合草藥

依 Hildegard《Physica》合草藥。

用

• 某疾→Hildegard 藥→用
• 欲知 Physica 草性→用
• 求製法（浸、敷、煎、酊）→用
• 求量與忌→用
• 究中世紀草藥→用
• 合 Hildegard 於整全→用

入

• 必：疾（如胃亂、肺壅、膚炎）
• 可：所宜所忌之草
• 可：製法之擇（酊久、浸急）
• 可：體質（多血、膽、黑膽、黏液）
• 可：時令、鮮乾

行

一：辨草於 Physica

疾合草，取 Physica 九卷（草、元、木、石、魚、鳥、獸、蟲、金）。

Common Ailments → Physica Plants:
┌─────────────────────┬──────────────────────┬────────────────────┐
│ Ailment             │ Primary Plants        │ Physica Reference  │
├─────────────────────┼──────────────────────┼────────────────────┤
│ Digestive upset     │ Fennel, Yarrow,      │ Book I, Ch. 1, 61  │
│ (cold pattern)      │ Ginger, Galangal     │                    │
├─────────────────────┼──────────────────────┼────────────────────┤
│ Respiratory         │ Lungwort, Elecampane,│ Book I, Ch. 95, 164│
│ congestion          │ Hyssop, Anise        │                    │
├─────────────────────┼──────────────────────┼────────────────────┤
│ Skin inflammation   │ Violet, Plantain,    │ Book I, Ch. 34, 28 │
│ (hot pattern)       │ Yarrow, Marigold     │                    │
├─────────────────────┼──────────────────────┼────────────────────┤
│ Nervous agitation   │ Lavender, Lemon balm,│ Book I, Ch. 40, 123│
│                     │ Chamomile, Valerian  │                    │
├─────────────────────┼──────────────────────┼────────────────────┤
│ Joint pain          │ Comfrey, St. John's  │ Book I, Ch. 21, 158│
│ (cold/damp)         │ wort, Nettle, Birch  │                    │
└─────────────────────┴──────────────────────┴────────────────────┘

Hildegard's Selection Principles:
1. Temperature: Match plant temperature to condition pattern
   - Cold conditions → warming plants (fennel, ginger, galangal)
   - Hot conditions → cooling plants (violet, plantain, lettuce)
2. Moisture: Match plant moisture to imbalance
   - Dry conditions → moistening plants (mallow, linseed)
   - Damp conditions → drying plants (yarrow, wormwood)
3. Temperament alignment: Choose plants harmonious with user's constitution
4. Seasonal availability: Fresh plants in growing season, dried in winter

得：一至三草合疾之寒熱燥濕、合體質。

敗：疾性未明→取中和（茴、甘菊、蓍）。

二：擇製法

依疾位、急緩、草性。

Preparation Methods from Medieval Tradition:

┌──────────────┬────────────────────┬──────────────────┬──────────────┐
│ Method       │ Best For           │ Duration         │ Shelf Life   │
├──────────────┼────────────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────┤
│ INFUSION     │ Aerial parts       │ Acute conditions │ 24 hours     │
│ (hot water)  │ (leaves, flowers)  │ Internal use     │ refrigerated │
├──────────────┼────────────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────┤
│ DECOCTION    │ Roots, bark, seeds │ Chronic use      │ 24 hours     │
│ (boiled)     │ Hard plant parts   │ Deep ailments    │ refrigerated │
├──────────────┼────────────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────┤
│ TINCTURE     │ Long-term use      │ Chronic support  │ 2-5 years    │
│ (alcohol)    │ Concentrated dose  │ Travel-friendly  │              │
├──────────────┼────────────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────┤
│ POULTICE     │ External wounds    │ Acute topical    │ Use fresh    │
│ (crushed)    │ Skin conditions    │ Inflammation     │              │
├──────────────┼────────────────────┼──────────────────┼──────────────┤
│ OIL INFUSION │ Massage, salves    │ Skin/muscle care │ 6-12 months  │
│ (oil carrier)│ External only      │ Long-term        │              │
└──────────────┴────────────────────┴──────────────────┴──────────────┘

Decision Tree:
- Internal + Acute → Infusion or decoction
- Internal + Chronic → Tincture or daily decoction
- External + Acute → Poultice
- External + Chronic → Oil infusion or salve

得：製法合草之部、疾之急慢、入路內外。

敗：不定→浸。浸最安最寬。

三：製與量

依法精量施技。

INFUSION (for aerial parts: leaves, flowers):
1. Measure: 1 tablespoon dried herb (or 2 tablespoons fresh) per 8 oz water
2. Boil water, remove from heat
3. Add herb, cover (to preserve volatile oils), steep 10-15 minutes
4. Strain through fine mesh or cheesecloth
5. Dosage: 1 cup 2-3 times daily, or as specific ailment requires

DECOCTION (for roots, bark, seeds):
1. Measure: 1 tablespoon dried root/bark per 8 oz water
2. Combine in pot, bring to boil
3. Reduce heat, simmer covered 20-30 minutes (up to 45 for hard roots)
4. Strain while hot
5. Dosage: 1/2 cup 2-3 times daily (more concentrated than infusion)

TINCTURE (alcohol extraction, 4-6 week preparation):
1. Ratio: 1 part dried herb to 5 parts menstruum (40-60% alcohol)
2. Combine in amber glass jar, seal tightly
3. Shake daily, store in dark place for 4-6 weeks
4. Strain through cheesecloth, press to extract all liquid
5. Dosage: 15-30 drops (approximately 1/2 to 1 dropper) 2-3 times daily,
   diluted in water or tea

POULTICE (fresh or rehydrated dried herb):
1. Fresh: Crush or chew herb to release juices, apply directly to skin
2. Dried: Rehydrate with hot water to paste consistency
3. Apply to affected area, cover with clean cloth
4. Replace every 2-4 hours or when dry
5. Duration: Acute inflammation (24-48 hours), wounds (until healed)

OIL INFUSION (for external salves):
1. Ratio: Fill jar 3/4 with dried herb, cover completely with oil
   (olive, almond, or sunflower)
2. Method A (solar): Seal jar, place in sunny window 2-4 weeks, shake daily
3. Method B (heat): Place jar in water bath (double boiler), low heat 2-4 hours
4. Strain through cheesecloth, press herb matter to extract all oil
5. Store in dark bottle; use within 6-12 months

得：製合法、比合宜、時合度。量明於內外。

敗：過強（苦、灼）→半稀。過弱（三日無感）→增草五分之一再製。

四：記忌

辨安全、藥交、避用之群。

Common Contraindications by Plant Category:

EMMENAGOGUES (stimulate menstruation):
- Plants: Pennyroyal, Rue, Mugwort, Tansy, Wormwood
- Avoid: Pregnancy (all trimesters), breastfeeding
- Caution: Heavy menstrual flow

PHYTOESTROGENS (estrogen-like activity):
- Plants: Fennel, Anise, Hops, Red clover, Licorice
- Avoid: Hormone-sensitive cancers, pregnancy
- Caution: If taking hormonal medications or birth control

BLOOD THINNERS (anticoagulant properties):
- Plants: Garlic, Ginger (high dose), Feverfew, Ginkgo
- Avoid: Before surgery (stop 2 weeks prior)
- Caution: If taking warfarin, aspirin, or other anticoagulants

HEPATOTOXIC (potential liver stress):
- Plants: Comfrey (internal use), Pennyroyal, Kava
- Avoid: Liver disease, alcohol use disorder
- Caution: Long-term high-dose use

PHOTOSENSITIZERS (increase sun sensitivity):
- Plants: St. John's wort, Angelica, Celery seed
- Avoid: Before sun exposure, with photosensitizing medications
- Caution: Fair skin, history of skin cancer

GENERAL CAUTIONS:
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding: Most herbs lack safety data; avoid unless
  traditionally used for pregnancy (ginger, red raspberry leaf)
- Children under 2: Avoid all herbal preparations except gentle teas
  (chamomile, fennel)
- Children 2-12: Use 1/4 to 1/2 adult dose, depending on age and weight
- Elderly: Start with 1/2 dose; may be more sensitive to effects
- Chronic illness: Consult healthcare provider before use
- Surgery: Discontinue all herbs 2 weeks before scheduled surgery

得：諸忌皆記。孕、幼、藥交皆標。

敗：忌未明→勸諮草師或醫師。默作「孕乳及十二歲下勿用」。

五：審與合

末審、觀效、納入日常。

Safety Review Checklist:
- [ ] Plant correctly identified (botanical name confirmed)
- [ ] Preparation method matches plant part and condition
- [ ] Dosage is within traditional safe range
- [ ] Contraindications reviewed and documented
- [ ] User informed this is historical folk medicine, not medical advice
- [ ] Expected timeline for effect noted (acute: 1-3 days; chronic: 2-4 weeks)

Monitoring Protocol:
Days 1-3:
- Note any immediate reactions (digestive upset, skin rash, headache)
- If adverse reaction occurs, discontinue immediately
- Positive signs: Symptom improvement, increased energy, better sleep

Days 4-14:
- Assess effectiveness: Are symptoms improving?
- If no improvement by day 7 (acute) or day 14 (chronic), reassess plant selection
- If partial improvement, continue; full effect may take 2-4 weeks

Integration Notes:
- Herbal medicine works best in context: adequate sleep, whole foods diet,
  stress management, and connection to nature
- Hildegard's remedies are not isolated pharmaceutical interventions —
  they are part of a holistic health practice
- Record observations in a journal: date, remedy, dose, effects
- Seasonal adjustment: Some remedies are more effective in specific seasons
  (warming herbs in winter, cooling herbs in summer)

得：用者盡知：製、量、忌、監、整合。免責明。

敗：用者未自信→勸先從師製一次，後家中復。

驗

• 草辨於 Physica，寒熱燥濕合
• 製法合草部（地上→浸、根→煎）
• 量明，頻、期皆記
• 忌明（孕、藥交、疾）
• 審畢，監護備
• 用者知：古民間醫，非診斷
• 時效告（急慢）

忌

1. 誤辨：俗名混→必確拉丁名
2. 過萃：煎細葉毀揮發油→地上部取浸
3. 量不足：古方濃於今茶→守古比
4. 忽忌：孕、藥交皆重。疑則勿用
5. 以今代古：Hildegard 用歐洲中世紀草→代用或失體質系
6. 期藥速：草藥漸。急一至三日，慢二至四週最少
7. 獨方觀：Hildegard 整全。飲食、祈、息、時節並行

參

• assess-holistic-health
• practice-viriditas
• consult-natural-history
• heal
• prepare-soil
• maintain-hand-tools