LISHE HERBAL HEALTH AND HEALING SYSTEM

MID SUMMER CLASS-JULY 2017-MERGING THE SYSTEMS

KNOWLEDGE SHARING IN ANCIENT HISTORY

It is important for us to remember that the East and the West were
connected by the Middle Eastern Kingdoms of Africa and the Biblical lands
connected to that continent
For that reason, many people from the East and the West went to Africa to
study their systems of learning:

The Greeks had enormous admiration for Egyptian medical practices, even
though they did not take the magical aspects of treatment very seriously.
The Roman physician Galen (126 - c. 216 CE) studied in Egypt
at Alexandria, and before him, Hippocrates, the father of modern
medicine (c. 460-370 BCE), made the same claims regarding disease that
Imhotep had 2,000 years earlier.
Men and women could be doctors and a number are mentioned by name.
Some of these are:
Merit-Ptah (c. 2700 BCE), the royal court's chief physician and the first
woman known by name in medicine and science.
Imhotep (c. 2667-2600 BCE), the architect for king Djoser who also
wrote medical treatises and was later deified as a god of medicine and
healing.
Hesyre (also known as Hesy-Ra, c. 2600 BCE), Chief of Dentists and
Physician to the King; the first dentist in the world known by name.
Pesehet (c. 2500 BCE), Lady Overseer of Female Physicians and possibly a
teacher at a medical school in Sais founded c. 3000 BCE.
Qar (c. 2350 BCE), Royal Physician under the reign of king Unas of the 6th
Dynasty, buried with his bronze surgical instruments which are thought to
be the oldest in the world.
Mereruka (c. 2345 BCE), Vizier under King Teti of the 6th Dynasty
whose tomb at Saqqara is inscribed with more titles than any other in the
vicinity. He was the overseer of the king's physicians.
Ir-en-akhty (First Intermediate Period of Egypt, 2181-2040), whose
wide range of specialties makes him unique in Egyptian medical history.
Most doctors specialized in a single area while Ir-en-akhty held many titles.
Other doctors are named from the Middle Kingdom (2040-1782 BCE)
down through the Ptolemaic Period (323-30 BCE) including the
physician Cleopatra (not the famous queen) who wrote medical texts
which are mentioned by later writers and were studied by Galen. (
http://www.ancient.eu/article/50/)

When we understand this, we are better able to see the common elements
of these systems and combine their theories in a more effective and efficient
way.
As always, LISHE takes a comprehensive and inclusive approach to illness
and healing. That is why we are studying the systems and how they relate to
each other FIRST before we start ascribing various foods and herbs to
various systems. This is to avoid “typing” an herb or food according to its
specific “cure” instead of seeing its interactions with various systems in a
larger context.
For example, Thyme is a super herb in the LISHE System because it is
eaten as a food, provides healing as a medicine and affects the brain as an
aromatic. Therefore, it is healing to the digestive, respiratory, immune, skin
and sensory systems of the body. How can we remember all its qualities
and functions? The answer is to understand and memorize CHEMISTRY
instead of ASSIGNMENT because if you grasp the chemistry of a plant,
herb or food, you can easily begin to understand why and how it is used to
balance various systems.
With this concept in mind, let us look of three of the most important
systems of the body considering the Western, Eastern and African theories
of their components and functions.
Then we will go back over the various plants, foods and herbs that we
learned over the past few months to see how they affect these systems and
why. Please take note of the various chemical components that are
associated with the body and ask yourself how they fit into knowing and
using certain herbals.

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

The nervous system, essentially the body’s electrical wiring, is a complex

collection of nerves and specialized cells known as neurons that transmit
signals between different parts of the body.

Neurons signal to other cells through fibers called axons. Chemicals called
neurotransmitters are released at gaps called synapses. These
communications take only a fraction of a millisecond.

Sensory neurons respond to stimuli such as light and sound. Motor neurons
carry activation signals to muscles and glands.

Neurons are supported and fed by glial cells. “Glial” derives from the Greek
word for “glue.”
Vertebrates, animals with backbones and spinal columns, have central and
peripheral nervous systems.

The Central Nervous System is the integration and command center of the
body. It consists of the brain, spinal cord and the retinas of the eyes.

The Peripheral Nervous System consists of sensory neurons, ganglia

(clusters of neurons) and nerves that connect the central nervous system to
arms, hands, legs and feet.

The Cranial Nervous System nerves connect the brain to the eyes, mouth,
ears and other parts of the head.

The Autonomic Nervous System nerves connect the central nervous system
to the lungs, heart, stomach, intestines, bladder and sex organs.

The branch of medicine that studies the nervous system is called neurology.
Doctors who treat the nervous system are neurologists.
Diagnosing nervous system conditions

There are a number of tests and procedures to diagnose conditions

involving the nervous system. In addition to the traditional X-ray, a
specialized X-ray called a fluoroscopy examines the body in motion, such as
blood flowing through arteries, according to the NIH.

Other standard neurological exams include an MRI (magnetic resonance

imaging), CT scan, and an electroencephalogram (EEG), which records the
brain's continuous electrical activity. Positron emission tomography (PET)
is a procedure that measures cell or tissue metabolism and brain activity to
detect tumors or diseased tissue or tumors, the NIH noted.

A spinal tap places a needle into the spinal canal to drain a small amount of
cerebral spinal fluid that is tested for infection or other abnormalities,
according to the NIH.

Diseases of the nervous system

“Of all the diseases of the nervous system, the most common difficulty that
people have is pain, and much of that is nerve-related,” according to Dr.
Shai Gozani, founder and CEO of NeuroMetrix, a medical device company.
“There are 100 million people who live with chronic pain.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, patients with nerve disorders experience

functional difficulties, which result in conditions such as:
 Epilepsy, in which abnormal electrical discharges from brain cells
cause seizures
 Parkinson's disease, which is a progressive nerve disease that affects
movement
 Multiple sclerosis (MS), in which the protective lining of the nerves is
attacked by the body’s immune system
 Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's
disease, is a motor neuron disease which weakens the muscles and
progressively hampers physical function
 Huntington's disease, which is an inherited condition that cause the
nerve cells in the brain to degenerate
 Alzheimer's disease, which covers a wide range of disorders that
impacts mental functions, particularly memory.
Mayo Clinic also noted that the nervous system can also be affected by
vascular disorders such as:
 Stroke, which occurs when there is bleeding on the brain or the blow
flow to the brain is obstructed;
 Transient ischemic attack (TIA), which are mini-type strokes that last
a shorter period of time but mimic stroke symptoms; and
 Subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is specifically bleeding in the space
between your brain and the surrounding membrane that can be the
result of a trauma or rupturing of a weak blood vessel;

Infections such as meningitis, encephalitis, polio, and epidural abscess can

also affect the nervous system, the NIH noted.

Treatments vary from anti inflammatory medications and pain medications

such as opiates , to implanted nerve stimulators and wearable devices,
Gozani said. “Many people also turn to herbal and holistic methods to
reduce pain, such as acupuncture.”

Study of the nervous system

The branch of medicine that studies and treats the nervous system is called
neurology, and doctors who practice in this field of medicine are called
neurologists. Once they have completed medical training, neurologists
complete additional training for their specialty and are certified by
the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).

There are also physiatrists, who are physicians who work to rehabilitate
patients who have experienced disease or injury to their nervous systems
that impact their ability to function, according to the ABPN.

Neurosurgeons perform surgeries involving the nervous system and are

certified by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Why Calcium Is Essential For Healthy Brain Function
Fitday Editor
Nutrition
Vitamins and Minerals

Everyone learns at an early age the importance of calcium for strong teeth
and bones. But, what you are not taught is why calcium is essential for
healthy brain function. Calcium is an important part of the electrical signals
within the nervous system, and it may actually help us to better understand
why we age.
The Secondary Messenger
When a chemical signal arrives at a brain cell, it's the job of calcium ions to
deliver that signal from the outside of the cell to the inside, through the
joining of important proteins. These proteins are activated by calcium and
cause various changes in the cell, including the cell turning on new sets of
genes.
Healthy Brain Cells
There are more calcium ions outside of the cell than inside the cell, and
even if a small change occurs in this delicate balance of calcium levels,
major drama will occur within the cell's activity. Healthy brain cells are able
to detect if amounts of calcium are too high inside the cell thanks to an
elaborate pump system made of various proteins. This pump system will
move calcium from inside to outside the cell. If this pump system fails, then
the calcium builds up and eventually, the cell will die.
The Aging Process
Calcium is the moderator of the aging process. The genetics of aging are
based on the fact that the proteins, which are part of the pump system that
remove excess calcium from cells, are not found in older brain cells.
Additionally, these older brain cells have pumps that are not as active,
which means that calcium levels within the cells are higher for a longer
time. Combine this with the missing proteins, and the cell is unprotected
from the high calcium levels and becomes stressed. This stress leads to
damage and eventually death. The key to older cell health are the proteins
that keep these calcium pumps running effectively. So restore those
proteins, and you will have good brain health, and arguably, a longer life.
Good Brain Health
So what can you do to preserve these proteins and keep calcium levels
balanced at a cellular level? There isn't an exact answer to this question, but
there are a few things you can do which will help.

 Lower Calorie Intake: Eating fewer calories maintains a balance of

calcium in the brain and helps to reduce cell death in an aging brain.
 Ginseng: It is thought that ginseng helps to moderate the activity of
the pumps in the cells, and therefore helps to relieve stress on the
aging brain. This is actually where ginseng gets its reputation as a
remedy for old age.
 Antioxidants: Berry extracts, grape seed and green teas help to
provide a boost in energy for the pumps within brain cells.

So, while it may be common knowledge that calcium provides us with

stronger bones and therefore, helps to prevent osteoporosis. But we should
not discredit its crucial role in maintaining our health at a cellular level and
being a key player in the aging process.

https://alison.com/topic/learn/41477/organization-of-the-human-
nervous-system

THE EASTERN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

The meridian system (simplified Chinese: 经络; traditional Chinese: 經絡
; pinyin: jīngluò, also called channel network) is a concept in traditional
Chinese medicine (TCM) about a path through which the life-energy known
as "qi" flows.[1]
Meridians per se are not real anatomical structures but recent research on
the fascial network has indicated that acupuncture points coincide with
fascial trigger points which suggests that acupuncture functions by means
of fascial treatment
Twelve standard meridians[edit]
The twelve standard meridians, also called Principal Meridians, are divided
into Yin and Yang groups. The Yin meridians of the arm are Lung, Heart,
and Pericardium. The Yang meridians of the arm are Large Intestine, Small
Intestine, and Triple Burner. The Yin Meridians of the leg are Spleen,
Kidney, and Liver. The Yang meridians of the leg are Stomach, Bladder, and
Gall Bladder.[5]
The table below gives a more systematic list of the twelve standard
meridians:

Meridian Quality Five Time

Extremit
name of Yin or Element Organ of
y
(Chinese) Yang s Day

Taiyin Lung
Channel of
Hand (手太 寅
Greater [yín]
阴肺经) or Yin (taiyin, Hand (手) Metal (金) Lung (肺) 3 a.m.
Hand's 太阴) to 5
Major Yin a.m.
Lung
Meridian

Shaoyin
午
Heart
Lesser Yin [wǔ]
Channel of
(shaoyin, 11
Hand (手少 Hand (手) Fire (火) Heart (心)
a.m.
少阴)
阴心经) or to 1
Hand's p.m.
Minor Yin
Heart
Meridian

Jueyin
Pericardiu
m Channel
of Hand (手 戌
Faint Yin [xū] 7
厥阴心包经) (jueyin - 厥 Hand (手) Pericardium
Fire (火) p.m.
or Hand's (心包)
阴) to 9
Absolute p.m.
Yin Heart
Protector
Meridian

Shaoyang
Sanjiao
Channel of
Hand (手少 亥
Lesser
Triple [hài]
阳三焦经) Yang
Hand (手) Fire (火) Burner (三焦 9 p.m.
or Hand's (shaoyang,
) to 11
Minor Yang 少阳) p.m.
Triple
Burner
Meridian

Taiyang
Small
未
Intestine Greater Small
Yang [wèi]
Channel of Intestine(小
Hand (手) Fire (火) 1 p.m.
Hand (手太 (taiyang,
太阳) 肠) to 3
阳小肠经) p.m.
or Hand's
Major Yang
Small
Intestine
Meridian

Yangming
Large
Intestine
Channel of
Hand (手阳 卯
Yang
Large [mǎo]
明大肠经) Bright
Hand (手) Metal (金) Intestine(大 5 a.m.
or Hand's (yangming
腸) to 7
Yang , 阳明)
a.m.
Supreme
Large
Intestine
Meridian

Taiyin
Spleen
Channel of
Foot (足太 巳 [sì]
Greater
Yin (taiyin, Foot (足) 9 a.m.
阴脾经) or Earth (土) Spleen (脾)
to 11
Foot's 太阴)
a.m.
Major Yin
Spleen
Meridian

Shaoyin
酉
Kidney Lesser Yin [yǒu]
Channel of (shaoyin, Foot (足) Water (水) Kidney (腎) 5 p.m.
Foot (足少 少阴) to 7
阴肾经) or p.m.
Foot's
Minor Yin
Kidney
Meridian

Jueyin
Liver
Channel of 丑
Foot (足厥 Faint Yin [chǒu
(jueyin, 厥 ]1
阴肝经) or Foot (足) Wood (木) Liver (肝)
a.m.
Foot's 阴)
to 3
Absolute a.m.
Yin Liver
Meridian

Shaoyang
Gallbladder
Channel of 子 [zǐ]
Foot (足少 Lesser
Yang Gall Bladder( 11
阳胆经) or Foot (足) Wood (木) p.m.
(shaoyang, 膽)
Foot's to 1
少阳)
Minor Yang a.m.
Gallbladder
Meridian

Taiyang
Bladder
申
Channel of Greater
Urinary [shēn]
Foot (足太 Yang
Foot (足) Water (水) bladder(膀胱 3 p.m.
(taiyang,
阳膀胱经) ) to 5
太阳)
or Foot's p.m.
Major Yang
Urinary
Bladder
Meridian

Yangming
Stomach
Channel of 辰
Foot (足阳 Yang
Bright [chén]
明胃经) or Foot (足) Earth (土) Stomach (胃) 7 a.m.
(yangming
Foot's Yang to 9
, 阳明)
Supreme a.m.
Stomach
Meridian
Eight extraordinary meridians
The eight extraordinary meridians are of pivotal importance in the study
of Qigong, T'ai chi ch'uan and Chinese alchemy.[7] These eight extra
meridians are different to the standard twelve organ meridians in that they
are considered to be storage vessels or reservoirs of energy and are not
associated directly with the Zang Fu, i.e. internal organs. These channels
were first systematically referred to in the "Spiritual Axis" chapters 17, 21
and 62, the "Classic of Difficulties" chapters 27, 28 and 29 and the "Study of
the 8 Extraordinary vessels" (Qi Jing Ba Mai Kao) by Li Shi Zhen 1578.

The eight extraordinary vessels are (奇經八脈; qí jīng bā mài):[8]

1. Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) - 任脈 [rèn mài]

2. Governing Vessel (Du Mai) - 督脈 [dū mài]
3. Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai) - 衝脈 [chōng mài]
4. Girdle Vessel (Dai Mai) - 帶脈 [dài mài]
5. Yin linking vessel (Yin Wei Mai) - 陰維脈 [yīn wéi mài]
6. Yang linking vessel (Yang Wei Mai) - 陽維脈 [yáng wéi mài]
7. Yin Heel Vessel (Yin Qiao Mai) - 陰蹻脈 [yīn qiāo mài]
8. Yang Heel Vessel (Yang Qiao Mai) - 陽蹻脈 [yáng qiāo mài]
THE MIDDLE EASTERN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NERVOUS
SYSTEM

The Middle Easterners saw what we call the Nervous System as a

combination of Asian Meridians and Chakras with the Western flow of
electrical impulses down the Nervous System. The Egyptians saw the heart
as the center of life and comprehension, instead of the brain-an idea that
lived on in both Eastern and Western medicine for centuries. However, the
Egyptians and later Western Africans saw the idea of the “gods” as parts of
the human personality and aspects of the body. This idea lives on in Carl
Jung archetypes. These are ideals that people identify with through myths
and stories.

For example, there are Seven Ideals that all people understand and admire
in every culture. One of these ideals is THE HERO. This ideal or Archetype
usually has characteristics such as Bravery, Strength, Honor, Humility,
Generosity, Self-Sacrifice and Purity. We see this expressed in the ancient
stories of Hercules for the Greeks and Romans. But we also see this in the
stories of the Chinese, East Indians, Native Americans, West Africans-even
now. That’s why people today admire Superheroes such as Spiderman or
Wonder Woman. These figures reflect our brightest hopes while villains
embody our darkest fears.

This idea of embodiment is what fuels what we can Soul Medicine or Psyche
Healing. ALL Healers in the ancient days were taught how to heal the Soul
as well as the Body. In fact, the Egyptians believed that there could be no
disease without an imbalance in the mind and the emotions. So, these
ideals or archetypes had to be balanced inside of a person in order for them
to be healthy or be healed.

This is why various parts of a person’s energy system were identified with
various gods and goddesses. The wisest among the Egyptian teachers
understood that their deities didn’t literally “live” inside of human beings.
You couldn’t cut out Set or massage Isis. However, the function of that part
of what we call the nervous system did reflect certain archetypes.
This is also picked up by the Europeans when they assigned certain parts of
the body to particular signs of the Zodiac back in the Medieval times:

Do the planets affect our bodies? No. But the Ideals and Archetypes we
carry emotionally and mentally do and that is tied to our systematic beliefs.

For example, if I were to ask you to “act like a Nerd”, what would you do? In
this culture of 2017, that would manifest as a clone of the characters on the
“Big Bang Theory” But the actual Archetype started out as the Scientist or
Book Worm. Notice how this stereotype or ideal crosses cultures:
What do they have in common? Hmmmmm
Now that seems funny, but when I was eight years old, I wore glasses. That
was right after I was skipped from the beginning of third grade to fourth
grade. I was identified as a “smart kid” and before long I couldn’t see the
blackboard without glasses. I embraced that Ideal of the Scholar quite
happily. But then I broke my glasses just when I entered high school. My
parents were sending me to an expensive Catholic High School and didn’t
have the money to fix them. But by the time the summer was over with me
doing Bates exercises every day, my eyes got better and I haven’t worn
glasses since.

Part of that might have been hormonal. I was entering puberty about the
time I entered high school. However, I also had gotten into chasing boys,
politics and militancy. My self-concept changed. I was still a “smart kid” in
the college bound program. But I saw myself as a leader too. Black leather
jackets, political books and activism took center stage instead. Bye-bye
glasses.
I am NOT saying that everyone who wears glasses is a Nerd or a Geek type
of scholar. There are physical reasons for wearing glasses that have nothing
to do with that, But, never underestimate the power of the Psyche.

That is why we must look at the entire ramifications of the Neurological

System to understand how the chemistry of what and how we think affects
the body, how we get sick, how we heal and how we stay well.

Diseases which pertain to the various signs are as follows

Aries : Headaches, fevers, neuralgia, eye troubles, eruptions and

inflammations, wounds and accidents.
Taurus : Diseases which particularly attack the throat.
Gemini (n): Bronchial complaints, consumption, nerve diseases,
pneumonia and pleurisy, asthma and anemia.
Cancer : Affections of the digestion.
Leo : Heart trouble, poor circulation and similar troubles
Virgo : Digestive troubles and complaints to do with intestines generally.
Libra : Kidney affections and afflictions to the spine.
Scorpio : Diseases of the parts already mentioned as belonging to the Sign.
Sagittarius : Gout, rheumatism, sciatica, accidents.
Capricorn : Skin complaints and diseases affecting the parts of the Sign.
Aquarius : Accidents to the ankles and complaints affecting that part of the
body; varicose veins, blood poisoning and some nervous diseases.
Pisces : Influenza, colds, diseases accompanied by mucous discharges and
similar complaints.

What this REALLY MEANS

In Jungian Psychology, these twelve houses or “stars” represent Twelve

Issues

1. Personality, Ego: the face you present to the outside world

2. Life Values: ownership, finances, your relationship to earthly power
3. Self-expression, Siblings: the power of choice
4. Home: establishing your emotional foundation
 5. Creativity, Good Fortune: erotic energies, including creativity,
sexuality, and synchronicity/chance
6. Occupation and Health: seeking security in the physical world
7. Relationships: marriage and partnerships
8. Other People’s Resources: stocks, inheritance, death and closure
9. Spirituality: wisdom, publishing, travel
10. Highest Potential: completing the integration of the self
11. Interaction with the World: relating your creativity to humanity
12.The Unconscious

So, when I was dealing with redefining who I was back at 8 and then again
at 13, my “face” changed and my eyesight did too.

HOMEWORK
Read and comment on the following article:
(http://listverse.com/2017/04/05/10-ancient-egyptian-medical-practices-
we-still-use-today/)