Endocrine System ~ Wild Yam and Sarsaparilla
The Endocrine System provides overall balance to our bodies and produces hormones. It works very closely with the nervous system. It is cellular metabolism- how do you take in what is given to you? Our hormones are chemical messengers to our bodies- can tell us things about past traumas and how they are showing up in our bodies.
The Endocrine System is considered in relation the chakra system; 7 power centers along the endocrine system. The following are the 7 chakras and their correlates to the Endocrine System.
1. base root chakra- top of the kidney; controls fight or flight response- our kidneys hold fear- produces adrenaline; also where our trust issues are- adrenal fatigue- astragalus is good for that, adaptogens, foti, kidney yin tonic- nourishes
2. sacral chakra- our ovaries and testes; sexual trauma stored here; balances growth and development, someone stuck, strengthen in this area/hormones, where we house our creativity, ability to create- feeling sexual- too cold or too attached/ under/over sexual; squawvine for this area
3. solar plexus chakra - pancreas, naval; breakdown/digest food, all about processing- power and control; stagnation in the body if this is blocked (cassy); IBS, Crohns, diabetes, upper intestine, upper back/spine- “gut wrenching”, inability to express self held here, out of control digestive fire, OR too dominating/aggressive; passive, indecisive, weak, lack of purpose- help with movement- burdock/yellowdock- dandelion
4. heart chakra - thymus gland; immune system, emotional or physical base, no protection from others- wide open- lupus, RA, MS, all auto immune- love- lungs, blood, circulation, ability to give and receive, self love and compassion, we tend to put others before ourselves- suffocate others with love or are cold- hawthorn, rose, astragalus good for this- lungs, asthma- grief stored in lungs, sad/shutdown
5. throat chakra- thyroid; controls rate at which our body converts food into energy- rate of metabolism, asthma, neck problems, hypoactive thyroid, TMJ, grinding, ability to communicate, respiratory, communication, speech, expression -mouth, teeth, tongue, smoke- voice heard when growing up? we can use speech to keep people away, tell self truth and hear it!, integrity, communication between head and heart, speak up, introverted, shy- words create division for what you want for self- we constantly set limitations on self- truth should be filled with compassion- lung/throat herbs ~ mulberry, elecampagne, scull cap- can turn off outside voices so we can hear own truth, dandy, hawthorn
6. 3rd eye chakra - pituitary gland; brain, skull, brow, nervous system, it is the master gland, entire body connection, key to balance- neurological problems, breath, digestion, autonomic nervous system- underactive- not thinking for self, reliant on authority, easily confused, think too much, rigid in thinking, live in a fantasy world, constantly taking something to shift reality, cant create vision for self, intuition gone; we have to have a vision as a healer- have to hold space for wellness for people, create openings for people, open for another vision, journaling, oftentimes people don’t dream- osha, mugwort, dandelion and lavender good for opening
7. crown chakra- pineal gland; exhaustion, epilepsy, brain functions, spinal, pain, nerves, spiritual wisdom, center of enlightenment, dynamic thought, way you are with the world around you, not part of spiritual world, universal energy, people who intellectualize things too much, connected to spirituality outside of themselves, daily functions a challenge, cant manifest, home, job- cant see connections, ability to be in our bodies- lavender and reishi- grounding stuff- roots, pull into body, burdock, solomon’s seal, osha, connect to earth- calendula- brings together
Some good herbs for the endocrine system are: ashwaganda, dandelion, echinacaea, licorice, astragalus, siberian ginseng, vitex, and wild yam.
Two additional herbs in depth:
Sarsaparilla-
Also known as bamboo dryer. This tropical plant commonly found in the West Indies and the root is the part of the plant we use medicinally. It's pharmalogical properties include being steroidal and containing saponins, starch, resin, and minerals. Historically this plant was used in Spain cure syphilis and was listed in the Pharmacopeia until 1482.
It's actions include being an altrative, blood cleanser, antirheumatic, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac among others. It is used for clearing toxic build up, uric acid build up (gout), eczema, boils, skin parasites, arthritis, rheumatism, menopause, PMS, prostate problems, venereal disease, male and female hormonal imbalances, cold, flu, and respiratory infections. Not to be used while pregnant, on steriod therapy or if you have gastric ulcers.
It is also said to be used to draw money and love and good to combine with cinnamon and sandalwood.
Wild Yam- endangered!
Pharmalogical constituents include Vitamin C, calcium, steroidal, saponins, DHEA, alkaloids, tannins, starch, and a progesterone precursor. Traditionally this has been used for labor and after birth pain, colic, rheumatism, used to make birth control pills, and used for epilepsy and convulsions.
It's actions include being an antispasmodic, a cholagogue, diaphoretic, anti inflammatory, anti rheumatic, lupatic, anti emetic, miscarriage prevention, steroidal precursor, progesterone, hormone balancer, and fertility agent. It is used to normalize progesterone and estrogen, tone and cleanse the liver, relaxes nerves, for cramps, gall stones, rheumatic pain, ovarian and labor pain, miscarriage, menopause, any endocrine imbalance, pms, morning sickness, gas, asthma, eczema, boils, and diabetes. Don't use if you have bile duct blockage, acute liver disease or cancer, chronic constipation, or high blood pressure.
It is used spritually in ritual baths and you can use fenugreek in its place since it is endangered.
The Endocrine System is considered in relation the chakra system; 7 power centers along the endocrine system. The following are the 7 chakras and their correlates to the Endocrine System.
1. base root chakra- top of the kidney; controls fight or flight response- our kidneys hold fear- produces adrenaline; also where our trust issues are- adrenal fatigue- astragalus is good for that, adaptogens, foti, kidney yin tonic- nourishes
2. sacral chakra- our ovaries and testes; sexual trauma stored here; balances growth and development, someone stuck, strengthen in this area/hormones, where we house our creativity, ability to create- feeling sexual- too cold or too attached/ under/over sexual; squawvine for this area
3. solar plexus chakra - pancreas, naval; breakdown/digest food, all about processing- power and control; stagnation in the body if this is blocked (cassy); IBS, Crohns, diabetes, upper intestine, upper back/spine- “gut wrenching”, inability to express self held here, out of control digestive fire, OR too dominating/aggressive; passive, indecisive, weak, lack of purpose- help with movement- burdock/yellowdock- dandelion
4. heart chakra - thymus gland; immune system, emotional or physical base, no protection from others- wide open- lupus, RA, MS, all auto immune- love- lungs, blood, circulation, ability to give and receive, self love and compassion, we tend to put others before ourselves- suffocate others with love or are cold- hawthorn, rose, astragalus good for this- lungs, asthma- grief stored in lungs, sad/shutdown
5. throat chakra- thyroid; controls rate at which our body converts food into energy- rate of metabolism, asthma, neck problems, hypoactive thyroid, TMJ, grinding, ability to communicate, respiratory, communication, speech, expression -mouth, teeth, tongue, smoke- voice heard when growing up? we can use speech to keep people away, tell self truth and hear it!, integrity, communication between head and heart, speak up, introverted, shy- words create division for what you want for self- we constantly set limitations on self- truth should be filled with compassion- lung/throat herbs ~ mulberry, elecampagne, scull cap- can turn off outside voices so we can hear own truth, dandy, hawthorn
6. 3rd eye chakra - pituitary gland; brain, skull, brow, nervous system, it is the master gland, entire body connection, key to balance- neurological problems, breath, digestion, autonomic nervous system- underactive- not thinking for self, reliant on authority, easily confused, think too much, rigid in thinking, live in a fantasy world, constantly taking something to shift reality, cant create vision for self, intuition gone; we have to have a vision as a healer- have to hold space for wellness for people, create openings for people, open for another vision, journaling, oftentimes people don’t dream- osha, mugwort, dandelion and lavender good for opening
7. crown chakra- pineal gland; exhaustion, epilepsy, brain functions, spinal, pain, nerves, spiritual wisdom, center of enlightenment, dynamic thought, way you are with the world around you, not part of spiritual world, universal energy, people who intellectualize things too much, connected to spirituality outside of themselves, daily functions a challenge, cant manifest, home, job- cant see connections, ability to be in our bodies- lavender and reishi- grounding stuff- roots, pull into body, burdock, solomon’s seal, osha, connect to earth- calendula- brings together
Some good herbs for the endocrine system are: ashwaganda, dandelion, echinacaea, licorice, astragalus, siberian ginseng, vitex, and wild yam.
Two additional herbs in depth:
Sarsaparilla-
Also known as bamboo dryer. This tropical plant commonly found in the West Indies and the root is the part of the plant we use medicinally. It's pharmalogical properties include being steroidal and containing saponins, starch, resin, and minerals. Historically this plant was used in Spain cure syphilis and was listed in the Pharmacopeia until 1482.
It's actions include being an altrative, blood cleanser, antirheumatic, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac among others. It is used for clearing toxic build up, uric acid build up (gout), eczema, boils, skin parasites, arthritis, rheumatism, menopause, PMS, prostate problems, venereal disease, male and female hormonal imbalances, cold, flu, and respiratory infections. Not to be used while pregnant, on steriod therapy or if you have gastric ulcers.
It is also said to be used to draw money and love and good to combine with cinnamon and sandalwood.
Wild Yam- endangered!
Pharmalogical constituents include Vitamin C, calcium, steroidal, saponins, DHEA, alkaloids, tannins, starch, and a progesterone precursor. Traditionally this has been used for labor and after birth pain, colic, rheumatism, used to make birth control pills, and used for epilepsy and convulsions.
It's actions include being an antispasmodic, a cholagogue, diaphoretic, anti inflammatory, anti rheumatic, lupatic, anti emetic, miscarriage prevention, steroidal precursor, progesterone, hormone balancer, and fertility agent. It is used to normalize progesterone and estrogen, tone and cleanse the liver, relaxes nerves, for cramps, gall stones, rheumatic pain, ovarian and labor pain, miscarriage, menopause, any endocrine imbalance, pms, morning sickness, gas, asthma, eczema, boils, and diabetes. Don't use if you have bile duct blockage, acute liver disease or cancer, chronic constipation, or high blood pressure.
It is used spritually in ritual baths and you can use fenugreek in its place since it is endangered.