How Herbalists Understand Dryness and Balance

In Western herbal practice, the body is often understood through the qualities it expresses — warmth, coolness, moisture, dryness, tension, or ease. These ideas come from older European traditions, including Greek and monastic medicine, and later writers such as Nicholas Culpeper. They are not medical diagnoses. They are simply a way herbalists observe patterns in people and in plants. 

Modern herbalists use plainer language, yet the approach is the same. Rather than focusing solely on the uncomfortable area — for instance dry vulval skin — they look at what sits behind it. Is the tissue warm or cool, tight or relaxed, dry or depleted. These observations help guide what kind of support is likely to feel most comfortable. 

Why these patterns still matter 

Once you start noticing your own tendencies, the patterns become surprisingly practical. Some people naturally feel warm and dry. Others feel cool, heavy, or easily depleted. Stress, food, weather, sleep, and hormonal changes all influence these qualities. 

Within traditional herbalism, dryness is seen as a sign that moisture and ease in the body need support. Herbalists view stress, busyness, disrupted sleep, or sluggish circulation as patterns that may contribute to this sense of dryness — not as proven biological mechanisms, but as ways of understanding comfort. 

Constitutional types in Western herbalism 

These “types” are simply traditional descriptions, not fixed categories. The older names for these groupings are: Choleric, Sanguine, Melancholic and Phlegmatic.

Fire types 

Warm, focused, quick to act. May feel irritation or heat. Often benefit from calming, cooling support. 

Air types 

Lively, mentally active, easily scattered. Feel steadier with grounding food and steady routines. 

Earth types 

Thoughtful and steady. Can become cool or tense under strain. Respond well to warmth, nourishment, movement. 

Water types 

Calm and reflective. Hold moisture well but may stagnate when stressed. Feel better with stimulation and flow. 

Most people are a mixture of types. A herbalist pays attention to both the constitution and the person’s daily life. 

How herbs are matched to people 

In traditional practice, plants also carry qualities. Chamomile is said to soften heat and tension. Ginger is warming and stimulating. Marshmallow root is cooling and moistening. Rose offers gentle emotional support. When these qualities match a person’s pattern, the support often feels naturally soothing. 

Choosing herbs with care 

Use organically grown or responsibly cultivated herbs from trusted UK suppliers such as Herbal Apothecary UK. The Sustainable Herbs Initiative provides advice on buying responsibly.