Herbs — seven potency classes
A herb is not "medicinal" by itself — it is medicinal relative to dose, relative to knowledge, relative to the step on the ring where we place it. Basil (step 1, culinary) is eaten with tomato without thought; chamomile (step 2, calming) we drink at the end of the day; turmeric and ginger (step 8, the peak, anti-inflammatory) call for attention; St John's wort (step 5, potent medicinal) calls for dose; belladonna (step 9, poisonous) calls for knowledge that closes the ring.
This is not a shopping list "drink this, not that". This is a map of responsibility: the higher the step, the smaller the dose and the more knowledge is required. And most importantly — step 9 (the poisonous) is not "removed" from the horo. It IS step 9. Without it the ring has no closure. Knowing the poison is part of herbal practice, not its opposite.
Bands × HORO — herbs
| Band | Step | Description | potency class (1-9) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CULINARY · culinary | base | basil, parsley, dill, oregano — daily, no dose limit | 1 |
| CALMING · calming | share | chamomile, lemon balm, linden — gentle nervine | 2 |
| STIMULANT · stimulant | weave | mint, rosemary, eucalyptus — focus, breath | 3 |
| ANTI_INFLAMMATORY · anti-inflammatory | crest | peak — turmeric, ginger, milk thistle (liver support) | 4 |
| ADAPTOGENIC · adaptogenic | descent | ginseng, ashwagandha, rhodiola — stress resilience | 5 |
| POTENT_MEDICINAL · potent medicinal | round | St John's wort, valerian, mustard — dose is required | 6 |
| POISONOUS · poisonous | unity | belladonna, henbane, hemlock — knowledge closes the ring | 9 |
Sources (4)
Related
- Herbs and medicine — articles on specific herbs and applications.
- Herbal methods — how a leaf becomes tea, tincture, salve.
- Tea house — the menu — where steps 1–4 of this horo meet the home.