When herbalists talk about herbs, they’ll usually use terms like energetics (I’ll talk about that in a later post), actions and organ affinities.
What is meant by the term organ affinity?
The affinity of an herb is the tendency of that herb to act upon or be drawn to a particular organ or organ system.
Understanding the affinity of an herb can help you select the right herb for a condition.
Sometimes we add an herb to a formula with an affinity for a particular organ or organ system in order to direct the entire formula to that area.
For example, we may add hawthorn to a formula to target the heart and cardiovascular system.
Other herbs are much more comprehensive and don’t have strong affinities for one or two systems.
To learn more about herbal terms and organ affinities, check out our Fundamentals of Holistic Herbalism program.
