The Doctrine of Signatures
An Introduction to the Doctrine of Signatures
Tamarra S. James
It is unthinkable that any serious
student of herbal medicine would be unaware of the existence of a diagnostic
system called, "The Doctrine of Signatures". Most people
have read of it in passing with little or no explanation. In the historical
perspective, it is one of the most important modes of medical thinking
to have evolved, and it was expounded in medical texts from the middle
of the sixteen hundreds right up to the end of the nineteenth century.
The Doctrine of Signatures is most notable in that it was not originally
formulated for the medical profession. It took shape as a spiritual philosophy
that had as its base the simple concept that God had marked everything
he had created with a sign. This sign was a clear indicator of the item's
true purpose as intended by God.
There are allusions to this sort of theory in the writings of Galen A.D.
131-200. But it was not until the publication of Jacob Boehme's Book "Signatura
Rerum; The Signature of all Things" was published in the first half of
the seventeenth century that it took form as a complete philosophy.
Jacob Boehme was not a learned man, he was in fact, a shoemaker from a
poor family just outside Goerlitz, Germany. In 1600, he was visited by
a sudden illumination of the mind in which was made clear to him the doctrine
he espoused for the remainder of his life. He published his revelations
in the book, "Aurora" 1612, and was promptly exiled from his home town
by the city council on the advice of the pastor of Goerlitz. The city
council reversed the banishment the next day on the condition that he
wrote no further books. He was apparently unable to comply with the conditions
and left for Prague the next year. He died in 1624 having authored two
books and several treatises on the subject of his visions.
The first person to look on Boehme's theories as something more secularly
useful than a method for spiritual meditations was Paracelsus who was
writing in the first half of the sixteen hundreds. Paracelsus is considered
by modern scholars to be the father of modern chemistry, and he did much
in his lifetime to popularise the Doctrine of Signatures in its medical
application.
(Put in its simplest terms, the Doctrine states that by careful observation
one can learn the uses of a plant from some aspect of its form or place
of growing.) The level of signature often got a little far fetched, and
it would seem that this was a case of attempting to make the known facts
fit the popular theory. In a period where most of the world was still
largely illiterate, it is likely that the Doctrine of Signatures was useful
as a mnemonic aid for the apprentice who was learning by observation and
rote.
I will give here a series of examples from William Cole who was writing
in the Seventeenth Century and was greatly influenced by the teachings
of Paracelsus. They will give you some idea of the practical application
of the Doctrine. These examples are taken from notes that were intended
to teach the practices of medicine. His books are titled, "The Art of
Simpling" and "Adam in Eden". The distilled water of Hawthorn: "It is
found by good experience, that if cloathes and spunges be wet in the said
water and applyed to any place whereinto thornes, splinters etc. have
entered and be there abiding, it will notably draw forth, so that the
thorn gives a medicine for its own prickling." The signature is in the
thorn itself in this case.
Lung wort (Pulmonaria Officinalis)
Lung wort (Plućnjak), due to the spots on its leaves
was related to Pulmonary complaints. Plants with yellow flowers or roots,
such as Goldenrod (Zlatnica) were believed to cure conditions
of Jaundice by the signature of colour. Plants with a red signature were
used for blood disorders. John Gerard states in his herbal when speaking
of St. John's Wort, "The leaves, flowers and seeds stamped, and put into
a glass with oile olive, and set in the hot sunne for certaine weeks togather
and then strained from those herbes, and the like quantity of new put
in, and sunned in like manner, doth make an oile of the colour of blood,
which is a most precious remedy for deep wounds..." In this sort of case,
the doctrine goes a little far in demanding that the preparation be made
before the signature evidences itself.
The petals of the Iris were commonly used as a poultice for bruising because
of the signature of colour, the petals resembling in hue the bruise they
were to alleviate.
Beyond the signature of colour was that of form. If a portion of a plant
resembled an organ or other part of the Human Anatomy, it was believed
to be beneficial to that part, thus, Cole speaks of Lily of the Valley
in the following terms, " It cureth apoplexy by Signature; for as that
disease is caused by the dropping of humours into the principal ventricles
of the brain: so the flowers of this Lily hanging on the plants as if
they were drops, are of wonderful use herein."
Poplar or "Quaking Aspen" leaves were used for shaking Palsy, and Byrony
root, which, with a little imagination could be said to resemble a swollen
human foot, was obviously signed for use in cases of Dropsy which caused
swelling of the foot. There are many more examples of similar types, but
this will give a sort of general overview to the theory.
The Doctrine of Signatures naturally led to the concept of Astrological
influence, and this was developed and put forward by Nicolas Culpeper
in his book, "Judgement of Diseases" in the mid sixteen hundreds. This
was a sort of scientific version of the Doctrine of Signatures that set
itself up in opposition to the simpler folk style we have seen previously.
In fact there were a number of vituperative arguments and clashes between
Cole and Culpeper over the relative merits of the two systems.
In short, the two systems weren't that far different from each other,
and their evaluations of the uses of herbs were generally the same, the
means of arriving at the interpretation was the thing in dispute. Culpeper
felt that only astrologers were fit to study medicine, being an astrologer
himself did not, I'm sure hinder him in the formation of this bias. Cole
was of the "College of Physicians in London" whom Culpeper loudly decried
as, " A company of proud, insulting, domineering doctors, whose wits were
born about 500 years before themselves." Cole was also the most avid proponent
of the Doctrine of Signatures.
They carried on a literary battle for supremacy which was effectively
won in 1649 by Culpeper, when he published, " a physicall directory or
a translation of the London dispensary made by the College of Physicians
in London..." In this book, he had translated the College's main medical
text from the Latin, into the vernacular so that the common man could
wean himself away from dependance on the Doctors by delving into the mysteries
that were formerly known only to the learned physicians. He also added
his own commentary on the formulas, and included a healthy dose of his
astrological theories, seeming to give them the credence of the College.
The College was not amused and proceeded to attack Culpeper in broadsides
from this time, and continued unceasingly, even after his death.
The astrological system of diagnosis and treatment was set forth
in Culpeper's "complete herbal" in the following way:
1. Consider what planet causeth the disease; that thou mayest find it
in my aforesaid "Judgement of Diseases". (His other book).
2. Consider what part of the body is affected by the disease and whether
it lies in the flesh or blood or bones or ventricles.
3. Consider by what planet the afflicted part of the body is governed;
that my "Judgement of Diseases" will inform you also.
4. You may oppose diseases by herbs of the planet opposite to the planet
that causes them; as diseases of the luminaries by the herbs of Saturn
and the contrary; diseases of Mars by the herbs of Venus and the contrary.
5. There is a way to cure diseases sometimes by sympathy and so every
planet cures its own diseases; as the sun and moon by their herbs cure
the eyes, Saturn the spleen, Jupiter the liver, Mars the gall (žuč) and
diseases of the choler, and by Venus diseases in the instruments of generation."
Astrology was consulted for diagnosis, classification of medicinal plants
and bodily functions, the preparation of medicines, and the determination
of the most favorable time to administer the remedy.
I will briefly set down the basic planetary divisions of the botanic kingdom.
One will note how similar the method is to the broader Doctrine of Signatures,
in fact, there is little deviation here from the planetary catalogue set
down by Paracelsus.
SUN:
The sun was said to rule the heart, circulation, and the vertebral column.
All plants that appeared solar, such as Calendula and Sunflower fell under
its influence, as did those plants that followed the sun in their growth
such as Heliotrope.
Plants that were heat producing, such as Clove and Pepper, and all those
having a tonic effect on the heart were classified under the Sun.
MOON:
The moon was held to influence growth, fertility, the breasts, stomach,
womb, and menstrual cycle. It also exerted control over the brain and
the memory. All body fluids and secretions were believed to be under the
lunar sway. To some extent, the entire plant world was subject to the
Moon, as harvesting and planting was performed in accordance with the
lunar phases. Most especially lunar were those plants with a diaphoretic
action, or with juicy globular fruits. Moisturizing, cooling, or soothing
juices fell in here as well.
MERCURY:
Mercury ruled the nervous system, and the organs of speech, hearing, and
respiration. Mercuric plants bore finely divided leaves such as fennel,
dill, and carrot. The smell was usually sharp and distinctive. The most
typical of Mercury's plants had a mood elevating, slightly tonic effect.
VENUS:
Venus ruled the complexion, the sexual organs, and the hidden inner workings
of the body cells. Venusian plants almost all bore heavily scented, showy
blossoms such as the Damascus Rose or the
Apple Blossom. The medicinal effects were commonly emollient, anti-nephritic,
and alterative. Of course, many of the aphrodesiac plants were included
under the auspice of Venus as well.
MARS:
Mars ruled the muscles, body vitality, and the libido. It also had influence
in the combustion processes of the body and the motor nerves. Its plants
generally affected the blood, and were stimulating, and in many cases
aphrodesiac. Many were hot and acrid in their nature.
JUPITER:
Jupiter ruled the liver, the abdomen, the spleen, and the kidney. Digestion
was governed by this planet as was body growth. Most of Jupiter's plants
are edible, many bearing nuts or fruit such as the chestnut and the apricot.
Its medicinal traits are antispasmodic, calmative, hepatic, and anthelmintic.
SATURN:
Saturn ruled over aging, the bone structure, teeth, and all hardening
processes. Many of its plants are poisonous such as Hemlock and Belladonna.
The effects of Saturnian plants are sedative, pain relieving, coagulant,
or bone-forming.
Beyond these seven planets, the proponents of this theory had no knowledge
of any other heavenly influences.
To many of us, this method seems very arbitrary and unreliable, but one
must note, that it was more a system of catalogue than a real formula
for discovery. A budding herbalist may know that Mercury has many plants
with highly divided leaves like Parsley, but he also knew, that Jupiter
had the Hemlock, also with finely divided leaves, and so he could not
trust that all plants with the leaf type would act the same. Most of the
herbal apprentices could read little and write less, and the Doctrine
of Signatures came to the rescue as a slightly more dignified mnemonic
key than the doggerel verse of the village witch-wife.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
"The Signature of All Things", Jacob Boehme: James Clarke & Co. Ltd.,
Cambridge 1969.
"The Golden Age of Herbs & Herbalists.", Rosetta E. Clarkson: Dover Publications
Inc., New York 1972.
"Culpeper's Complete Herbal", Nicholas Culpeper; W. Foulsham & Co. Ltd.
London
"The Herbal of General History of Plants": John Gerard: Dover Publications
Inc. 1975.
"Practical Handbook of Plant Alchemy": Manfred M. Junius: Inner Traditions
International Ltd., New York 1985.
THANK YOU TAMARRA JAMES.
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ADDITION
The Doctrine of Signatures was highly developed during the European Renaissance.
This interest paralleled the widespread belief in an overall unity of
Nature. Many vernacular names of temperate plants tell us how plants were
once used to cure human ailments. Such uses were fueled by fertile imaginations.
In general, long-lived plants were used to lengthen a person's life, and
plants with rough stems and leaves were believed effective to heal diseases
that destroy the smoothness of the skin. Plants with yellow sap were cures
for jaundice, and roots with jointed appearance were the antidote for
scorpion bites. Flowers shaped like a butterfly became cures for insect
bites.
Examples:
- liverwort = relieve liver
trouble
- snakeroot = antidote for
snake venom
- adder's tongue = cure for
wounds and inflammation from snakebite
- lungwort = cure pulmonary
diseases
- bloodroot = cure blood disorders;
induce vomiting; laxative
- toothwort = relieve toothache
- gravelwort (meadow sweet,
medunika) = dissolve stones in the urinary tract
- wormwood = expel intestinal
parasites
- pilewort = cure hemorrhoids
- ginseng = "man essense,"
used as a general human panacea
- mandrake = promote sexual
passion in females
- black-eye root = remove
bruise discoloration
- maidenhair fern = cure for
baldness " Lousewort, Pedicularis - thought to be useful in repelling
lice
- Spleenwort, Asplenium -
thought to be useful in treating the spleen
- Liverwort - thought to be
useful in treating the liver
- Toothwort, Dentaria - thought
to be useful in treating tooth ailments
- Matičnjak i kisela
djetelina = smatra se da su zbog svog srcolikog oblika lijek
za srce.
- Čuvarkuća i kamenika
(Saxifraga) = raste između kamenja i u sebi sadrži lužine koje mogu
otopiti žučni ili bubrežni kamenac
William Coles found that walnuts
were good for curing head ailments because they Have the perfect Signatures
of the Head
and The little holes whereof the leaves of Saint
Johns wort are full, doe resemble all the pores of the skin and
therefore it is profitable for all hurts and wounds that can happen thereunto.
The Doctrine of Signatures is a very old notion which predates homeopathy
and was already mentioned in the writings of the Swiss physician Paracelsus
von Hohenheim (1493-1541). It proposes the idea that God gave everything
in nature its unique healing powers and left a clue for us to discover
in the appearance of each plant or substance. For example, the dark lines
on the petals of Digitalis purpurea are reminiscent of
blood vessels. Indeed, Digitalis is a well-known allopathic drug for heart
problems and also has an affinity for this organ in its homeopathic preparation.
Similarly, the yellow juice of Chelidonium majus reminds
one of the yellowish complexion typical of patients with liver problems.
Chelidonium is known for its affinity to the liver. The red sap of the
bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), for instance, was
believed to cure diseases of the blood, while the fused leaves of boneset
(Eupatorium perfoliatum) were used to heal broken bones. The concept was
employed by the herbalists of the Renaissance, and was accepted until
the latter part of the 19th cent.
Signature plants were probably first recognized in ancient China,
where there was a classification that correlated plant features to human
organs.
- yellow and sweet = spleen
- red and bitter = heart
- green and sour = liver
- black and salty = lungs
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