western materia medica ii

450 Pages·2012·23.28 MB·English

by  Terry Willard

WESTERN MATERIA
MEDICA II

Correspondence

© 2003 Terry Willard, Cl.H., Ph.D., Todd Caldecott, Cl.H. and
the Wild Rose College

Western Materia Medica II Metabolic
By Terry Willard Lesson One
Lesson One
Metabolic Botanicals

According to Webster, metabolism is "the chemical and
physical processes continuously going on in living organisms."
Unfortunately, not all of us living organisms have metabolisms
that "process continuously" at the same rate. Some process
quickly, others slowly. As with many other areas of this course,
we are concerned with excesses or deficiencies, or put another
way, imbalances. While any system of the body can have these
imbalances, the area that is most concerned with metabolism is
the endocrine system. The area that we are going to concentrate
on is the thyroid metabolism, as it is generally considered to
affect overall metabolism. It should be remembered that all
parts of the body are influential, particularly other endocrine
glands. The communication between all the endocrine glands is
a continuous ‘party line’ of chatter. This is particularly true of
the action of the hypothalamus and pituitary on the thyroid.

Fig 1.1 Thyroid The thyroid is a small gland located at the base of the neck.
The thyroid produces hormones that contain iodine. Without
sufficient iodine the thyroid cannot produce these hormones
effectively and may become enlarged as a result. Simple
goiters caused by iodine deficiency were common before the
introduction of iodized salt. Excessive intake of iodine can also
cause enlargement due to excess hormone production.

Thyroid hormones are responsible for regulating the
metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats on a cellular
level throughout the body. A sluggish thyroid slows down the
metabolic rate causing lethargy and weight gain. Metabolic rate
varies from one person to another and is also affected by
genetics, sex, age, and the amount of lean body mass (muscle).
Fig 1.2 Goiter
An overactive thyroid can make it difficult to maintain weight
and increase nervous energy and irritability. As we will see
later, body temperature and weight are clear indicators of
metabolic rate.

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Western Materia Medica II Metabolic
By Terry Willard Lesson One
There are certain foods that contain nutrients that can resolve a
state of deficiency if that is an issue of concern. However, a
person’s situation needs to be evaluated before making a
recommendation. What is important in every case is the
recommendation to eat a variety of whole foods in adequate
amounts to meet individual needs while maintaining a desirable
body weight. Eating a healthy, balanced diet will usually
provide the necessary nutrients for normal body processes.
Exercise increases the body's metabolic rate both during the
session, and permanently, as a result of increased muscle mass.
The amount of increase depends on type and duration of the
exercise as well as percent of existing muscle mass. Herbs
associated with weight loss, such as Ephedra (Ma Huang), are
stimulants of the nervous system and will increase metabolic
rate; but can lead to side effects such as nervousness, tremors,
sleeplessness, and loss of appetite. Exercise is the safest (unless
contraindicated by a medical condition) and most natural
method to increase the metabolic rate.

On the flip side, there are also many who need to slow down
their metabolic rate. There are many people who wish they
had this problem, but for those who feel like they are skinny
guy on the beach who will never fill out; it is a serious
question. Body size has a lot to do with genetics. Some people
are thin due to heredity and may find difficulty in gaining
weight. They should ask their relatives what they weighed at a
given age. Chances are, they were thin too … and could eat any
amount of food without gaining weight. But, look at them now.
Are they still slim or did middle age bring changes? Unless
there is a medical condition underlying weight loss; or the
weight loss is recent and unexplained; or there is a risk of
malnutrition - as is often the case with eating disorders -- being
underweight is far less of a health problem than being
overweight

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Western Materia Medica II Metabolic
By Terry Willard Lesson One
Thermogenesis
This brings up an interesting concept often found in herbal
medicine: thermogenesis. Thermogenesis really has to do with
energy. In physics it is well accepted that energy is neither
created nor destroyed. Energy is transformed, converted,
transported, and stored. In the human body it is the same. Our
energy comes into our body as food that we eat. The measure
of the energy is in calories. A calorie is the amount of heat
needed to heat one gram of water one degree Celsius. Just to
confuse us, 1000 calories or a kilo-calorie is also called a
calorie. It is these calories [kilo-calories] that are used to
measure the stored energy in food. As we take food into the
body, the energy is transformed into metabolic activity; spent
in exercise; or stored. Weight gain is achieved when the
calories consumed outnumber the calories spent.

As it goes through the system, some energy leaves the body as
fecal matter. Other energy is lost through the urinary system.
That energy cannot be counted. What is not lost in these two
ways is available for metabolism. One of the biggest energy
expenditures in the human body is thermal (heat) energy.
Thermal energy differentiates an endoderm (humans and other
creatures which maintain their own body temperature), from an
ectoderm (reptiles and other creatures whose body temperature
is dependant on the temperature of the environment). The
endoderm's basal metabolism is 8 to 10 times higher than for
an ectoderm. A large percentage of the calories that our body
consumes is for this thermal energy. Whatever is not used for
thermal energy is then available as net energy for the body's
cellular reproduction, growth (especially in children), work
(muscle movement), and storage. We all know the common
storage form is fat.

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Western Materia Medica II Metabolic
By Terry Willard Lesson One
Thermogenesis means the creation of heat. There are three
types of thermogenesis. The first kind is work-induced from
exercise. It is necessary for our muscles to create heat because
warm muscles work much more effectively than cold muscles.
The next form is called thermo-regulatory thermogenesis.
This is involved with keeping the temperature of the human
body regulated. The average body temperature is 37o C (98.6 o
F), which is quite a bit higher than the ambient (surrounding)
temperature in most cases. There are two types of thermo-
regulatory thermogenesis: shivering and non-shivering.
Shivering helps the body to create heat. The skeletal muscles
create the shivering. There's a little muscle on each hair that
helps to create a better blanket for us. The shivering heats up
the body. The non-shivering thermogenesis fits into the third
classification, which is called diet-induced thermogenesis.

When you eat a large meal, you start to get hot and sweaty.
You might have to loosen your tie, or other clothing. That's
called diet-induced thermogenesis. That comes into play
mostly because we're going to need more energy to digest this
food that we're eating. There are centers in the body that can
measure this. So, we go to non-shivering and diet-induced
thermogenesis. The main organ responsible for this
mechanism in humans as well as other mammals is the brown
fat tissue. This diet-induced thermogenesis is very important in
animals that hibernate, such as bears, or small animals with a
very large surface area compared to body weight. Brown
adipose tissue is also very prevalent in newborn babies, who
exhibit tremendous amounts of non-shivering thermogenesis to
regulate their body temperature. As we grow older, this system
depletes a little bit, but it stays with us.

It's also important to know that the brown fat (adipose tissue) is
located around blood vessels and major organs. When it is
triggered into activity, it causes the warming of the blood and
then the warm blood can be circulated throughout the body to
spread this warmth.

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Western Materia Medica II Metabolic
By Terry Willard Lesson One
The thermogenic system of the body is fascinating. It is
triggered by the sympathetic nervous system. Under conditions
of cold or eating a lot of food, the hypothalamus gland can
register this and then trigger the sympathetic nervous system,
which is part of the automatic nervous system. The sympathetic
nervous system controls many metabolic activities that we are
not normally conscious of, such as heartbeat and breathing.
The autonomic (automatic) nervous system uses up energy all
the time.

The triggering of the sympathetic nervous system causes
norepinephrine, a chemical neurotransmitter, to be released
from the synapse and accepted by the receptors on the other
side. What's fascinating is that some herbs can mimic the
sympathetic nervous system. They encourage a release of
norepinephrine from one dendrite across the synapse and
activate a nerve impulse.

This then increases thermogenesis as well as other activities
generated by the nervous system. It's important to note that
thermogenesis is one of the very important ways the body uses
up energy. It's kind of turning up the thermostat on the body. If
we turn up the thermostat, we're causing more of the calories
we take in to go into thermogenesis as well as other areas of
the sympathetic system. If the same amount of energy is used
in work, less calories are available to be stored as fat. The
brown fat is activated, and it calls into service the energy stored
in the white fat cells, the primary storage sites of energy in the
body.

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Western Materia Medica II Metabolic
By Terry Willard Lesson One
Although we have a consistent number of fat cells, the size (or
percentage of fat) can vary tremendously. The number of cells
remains the same, but the size changes. Interestingly enough,
one of the consequences of using thermogenic botanicals is a
loss of appetite. If you are not as hungry, you are not going to
eat as much. The same thing for exercise; when the thermostat
is turned up, the metabolism is up, and you feel more energy.
So, when people feel they have more energy, they will be able
to do more, which will also help them to utilize fat.

The brown fat cells are unique in their mitochondria. The
mitochondria are the cell’s energy source, or power plant. In
the brown fat cells, the unique mitochondria help create
energy. The brown fat cells are responsible for maintaining
core body temperature. They are real energy burners. In some
respects the problem of human obesity has less to do with
eating habits than it does with brown fat cell deterioration.

An example of thermogenesis can be easily seen in figure 1.3
where activity is increased at the cellular level of the fat cells.

Overactive thyroid (Hyperthyroidism)

Overactivity of the thyroid gland may be caused by a
functioning growth or tumor, such as a benign nodule or
cancer, a self-limited inflammation of the gland from a
probable viral infection, or Graves' disease (the commonest
form). Graves' disease appears to be an autoimmune problem,
caused by the production of thyroid antibodies, which have a
stimulating effect on the gland. This same process causes the
deposition of a thick substance within the skin, behind the eyes,
and elsewhere.

Clinical manifestations are the result of an increased metabolic
rate, especially excessive body heat, increased neuromuscular
and cardiovascular activity, and hyperactivity. For example:

• Nervousness, emotional hyper-excitability,
irritability, apprehension, sleeplessness.
• Difficulty in sitting quietly.
• Rapid pulse, at rest as well as on exertion (ranging
between 90 and 160); palpitations.
• Low heat tolerance; profuse perspiration; flushed
skin (e.g. hands warm, moist)

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Western Materia Medica II Metabolic
By Terry Willard Lesson One
• Fine tremor of hands; change in bowel habits –
constipation or diarrhea.
• Increased appetite and progressive weight loss.
• Muscle fatigability and weakness; amenorrhea.
• Bulging eyes (exophthalmos) which produces a
startled expression.

Chakra (fifth)
It is important to remember that each of the endocrine glands
also corresponds to a chakra in several Eastern medical
systems. The thyroid represents the fifth chakra, the one
associated with communication. I have often seen patients
come in with various thyroid issues, who later realize that it
may partially arise from “swallowing their words” in various
relationships. Of course the quality of communication in this
case is the perception of the individual, not necessarily that of
the wider community or particular culture they are in (though
this can heavily influence it). We will see excessive
communication in overactive thyroid often and under
communication in underactive thyroids. Flower Essence, along
with counseling will often help here.

It is also important to note that in over 80% of the cases
hyperactive thyroid will result, sooner or later, in hypoactive
Fig 1.4 Fifth Chakra
thyroid.

Specific Remedies:
Overactive thyroid has a specific remedy, Bugleweed (Lycopus
virginicus or L. europaeus). The herb is a useful relaxing
nervine but in addition has a sometimes dramatic effect in
reducing the mix of symptoms associated with hyperthyroid
conditions. I have seen no figures on thyroxin serum levels in
patients using Lycopus, and thus cannot say that improvement
is due to the herb directly impacting the hormone, but
something is definitely going on.

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Western Materia Medica II Metabolic
By Terry Willard Lesson One
The herb Motherwort (Leonurus carciaca), according to
authorities from the German Commission E, has also shown
benefit in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. This herb has been
particularly helpful in alleviating some of the symptoms of
hyperthyroidism such as: excessive sweating, palpitations,
nervous anxiety, and tiredness. There have been no reported
safety issues related to the proper usage of this herb. The
dosage would be 10 to 15 drops of tincture up to 3 times a day.
If you use the liquid extract form of the herb, take between 2
and 4 milligrams daily. Ganoderma (Reishi) has also been
effective in this area.

Another option to consider would be a combination formula of
the following herbs: Take 4 parts Bugleweed (Lycopus spp.), 2
parts Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), 2 parts Skullcap
(Scutellaria spp.), and 1 part Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) in
tincture form three times daily.

Before using this or any other herb or nutritional supplement, I
would advise that you first consult with your primary physician
or health care provider.

THYROID STRESS: DEPRESSIVE
An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can be cause by
deficiencies, but is often caused by stress. As stated above, it is
very commonly preceded by hyperthyroidism. Stress on the
thyroid is often ongoing, with imbalances occurring only so
long as the pituitary responds to the hypothalamus (and is
essentially functional).

It is common for thyroid-stress people to manifest a sort of
manic-depressive duality, a metabolic bipolarity. If they
respond to agitation with elevated metabolism, they may
respond to depression with a decrease of thyroid stimulation. It
may be difficult to perceive their current depression as part of
a bigger cycle, unless they have had extended periods in the
past when they have clearly been in excess. You often need
some fairly extensive interviewing before seeing the patterns.

To further confuse matters, the thyroid-stress person will often
perceive the physically-depressed end result, but
understandably flail about for some external explanation, such
as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Fibromyalgia (FM).
These people will usually have thyroid deficient phases which
are very susceptible to subtle, lingering pathologies. But until

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