-80 centimeters in height and produces purple flowers that grow up the side of one stem from the leaf axils. The Skullcaps (Scutellaria spp.) have a distinctive feature making them easier to identify. There is a distinctive cap (generally called a ‘protuberance’) on the upper side of the calyx. This part has given them both their genus and common name. A ‘scute’ is a plate or scales, similar to those found on lizard, alluding to the protuberance, as is the name skullcap (7 Song). Scutella, meaning “little dish” or scutellum meaning “little shield” both describe the shape of the calyx. Lateriflora means that the flowers on the racemes are turned to one side. In the 1700s the Genus was Cassida, which meant “helmet,” referring to the upper part of the calyx.

Habitat: Native to North America and Europe, Scutellaria lateriflora is a perennial herb that likes to grow in wet places such as near marshes, streams, and other damp areas. Different species of skullcap grow across North America. While these plants aren’t explicitly endangered, they could easily be over-harvested since they don’t grow in profusion. It prefers full-part sun and moist soil.

Solubility: Soluble in alcohol and water. Dried skullcap is useful as a tea. Skullcap extract is best tinctured when fresh. When making a fresh plant tincture, it is recommended to use 95% alcohol at a 1:2 ratio.

Indications: Acute and chronic stress, panic attacks, anxiety, PMS, mood swings, irritability, menstrual cramps, pain, muscle spasms, insomnia, pain attacks, heart palpitations, seizures, twitching, teething, TMJ pain, restless legs, muscular tension, headache, fever, rabies, mania, hysteria, delirium, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, arthritis, cancer, inflammatory bowel conditions, ADHD.

Skullcap is a wonderful plant to calm anxiety, panic, worry and irritability without overly sedating you or making you overly drowsy. It helps to put some distance between you had your stressors by calming you down and nourishing your nervous system. When taken long term, it nourishes and rejuvenates the nervous system. For overstimulation, hyperactivity and re-activity, heat and irritation.

Skullcap can also be helpful for people going through withdrawal. It keeps the nervous system on a steady keep and reduces the symptoms of withdrawal and combines well with fresh milky oats tincture for this purpose.

Herbalist Kiva Rose uses skullcap “for nerves so frayed they’re about to snap, resulting in a very emotionally labile and reactive person. These people have a tendency to flip out over (seemingly) nothing. They feel as if every sound, touch and bit of light is personally attacking them. They are exhausted on a deep level and need nourishment in the form of rest, nutrient dense food and nervous system restoratives.” (Kiva Rose). Herbalist David Winston uses skullcap for ADHD and the associated irritability, repetitive movements, oversensitivity to external stimuli and outbursts of anger.

And herbalist Seven Song says “I see it most useful for people who constantly need to take charge. They make constant contingency plans and feel personally insulted when things don’t go their way. They may have insomnia and cannot initially fall asleep due to thinking about all the things they could have done differently that day. They might worry about their performance about everything (‘was the dinner okay?’) and are expert at criticizing themselves, and others.

One other place I find skullcap helpful, is for people who have an emotional attachment to their injury. This is common. When the person thinks about how they sprained their ankle or got stung, there is an upsetting emotional quality to it. With this type of person you may see them blaming themselves for the injury (‘I knew I shouldn’t have run that trail’) Skullcap may help relieve the physical pain and some of the emotional pressure.” (7 Song)

Its antispasmodic properties make it helpful for relaxing muscular tension (both smooth & skeletal muscles), and involuntary twitching, spasm and convulsions, including restless leg syndrome and menstrual cramps. It can even relieve tremors and seizures and palsies.

For sleep, it is especially helpful for sleeplessness due to excessive mental chatter, ruminating thought patterns, and muscle tension. It does not sedate you to the point of drowsiness during the day, but can be very helpful for relaxing the mind and body enough to allow the tiredness to be felt at night and override the anxiety and overstimulation that is preventing sleep.

Combinations:

  • For sleep- combines well with passionflower, lemon balm, valerian, lavender and/or hops (Skullcap & passionflower are a classic combination for sleep, especially when excessive mental chatter is preventing sleep)
  • For withdrawal- skullcap + milky oat tops for nervous system lability. Add lobelia for tobacco withdrawal, kudzu root for alcohol withdrawal.
  • For ADHD and oversensitivity- skullcap with milky oats, rose petals, sweet birch and holy basil (David Winston)
  • For Pain- consider combining it with other analgesics like Jamaican Dogwood, pedicularis, feverfew for headaches or black haw for cramping
  • We blend skullcap with lemon balm, oats, chamomile, passionflower and holy basil in our Happy Hour Tea for end-of-day relaxation and with raspberry leaf, nettle, rose petals, yarrow, lemon balm and skullcap in our Women’s Tonic Tea for menstrual ease.

Preparation and Dosage:

  • tea is strongly sedating. Use 1 TBSP of dried herb infused in 8 ounces of water for 15 minutes. This can be drank an hour before your desired bed time. Total recommended dose per day is 6-15 grams.
  • Tincture: 3-5ml three times per day is a general dose. For acute pain, use 1/2 dropper doses until you find relief. For chronic pain you may need to use 1/2-2 droppersful as often as every two hours. If you overdo it, it will just make you sleepy.
  • Can be dried and smoked. Also great as a massage oil.

As a trophorestorative/nervous system tonic for chronic stress, skullcap is best used in significant doses over long periods of time, and it can be very effective when used correctly.

Contraindications: Despite some claims that skullcap is not safe to be used during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue properties, traditional texts say that skullcap is very safe to use, even in high doses, for the young and old and in pregnancy and breastfeeding. In fact it was widely used by the Eclectic physicians of the 18th and 19th centuries for various female disorders in both pregnant and non-pregnant women.

History/Folklore/Mythology: Skullcap was very popular with the general public in the time before pharmaceutical tranquilizers. In the early 20th century when sedative drugs came on to the market the medical establishment went to lengths to discredit Skullcap by using its rather exaggerated claim to be able to cure the madness of rabies as the rope to hang it by — thus it fell from favour. In 1772 skullcap was introduced into the medical field as a prophylactic and treatment for rabies after Dr. Lawrence Van Derveer discovered its “powers” to cure mad-dog disease. The name “MadDog Skullcap” was derived from this alleged cure associated with the plant. Testimonies abound in the early 1800s confirming skullcap’s use for rabies and brought a reputation to Dr. Lawrence Van Derveer as the doctor who cured rabies.

Skullcap is an indigenous North American species and was utilized by the Cherokee and Iroquois tribes. The Cherokees made a decoction consisting of “S. lateriflora, S. elliptica, Hypericum spp. and Stylosanthes spp. [pencil flower] to promote suppressed menstruation” and as a “wash to counteract the ill effects of eating food prepared by a woman in the menstrual condition, or when such a woman by chance comes into a sick room or house under taboo”. A decoction of the root was used for diarrhea, breast pains, and the expelling of afterbirth. The Cherokee also created a root compound from the herb to aid the kidney. The Iroquois made an infusion from powdering the roots for the prevention of smallpox and for cleaning the throat.

References:

 

 

Wholistic Wellness Council

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Wholistic Wellness Council

In partnership with Sacred Garden School of Herbalism, Tonic is the host of a new low-cost Wholistic Wellness Council.

Starting February 17th, the council will meet above Tonic Herb Shop on Fridays between 9:30 am and 2:30 pm with the goal of providing safe, effective & affordable herbal care for individuals in our community through in person consultations to discuss the client’s health concerns. The council is part of the Sacred Garden School’s advanced herbal training program. Students and an instructor collaborate to conduct the interview, examine the client’s tongue and pulse, and to come up with customized herbal recommendations tailored to the individual’s needs. It is an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned from and to gain experience working with clients under the guidance of a clinical herbalist.

Scope of Practice:

Please understand that this is an energetic practice and that as community herbalists, we do not diagnose, treat or cure allopathic disease, nor do not prescribe medicine. We are not a licensed medical facility and we only work non-emergency health concerns. We do educate our clients about herbs, diet and lifestyle changes that we believe would be supportive for them and empower them with tools to take charge of their own health.​

How do the Consults Work?

We ask our clients to commit to 3 consultations- your initial appointment + 2 follow-up appointments. Natural healing is a time-honored process and to effect change with food and healthy choices, it takes more time than most are accustomed to. The three appointments also serve to help our students understand how to support people with lifestyle changes.

  • The initial visit lasts 90 minutes-2 hours.
    • Your first session will be a thorough intake of your health concerns and a comprehensive interview that includes your health history. This process allows us to get to the root of your experience and tailor our recommendations to your individual uniqueness.
  • 2nd & 3rd Appointments (Follow-up visits) last about 45 minutes – 1 hour
    • After the initial visit your consulting herbalist will write up your case and do extensive homework to reveal patterns and root causes that may be related to your health concerns. Your case will then be reviewed by peers and faculty for feedback prior to a follow up session with you where your clinician will then be able to discuss detailed treatment options to address your concerns.
    • During your third visit, we will check in with you about how the herbs are effecting you and discuss any changes that have taken place since your initial visit. If we feel it’s necessary, we can adjust your formula at this time and make further recommendations for long-term self care.
  • The cost to the client is a flat rate of $20 per appointment. We feel that having some amount of monetary exchange strengthens one’s commitment to the healing process. If, however, that cost is too great for you, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your financial needs.  Any herbs and supplements, if you choose to purchase them, are an additional cost separate from the consultation fee. Formulas can be filled in Tonic’s apothecary, or you may choose to source herbs elsewhere.
Interested in Consulting with Us?

You can schedule your appointment with us using one of the links below:

Initial Visit, 2 hr

Follow-Up Visit, 45-60 min 

If you are unable to schedule through the online calendar, please email us at  [email protected] and include “Wellness Council” in the subject line.

We expect demand for the clinic to be high as we are only seeing 2 people per week. Appointments are on a first-come first serve basis. If you need to cancel we ask that you give us a minimum of 48 hours notice.

We look forward to meeting you.

Yours in health,

Ashley Davis

Seasonal Wisdom- Autumn & Gratitude

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Seasonal Wisdom- Autumn & Gratitude

It is not just this culture that celebrates this season by offering gratitude. Cultures around the world have felt the pull to show respect for abundance, for life, and also death as part of the great cycle.

Autumn is a transitional time between summer, the season of abundance and winter, the season of scarcity.  It is a time when we gather, store, take stock of all that we have harvested. And as the leaves fall, the air becomes crisp and everything around us becomes lighter, dryer and retreats inward, human beings have no choice but to acknowledge death as a necessary precursor to new life.

Many traditions, from Hindi to Jewish to Celtic, consider this time to be the beginning of a new cycle, a new year. Offering gratitude not only for the harvest, but also for ancestors and those who came before is also a common theme. In Mexico and Latin America the Dia de los Muertos honors loved ones who have passed. In Korea the festival of Chuseok celebrates abundance of the harvest as well as the ancestors and is marked by gathering with family, thanksgiving and prayer.

It’s a natural to be reminded by the change in season that loss is a part of life, which helps us to stay grateful for what we have.

I would like to offer personal gratitude for the plants, who continuously offer their sustenance and medicine. I’m also so grateful to our employees at Tonic who work hard to keep us going and make our store a warm & inviting space. And for our ancestors, both familial and the collective ancestors. To all of the people, plants and animals who paved the way for us to be here now, including the indigenous people of this region, the Massawomeck, who inhabited these lands prior to the arrival of my ancestors, and who are an important part of our collective history.

And finally, to our customers, for your continued support for the past 6 1/2 years. Thank you for choosing to support us over Amazon, Walgreens or Vitacost. Thank you for giving us such encouraging feedback on our products & drinks. Thank you for valuing your own health and wellbeing, and for turning to the plants for balance.

To show our gratitude, we are offering
15% off all retail products & bulk herbs this Friday (Black Friday/Native American Heritage Day) & Saturday (Small Business Saturday)
Stop in for complimentary mulled cider and a storewide savingsFor those of you who are not local, you can also get
15% off all products on our online store

Use Coupon Code GRATITUDE15 at checkout

Coming in February: Community Wellness Council

In partnership with Sacred Garden School of Herbalism, Tonic is the host of a new low-cost Community Wellness Council.Beginning February 17th, the council will meet above Tonic Herb Shop on Fridays with the goal of providing safe, effective & affordable herbal care for individuals in our community through in person consultations to discuss the client’s health concerns. The council is part of the Sacred Garden School’s advanced herbal training program. Students and an instructor collaborate to conduct the interview and to come up with customized herbal recommendations tailored to the individual’s needs.

If you are interested in being a client, you can learn more about the program here:
https://tonicherbshop.com/wellness-council/

If you are interested in being a student, you can learn more about Sacred Garden School’s herbal programs here:
www.sacredgardenschool.com 

What’s a Witch Anway?

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October 1oth and all is well. Leaves are changing. Chai is brewing. And All Hallows Eve is approaching.

Mortar pestle and herbs original drawing on handmade paper/ image 1While we enjoy the mainstream hoopla and stream Hocus Pocus 2, I want to unpack some of the modern associations that we have about witches. Why do we fear them? Why do we think they can fly? Why do they use such creepy ingredients in their potions? And what’s up with the pointy hats?

Let’s start with the word “witch.” It has roots in the Gothic word “Weihs” which means ‘holy’ or ‘sacred.’  The Germanic root is “Weihan” which means ‘consecrate.’ The Anglo Saxon root is “Wicce” which means ‘divination’. In “the Three Kings of Cologne” (c. 1400) the word “wicca” translates as Magi. And have you noticed how close Magi is to Magic? The etymology suggests that witches were something sacred, or serve something sacred.

The question is, sacred to whom? The word and the concept were not demonized until the 15th century, when the authorities of the Catholic church were systematically eradicating anything that seemed to oppose the patriarchal, hierarchical agenda of the Church doctrine. There is much that can be found if you research the inquisition and the details are too many for this short article, but it seems clear that the women who were targeted during the inquisition were the healers, midwives, visionaries, shamans, wise women, astrologers, alchemists, oracles and Earth protectors of Europe. The connotation that we have of witches as devil-worshippers was completely contrived by the Church, and it took 200 years to turn pagan tradition into something to be feared.  Over the years witches became convenient scape-goats for crop failure and hardship. Ugly and disturbing layers were added to the stereotype, mostly by people trying to make a name for themselves in the Church or making ‘confessions’ under torture to avoid capital punishment.

The word “hag” meant ‘one who has sacred knowledge’. It wasn’t originally an insulting term. I’m not saying everyone who identifies as a witch is sacred. I do believe that black magic is a real thing and that some people engage with the occult in irresponsible ways.  And I’m not saying that witches are good and the Catholic Church is bad. To make such a black and white distinction would be as  irreverent as the Church 😉 I simply want to share the historical significance of some of our understandings of witches and where they originate.

So, what is the significance of the pentagram? It’s the signature of Venus. The planet Venus makes a 5-pointed star, or 5-petaled rose during her 8 year cycle around the sun.  Much can also be said about the pentagram and sacred geometry. It follows the golden ratio and a star can be divided into fractals of stars/pentagrams. The angles of a pentagram are 108 degrees, which is a sacred number in Vedic and Buddhist philosophies.  Read more here and here

The number 13, usually thought of as bad luck or the number in a witch’s coven, is also connected to the Golden Ration and Phi. Thirteen is the 7th number in the Fibonacci sequence. There are 13 lunar cycles in a year, another nod to the Divine Feminine. And numerologically, 13 is the number of transcendence. Maybe thirteen isn’t bad luck; maybe it’s been labeled as such so that we don’t tap into the transcendent powers of fractal time (natural time is fractal; it spirals. It’s not linear).

Black conical hats- originally a symbol of knowledge? In ancient times, golden conical hats were worn by the star-trackers and priests. In Mongolia & China, conical hats was a symbol of status. It was also worn by noble people of Europe before it became a symbol of shame and punishment for heretical behavior.

The broom & flying- Flying is a metaphor for journeying. Some witches were shamans who traveled to other realms, often with the help of plants. Some anthropologists say that the broom was actually a short rod used to apply hallucinogenic ointments to sensitive areas of the body, where the compounds could be absorbed into the blood without unpleasant digestive effects (Forbes). The broom could also be a hollow-stemmed plant like Angelica (Angelica archangelica) or Elder (Sambucus nigra) that have long been seen as bridges to other realms.

What about the grotesque animal parts like Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog? These came from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. And these likely were codes for plants. Eye of newt could be a pseudonym for mustard seeds. Medieval herbalists would often use creative and peculiar names for plants such as “bloody fingers” for foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and “swine snout” for dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

Black cats? Just like the number 13, black cats can mean good luck or bad luck. Black cats were sometimes seen as the familiars of witches, or even a witch who has shape-shifted and taken the form of a cat. But a good friend of mine once told me that black cats catch curses. So good or bad, that’s for you to decide. I think it depends on who you believe is doing the true cursing, and who you believe is doing the true healing.

Yours in health,
Ashley

Daily Protocol for Winter Wellness

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With so many amazing healing plants to choose from, and a never-ending list of health crises, how do you know which herbs to turn to for help? In a holistic model of herbalism, there is no one-size-fits-all protocol for wellness, but there are tonic herbs that are generally safe and have a lot to offer a wide range of people in terms of nourishment, energy, and increased resistance to illness.

I want to share my current daily regimen as an example of how tonic herbs can be incorporated into daily life to promote overall energy, strength and vitality without focusing on a specific disease or condition. This is meant as preventative medicine. Please remember that some herbs in this protocol have specific contraindications and you will need to do your own research before deciding to use these formulas yourself.

Morning: Adrenal + Immune Support 

First thing every morning, I start with a cup of Daily Wellness Latte– an adaptogenic herbal coffee alternative. It contains ashwagandha, shatavari and fo-ti, all of which are adaptogens and balance the body’s response to stress by supporting the adrenal glands. Adaptogens tend to strengthen one’s energy reserves and balance the immune system (both of which are related to kindey qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine). You will notice that many adaptogens are also kidney tonics in TCM. These herbs are traditionally used for preventative and chronic care and are not recommended for acute conditions.

As a mother who has probably had 5 nights of uninterrupted sleep in the past 4 years, I know that I need to do whatever I can to nourish my kidney qi, which is depleted by lack of sleep, excessive worry, and other stressors. This tea also includes herbs like milk thistle seed, dandelion root and chicory to support the liver in its daily functions.

Sometimes I drink this on its own, sometimes I mix it with coffee, but I ALWAYS add the following:

  • 4-6,000 IU of liquid Vitamin D. Vitamin D is a crucial for healthy immune function and has been shown to significantly reduce your chances of developing a respiratory infection (1). It is an important preventative supplement for anyone living in temperate regions and who spend most of their time indoors, especially for people of color.
  • 2 droppersful of Seven Precious Mushrooms tincture, a formula by Herbalist & Alchemist composed of medicinal mushrooms. Mushrooms are a rich source of immune-strengthening polysaccharides, which have been well-studied in their effects on supporting the immune system, and have a long history of use in promoting longevity and resistance to disease.  Like other adaptogens, mushrooms don’t simply stimulate immune function, they can also calm down a hyperactive immune response. They are immune amphoterics, meaning that they can work bidirectionally, depending on what your body needs.

So that’s my morning drink which covers energy, immune health, and chronic stress support. The mushroom tincture complements the bitter, coffee-like flavor of the tea. I enjoy this with coconut milk, but you could drink it black or add whatever you like to for creaminess.

Afternoon: Spirulina Lemonade

spirulina lime-adeThen, in the afternoon, I have been enjoying a spirulina lemonade as a nutrient-dense afternoon pick-me-up. I just wrote a post about spirulina, so please check that out to learn more about the health benefits of this blue-green algae.

The recipe is simple. It is:

          • 1 heaping tsp spirulina powder
          • juice from 1 lemon & 1 lime
          • 1 TBSP honey
          • 30 fl oz water

I mix all of this up in a quart jar, starting with the honey and citrus juice. You may need to add a splash of hot water to help dissolve the honey. Then I add the spirulina and stir. Once those components are well-blended, I fill up the jar the rest of the way with water, screw on the top and give it a shake.

I drink the entire quart over the course of a few hours directly from the jar. If you like, you can pour it over ice, but please do not heat it or you will destroy some of the vitamins & enzymes. Not only is this a great way to optimize your nutrition, it also helps you to stay hydrated in the winter months!

Evening- Intuitive Care

The evenings for me are the most challenging part of my day. From about 5:00-9:30 I don’t get much time for self-care and I have found that trying to adhere to a strict regimen feels stressful to me. So I keep it light by allowing myself to choose whatever feels most supportive for me.

This could be in the form of a calming nervine or a dose of CBD if I need help unwinding. It could be a subtle flower essence taken with a particular intention. It could be in the form of triphala tablets or bitters if I feel in need of digestive support, or simply going to bed early. A cup of golden milk is a lovely, grounding drink to have before bed and a delicious way to get turmeric into my day. Turmeric is warming and balancing to my cold constitution. If turmeric is too heating for you, gotu kola is a more cooling alternative.

This is the part where you get to tune in and listen to what your body is really wanting. Yes, it helps to have herbal knowledge in selecting the “right” herbs for you in that moment, but you do not have to be an expert to make these choices on your own. I recommend starting out by keeping a few simple herbs on hand and getting to know each one on its own before mixing them.

If I had to pick one herb to recommend as a generally safe tonic herb for the end of the day, it’d be…

Tulsi

Tulsi (aka Holy Basil) is an Ayurvedic tonic herb with a calming & clarifying effect on the brain & nervous system. It is also an adaptogen, but it it has a lighter and more diffusive energetic than other adaptogens, making it acceptable for use in fevers and accute conditions. Tulsi is not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing, but otherwise has no contraindications.

or Rose Petal. I can never choose just one.rose petal

Rose is another one of my alltime favorites. It’s probably the most soothing herb I have ever tried. You can read more about the benefits of rose petal here. Rose petals infused into almond milk makes a nourishing nightcap that is truly divine. Check Banyan Botanicals Recipe for Almond Rose Ojas Milk

Cautions

Not every herb is good for every person. Please note that the herbs mentioned above are generally not recommended for using during pregnancy. In addition, fo-ti root is not recommended for people with liver disease. Dandelion is not recommended if there is acute gallbladder inflammation or blockage of the bile ducts. Ashwagandha should be avoided by people with sensitivities to the solanaceae family. And mushrooms should be avoided by anyone with a mushroom allergy.

This article is for information purposes only & is not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease

Energetic vs. Material Dosing

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Energetic dosing, also known as spirit dosing or etheric dosing, uses tiny amounts of plant medicine, sometimes without a trace of the plant’s chemical constituents, to achieve an effect on the subtle energy patterns of the body, mind and spirit. Their effect is largely vibrational and their indications include the spiritual effects of the plant’s medicine.  Essences and homeopathic medicine are examples of energetic preparations. You can achieve a similar vibrational effect by using drop doses of tinctures. The perspective behind the smaller dosing methods recognizes a vital life force and innate intelligence in the body as well as the plant and believes that it’s the interaction between the vital force that ultimately produces a unique effect.

Material dosing refers to the use plant preparations that contain a plant’s phytochemical profile. Tinctures, syrups and decoctions are examples of material dosing. This approach is based on an understanding of how the plant’s chemical constituents interact with the physiological mechanisms of the body to produce an effect.

So, the smaller the dose, the more it acts on the energetic pathways. The large the dose, the more it acts on the physiological mechanisms of the body. These two approaches are not mutually exclusive and both offer valuable wisdom.

Guide to Dosing

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“How much should I take?” I hear this question multiple times a day. I often answer with a standard response to follow the directions on the bottle, because I don’t have 30 minutes to explain the art of dosing to every customer, so it is my hope that this article will help to clarify the nuances a bit.

There are many different perspectives on dosing, and there is not one concrete answer (sorry type A people). In truth, the dosage that one should use very much depends on the individual’s constitution (i.e. kapha types tend to require larger doses than vata types), how the herbal remedy is prepared (infusion, tincture, flower essence), and what the desired effect is (are we going for subtle encouragement, a nutritional/tonic effect or a strong heroic action?).

Many tincture bottles will recommend something in the range of 20-60 drops 3-4 times a day, and this is a good standard for many people. It should be noted that this dosage is for an adult weighing 150 lbs. Children’s dosing will always be lower (divide child’s weight by 150; multiply the recommended adult dose by this fraction to get the child’s dosage level). And people weighing less than 150 pounds may find that they need less than the recommended dose, while larger people may need to take more. That being said, these recommendations are arbitrary. There are no scientific standards for dosing. Even the British Herbal Pharmacopeia offers no explanation on how the recommended dosages originated; it appears that they are largely based on theory and tradition.

I often recommend that one starts smaller than the recommended dose and build up if needed, because you can always increase the amount of tincture or the frequency with which you take it. My goal is to always help the client find the minimum effective dose, and this takes some experimentation. As a consumer of herbal medicine, you must be engaged with the medicine that you are taking, and pay attention to your body so that you can notice the gradual shifts that occur. It requires a different level of participation than popping a pill in your mouth and expecting relief to happen within 30 minutes.

That’s not to say that herbs cannot offer quick relief, but again, it depends on your end goal. When practiced allopathically, large doses of herbs can suppress symptoms. A more holistic approach, however, is to use small and frequent dosing to shift the tissue states of the interior ecosystem, and bring about slow but lasting changes to restore balance.

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when deciding where to start:

  1. Tonic herbs and herbs taken for their nutritional value can be safely used in larger amounts, and taken for longer periods of time than herbs being used to treat a specific symptom or override a specific bodily process (i.e. “regulating” herbs).
  2. Acute vs. Chronic: using herbs for chronic conditions generally calls for smaller doses taken over longer periods of time, while treating acute conditions requires higher doses for shorter periods of time.
  3. Methods of preparation play a role- tinctures are generally more concentrated than powders or teas. Decoctions are more concentrated than infusions. You’ll have to become somewhat familiar with the different methods of preparing herbs to know which preparation might be best for you. And sometimes preparation is a matter of preference. Some people simply cannot be bothered to make a tea, while some prefer the relaxation and ritual of a tea over the harshness of a tincture. I like to use teas for daily nourishment or when I’m feeling sick from a viral infection and I prefer tinctures as a convenient way to get other herbs in on a daily basis. 
  4. Strength of the medicine plays a role- Within the category of tinctures, you’ll find that some are more concentrated than others. Store-bought tinctures will have a ratio of herb : menstrum (i.e. 1:2 or 1:5) on the label. For a 1:2 tincture, one ounce of herb was used for every 2 fluid ounces of liquid. This is a very strong tincture. Folk methods of preparation will usually be closer to a 1:10 ratio, meaning that 1 ounce of herbs was infused into 10 fl oz of liquid. Given the variability of strengths, it is good to experiment, starting low and titrating up until you find your sweet spot (more on this below…)
  5. Constitutions play a role- as I mentioned above, some people respond faster than others to herbal treatment than others. People with a lot of stagnation tend to need more material doses to get things moving in the body before they can detect the subtle effects of smaller/energetic doses.
  6. Specificity plays an even more important role- meaning, the better the match between plant and person, the less of the herb you will need. I’ll elaborate on this a little bit more below.

As herbal medicine and the collective consciousness evolve, the trend seems to be toward less is more. We are embracing subtlety and appreciating the low-impact methods of harvesting and preparing botanical remedies such as plant essences, which do not even require that one harvests the plant that they are using (one exception is the increased popularity of essential oils, which requires massive amounts of plant material to yield a tiny, highly concentrated drop). I have noticed an unofficial movement in the world of herbalism towards energetic ways of working with the plants. More and more practitioners and teachers seem to be offering classes and guidance on clinical use of flower essences, plant spirit medicine, and more of a spiritual understanding of a plant’s virtues (which often correlate with the physical actions of the plant…as above, so below)

Essences and homeopathic are energetic preparations that work differently than material preparations. They work on the vibrational body, on the subtle energy patterns of the body, mind and spirit. You can achieve a similar vibrational effect by using drop doses of tinctures. Drop dosing, energetic dosing, spirit dosing, and etheric dosing– all relatively new vocabulary to describe the same concept. When working with this type of dosing, it’s best to have a clear idea of the indications and nuances for each herb being used, and to apply the herbs to fit specific patterns in a person (as opposed to trying milk thistle because it sounds like an amazing herb and your liver could probably use some support).

So, the smaller the dose, the more it acts on the energetic pathways. The large the dose, the more it acts on the physiological mechanisms of the body, through the presence of phytochemicals present in the plant. The perspective behind the smaller dosing methods is one that recognizes a vital life force and innate intelligence in the body as well as the plant. It’s the interaction between the vital force that ultimately produces a unique effect. Conversely, the approach behind material dosing focuses more on the plant’s chemical constituents and how these interact with the physiological mechanisms of the body. These two approaches are not mutually exclusive and both offer valuable wisdom.

How do you know which one to use?

Ask yourself why you are using this particular herb. Are you reaching for your echinacea to ward off a cold? In that case, you would want to take material doses of echinacea, and very frequently, to achieve the surface immune activation that you seek. Did the herbalist from your local herb shop recommend rose petal as an ally for you because a) it supports your current state of grief and heartache and b) it seems to be a good match for you generally as it is balancing for your hyperactive immune system and your constricted liver qi? If an herb’s indications seem to fit you to a T, then you can use a smaller material dose (i.e. 3-10 drops of tincture instead of 30-60). In this case I would also encourage you to play with rose on all levels and get to know it intimately (try it as a tea and also infuse the petals into your bath water, plant a rose bush next to your house and get to know it through the seasons, and experiment with different ways of incorporating rose into your daily life).

Or, maybe it’s the herb’s spiritual properties that you are most interested in (i.e dandelion flower essence for people who work too hard and need help slowing down)? Maybe you want support in your quest to distance yourself from your mother’s overbearing influence, in which case drop doses of black walnut or an essence of black walnut may be best for you.

Another reason to opt for the energetic dosing is because it feels safer, as there are less contraindications reported. As I am writing this, pregnant with my second child, I know how confusing it can be for an expectant mother to get clear answers about which herbs are safe for her to use throughout pregnancy. Many, many herbs are contraindicated in material doses for pregnant women (many of which are perfectly safe in small-moderate doses). As an herbalist who feels comfortable knowing how many of these plants feel in my body, I have continued to use some of my favorites throughout my pregnancy without concern, but I often use less than I would normally use.

“As a rule, the dose should be the smallest quantity that will produce the desired result” – John M. Scudder

This is very good advice from an Eclectic physician. When in doubt, start small and work up to larger doses. Use energetic dosing (a few drops of tincture, homeopathic preparations and flower essences) to work on the subtle, emotional layers, and material doses (30-60 drops or more of tincture or a strong nourishing infusion/decoction) for conditions that seem more acute, physical, dense, and deep. And there is no reason that you can’t apply both, especially for a chronic condition. Try your formula in material doses for a few weeks, then switch to energetic doses for a week and notice how they each make you feel. When it comes to knowing what is best for your body, you are your own best guide.

by Ashley Davis, 2019

Ashley is a clinical herbalist, teacher, gardener, and co-owner of Tonic Herb Shop in Shepherdstown, WV (www.tonicherbshop.com)