Herbalism , Ancient And Modern.
Entry posted by Pertinax
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Members will be aware of the "Roman World Herbal" gallery I have maintained for some time.In the Gallery are displayed plants known to have been used as painkillers, wound salves, abortifactants and foods, some of these plants have a recorded history from Egypt and Greece via Rome and Persia.Not all the plants are strictly Roman but many are known witihn the Roman world, so we have Borage and Mistletoe for example ,two very important Celtic herbs that the Romans must have known of and may well have used, especially given the role of Auxilliary troops from around the Empire.
The chemical properties of the herbs have been investigated within our contemporary culture of scientific reductionism , many are still used or are mutilated and synthesised beyond the bounds of natural progression (how is asprin in any way superior to meadowsweet or white willow from which it is extracted if acetelyne poisoning is a downside to its use?).
I have been asked to provide a bibilography for the study of Herb Medicine.Here are some suggested titles to give information on plant properties and to forewarn of the respect ,that the plant matrix, (as a host for an active medical core of healing chemicals) ,should be given.
1.Firstly buy a well illustrated book
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0002200...ce&n=266239
for Britain this is fine: then , go and find and photograph as many of these as you can!
That takes a while 
2.Get a basic reference for active chemistry:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0846410...ce&n=266239
desk reference, -you will know if you are using the wrong stuff!
3.Chemistry standard
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0198503...ce&n=266239
you need this to know what trace elements are kicking about.For example , mercury ,lead and cadmium are bad guys dont eat them: chromium , selenium and boron are here to help, but only in very small amounts.
4.Chemical Structure
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0851998...ce&n=266239
this is the reductive "why it does it, cos its built like this" book, very good.This explains who fits together to make nice molecules.
5.Secret Teachings of Plants
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1591430...ce&n=266239
the exact opposite of the above , holistic and emotional. Equally indispensable.You have to be able to accommodate both the last two titles in your brain without disquiet, as both are valid and useful.
6.An atlas of plant ranges. If you cant find it you may live in Alaska and have very few Frankinsence trees, best to check.
7.on Toxins
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0198605...ce&n=266239
because they are dangerous even if cute and green and flowery.
from thence to specific Ancient medicine, browse Pliny , read Galen, thence Ibn Sina (I can find very little practical difference between Ibn Sinas 10thC Persian work and modern practical Herbalism, Hakim Chistis recent work is excellent http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0892814...e&n=266239) , browse Culpepper .If a person is serious about the work then the crucial schooloing is actually healing, for this you must start at basement level , fetching and carrying for a Herbalist. The biggest problem is the great number of people who do not wish to be well this may be a startling statement but it is true, Hakim Chisti re-iterates this for the Islamic world in the Avicenna commentary.
Thats enough for now!
I add this as regards conventional ie: chemical medicines and "care" (or lack of) in the toxin title cited above the simple lesson is "wash your hands" , so why do Doctors not do this?
http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showto...amp;#entry30859
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