Real-Life Math
Math is part of any work where ingredients are measured and mixtures
are mixed. Herbalists say a basic knowledge of math and chemistry are needed
to make and practice herbal medicine.
"Basic math is required for doing
computations for formulas if you're doing clinical practice," says herbalist
Aviva Romm. "But certainly if you're working in manufacturing
and any of the development aspects where you would require chemistry, like
manufacturing, then clearly you would need math -- at least basic math where
you'd have to be able to do the chemistry."
Even in independent
practice, herbalists need to know how to make a basic tincture -- a stock
of herbal medicine from which drops, capsules, ointments and teas are made.
This combines straight herbs with a menstruum -- a solvent, either water,
glycerine or alcohol-based, in which herbs are steeped for desired potency
(it's the same principle as tea in hot water).
This process requires
a grip on fractions and ratios, to figure out how much herb to mix with how
much menstruum to make a certain amount of tincture.
You're a
herbalist treating a patient with nausea. You want to treat them with cinnamon
drops. First, you want to mix a fresh cinnamon tincture. A tincture is made
up of 1 part cinnamon equal with 4 parts of a vodka-based menstruum.
You've
determined you're measuring parts by weight in ounces. Out of a 24-ounce
tincture, how many ounces are menstruum and how many are cinnamon? Use your
answer to determine how many drops you will give them. If the tincture has
less than 5 ounces of cinnamon, prescribe 50 drops. If it has more, prescribe
20 drops.