Help looking for a word to describe herbal and natural remedies

[BOD]

Hi,

I am looking for a word or words used to describe traditional medicine ascribing healing qualities to certain plants and animals.

For example, if an animal is considered strong or wise and people believe that consuming the animals parts will give them those properties;

or, if a plant or flower, resembles a pregnant woman or female genitals then drinking a concoction of the plant will assist fertility or desirability etc.

Not looking for words like supersition or bunkum but a proper term -

 

[Geoff Dann]

In general it's called "Folk Herbalism", but you are looking for a word specifically for believing the action of the herb resembles what it looks like? (a bit like "onomatopoeia" where words sound like their meaning?) AFAIK there is no special word in English for this.

 

[Harvestman]

There is a word, but for the life of me I can't think what it is. Homeopathy is what comes to mind, but it isn't that. Something along those lines though I think.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Assimilation by consumption?

 

[Tadpole]

Doctrine of Signatures

 

[Huon]

Sympathetic medicine?

 

[ged]

What you need is a thesaurus.

http://thesaurus.com/browse/catholicon

Of course your own original suggestions (superstition, bunkum) were very close to the mark.

 

[armie]

Doctrine of Signatures

Looks like you've found it Tadpole. It took me a lot of search time to find that expression.

 

[Martyn]

attribute? characteristic? innate? inherent?

 

[udamiano]

"the Doctrine of Signatures" is the description of a plant use, based on it shape of a human part.

bugger just noticed that tadpole already got there

 

[twisted firestarter]

nature crafted?

 

[BOD]

I did not know of the doctrine of signatures for herbalism.

But what about association with animal qualities - strength, speed, bravery etc.?

I seem to recall that there was a word for this too.

Thanks for all help so far.

The reason I ask is that I am researching the rationale of the trade in animal parts for traditional Chinese medicine rhino horn, tiger organs etc.

I want to discredit the belief in the associative cures from consumption of animal parts while distinguishing the herbalism component of Chinese medicine.

 

[lou1661]

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