Synergy and Herbal Preparations
At The Herbtender we frequently refer to our blends as ‘synergistic’ and we think it high time we explained a bit more about what this means in the context of herbal blends.
We are very lucky to be joined by Medical Herbalist Sabrina Biscardi from Terra Sacra who talks to us about the concept of synergy in herbal preparations, what the term means and how it applies to formulating herbal mixtures.
What exactly does synergy mean within the context of herbal medicine?
There are several principles in herbal medicine that explain how whole plant-based preparations work differently from conventional medicines or supplements. One of these principles is that of synergy.
Synergy refers to the fact that the whole medicinal preparation is greater than the sum of its individual herb parts. In other words, as herbalists we don’t just look at what one herb can do (its “actions”), but also what happens when we put two or more herbs together in a preparation. Synergy relies on the fact that each individual whole herb contains many chemical compounds. When some of these come together with other herbs in a preparation, they produce an additional therapeutic benefit which would not otherwise exist. It allows herbalists to get the most effective and powerful outcome from a preparation.
Adding black pepper to turmeric is a simple, well-known, example of synergy. The black pepper increases turmeric’s anti-inflammatory actions by improving the bioavailability (absorption by the body) of the anti-inflammatory chemical compounds in turmeric. This benefit is in addition to the properties of black pepper itself, which include antioxidant, anti-depressant and anti-hypertensive actions.
How do Herbalists think about synergy in a herbal preparation?
Herbalists do not usually choose an individual herb because of its primary “active ingredient” or because its action matches up with a particular symptom, at least not without thinking of the bigger picture as well.
Herbalists know that whole plant extracts are made up of more than one active ingredient and have more than one action. The holistic principles that underlie herbal medicine and the complexity of plants are key considerations when making a preparation. Complexity and the potential synergy of each herb require thought and knowledge to reap the full benefit of all the herbs in a preparation. And this is before one even takes account of a patient’s individual genetic and physiological makeup!
What are the steps to constructing a Herbal Preparation?
Synergy in a herbal formula means that the herbs work together for a better overall outcome, usually covering specific objectives with the least number of herbs.
When a Herbalist thinks about a prescription, they would normally try to cover a number of short-, medium-, and longer-term objectives. For instance, in the short term this could include treating the symptoms that are most bothersome to a patient. In the medium term, this could be supporting the emunctory processes of the body – in other words the way in which the body metabolises nutrients and excretes toxins. Finally, in the longer term, a herbalist could be thinking about regulating or correcting any underlying functional, hormonal, metabolic or other perceived causes of an imbalance.
How does synergy work in making a Herbal Preparation?
As we said earlier, whole plant extracts contain a broad spectrum of chemical compounds which often have many different actions on different pathways, systems or tissues. Some of these herbs or compounds may not act directly on the primary objective of a herbalist’s preparation, and so they are often deemed to be “inactive” compounds. However, they do have roles in other ways, such as:
- They may act as buffers ensuring that “active”, but potentially toxic, compounds don’t cause side effects. For example, neither Meadowsweet nor White Willow, both of which contain salicin and salicylates, will cause gastrointestinal bleeding when taken long term because they also contain compounds that change when metabolised in the body, and that act as buffers against potential side effects. Aspirin, on the other hand, contains acetylsalicylic acid, a synthetic form of a similar chemical compound (originally synthesised from salicylic acid in White Willow), but without the buffering agents, and can cause gastrointestinal bleeding if taken long-term by certain predisposed individuals.
- Some compounds may protect the “active” ingredients from being degraded too quickly in the body, thus allowing them to do their job in the area in which they are meant to do it. One of the compounds in Milk Thistle, for instance, can inhibit certain mechanisms in harmful bacteria, allowing the anti-bacterial actions of other plants in a preparation to kill off the bacteria.
- Others may act as potentiators, enhancing the effects of other compounds. For instance, adding Passionflower to St. John’s Wort or Valerian increases the calming effects of these two herbs.
- Some may act as transporters allowing the “active” compounds to overcome certain physiological or metabolic barriers of the body, such as the blood-brain barrier. The aromatic compounds in Frankincense, for example, can cross the blood-brain barrier and improve delivery of other herbal compounds to the brain.
- Synergy can also be used to balance out a prescription. A herbalist may choose one plant out of two with similar actions because it may have a desirable secondary effect, such as counteracting an undesirable activity of a third plant in the mix or ensuring that the actions of a plant are not cancelled out by the actions of another plant in the mix.
Having plants with many chemical compounds and various actions gives herbalists a broad palette of “tools” from which to formulate a preparation that can cover many issues with relatively few plants. But it should also be mentioned that synergy can work in negative ways. This is why a synergistic approach is essential in herbal medicine. It is also what makes herbalism as much an art form as it is a science.
What makes The Herbtender’s supplements ‘synergistic’?
All of The Herbtender’s supplements have been formulated by a Medical Herbalist, taking account of the complexity in action of the herbs, their traditional models of use, their energetic qualities and the synergies that exist between the plants. This approach, blending science with traditional use, and many years of experience, gives us confidence that our supplements are coherent, balanced and effective, and can be used safely to support your body’s natural processes.
By Sabrina Biscardi with Schia Mitchell Sinclair
Sabrina Biscardi is a Consultant Medical Herbalist practicing in London, Tunbridge Wells and Southern France. She also practices Endobiogenic Medicine, an integrative model of medicine developed in France by French doctors.
She is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK) and the Guilde Française des Practiciens en Herboristerie (France)
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