Doctrine of Signatures-Ancient Herbal Folklore

Helen Noyes Webster, Herbs

More than 400 years ago, one theory informed a generation of herbalists. Though arguably quaint by today's standards, it marked a significant step along the path of botanical knowledge.

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, an age when the capacities of herbal healing extended to the physical as well as the spiritual and mental realms, a metaphysical theory called the Doctrine of Signatures served as a crucial and lifesaving guide. The basic premise behind the theory - 'like cures like' - placed emphasis on clues and signals given off by a plant. Simply put, a plant's physical characteristics revealed its uses for healing.

These days, our more modern reliance on clinical proof and double-blind trials might lead us to view this theory as quaint at best, misguided at worst. But for those interested in the roots of Western herbalism, the Doctrine of Signatures remains a continuing source of intrigue - particularly in light of the fact that, in some cases, it led to correct applications of life-saving herbs.

Students of Nature

"We see in Paracelsus not only a pioneer in the domains of chemical medicine, but also in those of an empirical psychological healing science."

Carl Jung

The idea behind the Doctrine was refreshingly simple: Herbalists would observe the physical form of a plant to construe the types of illnesses it could help to cure. By noting aspects such as the color of a plant's roots, the shape of its leaves, or the area in which it grew, they would attempt to determine how to use it. The fact that daisies, for instance, resembled eyes meant that they could treat eye complaints. Plants with red roots or flowers were thought to help cure blood disorders; herbs with yellow flowers or roots could alleviate the problems associated with jaundice.

The Doctrine of Signatures had several key champions. One of the first, Paracelsus, lived from 1493-1541. A Swiss occultist, healer, alchemist, astrologist, writer, philosopher, physician, and a father of modern chemistry, Paracelsus laid the theoretical groundwork for what would later be know as the Doctrine of Signatures. He ascribed to to the idea that 'similar cured similar," and observed a pharmacological relationship between the human anatomy and the shape, color, and texture of various plant materials.

"We men discover everything that lies hidden in the mountains by external signs and correspondences, and thus also do we find all the properties of herbs and everything that is in the stones."

Paracelsus

Unfortunately for Paracelsus, various factions within academia at the time tried to suppress many of his teachings and theories. So, although he first came up with the basic theories associated with the Doctrine of Signatures, it was actually Jacob Boehme who is credited with popularizing them.

Boehme, who lived from 1575-1624, was a shoemaker in Germany. He had no formal medical or botanical training, but came to an understanding of plants through a mystical vision. He said that God laid out a theory before him, which he wrote about in his book, Signatura Rerum, or 'The Signature of All Things," published in the seventeenth century. Boehme borrowed some of his material from the relatively obscure writings of Paracelsus, then expounded on them with insight from his vision.

Boehme believed that God provided visual aids for determining how best to utilize every plant, animal, rock, and other phenomenon that appeared in nature. Despite the originally spiritual nature of the book, many throughout the medical community soon adapted and applied this publication to their daily work.

William Coles (1626-1662) was also profoundly influenced by the earlier writings of Paracelsus. Coles described his version of the Doctrine of Signatures in his book The Art of Simpling, which he published in 1656. "Though sin and sathan have plunged mankinde into an ocean of infirmaties," he wrote, "yet the mercy of God, which is over all His workes, maketh grasse to grow upon the mountaines, and herbes for the use of men, and hath not only stamped upon them a distinct forme, but also given them particular Signatures, whereby a man may read, even in legible characters, the use of them."

Regarding the plant hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata), for instance, Coles wrote, "It is found by good experience, that if cloathes and spunges be wet in the said water and applyed to any place whereinto thrones, splinters etc. have entered and be there abiding, it will notably draw forth, so that the thorn gives a medicine for its own prickling." With its specific examples, The Art of Simpling proved a very popular work in its day. A 629-page follow-up volume Coles published in 1657, entitled Adam in Eden, or Nature's Paradise, added more herbal information, including the signatures of individual plants.

Even the famed English Renaissance botanist and apothecary Nicholas Culpeper drew upon some of the theories of the Doctrine of Signatures in his writings, such as Judgment of Diseases, and his classic work The English Physician, first published in 1651. Clearly, the theory influenced a generation of plant observers, scientists, and healers who shared the goal of gaining access to the secret gifts plants harbored for healing.

The Clues

"The leaves, flowers and seeds stamped, and put into a glass with oile olive, and set in the hot sunne for certaine weeks together and then strained from those herbes, and the like quantity of new put in, and sunned in like manner, doth make an oile of the colour of blood, which is a most precious remedy for deep wounds."

John Gerard, commenting on St. John's Wort in The Herbal, 1633

Examples of herbs whose purported benefits reflected the theory of 'like cures like' are fascinating - even for the modern herb user who may now know the plant for strikingly different indications. More interesting still: A few plants have had their Doctrine of Signatures indications proven by recent scientific research.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
The deep red color of this plant's rhizomes made it the herb of choice to use for all blood disorders. In more modern times, herbalists have discovered that excessive use of this herb depresses the central nervous system, which can eventually lead to death.

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis)
Because the flowers resemble a diseased and bloodshot eye, this plant was thought to alleviate all problems of the eye. Although herbalists still use eyebright today, note that excess ingestion can cause mental confusion, along with a variety of eye problems such as itching, swelling, and redness.

Forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides)
Otherwise known as scorpion grass, the buds of this flower develop in a spiral pattern that look similar to a scorpion's tail. According to the Doctrine of Signatures, this flower was a remedy for serpent bites.

Gromwell (Lithospermum officinale)
The stony seeds were of this plant seemed capable of dissolving 'gravel' - or kidney and bladder stones. Today we know that gromwell works well as a tonic that clears toxins from the body. It may help treat hepatitis and other liver ailments as well.

Liverwort (Hepatica nobilis)
With leaves that vaguely resemble the shape and color of the human liver, this plant was utilized to treat aliments of this organ. While not often prescribed in the modern day, liverwort is occasionally employed as a general liver and digestive tonic.

Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis)
The spots on the leaves of this plant resembled diseased lung tissue, thus indicating the herb's use in curing lung aliments. Modern herbal practitioners will often prescribe an infusion of lungwort to help in cases of bronchitis and asthma.

Maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris)
Capillus veneris means 'Venus's hair,' which may have accounted for this plant's fame as a promoter of healthy hair growth. Various products containing maidenhair fern are still in use today. This herb can help treat bald spots caused by ringworm.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
According to Nicholas Culpeper the yellow color of this spice indicated the following uses "...opens obstructions, is profitable against the yellow jaundice, and cold distemper of the liver and spleen..." One of several herbs that lives up to its uses as outlined in the Doctrine of Signatures, turmeric rhizomes used internally treat jaundice, liver disease, high cholesterol levels.

Walnuts (Juglans regia)
The convoluted surface of walnuts resemble the brain; thus walnuts were used for all aliments associated with the head and brain. Modern herbalists use all parts of the walnut for a variety of medicinal purposes. An infusion of the leaves helps treat constipation, coughs, and urinary stones, while the nut oil aids dry skin conditions, eczema, and hair loss.

Willow (Salix species)
Herbalists of the past observed that the willow tree grew in damp and moist environments. Thus, according to the Doctrine of Signatures, willow bark was recommended for anyone suffering from rheumatic complaints, which were often aggravated by damp conditions. Later in the time line of history, the inner bark of the willow tree was found to contain salicylic acid. Salicylic acid was first synthesized in 1838 as the basis of our modern-day aspirin tablets.

In Conclusion
The Doctrine of Signatures laid the groundwork for the use of many other herbs, making it a true source book of its day. Thanks to visionaries such as Jacob Boehme and William Coles, the teachings that began with Paracelsus were not lost to future generations. Even as late as the 19th century country doctors were still prescribing to the tenants of the Doctrine of Signatures. Dr. O. Phelps Brown in his book The Complete Herbalist, self-published in 1868, makes the following remark: "From long experience and observation, I have found that any plant bearing any resemblance to any portion of the human frame, is a specific for the diseases of the member or organ to which it resembles."

Modern-day Doctrine of Signatures proponents still exist, although they may not assign a specific name to their methods. Traditional Chinese Medicine classified herbs by the correlation of human organs to particular plant features. For example Chinese herbalists use a variety of phallic-shaped herbs, such as rhinoceros horn or deer antlers, to cure impotence and enhance male virility.

Note
This article is not intended for self-healing. Some herbs with reputed therapeutic value according to the Doctrine of Signatures are not considered beneficial by modern-day herbalists. Others mentioned may actually pose risk in certain doses.

Going to the Source
Boehme, Jacob. The Signature of All Things. Reissued by Kessinger Publishing Co., 1997.

Clarkson, Rosetta E. Green Enchantment; The Magic Spell of Gardens. New York, NY: The Macmillan Company, 1940.

Coles, William. The Art of Simpling. Reissued by Kessinger Publishing Co., 2004.

Culpeper, Nicholas. Culpeper's Complete Herbal and English Physician Enlarged. London: Richard Evans, 1814.

Smythe, Lynn. "The Doctrine of Signatures." The Herb Quarterly, Winter 2004, pages 36-39.

Webster, Helen Noyes. Herbs; How to Know Them and How to Use Them. MA: Hale, Cushman and Flint, 1939.