A-C Flashcards
Achillea Millefolium
“Yarrow”
Constituents: volatile oils(thujone), sesquiterpene lactones
Main actions: Hemostatic, bitter
Indications: passive hemorrhaging, poor digestion
CI: in anything that would worsen from digestive stimulation, pregnancy(in large amounts)
Toxicity: Thujone (emmenagogue, abortifacient, convulsions)
Interactions: PPI antagonist
Aconitum Napellus
“Monkshood”
Constituents: tropane alkaloids
Actions: Anodyne
Indications: neuralgia, pain
CI: Pregnancy, lactation, high/sustained doses
Toxicity: narrow therapeutic window, OD is similar to parasympatholytic (numbness, dizzy, HA, pinpoint pupils, arrhythmia, anxiety, diarrhea, respiratory/cardiac paralysis
Actea (cimicifuga) racemosa
“black cohosh”
Constituents: triterpene glycosides, isoflavones
Actions: uterine tonic, pituitary/estrogen mimetic, spasmplytic, antitussive, nervine
Indication: dysmenorrhea, PMS, menopause
CI: 1st trimester, lactation, estrogen depend-tumors
Toxicity: OD (sedative, bradycardia, hypotension)
Interactions: HRT therapy-estrogen excess. Tamoxifen-reduced hot flashes
Aesculus hippocastanum
“horse chestnut”
Constituents: glycoside lactones, saponins
Actions: astringent, vasoconstrictive, veno-tonic
Indications: topical - hemorrhoids, varicose veins
internal - venous insuff, DVT, varicose veins, edema
CI: high doses
Toxicity-nausea, unprocessed fruit is toxic, IM injection may cz hepatitis/renal failure
Allium cepa/sativum
“onion/garlic”
Constituents: disulfides, phenolic acids, flavonoids (quercetin)
Actions: anti-atherosclerotic, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, antiplatelet (garlic is anti-helminthic)
Indications:
topical-dermatophytosis, onychomycosis, otitis media.
internal-atherosclerosis, hypercoagulation, dyslipidemia
CI: bleeding d/o, anticoagulant therapy, thyroid dz(inhibits iodine uptake)
Toxicity: increased bleeding time, may worsen colick thru breast milk.
Interactions: potentiates anticoagulants, insulin, hypoglycemic drugs
Aloe vera: gel
“Aloe”
Constituents: polysaccharides
Actions: vulnerary, demulcent, inflamm + immune modulat
Indications: topical- burns, wounds. internal-gastritis, IBD
CI: 3rd degree burns, deep/infected wounds
Toxicity: safe herb but may cz diarrhea/cramping
Interactions: additive hypoglycemic effect w/ glyburide, maybe reduced drug absorption dt polysaccharides
Aloe vera: latex
“aloe”
Constituents: anthraquinone glycosides
Actions: cathartic
Indication: atonic constipation
CI: >10 days use, < 12yo, intestinal obstruction, spastic constipation, preg/lactation
Interactions: hypokalemic drugs(diuretics, corticosteroids, cardiac glycosides, glycyrrhiza, anti-arrhythmics
Althaea officinalis
"Marshmallow" Constituents: mucilage, polysaccharides Actions: demulcent, vulnerary Indications: root (GI)- gastritis, PU, IBS, colitis leaves (resp+GU)- pharyngitis/laryngitis, dry cough, asthma, IC, lower UTI CI: wet cough Toxicity: none Interactions: reduced drug absorption dt polysaccharides
Angelica sinensis
“dong quai”
Constituents: coumarins, polysaccharides, ferulic acid
Actions: uterine + liver tonic, spasmolytic, anti-inflamm
Indications: Amenorhea, dysmenorrhea, estrogen balance, menopause, PMS, hepatitis, cirrhosis, HA
CI: menorrhagia, bleeding diathesis
Toxicity: anti-platelet activity, otherwise safe
Interactions: potentiates anticoagulants
Arctium lappa
“Burdock”
Constituents: lignins, sesquiterpene lactones, tannins
Actions: alterative, bitter, hepatoprotective
Indications: root - psoriasis, eczema, OA, RA, poor digestions. Leaves/topical - mastitis, OA, RA, sprains
CI: anything that worsens with digestive stimulation, pregnancy at high doses
Toxicity: nausea
Interactions: PPI antagonist, increases hypoglycemic effects, decreased drug absorption dt increased gut motility
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
“Bearberry”
Constituents: glycosides, flavonoids, tannins
Actions: urinary antiseptic and sedative
Indications: alkali UTIs, chronic bladder irritation w/ pain, tenesmus, blood, mucus
CI: Pregnancy, > 10 days of use
Toxicity: nausea, carcinogenic w/ chronic use. OD: tinnitus, vomiting, delirium, convulsion, death
Interactions: vit C and cranberry acidify urine
Arnica montana
“Arnica”
Constituents: sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, polysaccharides
Actions: topical vulnerary, anti-inflam, immune stim
Indications: Topical - bruises, phlebitis, strains/sprains
CI: large areas of broken skin, internal use
Toxicity: gastroenteritis, HA, nervous disturbance, HTN, muscle weakness, dyspnea, CV collapse, convulsions, coma, death
Interactions: N/A
Artemisia absinthum
“wormwood”
Constituents: sesquiterpene lactones (thujone), lignans
Actions: bitter, vermifuge, nervine, carminative, anti-microb/septic
Indications: poor digestion, intestinal roundworms + pinworms
CI: Large doses dt thujone, pregnancy, lactation, anything that would worsen with digestive stimulation.
Toxicity: intoxication, vomiting, GI upset, HA, dizziness, convulsions, death. Thujone-emmenagogue, abortifacient, convulsions
Interactions: PPI antagonist, maybe decreased drug absorption dt increased gut motility.
Artemisia annua
“sweet Annie”
Constituents: sesquiterpene lactones, volatile oils
Actions: anti-parasitic/microbial/neoplastic, bitter
Indications: malaria, parasitic infections, cancer
CI: Pregnancy, lactation
Toxicity: nausea, whole herb is safe but sesquiterpenes are neurotoxic
Interactions: Combine w/ iron for optimal efficiency
Artemisia vulgaris
“mugwort”
Constituents: volatile oil, sesquiterpene lactones (thujone)
Actions: bitter, nervine, emmenagogue, carminative
Indications: poor digestion, depression, amenorrhea
CI: Anything that worsens with increased digestive stim, pregnancy, lactation
Toxicity: thujone - emmenagogue, abortifacient, convulsions
Interactions: PPI antagonist, potentiates hypoglycemic drugs, may decrease drug absorption dt increased gut motility
