Herbal Constitution 101

In the world of herbal medicine, understanding your constitution is key to making the best choices for your health. Your constitution refers to the unique combination of physical, mental, and emotional characteristics that define you. While it is largely determined by genetics, it can be subtly influenced by lifestyle, environment, and experiences.

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Western herbalism categorizes constitutions in simple terms like:

• Hot or Cold
• Dry or Moist
• Tense or Lax

Knowing your tendencies helps you predict how an herb will affect you. For example, just because an herb has anti-inflammatory properties doesn’t mean it will make you feel better if its energetics don’t align with your constitution.

How to Determine Your Constitution

To help you identify your constitution, I've provided a PDF quiz adapted from Rosalee De La Foret’s book, Alchemy of Herbs.  This quiz asks questions like:

• Are you prone to feeling hot or cold?
• Is your skin oily or dry?

By answering these, you’ll gain insight into your constitution, helping you make better decisions when choosing herbs.

My Personal Experience with Rhodiola

Let me share a personal example: I tend to feel cold, I don’t sweat much, and I often experience dryness. So, when I tried Rhodiola, an adaptogen known for its astringent and cooling properties, I quickly felt uncomfortable. It dried me out even more and messed up my digestion, leading to constipation. Even though Rhodiola has the actions I wanted (like improving mood and supporting the immune system), its energetics didn’t match my constitution.

The Herbal Sweet Spot: Finding the Right Match

In herbalism, finding the herbal sweet spot is essential. This concept from Alchemy of Herbs, refers to the intersection where the herb's actions, the herb's energetics, your constitution, and the energetics of your ailment align. When all these factors come together, you've found the perfect herb for your needs.

Understanding Herbal Synergy

Sometimes, you might not find a single herb that fits perfectly. That’s where herbal synergy comes in. This is when the combined effects of multiple herbs produce a more potent or balanced therapeutic effect. Here are a few ways herbal synergy works:

• Balance: Combining herbs with opposing energetics (e.g., a stimulating herb with a calming one) can create a more balanced formula.
• Potentiation: One herb can enhance the effectiveness of another, leading to a stronger therapeutic effect.
• Complementary Actions: Different herbs can work together to provide a broader spectrum of benefits, such as combining anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Herbalism is a complex and nuanced practice that goes beyond simply choosing herbs based on their primary actions. Understanding your constitution and the energetics of herbs is crucial for achieving the best outcomes in your wellness journey.

Listen to this post on the Herbs + Ease Podcast for a more detailed educational experience!

Kristen Prosen