Spicy, Cooling and Drying – Simulating/Moving

 

For the Depressed tissue state

 

In the Herbal Tarot, “The Spirit of Herbs” by Michael Tierra – Echinacea is associated with the Temperance card, (XIV) of the major arcana.  This card is the personification of Sagittarius a Fire sign that falls from November 23rd – December 21st, the Winter Solstice.  This plant is the final fire as we enter the underworld often related to death and birth.  Echinacea roots being harvested at the end of fall produce a tincture that when coming in to contact with the tongue will produce a sensation of conflagration.  This will ultimately lead to a flooding of water or saliva.  Tierra wonderfully makes the connection that Temperance is perfect harmony of fire and water thus Echinacea producing a sensation of “burning” and numbing of the tongue also encourages the body to produce saliva.  Fire is the element of purification.  While we often use Echinacea in response to help purify the body of a virus, we also apply Echinacea to move the blood and lymph to help clear “toxins” and metabolites that can be given the designations of “phlegm” in the Western Herbal Tradition. Phlegm is associated to the Winter which is connected to the Depressed tissue state (Cold, Heavy, Slow) and which also begins as we exit Sagittarius and move in to Capricorn.