Spirit of Simples
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Health Fitness -> subcategory Alternative Medicine.
Spirit of Simples
Summary
In this article, the renowned author and herbalist Susun Weed explores the concept of "simples" and their use in the Wise Woman Tradition. Discover what a simple is and why they are beneficial.
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What is a Simple?
A "simple" refers to using one herb at a time. An herbalist who typically works with individual herbs rather than combinations is called a "simpler."
Why Use Simples?
While many herbalists worldwide use combinations of herbs, simplers prefer to use just one. Why is this approach favored?
Herbal medicine is meant for everyone, and keeping it simple makes it more accessible. People often worry about potential interactions between herbs and medications, but using simples simplifies these concerns. This straightforward approach is safer and easier for empowering people to take control of their healthcare.
Simplicity Makes Me Think
When I started working with herbs, the multitude of choices overwhelmed me. If someone had a cough, should I use sage, wild cherry bark, pine sap, mullein, or coltsfoot? Initially, I combined them all into cough syrups, and they worked.
However, as I gained experience and studied homeopathy, I realized each herb has a unique personality and effect. Using herbs one at a time allowed me to truly understand their individual actions.
It was daring at first to rely on just one herb, but I found that each simple I tried worked effectively on its own. This practice deepened my knowledge and made my remedies more successful.
Simplicity Fosters Intimacy
Using one herb at a time allows you to develop a relationship with it, much like spending time one-on-one with a person builds intimacy. This connection helps us trust the herb's effects and understand its reliability.
Simples empower us, reducing fears and increasing confidence in herbal remedies.
Simplicity Reveals Subtlety
Focusing on a single herb opens opportunities to observe intricate details unique to herbal medicine. You'll notice variables like where the herb grows, weather conditions, harvesting methods, and preparation techniques. Each plant's traits allow it to address multiple aspects of a person, leading to profound healing.
For example, an apprentice found that tinctures made from younger motherwort stalks were more effective on the uterus, while older stalks influenced the heart more.
Simplicity Grants Power
Using one herb at a time provides certainty that the remedy has an active effect. It reassures me that herbal medicine cannot be legislated away. This practice lets me trust my remedies and reclaim the simplicity of healthcare.
Conversely, combinations can erode confidence and make herbal medicine feel like a privilege for experts only.
From Complex to Simple
Challenge yourself to use simples over complex formulas. Let's simplify some well-known remedies.
For instance, the anti-cancer formula Essiac includes Arctium lappa (burdock), Rheum palmatum (rhubarb), Ulmus fulva (slippery elm), and Rumex acetosella (sheep sorrel). By simplifying, we find that burdock root alone is an excellent remedy for reversing pre-cancerous conditions.
Similarly, a cough formula by John Lust includes numerous herbs, yet simplifying it highlights elecampane as the standout choice. It effectively curbs coughing, combats infection, and strengthens lung tissues.
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Simples are enjoyable and effective. Give them a try!
Footnotes
1. The effectiveness of tinctures is often greater when made from fresh plants. Plants growing in special areas may also have enhanced potency.
2. Reference: John Lust, The Herb Book, 1974, Bantam.
3. The formula often includes an "exotic" herb not listed in the source book, challenging its recreation.
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Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Spirit of Simples.
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