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Dosage and Measurement Guidelines
Dosing methods and philosophies of prescribing
botanicals
definition
dosing methods and philosophies of prescribing
Dosing methods
The botanical materia medica gives suggested doses, but the practitioner should be aware of different prescribing and dosing strategies which might be selected for different patients, and which would require a modification of the dose.
Pharmacologic prescribing
Most of the dosages in the materia medica are pharmacologic doses. The amount of the botanical preparation is sufficient to act in a drug-like way to induce definite, visible and strong, sustained changes in the system. This dosing strategy is the oldest, and is best represented by the British herbal tradition. Its potential pitfalls are the same as those for drugs: symptoms may be overridden, masked, or driven deeper into the body or the psyche if treated improperly or for too long.
Physiological prescribing
The strategy here is to give the minimum dose necessary to produce a physiological change. Thus a laxative is given only until there is a change in bowel action, and not for a long time; or a diuretic is given only to bring the flow of urine up to its normal level, and not beyond. This strategy is typified by the naturopathic and physiomedical traditions. Its strength is that the herbs do not then injure the life force. Its weakness is that in some conditions it simply does not work to a patient's satisfaction.
Homeopathic prescribing
Homeopathic prescribing is done on the principle of "like cures like". Thus doses of cantharis or apis, which in high doses may cause burning on urination or kidney damage, may be given in low doses (1-10 drops of tincture, in water) for urinary tract infection or kidney disease. It is not necessary that a substance be "potentized" homeopathically to be prescribed in this way. When modern conventional physicians give the stimulant Ritalin to hyperactive children, they are prescribing homeopathically. (See the homeopathy section for more information about homeopathy.)
Drop Dose prescribing
Drop dose prescribing falls somewhere in the gray area between physiological and homeopathic prescribing, and is closely related to the practice of giving flower remedies (see the vibrational section for more information about flower remedies). The remedy is selected by matching its "signature" to the "signature" of the patient, and given in tiny doses. This kind of prescribing derives from many varied sources including shamanism, European Wiccan herbalism, the Western mystery school tradition and the professional tradition of Eclectic and Naturopathic medicine. Drop dose prescribing has also been explored by herbalist Matthew Wood; see his listings on the sources list in the botanical section of the materia medica for more information.
Wise Woman prescribing
This strategy selects herbs and other methods which are primarily nourishing, and uses them in large doses like food. It avoids strong, rare, or toxic plants. Those herbs close at hand and growing freely as weeds in the area are preferred. This expression of the ancient wisdom of folk herbalism has been clarified and explained in recent years by herbalist Susun Weed. See the sources list in the botanical section of the materia medica for a listing of her books on the topic.
footnotes