Formula Making Flashcards
Cautions in Bowel Formula Making
Contraindicated in: Pregnancy and women with IUD.
Caution to start the patient on a low dosage. Don’t start people off with large dosages of laxatives and cathartics, and always have adequate amounts of carminatives and antispasmodics along side them. Be especially cautious if there is a history of colon spasms or colitis.
- Wait for at least 2 months after colon surgery such as partial or total colostomy, to make sure the tissue has healed.
- In some cases of total colostomy or ileostomy the patient is left with a stoma bag, and a classic bowel formula will not apply.
Bowel Formula Dosage
The amount needed is determined by the patient.
Start slow and gradually increase until you have 2-3 BM daily.
Start with 1/2 tsp or 1-2 capsules, 1-2x daily before food.
Then increase the dosage as needed.
The herbs work about 12 hours after you take them in.
Drawing Gruel Caution
Do not use if patient is:
- Pregnant
- Has a IUD
- Breastfeeding
- Recently undergone bowel surgery
- The gruel could interfere with the efficacy of the contraceptive pill
Make sure the patient has been on the bowel powder for a while and is having regular bowel movements before starting the gruel, and is in the habit of drinking 2+ liters of water daily before starting.
The most important consideration when creating a Drawing gruel formulla is to make sure that the percentage of charcoal and or bentonite clay is not too high. This is because it is quite heavy and needs plenty of mucilaginous substances to support its smooth passage through the bowel.
Digestive Gruel Cautions
Not to be taken close to taking medications.
Best to take before or after meals.
Classsifications used in Digestive Gruel
- carminatives as the lead herbs
- bitters to stimulate pancreas function
- vulneraries to heal tissue
- demulcents to sooth inflammation
- stimulants to enhance blood supply and strengthen the overall effect of the formula
- antispasmodics to relax as stress is usually an issue with the digestive system
Some formulae may call for the addition of one or more of the following:
- hepatics to support liver function
- cholagogues to stimulate bile flow
- antibacterial herbs to kill infection
- styptics to stop bleeding as in the case of ulcers
- vulneraries to heal tissue
- antifungal herbs to deal with fungal infections
What herb classifications will a stomach ring call for?
a visible stomach ring where the tissue inside the collarette is delicate will ask for vulneraries to strengthen tissue and possibly nutritives and herbs like meadowsweet which support their uptake.
We are looking at poor digestion of food with consequent need for support of the pancreas (enzyme production) and also the small intestine.
What herb classifications will a ropey thickened collarette call for?
demulcents to calm inflammation and irritation, and to help disperse mucous congestion.
What herb classifications will an orange pigmentation and or pancreas markings call for?
Stimulating Bitters to help pancreas function, and perhaps antifungals.
What herb classifications will dyscrasia inside the nutritive zone call for?
antibacterial herbs to kill infection
Herbal classifications used in Bowel Powders
- laxatives and cathartics as its lead herbs
- carminatives to offset cramping
- cholagogues to stimulate bile flow which is central to bowel function
- stimulants to enhance blood supply and strengthen the overall effect of the formula
- antibacterial herbs to kill infection
- antispasmodics to relax
Some formulae may call for the addition of one or more of the following:
- styptics to stop bleeding
- vulneraries to heal tissue
- demulcents to calm inflammation (e.g.in the case of diverticular disease)
- vermicides and vermifuges to deal with worms
- bitters to stimulate the pancreas to produce enzymes
- antifungal herbs to deal with fungal infections like candida
- alteratives to cleanse and draw out toxins (e.g.in the case of diverticular disease)
- astringents to tonify tissue
what herb classifications will a mixed bilary constitution (or brown pigmentation) call for?
cholagogues and hepatics
What herb classifications will a lymphatic constitution with hydrogenoid diathesis call for?
lymphatic alteratives to help disperse mucous congestion, and hydration
What should we consider (herb wise) with kidney markings or a uric acidic diathesis?
encourage hydration.
prescribe bowel cleansing to avoid putting pressure on the kidneys.
Kidne infusions.
The need for intensified detox with focus on elimination through the urinary system
What herb class will a contracted collarette call for?
nervines and antispasmodic herbs (in some cases these herbs alone will aid elimination as the cause of the constipation is primarily stress)
What herb class will a distended collarette call for?
a distended collarette usually suggests poor peristalsis, loss of muscle tone. Here we need to use more cathartics and tonics such as Cascara Sagrada bark or Buckthorn bark, and astringents such as Red Rasberry leaf to heal and tone.
What to have in mind when bowel cleansing a Jagged Collarette?
will need longer treatment as there is a tendency to stubborn impaction caused by an irregular bowel shape.
The classic Drawing Gruel formula (6herbs, 12 pt)
4 pt Psyllium seeds and husks
4 pt Fruit pectin
1 pt Charcoal
1 pt Bentonite clay
1 pt Fennel seed
1 pt Slippery elm inner bark
Many herbs can be added to this formula depending on the patient’s health issues. For example, Plantain could be added where extreme dyscrasia is evident in the iris profile. Anti fungal herbs such as Black walnut hulls or Pau d’arco could be added where there is evidence of fungal infection. Vulneraries such as Marshmallow root could be added when treating a patient suffering from leaky gut syndrome. Adding herbs which are bitter tasting however will make this gruel like remedy very difficult for the patient to take.
A Liver Formula will contain the following classifications
hepatics to restore and heal liver function
- cholagogues in varying amounts to stimulate bile flow
- bitters to stimulate digestion
- stimulants to stimulate digestion and to enhance the effect of the herbs in the formula
- antiemetic herbs like ginger to help with nausea
- demulcents to support the easy exit of gallstones through the system
- carminatives are important to help with nausea and griping which can be a result of excessive liver detoxification
Some formulae may call for the addition of one or more of the following:
- antibacterial herbs to kill infection
- vulneraries to heal tissue
- immune modulators (like Astragalus) in the case of hepatitis
Considerations for formula making and dosage in a Liver Formula
- carminatives
- antispasmodics
- anti-emetic (ginger) is a must
- cholegouges later on
- diet
The main consideration in liver and gallbladder creation is the addition of carminatives and herbs that calm griping. Its better to start gently and add more cholagogues as time passes, rather than to push the patient with strong herbs. Liver cleansing if extreme can make people feel quite ill. Ginger as an anti emetic is a must. Focus on diet as the primary therapeutic modality.
Cautions in Liver Formula making
Cautions in treating the liver include awareness that many people are heavily medicated as a result of which the liver is struggling so the caution is to prescribe hepatics, demulcents and juices at first and to have patience with deeper liver cleansing.
And again, clean the colon first!
what organ systems are central to the function of the cardiovascular system
When considering cardiovascular health we need to also look at liver function and kidney function. The liver helps to break down some of the substances which would otherwise damage the venous structure and the kidneys which filter blood and eliminate fluid are also supportive. As already discussed the nervous system must also be considered in making a formula.
A Cardiovascular Formula will contain the following classifications (8)
Any good heart and circulation tonic will contain the following:
* cardiac tonics as its lead herbs to strengthen heart muscle, tissue and general function
* circulatory stimulants (e.g. cayenne) to support and increase circulation
* nutritives to build the venous structure and the quality of the blood
* nervines to address the importance of the nervous system in heart health
* urinary tonics to support kidney function
* diuretics to help to release excess pressure caused by toxic fluid build up
* hepatics to help the liver to break down fats in order to support clear circulation
* alteratives to cleanse toxins from the blood
Considerations for cardiovascular formula making and dosage
The art of formula making for the heart and circulation begs a deep understanding of the underlying cause of the presenting symptoms. The support of circulation through the use of a good stimulant like cayenne, ginger, prickly ash and or ginkgo is often very important. So too is the choice of the correct nervines and the addressing of lifestyle habits which exacerbate stress. Never neglect the kidneys as they have the job of filtering the blood and supporting the elimination of excess fluid. The choice of cardiac tonic or tonics depends on the patient’s situation and these should make up the lead herbs. A standard tincture with a dosage of approximately five mls three times daily is usually adequate. As a heart condition is a chronic illness we may look at continued use of the formula, with occasional variations for up to nine months.
what will a pigment in the heart call for?
Elimination and release on every level