Su-Mu/Sappan wood
Caesalpinia sappan1:2 Ethanol/Distilled H2O Spagyric tincture of dried A Grade Sappan Wood, with plant salts added.
Planetary ruler: Mars
Physical Properties*:
Certain states of disease are caused by an overactive immune system or unnecessarily heightened and/or lengthened periods of inflammatory response. Sappan wood is prominently used where it is necessary to supress the immune system and mediate inflammatory responses, so as to revert the body back to fighting it’s actual pathologies, rather than itself (autoimmune diseases, and out of control cytokine cascades). These ‘immunosuppressing’ qualities have also been scientifically shown to have anti-HIV effects; decrease the chance of implanted/transplanted organ rejection; modulate the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and thus slow down mechanisms that cause osteoarthritis; and, increase hepatic antioxidant enzymes which alleviated liver fibrosis (in rats). Scientific studies have shown various kinds of Sappan wood extracts to have antitumour, cytotoxic, anticancer effects in the colon, breasts, gastric cells, small lung cells, head and neck. Other articles point to Sappan wood being a valuable adjunct to allopathic methods of cancer treatment (chemotherapy etc), where it decreased anti-multidrug resistance, inhibited tumour metastases, enhanced chemotherapeutic effects, mitigation of liver toxicity attributed to chemo drugs, and increased beneficial apoptosis (cancerous cell death) via DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 enzyme activation. Some other tested and verified properties of Sappan wood include: Nerve regeneration after sciatic injury; anti-rheumatoid arthritis activity, mitigated oxidative stress in response to toxins, antituberculosis effects, analgesic (pain killing), antidiabetic, hepaprotective (liver protecting), vasorelaxant, anti-allergic, anti-photoaging, and it is strongly antibacterial against methicillin resistant staph strains. The heartwood has been proven to be safe to consume in therapeutic doses for extended periods of time. For a complete, thorough and scientifically referenced list of its’ properties, see this page: http://www.stuartxchange.org/Sapan.html
*Before purchase please see full disclaimer at bottom of page - statements and products not approved by TGA.
Emotional Properties*:
This plant is incredibly direct, one can feel it throw down the shield between our inner world and outer world, not necessarily so we can simply forget about our worldly worries and relax… but rather, so we can calmly and clearly get to the internal roots of our woes. This is a mirror of Sappan wood’s strong wound closing, bacteria vanquishing capacity externally, and it’s internal capacity to suppress overly-heightened allergic, inflammatory and immune responses. Like a knight in dark red armour the Sappan spirit grabs us by the shoulders, and tells us to get a grip on ourselves. When Buddhists say, take refuge in the Buddha, what they are really saying is: by your own gracious powers of focus and determination, still yourself, coalesce yourself in to a state that steps out of your suffering to observe it, understand it, and go forward less bound by cravings and aversions that are not your truth. Sappan would will happily sit there and call bull*hit on what parts of our psyche are obstructions to and contortions of truth… sometimes we may not want to let go of these habitual patterns and conditioned ways of thinking, but Sappan wood is patient and we will soon see the value in letting them go. We will stop fighting within our own beings, the devil on our left shoulder and the angel on our right will come together and lay out a grounded, realistic, world-accepting way forward… and Sappan wood will nod in approval, ‘this is the way’.
Recommended dosage: 7-12 drops 2-3 times a day.
Cautions/contraindications:
-Blood deficiency: Blood deficiency may be indicated by symptoms such as: Anaemia, slow healing and recovery Long cycles, dizziness, weak/thin pulse, palpitations, dry stools, dull and persistent ache in many places, amenorrhoea (no periods), scanty menstrual blood, short luteal phase (phase after ovulation), thin uterine lining, Implantation failure, History of miscarriage, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, poor memory, cold hands, feet, abdomen, low back and gluteal muscles, and floaters in eyes. If you have a a few or more of these symptoms you may have blood deficiency, which means you should either avoid Sappan wood, or combine it with at least a few blood building herbs such as: Goji berries, dong quai, rosemary, Schisandra, He-Shou-Wu, (if you run cool), or parsley, Schisandra, nettle leaf, red grape leaf, Hawthorn if you run hot.
-Pregnancy and breastfeeding: People who are pregnant and breastfeeding should not use Sappan wood.
-Those taking anti-Hiv, or other immunosuppressant drugs should consult with their doctor before taking sappan wood alongside these medications.
