Bupleurum is a top herb of Chinese medicine, primarily as a diaphoretic and in the treatment of liver conditions (see ChineseHerbHealing.com entry). No species are in our immediate area, but Bupleurum rotundifolium does occur in a few spots in New York and Pennsylvania (see USDA distribution map). Since that is close enough to "easily" obtain, it poses the question: Can this species be used as the Bupleurum spp. of Chinese Medicine? Some references indicate that it is indeed one of the species of Chai Hu of Chinese herbal medicine. Another question is if other plants, particularly other members of Apiaceae - the Carrot (and Poison Hemlock) Family, can but used in place of Bupleurum spp.?
The signature of the flower, which indicates a diaphoretic property and chi - dispersing property, is present in many members of Apiaceae, as with Bupleurum. This is one reason I am in search of analogues. We certainly have many members of the family available, including culinary herbs and vegetables like Carrots, Parsnips, and Parsley. Modern nutrition and modern herbalism both tend to focus on the biochemical constituents, often ignoring botanical family associations as well as other variables like plant structure and climate. Traditional herbal medicine, however, have always considered these energetic associations. Certainly, there are signatures (qualities) that are typical to Apiaceae that indicate similar energetics as Chai Hu.
Shortly after beginning this writing, I encountered a document on the liver in Chinese medicine in which the author writes that he prefers Cyperus to Burpeurum to move liver chi (see postscript). When I was "re-learning" the Doctrine of Signatures during a post-illness awakening Cyperus was one herb that really struck me as having the signature of a chi-moving herb in it's florescence, much in the same fashion as the Apiaceae. While looking at the plant's structure, it seemed as if the flower represented an explosion. This, I then understood, hinted at its medicinal use. Such is the way of the ancients. Today, people like to pretend to know "better" than the Doctrine of Signatures, though they use the same herbs in the same way as the ancients who discovered their virtues through the Doctrine. Focusing on only the medical uses as presented by the modern collective, today's herbalists, naturopaths, and acupuncturists tend to pretend that the descriptions presented by the textbooks are the only sound source of information, and deny that analogues can be useful. This only reveals their ignorance. Further, it falls short of providing for a truly holistic system, which must utilize local, natural plants.
The problems of liver stagnation plague people everywhere. It must be that there is hope even for folks outside of the availability of Chai Hu.
Shortly after beginning this writing, I encountered a document on the liver in Chinese medicine in which the author writes that he prefers Cyperus to Burpeurum to move liver chi (see postscript). When I was "re-learning" the Doctrine of Signatures during a post-illness awakening Cyperus was one herb that really struck me as having the signature of a chi-moving herb in it's florescence, much in the same fashion as the Apiaceae. While looking at the plant's structure, it seemed as if the flower represented an explosion. This, I then understood, hinted at its medicinal use. Such is the way of the ancients. Today, people like to pretend to know "better" than the Doctrine of Signatures, though they use the same herbs in the same way as the ancients who discovered their virtues through the Doctrine. Focusing on only the medical uses as presented by the modern collective, today's herbalists, naturopaths, and acupuncturists tend to pretend that the descriptions presented by the textbooks are the only sound source of information, and deny that analogues can be useful. This only reveals their ignorance. Further, it falls short of providing for a truly holistic system, which must utilize local, natural plants.
The problems of liver stagnation plague people everywhere. It must be that there is hope even for folks outside of the availability of Chai Hu.
