How Pungent and Warming Herbs Affect the Body

In herbalism, there are tastes that can help to describe how an herb contributes actions in the body; as well as energetics to match an herb to each individual.  Cayenne, Prickly Ash, Ginger, and Black Pepper are just some herbs considered both pungent and warming.  How do these herbs help individuals?  What benefits can you expect?  Who shouldn’t consume these herbs?  Why do some people love them while others don’t?  Learning about the actions of herbs is important, but learning their taste and energetics will help you to choose the best herb for the person needing it the most.

Pungency could be described as having a strong, sharp taste.  Many culinary herbs can be considered pungent.  Another definition describes it as a strong taste or smell.  I think all of us can admit that Cayenne, Prickly Ash, Ginger, and Black Pepper all have these qualities!  All it takes is just one taste to recognize it even if you haven’t tried these herbs before.  Other synonyms are hot and spicy; although I would not use this to describe a pungent herb.  Peppermint is considered to be pungent, and so is Oregano, but I don’t consider either of these to be hot or spicy.  Pungent herbs tend to:

-   warm the body

-   stimulate the senses

-   disperse blockages

- stimulate digestion

-   opens vessels and pores

-   stimulates circulation and metabolism

- increase energy

Pungent herbs are considered stimulants, diaphoretics, digestives, nervines, antispasmodics, and carminatives.

When I describe an herb as warming, I am describing the warming effect of the herb’s actions on the body.  Warming is a category of herbal energetics.  Basically, energetics are a tool which assists the practitioner in gaining a better understanding of how that herb can best be applied to each situation or individual. This category includes herbs that dilate the capillaries, increase circulation, and bring vitality to the body. 

-           They tend to affect the heart, liver, and the brain.

-          They speed up processes.

-          They usually are used to treat cold diseases such as poor circulation, chills, fatigue, poor digestion, and lack of appetite. 

Let’s say that there is an individual who is always cold, likes warm food and drinks, and has poor circulation.  I would say this person has a cold constitution and would need a warming herb instead of a cooling herb. A cooling herb could slow down movement of the blood even more and make that person colder in the long run.  A warming herb would stimulate circulation and would bring warmth to that person’s body.  It is a balancing act with herbs and people.  Ginger is great for nausea, but I wouldn’t choose that herb for someone who is hot all the time and walks around in the winter without a coat.  This person’s constitution is already hot and needs a cooling herb.  In this case, I would choose Red raspberry leaf as an anti-nausea herb for this individual. 

Now, let’s focus on the above questions using Cayenne, Prickly Ash, Ginger, and Black Pepper knowing that each of these herbs are pungent tasting and warming below:

-          How do these herbs help individuals?  They can stimulate fluid in the body when there are blockages/stagnation along with aiding processes such as digestion, circulation, thinking, memory, and metabolism.  They tend to be the herbs to drive the combination of herbs in a formula to where they are needed the most in the body.  They also provide warmth in situations such as chills, cold hands and feet, and in extreme cases hypothermia. 

-          What benefits can you expect?  Well, you will have increased activity in your heart, brain, and liver.  Cold processes tend to slow and stop movement while these herbs stimulate movement.  They will move stuck mucous and help thin it so it can be removed especially in the nasal cavities.  By moving the circulation, they help to distribute the blood evenly throughout the body.  This provides increased healing where it is needed.  Many of these herbs also help to alleviate pain.  Each of these individual herbs also have their own medicinal benefits due to different chemical constituents.

-          Who shouldn’t consume these herbs?  Many different medications and certain conditions should use caution or avoid the use of these herbs altogether.  Some could interfere with anticoagulant(blood thinning) medications and increase absorption of many other drugs.  There are theoretical interactions with anti-arrhythmic, anti-diabetic, and anti-hypertensive medications.  Check with your doctor if you are unsure about combining these herbs with your medications.  Avoid cayenne completely if you are allergic to the Nightshade family.  Avoid if you have GERD, an active duodenal ulcer, or severe hypertension.

-          Why do some people love them while others don’t?  This has to do with the constitution of the person in my opinion.  Remember when I mentioned a cold or warm constitution?  Someone with a cold constitution doesn’t like things that make them colder.  They tend to reach for warm drinks, food, and warm environments.  These people will like the taste and the effects of eating or taking these herbs.  Of course, the opposite is true to the warm constitution.  They reach for cold drinks, food, and love winter temperatures.  They do not want heat, nor need to be heated further.  These people tend to avoid hot and spicy food and drinks.  This doesn’t apply to everyone, but is a good basis.  Some people just don’t like the pungent taste period while others love it.

Knowing the taste and certain energetic aspects of herbs, the medicinal actions, and the constitution of each individual is how I choose certain herbs for each of my clients.  Pungent and warm herbs have their place in medicinal applications and healing, and can benefit the body in many ways.