In this fifth article of our series on the Seven Hermetic Principles and their relationship to the alchemical path and the internal martial arts, we now arrive at the fourth principle: the Principle of Polarity . This principle explains one of the most unavoidable truths of existence: reality expresses itself through opposites . Wherever there is one pole, the other must also exist. Where there is: light, there is darkness up, there is down heat, there is cold expansion, there is contraction...

🌿 American Spikenard Botanical Name:   Aralia racemosa Family:  Araliaceae Common Names:  American Spikenard, Spikenard, Pettymorel, Life-of-Man, Indian Root Parts Used:  Root and rhizome Energetics:  Warming, drying, stimulating Tissue States:  Cold damp stagnation, respiratory congestion, lymphatic sluggishness, chronic catarrh, depleted vitality with damp accumulation Primary Actions:  Expectorant, alterative, lymphatic stimulant, diaphoretic, carminative, anti-inflammatory, aromatic...

🌿 Ginger Botanical Name:   Zingiber officinale Family:  Zingiberaceae Common Names:  Ginger, Common Ginger, Sheng Jiang (fresh), Gan Jiang (dried) Parts Used:  Rhizome (fresh or dried) Energetics:  Warming, drying, stimulating Tissue States:  Cold stagnation, dampness, digestive weakness, sluggish circulation, cold phlegm Primary Actions:  Carminative, circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, digestive tonic, expectorant Ginger (Zingiber officinale) 🌱 Botanical...