William LeSassier
Encyclopedia
William LeSassier was an influential herbalist
and acupuncturist
who lived from 1948 to 2003. He developed William’s Triune System of Formulation which continues to be taught by herbalists such as David Winston
who has significantly expanded LeSassier's materia medica. LeSassier taught and inspired many of the major herbalists currently practicing in the United States
, including Matthew Wood, David Winston, Margie Flynt, Kerry Adams and Dina Falconi, and his influence is significant. His classes were taped and continue to influence herbal medicine in the United States.
. He grew up in Midland
, then moved to southern California
where he learned theosophy
, palmistry, color therapy], and herbalism
, and where he audited medical school at UCLA
. By the age of 20 he was an active healer. In the late 1960s, LeSassier opened The Christos School of Herbal Medicine in Taos, New Mexico
, where he ran a herb store, married, and had a daughter, named Ona Marie LeSassier.
In the 1960s he wandered around the US, Mexico
and the Amazon
, doing healing work, teaching and collecting herbs as he went. He wrote some of the very first herb articles in Well-Being Magazine, one of the first publications on alternative medicine
. Around 1970 he found a teacher of Chinese medicine and persuaded the man to allow him to apprentice with him, learning about the energetics of medicinal herbs and developing an individualized diagnosis system. By the 1970s, he was one of the most well-known herbalists in the country. In 1983, he settled in New York City and opened Chiron’s Magic Minerals, where he practiced and taught herbs, bodywork, and energy work. He married again and had a son, Alex LeSassier, in 1986. In the late 1990s he entered acupuncture school, where he graduated in 1998. In 1987 he had met his partner Daniela Noe` with whom he lived in New York for the rest of his life. He spent time in a vacation home/school/nature preserve in the Blue Ridge Mountains
and visited Italy
several times.
He died in 2003 from complications of cirrhosis of the liver.
or organ systems. Chinese formulation generally has a "king" herb that addresses the major problem, supported by "ministers" that support it or address weak organ systems and "servant" herbs that harmonize and carry herbs to specific parts of the body. However a system that bridged the various herbal traditions was lacking.
The Triune System of Formulation was inspired by a vision LeSassier had during a period of personal difficulty, a vision that changed the direction of his herbal practice. He saw a triangle and Pythagoras giving him a book. The formulation was based on visually drawing one triangle inverted within a larger triangle, with the client’s constitution/core condition in the center and supporting organ systems in the flanking sides. According to the system, 9 herbs would be used, three in larger amounts to support the core problem with lower amounts for the supporting systems. Herbs were classified by their ability to build or tonify (+), react amphoterically which means to stabilize or harmonize (0) and to eliminate. (-). Herbs on the apex of each triangle represented the "king," the ruler/significant herb/neutral signified by a circle, a "minister" the herb that communicates to other plants and takes the message to the king, signified by a plus sign, and a "servant" the reciprocal part of the formula that acts upon/eliminates through the "doorways of the body." Measurement of herb was formulated by energetic strength, not weight.
Herbalist
An herbalist is:#A person whose life is dedicated to the economic or medicinal uses of plants.#One skilled in the harvesting and collection of medicinal plants ....
and acupuncturist
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
who lived from 1948 to 2003. He developed William’s Triune System of Formulation which continues to be taught by herbalists such as David Winston
David Winston
David Winston RH is an American herbalist and ethnobotanist. He has been in practice and teaching since 1977 and has written several books on the subject. He works in the Cherokee, Chinese and the Western eclectic herbal traditions...
who has significantly expanded LeSassier's materia medica. LeSassier taught and inspired many of the major herbalists currently practicing in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, including Matthew Wood, David Winston, Margie Flynt, Kerry Adams and Dina Falconi, and his influence is significant. His classes were taped and continue to influence herbal medicine in the United States.
Biography
William LeSassier was born in 1948 in TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He grew up in Midland
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
, then moved to southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
where he learned theosophy
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
, palmistry, color therapy], and herbalism
Herbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
, and where he audited medical school at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. By the age of 20 he was an active healer. In the late 1960s, LeSassier opened The Christos School of Herbal Medicine in Taos, New Mexico
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico, incorporated in 1934. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,700. Other nearby communities include Ranchos de Taos, Cañon, Taos Canyon, Ranchitos, and El Prado. The town is close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American...
, where he ran a herb store, married, and had a daughter, named Ona Marie LeSassier.
In the 1960s he wandered around the US, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the Amazon
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
, doing healing work, teaching and collecting herbs as he went. He wrote some of the very first herb articles in Well-Being Magazine, one of the first publications on alternative medicine
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
. Around 1970 he found a teacher of Chinese medicine and persuaded the man to allow him to apprentice with him, learning about the energetics of medicinal herbs and developing an individualized diagnosis system. By the 1970s, he was one of the most well-known herbalists in the country. In 1983, he settled in New York City and opened Chiron’s Magic Minerals, where he practiced and taught herbs, bodywork, and energy work. He married again and had a son, Alex LeSassier, in 1986. In the late 1990s he entered acupuncture school, where he graduated in 1998. In 1987 he had met his partner Daniela Noe` with whom he lived in New York for the rest of his life. He spent time in a vacation home/school/nature preserve in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
and visited Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
several times.
He died in 2003 from complications of cirrhosis of the liver.
Triune formulas
One hallmark of most serious herbalism is the use of herbs in a formula. LeSassier had been exposed to Chinese medicine where "One disease many formulas" and individualizing formulas to the strengths and weaknesses of the patient was a hallmark. Herbs in the Chinese system are recognized by their effects on specific organs and meridiansMeridian (Chinese medicine)
The meridian is a path through which the life-energy known as "qi" is believed to flow, in traditional Chinese medicine. There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological basis for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians.- Main concepts :...
or organ systems. Chinese formulation generally has a "king" herb that addresses the major problem, supported by "ministers" that support it or address weak organ systems and "servant" herbs that harmonize and carry herbs to specific parts of the body. However a system that bridged the various herbal traditions was lacking.
The Triune System of Formulation was inspired by a vision LeSassier had during a period of personal difficulty, a vision that changed the direction of his herbal practice. He saw a triangle and Pythagoras giving him a book. The formulation was based on visually drawing one triangle inverted within a larger triangle, with the client’s constitution/core condition in the center and supporting organ systems in the flanking sides. According to the system, 9 herbs would be used, three in larger amounts to support the core problem with lower amounts for the supporting systems. Herbs were classified by their ability to build or tonify (+), react amphoterically which means to stabilize or harmonize (0) and to eliminate. (-). Herbs on the apex of each triangle represented the "king," the ruler/significant herb/neutral signified by a circle, a "minister" the herb that communicates to other plants and takes the message to the king, signified by a plus sign, and a "servant" the reciprocal part of the formula that acts upon/eliminates through the "doorways of the body." Measurement of herb was formulated by energetic strength, not weight.
See also
- Traditional Chinese medicineTraditional Chinese medicineTraditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
- HerbalismHerbalismHerbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
- PharmacognosyPharmacognosyPharmacognosy is the study of medicines derived from natural sources. The American Society of Pharmacognosy defines pharmacognosy as "the study of the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs, drug substances or potential drugs or drug substances of natural origin as well...
- BotanyBotanyBotany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
- EthnobotanyEthnobotanyEthnobotany is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants....