Additional Herbs Flashcards
Lobelia
Lobelia inflata
PARTS - Herb and Seed (The Seed being more potent).
SOLVENT - Water, Alcohol, Apple Cider Vinegar.
THERAPEUTIC ACTION - Diaphoretic, Relaxant, Nauseant, Sedative, emmenagogue.
USES
- a “the thinking herb” because of its strong influence on the autonomic nervous system.
- Recall that the autonomic nervous system, consisting of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, plays a major part in controlling the activities of the visceral organs and even the glandular system. - Lobelia is able to balance the influence of these two systems. - Its use always ends with the results that are best given the internal situation.
- used in the treatment of BRONCHITIS and ASTHMA. Lobelia is contained in cough and counterirritant preparations
- Lobelia depresses the vasomotor centre and peripheral vagus nerve resulting in dilation of the bronchioles through relaxation of the bronchial muscles.
- has been shown to be both hypertensive and hypotensive, a cardiovascular stimulant, appropriate for bradycardia and bradyarrhythmia, and a carotid body stimulant
- used in the nervous system for neuromuscular blockage, as an anesthetic and a ganglion stimulant
- In the digestive tract, lobelia has a role as a gastrointestinal
inhibitor/stimulant and appetite suppressant.
- It acts as an adrenal stimulant, and as a platelet aggregation inhibitor.
- Lobelia has moderate antibiotic activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.
- headache and pain
-snuffed for nosebleed
- internally for rheumatism, colds, croup, fever, ulcer
- mild effect on central nervous system similar to tobacco - helps people stop smoking. unlike tobacco which increases the amount of nicotine receptors, lobelia doesn’t do that
Ginseng
Panax schin-seng and Panax quinquefolium
Panax americana
PARTS - Roots and Leaves
SOLVENT - water
THERAPEUTIC ACTION
- An “adaptogen” (whole body invigorator).
There are three major varieties of Ginseng:
- Panax schin-seng and quinquefolium — found in the Far East
- Panax quinquefolium and P. americana — found in the U.S.A. and
Canada.
- Eleutherococcus senticosus — (also called Siberian ginseng) is found, of course, in Siberia but is not a member of the Ginseng family and has different properties.
USES
- colour indicates quality
- red = high
- white = commercial
- The older the root, the greater the reputed medicinal properties and the price
- It is held that a superior root has the shape of a man walking at a comfortable gait
- Ginseng has a special influence on the endocrine system. It tones the glands and increases their power of influence and control
Panax variety
- has a unique effect on the potency of the male hormone (considered to increase the androgens) and also strengthens
the male sexual glands (the testes). -> impotency — the increase in hormone level might very well increase the sexual appetite.
- long term use is not suggested for the female
- should never be allowed to come in contact with metal as this will apparently decrease its strength. use plastic or bamboo
-
- endow an individual with much more energy and help to improve brain function and build up cells throughout the body.
- regulating blood pressure. It raises it when it is too low, and lowers it when it is too high.
Rg1 group (highest in Asian Ginseng, water soluble extract) has the
following influence:
- slight central nervous system stimulant (activates brain activity), hypertensive, anti-fatigue, enhances mental acuity and intellectual performance, anabolic (stimulates DNA, protein and lipid synthesis)
Eleutherococcus senticosus “Siberian Ginseng”
- can be taken by both males and females for extended periods of time
- a superlative “adaptogen”, imparting resistance to a large range of physical, chemical and biological stresses.
- It helps both physical and mental work.
- It improves appetite, sleep and reflex action, and is beneficial in many nervous disturbances (for example, chronic irritability, depression, nervous exhaustion, hypochondria and menopausal neurosis).
- It also hastens recovery after illness, chronic ailments, or surgery in addition to affording protection against the danger of radiation, including x-rays, microwaves and atomic fallout
- improve the circulation, heighten visual and auditory acuity, prove to be of value in certain cases of acne and initial stages of atherosclerosis, it also develops the memory, endowing it with a healthy retentiveness
- excellent normalizer. It reduces a high cholesterol level, increases a low hemoglobin level, lowers increased sugar content in the blood (in mild and moderate cases), and normalizes low blood pressure and moderate forms of high blood pressure.
- Rb1 group (highest in American Ginseng, alcohol soluble extract)
has the following properties: - central nervous system depressant (anticonvulsant, analgesic, tranquilizing), hypotensive, anti-stress (protecting gastrointestinal tract from ulcers), antipsychotic (inhibition of conditioned avoidance response), weak anti-inflammatory, antipyretic (fever-reducing), facilitates small intestine motility, increases liver cholesterol synthesis, increases RNA activity in rat’s liver, (Rc has opposite effect).7
Aloe vera
Aloe socatrina or Aloe vera
PARTS - juice of the leaves
SOLVENT - Water
THERAPEUTIC ACTION - Bitter tonic, Laxative (or purgative), Demulcent, Emollient, emmenagogue, stomachic, hepatic, vermifuge
USES
- one of the sovereign healing agents among herbal medicine.
- It cleanses morbid matter from the stomach, liver, spleen, kidney and bladder, usually soothing all tissue, even blood and lymph.
- For those few that experience griping, ginger should be added to the aloe.
- Aloe in powdered form is a much more potent cathartic and can cause severe griping. One should begin aloe therapy with one-quarter of a tablespoon and work up to a suitable dosage.
- often used for suppressed menstruation, being soothing and cleansing.
- Aloe’s griping laxative effect is caused by constituents in the “skin” of the plant.
- soothing sunburn and preventing peeling.
- aloe juice or salve will take the heat and sting out of a sunburn. It will also stop blistering and help convert the sunburn into a tan.
- Aloe is no less excellent as a remedy for burns and scalds. The juice from the leaves is beneficial for small burns, while the gel or juice available commercially is suggested for larger burns.
- Nursing mothers can apply aloe to their nipples to dry up milk supply and thereby diminish the desire of the infant to suck, aiding weaning
Astragalus
Hung Qi
a americanus
PARTS - root
SOLVENT -
THERAPEUTIC ACTION -
USES
- mild antibiotic, influencing the lung and digestive tract.
- very useful for regulating the immune system.
- increase energy, reduce toxicity in the liver, act as a heart tonic, lower blood pressure, dilate blood vessels and increase endurance to fatigued hearts.
- increases urine flow and aids recovery from bladder infection
- increases body weight and endurance
- stimulate vasodilation and improve circulation
- protects the liver from toxic exposure
- regulates blood glucose
Ginkgo
PARTS -
SOLVENT -
THERAPEUTIC ACTION - Nervine, Stimulant, astringent.
USES
- most significant action is on the brain.
- increase mental alertness and memory significantly.
- significantly increases dopamine synthesis in the brain, increases catecholamine neurotransmitters, increases cholinergic receptor sites in the brain, thus making brain neural transmissions faster and better.
- aids in circulation problems, inhibiting platelet aggregation, reducing arterial blockage and restricting free radicals.
- oldest surviving tree species
- stabilizing the blood brain barrier (BBB) Gbx lowers swelling (edema) in the brain, one of the most significant causes of aging.
- this stabilization is direct, through action on the ionic potential across the membranes, and indirectly, through action on intracellular (mitochondrial) respiration.
- The reduction of the edema also decreases complications, toxic buildup, ionic exchange problems and the neurological consequences.
- It can also modulate cerebral energy metabolism
- inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation,and neutralizes free radicals, inhibiting lipid peroxidation of membranes, thus helping to maintain integrity and permeability of cell walls.
- Quercetin and ginkgolide B seem to be the most likely constituent candidates for causing these effects. It has been shown to have a great ability to protect the heart, blood vessels and brain against the destructive influence of free radicals.
- The free radical inhibition of Gbx not only destroys the free radicals but stops their formation and membrane preoxidation
Lapacho
T. ipe, T. cassinoides and Tecoma ochracea.
PARTS -
SOLVENT -
THERAPEUTIC ACTION -
USES
- excellent for Candida problems
- cancer therapies
- Lapachol is antibacterial, inhibiting activity of Gram positive and acid fast bacteria, with a strong activity against Brucella sp. Processing the herb apparently reduces the antimicrobial effect.
- antifungal & antiviral activity
- inhibits herpes virus hominis I and II
- effectively inhibit four influenza viruses.
- Lapachol also significantly inhibits polio virus and vesicular stomatitis virus.
Milk thistle
PARTS - ripe seeds
SOLVENT -
THERAPEUTIC ACTION - Hepatic tonic, promotes lactation, demulcent
USES
- very beneficial for the liver, both protecting and rejuvenating it. It has also be shown to protect kidneys, brain and other tissue from chemical toxins.
- Milk thistle can help in strengthening the liver when recovering from alcohol toxicity, especially cirrhosis. It has significant anti-oxidant effect on free radicals.
- works on capillary beds, mostly liver
- This herb has also been used for varicose veins, menstrual problems and for snake bites.
- helps with poisoning from mushrooms
Chlorella
Chlorella pyrenoidosa
PARTS - Whole algae with the cell wall partially or fully broken down
a single-celled, fresh-water green algae
SOLVENT -
THERAPEUTIC ACTION - Alterative, immunostimmulant, adaptogen.
USES
- useful for many areas of immune malfunction but especially HIV+ and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) cases. It also has a rejuvenating, energizing quality to it.
- producing an anti-tumor effect
- helpful in the treatment of pancreatitis
- very effective in removing pesticides, insecticides and polychloridebiphenyl
- 8 m2 per person for oxygen
- benefits are noted for liver toxicity, alcohol hangover prevention, bowel toxicity, constipation, antiviral regimes, ulcers, skin problems, allergies, arthritis, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol levels, hypertension and heart problems
St. John’s Wort
hypericum perforatum
PARTS - herb top and flower
SOLVENT -
THERAPEUTIC ACTION - Aromatic, astringent, resolvent, expectorant and nervine
USES
- anti-depressant and calming
- increases blood supply to stressed tissue
- antiviral, antibacterial and has shown potential activity against cancer
- tonic effect on ventricles of the heart, aorta, arterioles
- pulmonary complaints, bladder trouble, suppression of urine, dysentery, worms, and nervous depression
- cause photosensitivity
devil’s club
oplopanax horridum
