Traditional Western Herbal Medicine : As Above So Below

This book is intended to be a users' manual, not a reference book, and so has charts, diagrams, tables and cross-references to enable the interested practitioner to incorporate the Western Herbal Tradition into their practice. It synthesises and elaborates on all the extant information on the Western Healing Tradition as recorded by William Lilly and Nicholas Culpeper in the 17Cth and from the author's own herbal practice. It shows how using planetary energies and the wheel of the year deepens our understanding of the action of medicinal plants on the body and establishes the practitioner within their environment, allowing them to use planetary energies to determine the peak times to harvest and use herbal remedies and to locate health and sickness within the holistic paradigm of Western Traditional Herbal Medicine. For ease of use, the book is divided into two sections. The first details the philosophical framework within which traditional western herbalists can operate; looking at the four humours, and seven planets and the use of the diagnostic tool of the decumbiture chart. The work is so organised that the humoral system can be used without astrology, should that be the preference. The second part covers the practical application of the philosophy, how to collect, make and administer herbal remedies according to the planetary days and hours and the decumbiture chart. Examples of decumbiture charts will be included to show how the philosophy is used in practice. Lastly, a materia medica of common herbs is included. This fascinating new title by the best-selling Elisabeth Brooke will be of interest to anyone involved in the theory or practice of herbal medicine, particularly those who have been inspired by her other classic works including A Woman's Book of Herbs and Herbal Therapy for Women. A users manual to guide the interested practitioner through incorporating Western Herbal Tradition into their practice. Complete with charts, diagrams, tables and cross-references, Traditional Western Herbal Medicine synthesises and elaborates on all the extant information on the Western Healing Tradition as recorded by William Lilly and Nicholas Culpeper in the 17Cth and from the author's own herbal practice. It shows how using planetary energies and the wheel of the year deepens our understanding of the action of medicinal plants on the body and establishes the practitioner within their environment, allowing them to use planetary energies to determine the peak times to harvest and use herbal remedies and to locate health and sickness within the holistic paradigm of Western Traditional Herbal Medicine. For ease of use, the book is divided into two sections. The first details the philosophical framework within which traditional western herbalists can operate; looking at the four humours, and seven planets and the use of the diagnostic tool of the decumbiture chart. The second part covers the practical application of the philosophy, how to collect, make and administer herbal remedies according to the planetary days and hours and the decumbiture chart. Examples of decumbiture charts will be included to show how the philosophy is used in practice. Lastly, a materia medica of common herbs is included. The work is so organised that the humoral system can be used without astrology, should that be the preference. This fascinating new title by the best-selling Elisabeth Brooke will be of interest to anyone involved in the theory or practice of herbal medicine, particularly those who have been inspired by her other classic works including A Woman's Book of Herbs and Herbal Therapy for Women. Responding to the recent revival of interest in herbal medicine, Elisabeth Brooke explores the origins and history of the practice of herbalism and discusses its use in a modern context. This new book will be perfect for anyone interested in the use of herbal medicine, in particular those who have read Brooke's best-selling earlier works including Herbal Therapy for Women. "The thesis of this book is the interconnectedness of all nature, human and plant kingdoms, and the underlying connection of a first principle which unites everything and from which and to which everything returns. We shall go on to discuss the four elements and humours and how the planets weave these differing energies through the vegetable and animal kingdoms which show us how Spirit is expressed in the plant, in the person and in the dis-ease." —from the author