Class Notes from Lesson 7-3 Constitutional

 Lesson 7-3: Panax

Long discussion on the stress characteristics of humans as opposed to other creatures. Humans have little real, physical stress/danger anymore. So, all the perceived stress/brain noise still firing causes physical damage as opposed to allowing us to fight or run away. An adaptogen is an herb that diminishes "cross chatter' between brain and pituitary. Basically, it helps manage perceived stress. It balances/buffers/baffles. I can think of several high emotional stress situations... from first dates to radio interviews, etc... in which this knowledge would have come in handy. A cocktail of adaptogens could could have made all the difference. I'd have been somewhere William Powell in The Thin Man... and John Wayne in any move.... laid back, relaxed, but totally in charge and capable!

Asian Ginseng (panax) red or white (cured is distinctly different from uncured). Cured is more simulative... good for people who are run down or addicts or who have been sick. Red should be avoided as adaptogen.

Discussion on diet and how one has to eat according to their nature. He seems to tend toward extremes... fat or skinny, bland or spicy, meat or veg, sleepy or speedy, etc. I'm very comfortable in a very balanced middle.

Ginseng grows higher on the slope, goldenseal a bit lower, jack in the pulpit at the bottom. American Ginseng grows more slowly than Korean or Chinese.

I grew up hunting ginseng and goldenseal. It can still be done responsibly. I'm sure I've planted more than I've taken from the woods.

Wow, MM had kids.... that is surprising. If I had 47 catfish, I'd smoke them. .

From  SPECIFIC INDICATIONS FOR HERBS IN GENERAL USE Third edition Michael Moore:

PANAX GINSENG (CURED, CHINESE KIRIN or KOREAN RED)

 Asthenic hypotension with dry skin and frequent blushing. Dizziness in aged with arteriosclerosis, "cerebral anemia". Multiple sclerosis in young women or in the asthenic, feeble. Adrenal medulla depressed from stimulant withdrawal, "exhausted". Sterility, with depressed testosterone, low sperm count. Blood serum levels: alkalosis, metabolic. Asthenia - frequent sense of chill in warm room, fingers cold, appetite poor but elimination normal, though skin dry. Hypoglycemia, sympathomimetic. 

PANAX GINSENG (UNCURED) 

Adrenal cortex hypofunctions. Anorexia from chemotherapy. Menarche delay (primary amenorrhea), with recent growth spurt and increased pubic hair. Sterility, with depressed testosterone, low sperm count. Blood serum levels: alkalosis, metabolic. Nutritional malabsorption in the aged and convalescent. Asthenia - frequent sense of chill in warm room, fingers cold, appetite poor but elimination normal, though skin dry. General preventative for hyperglycemia and early stages of insulin resistant diabetes. Anorexia nervosa, mild, in adolescence. 

PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM 

Lipid lowering in arteriosclerosis. Multiple sclerosis, early stages or the beginning of remissions. Adrenal cortex hypofunctions. Adrenal cortex hyperfunctions from stress, with elevated lipids, uric acid, blood sugars with stomach hypersecretions. General moderation for over-reactivity in stress and drug abuse. Acne, from excessive cortical hormones. Muscular pain, when recuperating from debilitating, protracted illness (w/Cola). Menarche delay (primary amenorrhea), with recent growth spurt and increased pubic hair. Sterility, with depressed testosterone, low sperm count. Thin, subanemic blood with hypersensitivities. Blood serum levels: cholesterol elevations. Blood serum levels: hyperlipidemia, in general. Blood serum levels: alkalosis, metabolic. Blood serum levels: LDL, VLDL elevated. Specific indications - Page 42 Nutritional malabsorption in the aged and convalescent. Asthenia - frequent sense of chill in warm room, fingers cold, appetite poor but elimination normal, though skin dry. Anorexia from cancer therapy. General preventative for hyperglycemia, early stages of insulin resistant diabetes. Anorexia nervosa, mild in adolescence; or iatrogenic from drugs. 

Here is the link to the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine Course

https://www.swsbm.com/school/