Bensky & Gamble list Phragmites under "Herbs that Quell FIre", which is a subcategory of "Herbs that Clear Heat"
They considerer it sweet and cold with an effect on the Lungs and Stomach.
The following functions are listed:
Clears Heat & Generates Fluids (for high fever & thirst)
Clears Heat from the Lungs (especially indicated for acute cases)
Clears Stomach Heat (vomiting & belching)
Promotes Urination in Heat Patterns (especially with irritability & thirst)
Encourages Rashes to Surface (in febrile conditions)
Although despised as an invasive plant of our area, Phragmites is clearly an herb worth learning about!
I will continue to post here on Materia Medica subjects for general and for use in the Herbal Apprenticeship. There are many interesting herbs to study! Some others from Bensky & Gamble that I intend to post about include: Japanese Climbing Fern and Guanzhong (various fern species used), also under "Herbs that Clear Heat" but subcategory "Herbs that Clear Heat & Poison". My recent trip to Florida has also brought Bamboo shavings and Yam into greater interest for me. They are both listed under "Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing" (which will be a major focus coming up in the Herbal Apprenticeship), subcategory "Herbs that Cool & Transform Hot Phlegm".
Our study of Materia Medica will be expansive in the inclusion of little-known (regionally) wild plants and the like; and will remain down to earth and practical with a focus on herbs I have a first-hand understanding of. For the group's Materia Medica list we will remain more focused on those herbs which we will be using in the clinic and studying collectively. However, each individual is encouraged to be expansive in their own Materia Medica study, including those herbs that catch one's eye or grow nearby. There is so much to learn!
The following functions are listed:
Clears Heat & Generates Fluids (for high fever & thirst)
Clears Heat from the Lungs (especially indicated for acute cases)
Clears Stomach Heat (vomiting & belching)
Promotes Urination in Heat Patterns (especially with irritability & thirst)
Encourages Rashes to Surface (in febrile conditions)
Although despised as an invasive plant of our area, Phragmites is clearly an herb worth learning about!
I will continue to post here on Materia Medica subjects for general and for use in the Herbal Apprenticeship. There are many interesting herbs to study! Some others from Bensky & Gamble that I intend to post about include: Japanese Climbing Fern and Guanzhong (various fern species used), also under "Herbs that Clear Heat" but subcategory "Herbs that Clear Heat & Poison". My recent trip to Florida has also brought Bamboo shavings and Yam into greater interest for me. They are both listed under "Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing" (which will be a major focus coming up in the Herbal Apprenticeship), subcategory "Herbs that Cool & Transform Hot Phlegm".
Our study of Materia Medica will be expansive in the inclusion of little-known (regionally) wild plants and the like; and will remain down to earth and practical with a focus on herbs I have a first-hand understanding of. For the group's Materia Medica list we will remain more focused on those herbs which we will be using in the clinic and studying collectively. However, each individual is encouraged to be expansive in their own Materia Medica study, including those herbs that catch one's eye or grow nearby. There is so much to learn!
