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01_Intro Flashcards

What is Herbal Medicine, Basic Principles, Herbal Actions, The Professional Herbalist

1
Q

What is Herbal Medicine

A

Herbal Medicine is the study and practise of the medicinal and therapeutic uses of plants.

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2
Q

Describe the origins and development of Herbal Medicine

A
  • Original, indigenous and folkloric knowledge of plants, passed down by WORD OF MOUTH
  • Medicine systems from the ancient world (Greece, Middle East, Far East)
  • Renaissance European explorers travelled to the Far East and the New World
  • North American settlers (C18-C19) and the importance of their systems to the UK and Irish traditions
  • Modern scientific era brings UNDERSTANDINGS FROM THE CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGY of herbs
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3
Q

Knowledge of Herbal Medicine is derived from?

A
  • Historical and traditional sources (including word of mouth)
  • Naturopathic practices (dating back to Hippocrates)
  • Energetics (mapping the flow of energy in the body, like Qi and Prana)
  • Scientific enquiry (pharmacology and evidence-base)
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4
Q

What is Western Herbal Medicine NOT?

A

it is NOT just western medicine using plants instead of drugs

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5
Q

How long was the humoral system used before it was taken over by modern scientific discoveries?

A

for 15 centuries

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6
Q

what does the humoral system describe?

A

based on the idea of 4 humours, which are thought of as “deep body fluids”

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7
Q

who are the 2 main contributors to the traditional component of WHM?

A
  • Hippocrates
  • Galen
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8
Q

What is the importance of the term Western Herbal Medicine today?

A

to distinguish from Oriental systems like TCM, Ayurveda

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9
Q

What are the 2 key areas of knowledge in Herbal Medicine?

A

A) knowledge about plants
B) knowledge about patients

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10
Q

What does the Latin term “Materia Medica” stand for?

A

The body of remedial substances used in the practise of medicine

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11
Q

In which geographical area is the Dandelion found?

A

it grows worldwide

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12
Q

Name some examples of scientific knowledge that is included in the Western Materia Medica

A
  • botany
  • cultivation
  • chemical constituents
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13
Q

Name 7 important areas of knowledge about plants

A
  • botany
  • plant identification
  • actions
  • energetics
  • plant chemistry
  • indications
  • dosage
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14
Q

What is a famous quote accredited to Hippocrates in relation to knowledge about the patients?

A

“It is more interesting to know the patient that has the disease than to know the disease the patient has”

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15
Q

What does ‘knowledge about patients’ entail?

A
  • Traditional “energetic” diagnostics (tongue and pulse)
  • Naturopathic diagnostics, incl. Iridology
  • Pathology and biomedical diagnoses
  • Underlying factors in causing the disease
  • What do symptoms mean
  • How do we assess and respond to a patient’s needs?
  • How do we manage a patient’s expectations?
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16
Q

List 6 key skills of a herbalist

A
  • Combining knowledge of plants with knowledge of patients
  • Matching PLANTS TO PATIENTS
  • Matching plants to pathologies
  • Combining plants to address different aspects of a presenting patient’s needs
  • Giving lifestyle (NATUROPATHIC) advise
  • MONITORING outcomes and modifying treatment
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17
Q

Name 2 historical influences on WHM

A
  • greek physician Hippocrates (BCE ~460-377)
  • roman physician Galen (CE 130-203)
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18
Q

What does ‘Materia Medica’ mean?

A

The body of remedial substances used in the practise of medicine

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19
Q

What is a ‘herbal monograph’ and why is it useful?

A

A herbal monograph is a detailed written study of a single herb.

It is useful because it includes all the following relevant information about the herb:
- Botanical Name
- Common Name
- Botanical Family
- Distribution
- Part used
- Actions
- Energetics
- Constituents
- Indications
- Dose
- Description of Stem, Leaves, Flower, Root
- Contraindications and Safety

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20
Q

Name 2 things that are important to know about people/patients in herbal medicine

A

any 2 of the following:
* Traditional “energetic” diagnostics (tongue and pulse)
* Naturopathic diagnostics, incl. Iridology
* Pathology and biomedical diagnoses
* Underlying factors in causing the disease
* What do symptoms mean
* How do we assess and respond to a patient’s needs?
* How do we manage a patient’s expectations?

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21
Q

Name the 4 categories for herbal actions

A

A) Organ or tissue-specific actions
B) General actions
C) Multiple actions
D) Patient-specific actions

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22
Q

List 6 organ-specific herbal actions

A
  1. hepatic
  2. cardiac tonic
  3. Diuretic
  4. Diaphoretic
  5. Expectorant
  6. Nervine
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23
Q

Describe what a hepatic action means and name a herb

A

acts on the liver
Milk Thistle

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24
Q

describe cardiac tonic action and name a herb

A

tones the heart and circulation
Hawthorn

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25
Describe diuretic action and name a herb
stimulates urination Dandelion leaf
26
describe diaphoretic action and name a herb
stimulates perspiration (skin) Elderflower
27
describe expectorant action and name a herb
stimulates elimination of mucous from the respiratory tract Elecampane
28
describe nervine action and name a herb
relaxes and/or tones the nerves Skullcap
29
Name 5 general herbal actions
1. stimulant 2. astringent 3. demulcent 4. vulnerary 5. nutritive tonic
30
describe stimulant action and name a herb
stimulates, no matter what organ or tissue Cayenne
31
describe astringent action and name a herb
contracts and tones tissues Yarrow
32
describe demulcent action and name a herb
soothes, lubricates and cools Marshmallow
33
describe vulnerary action and name a herb
promotes wound healing Comfrey
34
describe nutritive tonic and name a herb
nourishes Nettle
35
define alterative actions and name a herb
blood and lymph cleansers. they work on specific organs e.g. liver, kidneys, lymph nodes in order to facilitate removal of wastes and toxins Burdock root
36
define adaptogens and name a herb
general tonics. adaptogens help us to adapt to the stresses of life Ginseng root
37
define the difference in meaning of "Alterative" in pharmacology and Herbal Medicine
in pharmacology it is an obsolete word meaning "a drug that restores normal health". in Herbal medicine it has also come to mean a medicinal plant that purifies the blood stream or the lymph.
38
how do Alterative herbs work to restore health
they have a wide variety of additional actions, like hepatic , diuretic, diaphoretic
39
What did Dr. J R Christopher from the School of Natural Healing have to say about Alteratives
"the true alterative is an agent which slowly but surely cleans and purifies the blood stream and, at the same time, slowly tones up the organ or organs which may not be able to secrete impurities from the blood"
40
List 5 well known alteratives
Dandelion (liver, digestion) Red Clover (blood cleanser) Burdock (liver, lymph, skin) Nettle (liver, kidney) Echinacea (lymph, immune)
41
Name 6 well known adaptogens
Wild Oat (nerve tonic) Siberian Ginseng (adrenal tonic) Panax Ginseng (adrenal and energy tonic) Rhodiola (energy tonic) Borage (adrenal tonic) Ashwagandha (nutritive and adrenal tonic)
42
herbs with this type of action are often described as "general tonics"
Adaptogens
43
name 5 characteristics of adaptogens
- NON-SPECIFIC ACTIVITY (increase general wellbeing) - NORMALISING influence (correcting) - enable more rapid but less exaggerated healing response - innocuous at normal dose level (no toxicity, no extreme heroic actions, generally well tolerated) - a more sustained peak and gradual decline in blood glucose
44
List the 7 principles of Naturopathy
1. Vis Medicatrix Naturae - the Healing Power of Nature 2. First do not harm - non-invasive, non-toxic treatments 3. Find the cause - lifestyle, history, constitution 4. Doctor as teacher (Latin doceo = I teach) 5. Treat the whole person 6. Prevent if possible (prevention is better than cure) 7. Establish positive health (as opposed to "killing" or "curing" disease)
45
Name 4 assessment tools of the professional herbalist
- the case questionnaire - Traditional diagnostics - Iridology - Clinical diagnostic skills
46
what does the case questionnaire cover?
○ Presenting complaints ○ Current medication ○ Medical history ○ Family history ○ Current lifestyle ○ Systems status screening and assessment
47
what do traditional diagnostics cover?
Energetics Tongue Pulse
48
what does iridology cover?
Information about individual constitution
49
List 3 examples of clinical diagnostics skills
Palpation Blood pressure Temperature,etc
50
Name 5 components to consider when selecting treatment options
1) decide diagnosis 2) Decide causative factors 3) Choose herbs to fit pathology, energetics and causes 4) give naturopathic advice (lifestyle, diet, etc) 5) monitor treatment and revise as necessary
51
When deciding the diagnosis, what factors must you consider?
○ Conventional (pathology, differential diagnosis) ○ Traditional (energetic)
52
what must you consider when deciding on the causative factors
○ Lifestyle ○ History ○ Constitution
53
when choosing herbs, what do they need to fit
○ Pathology ○ Energetics ○ Causes
54
Name 2 important factors in regards to Safety
* Knowing how to work alongside the medical profession and pharmaceuticals is essential (interactions and contraindications) * Not all herbs are safe just because they are natural However, even herbs with powerful and possibly toxic effects can be used by knowledgeable and responsible practitioners
55
what are herbalists
herbalists are "primary health care practitioners": they may see patients before a doctor does. thus they need to have appropriate standards of competence and behaviour
56
How do professional associations provide voluntary self-regulation?
○ Arrange insurance ○ Maintain standards of practise, codes of ethics and conduct ○ Accredit training courses and provide Continued Professional Development (CPD) opportunities
57
what do we mean by herbal actions?
how herbs affect body systems and organs.
58
What is an alterative herb?
a blood and lymph cleanser that works on specific organs in order to facilitate removal of wastes and toxins
59
Name ONE alterative herb
Burdock root Dandelion Red Clover Nettle Echinacea
60
State THREE of the 7 principles of Naturopathy
1. Vis Medicatrix Naturae - the Healing Power of Nature 2. First do not harm - non-invasive, non-toxic treatments 3. Find the cause - lifestyle, history, constitution 4. Doctor as teacher (Latin doceo = I teach) 5. Treat the whole person 6. Prevent if possible (prevention is better than cure) 7. Establish positive health (as opposed to "killing" or "curing" disease)
61
What is meant by a "primary health care practitioner"?
they may see patients before a doctor does (so they need to have appropriate standards of competence and behaviour)
62
List THREE functions of a Professional Association
○ Arrange insurance ○ Maintain standards of practise, codes of ethics and conduct ○ Accredit training courses and provide Continued Professional Development (CPD) opportunities
63
As a herbalist, would you be allowed to practise in the UK by law?
Yes
64
According to the WHO, what percentage of the world's population uses herbal medicine?
80%
65

Herbal Medicine (11 decks)

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