What are Trophorestorative?

The “Trophic” state is representative of the vital capacity of a system or tissue in the body. Often these herbs have tissue specificity within the body, such as endocrine, skin, lungs, heart, stomach and female reproductive organs.

How do Trophorestoratives Work?

In chronic states of irritation or depression, some degree of vital deficiency will manifest in an affected tissue, with a gradual loss of its functional capability. In any case when an organ or tissue is determined to be suffering from this state, trophorestorative herbs can be used safely as a long-term measure to restore normal function. Some examples specific to various organ systems include:

Nervous System

• Avena sativa (Oats)
• Turnera diffusa (Damiana)

Endocrine

• Panax ginseng (Korean Ginseng)
• Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)

Skin

• Arctium lappa (Burdock)
• Stellaria media (Chickweed)

Connective Tissue

• Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola)
• Equisetum arvense (Horsetail)

Cardiovascular

• Crataegus oxycantha (Hawthorne)
• Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry)

Lungs

• Equisetum arvense (Horsetail)
• Verbascum thapsus (Mullein)

Stomach

• Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)
• Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet)

Liver

• Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle)
• Taraxacum off. radix (Dandelion root)

Uterus

• Caulophyllum thalictroides (Blue Cohosh)
• Chamaelirium luteum (False Unicorn Root)

• Adapted from David Hoffman’s ‘The Herbal Handbook: A User’s Guide to Medical Herbalism” & “Medical Herbalism”