Welcome And Core Idea

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Welcome to the Animal Naturopathic Medicine Educator Podcast, specializing in canine, feline, and equine in animal health from a biological perspective. Today your host is myself, Ashley, and I will be discussing the signatures of herbs. In modern times, we have effective scientific tools to evaluate the efficiency and healing properties of plants, animals, minerals, and synthetic substances. But how did people in earlier times evaluate the natural resources available to treat their ills and chills? Well, for thousands of years, healers and medical practitioners relied on the doctrine of signatures to signal the potential healing effects of plants. We can see in the first documented Materia Medicas in the first century CE, plants were described according to their divine intention. The belief was that spirits of earth marked objects with signs and signatures of their purpose. This notion of divine design persisted as a central aspect of medicinal doctrines throughout the Middle Ages. Signals such as shape, colour, and texture serve as hints of which organ or body part a plant could cure or have an effect on. This observable framework was both practical and spiritual for this time, in that it afforded a means to name and categorize the natural world while adhering to the mystical and theological beliefs of that time period. While this belief of the doctrine of signatures appeared in the passages of many texts in these early centuries, it was only first published into its own dedicated book by the German mystic Jacob Beholm, called The Signature of All Things in 1621 CE. While the doctrine of signatures has little bearing in modern science and medicine today, its roots are illustrative of the interconnected roles of therology, cosmopology, and the natural science. And I

Where Signatures Came From

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personally like to view it as an evolution of how modern medicine and botanical science in the health paradigm has changed over thousands of years. Even though the physical attributes of botanicals are sometimes unrelated to their medicinal application, memory device of the doctrine of signatures carries on. Many plants were named based on these early supposed signatures, and this is often seen in the Latin scientific lomenclature, or the common names of the plants in different countries. This associative naming was an effective tool for the retention and recall of the plant's medicinal properties and uses within the body in a time when very little was written down. And I think that this serves as a great memory tool for modern herbalists to help remember the many different types of herbs that we have today. The signatures are one of the more mysterious sides of herbal medicine, as it is rich in folk lore. For anyone who is on a path of deeper connection and understanding with the plant kingdom, I suggest getting to know the significance of signatures just as our own ancestors did. It pays homage to country and respects the journey of those that came before us. In folk times when stories and oral traditions were the internet superhighway, plants were a normal part of life and it was integral for song, dance, stories, not just as food and healing. Those devoted to plants and their use in healing did not necessarily say hello to the medicinal herbal patch in their garden and then go inside to one's reference library to like read all about it to then increase their knowledge of the plant. No, like these early herbalists at this time, they only had themselves, the plants, their community, and depending on the culture or country, either then the spirits or the cosmos. And this kind of self-reliance offers an opportunity that can be realized through deep observation and non-judgment of one's interpretations. Some cultures, throughout time, continued this way of learning, of being with the natural world entirely as their teacher, and the way plants show themselves through their colours, shapes, textures, sense, and locations are within then their perception. And I think this needs to be understood more fully. These

Learning Through Observation And Story

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appearances are subtle, yet they reflect the profound mark of a plant's capabilities within its environment. So let's uh have a look at a few examples that illustrate how the naming and signatures according to folk medicine came about in relation to the plant's corresponding effects on the body. First up, Eyebrite, a plant whose flower looks like bright blue eyes. This plant was used to treat eye diseases. The use of eyebrite for this purpose was still the number one remedy right up until the 1700s, and it is actually still used in a lot of products today. Next, Naked Ladies, or commonly known as Meadowsaffron, the roots of this plant resemble the form of a gout-ridden toe. Yes, I know. But in fact, the bitter flavors and the active ingredients, specifically the alkaloids and the flavonoids, they actually do provide effective treatment for gout. Stinging nettle. The hairs found on the stinging nettle resemble fine needles, and this appearance has drawn the plant closer to stinging related conditions, such as insect bites or allergies. The appearance of hairs all over the plant also resembles the hair on our heads, and in fact, stinging nettle is used in traditional German medicine, topically as lotions, creams, and tinctures for improving blood circulation and then stemming hair loss. So certain skin conditions such as eczema or allergic reactions that may be associated with hormonal issues, anxiety, or low immunity, the topical use of pansy blossom may also then improve rashes and acne. Lung wart derives from the forget me not family, including a variety of shrubs, trees, and herbs. The plant's signature appearance of white spots corresponds with the spots one might find on a sick lung. The lung wart was more commonly used to help in treating less dire lung conditions, such as your bronchial coughs and your asthma. But another bronchial plant that follows this signature doctrine is cowslip primrose, so primulla virus. So much like the leaves of lungwort, those of the cowslip have a fuzzy lung-like appearance. Most practical medicinal benefits are found in the root of cowslip primrose. So the flowers, though beneficial, have a slightly milder effect. The main active components of cowslip primrose are the plant flavonoids, the essential oils, the tannins, and the silica. So the sapinines can irritate the gastric mucus, which stimulates the nervous system. And the result is an increase in the bronchial secretion, which then helps to relieve some symptoms of the common cold. Horse tail, as its name implies, has the appearance of a thick horse's tail and is used to strengthen the hair. So modern science picks apart herbs and then classifies them down to each chemical component present in the plant. And as it turns out, horse tail contains large amounts of silica, which is beneficial to the hair as well as the skin, nails, and bones. In other words, it helps you grow your hair long and strong like a beautiful horse's tail.

Classic Plant Examples And Names

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While intuition plays a role in discerning signatures, many signatures have already been discovered and tested, and this gives us a wonderful starting point and a reference for learning about individual plants and their uses. So, what are the types of signatures that a lot of these medieval time herbalists looked for in herbs? One has to do with the environment or habitat in which the plant grows. Where plants live and grow shows a great deal about their relationship to the region. It also suggests the plant's potential in a supportive relationship with the biosphere around the plant. The doctrine of location varies quite a bit nowadays as plants are grown and shipped all around the world and are often growing in areas that they would not normally grow naturally and they are then not native to that specific area. Understanding where plants are natively grown or are endemic to brings a vast understanding of bioregions and then the terrain. The plant kingdom is connected entirely, communicating with one another above and below the ground. Every plant's characteristics is specific to the growing conditions it needs in order to photosynthesize. So this is the sunlight and carbon dioxide for food. Take the aloe vera plant, for example. It can be found growing in dry, arid regions like the desert, and this plant stores its water for these dry conditions. The inside of the aloe vera plant holds this wonderful thick, moisturizing and cooling gel that we humans use in many herbal products, body care, and even food products now. Aloe vera is often used as a first aid plant for burns and skin irritations. It is also used to assist herbivorous, animals with constipation and inflammation in and around the body. So what a wonderful supportive and protective plant, not only for itself when it grows in these types of climates, but for then the environment and the people that will use it that are also in these climates. Many kidney remedies grow in wet areas. Returning to the example of horsetail, this plant grows along streams and creeks, and it is also very good for the kidneys and the urine retract of herbivore species. Nettle is another plant that likes to grow in wet areas, and it has an affinity with the waterways of the body, such as the blood and the urine retract as well. Meanwhile, plants that thrive in full sun often possess sunny qualities. So think of such cheerful, warm remedies like St. John's wart, which can be easily seasonal effective in terms of being able to dispel wintertime blues, as what was stated in medieval times, or calendula, which can soothe dry and irritated skin caused by winter weather.

Habitat Clues And Plant Relationships

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Plant's shape or physical form is one of the other main first associations that was made by these early time herbalists when looking at the doctrine of signatures. So if a plant looked like a human organ, it was thought to act on that particular organ. Walnuts, which look strikingly like the human brain, are in fact very good for brain health. They are high in DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, which has been shown to improve cognitive function and prevent age-related cognitive decline. So using walnut for treating also topical scalp conditions is shown another affinity that this plant has for the head and brain. So our early ancestors were kind of right on track when it comes to walnuts. Bone set has leaves that conjoin at the stem. So it looks like the stem actually pokes through the center of a single leaf. And this appearance of the fused leaves points to a use for bones. And now it is still used to help with the healing of broken bones. A notable signature is the colour of a plant, as different colours of berries, leaves, roots, and flowers can point to their work on different body systems also. Herbs with dark red colours or vegetables like beetroot are associated with building the blood and antioxidants. Plants with white flowers, such as Humphrey, are associated with healing broken bones, improving calcium and connective tissues in the body. Colour is probably the easiest way to read a plant in regards to its signatures. Let's take a plant like lavender as an example. How do you see it? This soft yet magnetic shade exists somewhere between violet and blue. There's so many variations now. Of what does the colour make you think of? What are other things in our natural world that are close in colour? The sky, other flowers, water, things inside our body. Blue and violet are colours in the visible colour spectrum. They have a higher frequency or vibration and a shorter wavelength. Making an example of this draws a connection between the energy centers of the human body and where this energy travels in us. Lavender was thought to have an affinity for the nervous system. It soothes headaches, eases tension, held in the tissues, and can be restorative. Lavender also helps to bring clarity by way of gentle cleansing and clearing stuck energy all throughout the body. It can aid in the area of communication by offering articulation of thought, speech, and insightful listening by a calm mind. This beautiful and multifaceted plant ally is used in many hair care products, and while this was likely not an intentional reason for formulation, it can possibly provide a direct link to the decorating and activation of one's crown chakra, as this was believed by many mystics. But from my own perspective, if I bring in a chemistry and botanical science brain here, when you wash your body or your hair specifically in lavender products, you breathe in the residual lavender smell. Scent molecules trigger olfactory neurons in your nose. These send signals straight to the limbic system, which is the emotional control center of the brain. Linolol is the main active ingredient in lavender. Research shows that smelling vaporized linolol activates specific receptors in the nervous system to produce calming and anti-anxiety effects. Working alongside linolol is linalyl acetate, and this compound absorbs quickly through olfactory pathways to help soothe an overactive nervous system and ease tension. So inhaling lavender can physically lower your blood pressure and heart rate. It shifts your body towards parasympathetic activity, easing agitation, nervousness, and sleeplessness without actually having to like knock you out or impair movements. So there is a method to the madness of this signature, or should I say, an actual science to this lavender signature.

Shape Colour Texture And Scent

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A herb's texture is another signature. Thorns, cares, resins, and oils are produced by most plants as a means of protection or pollination. These variations of texture are indicators of a plant's health supporting capacity. Sometimes the surface of a plant is where the very health benefits are held. A wonderful example or ally to many herbalists is mullen. Mullen leaves are soft and fuzzy, resembling the tissue of the respiratory system, providing short-term assistance during a cough or lung infection, long-term support for asthma sufferers. Mullen is a renowned and dependable choice for many herbalists. Furry plants are sometimes used for organs that are covered with hair-like microcells, such as the lungs and intestine. So mullen is a plant whose broad leaves are covered with soft fur, and indeed, mullen is used to heal the lungs. Meanwhile, thorny plants are often seen as pain relievers. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but wild lettuce was widely used as a prickly plant that is used to treat physical pain. And but this thought process can also be extended beyond physical pain and then to emotional pain. For example, uh in folk medicine, hawthorn with its thorn-bearing trees, uh was actually believed to heal emotional pain of the heart. But now in modern science, we use it a lot in relation to cardiovascular tonic treatments. Scent is another signature that is often used and should be considered. Think, for instance, of the smell of eucalyptus, and your nose will instantly recall an intense opening and like clearing experience. Like, ah, I can really take a breath. So highly aromatic herbs contain a large amount of essential oils. So this is that aromaticness that you can smell, which then exit the body via the breath, helping to open the lungs and the nasal passengers. Another example is the stimulating but then cooling aroma of peppermint, which exactly mirrors its cooling and stimulating actions on the body. Even sound that plants can make is also a signature that was often used. In folk traditions of North America, the rattling sound of black kush seed pods as a signature of the plant's use in relation to snake bites was commonly well known. So this is also known as a spirit signature. So in Native American tribes, the idea that if a plant calls to mind a certain animal when you hear its sound, or if it attracts a certain animal, then the plant then possesses the medicine of that particular animal. So it was always a particular doctrine of signature that was often used, but then you don't see a lot of it in a lot of these written texts. Using

Using Signatures As A Practice

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the doctrine of signatures is a way to deepen your practice of herbal medicine. So observing a plant and attempting to discern its uses based on the signatures. It is a valuable thing to study, even if you never actually plan to use it to its effect. It's a way to just start reading the signatures of nature and allowing your intuition self to open up to the world of plants as your own ancestors viewed plants. So don't be afraid to just open your mind and use your imagination when looking for signatures, especially to help you remember key points about the herb. So imagination is just another level of intuition and improving your memory. Of course, it takes practice to work with plants and to actually get some of these signatures correct. In the same way, it takes several years for a single ginseng root to develop into a mature medicine-ripe specimen. The plants often will then share their teachings bit by bit over the course of many years. So the next time you're playing in the garden or you're hacking or you find yourself drawn to a particular plant, ask yourself, what does this plant remind me of? It's not to say that the plant will or will not have any healing properties, but just use this exercise to really look at plants and appreciate them with the signatures in mind, just as our ancestors did. I hope you have enjoyed this tiny fraction of herbal nomenclature history, and until next time.