Tonic-Astringents vs Relaxants - The Forgotten Action Polarity
90 Minutes  
 
The constitutional polarities of hot vs cold and moist vs dry are well-known in all systems of natural medicine. A third polarity, that of tonic/astringent vs relaxant is equally important for effective clinical medicine but is frequently overlooked in contemporary Western herbalism The tissue states in many conditions may be more tense or more lax, and our materia medica may correspondingly firm the tissues and functions up or relax the resistance there. We will review the history and expression of this polarity in Thomsonian and Physiomedical medicine and demonstrate differentials of tonification vs relaxation for herbs in the treatment of pain, cough, fever, and other conditions.
 
Materials
The audio lecture
Lecture slides
Physiomedical Therapeutics, Materia Medica, and Pharmacy by T.J. Lyle MD
 
This lecture is offered as Continuing Education by the NAIMH but has not been pre-approved for CE credits by any professional board.
 
Related Continuing Education Lecture
The Vitalist Actions of Herbs