Alteratives Flashcards
What is an alterative?
Nourishing tonics that have a broadly beneficial effect on the body, and that slowly and steadily support a return to a healthy state
What is a depurative?
Herbs with a more specific action of cleansing a particular organ or system, as compared to the more broad effect of an alterative
What are the indications for an alterative?
Generalized and chronic dysfunction Digestive, eliminatory, and circulatory hypofunction Chemical hypersensitivity Maldigestion Hormonal imbalances Toxemia Acne Chronic infxns/inflammation
Red Clover - Latin name, energetics, and part used
Trifolium pratense
Cooling
Flower
Yellow Dock - Latin name, energetics, and part used
Rumex spp.
Cooling
Root
Oregon Grape - Latin name, energetics, and part used
Mahonia spp.
Cooling, drying
Root and stem bark
Sarsaparilla - Latin name, energetics, and part used
Smilax spp.
Drying, earthy
Root and rhizome
Burdock - Latin name, energetics, and part used
Arctium lappa
Cooling
Root (primarily) seed and leaf sometimes
Turmeric - Latin name. energetics, and part used
Curcuma longa
Cooling, warming, stimulating, moves stagnation
Rhizome
Stinging Nettle - Latin name, energetics, and part used
Urtica dioica
Drying
Leaf, root, seed
Actions and Indications of Red Clover
Actions: Alterative, antitumor, antitussive, antispasmodic, phytoestrogenic
Indications: CA, gout/arthritis, acne, spasmodic cough, cachexia, poor healing burns, ulcers, TB, lung dz
How is Red Clover usually prepared and dosed?
Tincture: 2-6ml/day for 1:5
Infusion: 1-2tsp/cup with 2-4c/day
Standardized extract: 40-80mg/day
What are the actions of Burdock?
Root: alterative, digestive bitter, antitumor, antimutagenic, nutritive, antirheumatic, phytoestrogenic, liver tonic
Leaf: topical antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory poultice
Seed: alterative, diuretic, urinary tonic, vulnerary
What are the indications for the use of Burdock?
Root: dry, scaly skin conditions, rheumatic complaints, anorexia, cystitis, wounds and ulcers, liver metabolism is diminished
Leaf: mastitis, joint sprains
Seed: cystitis, skin conditions, lowering blood sugar
How is burdock prepared and dosed?
Root tincture: 2-4ml 1:5 TID
Fluid Extract: 2-6ml 1:1 TID
Decoction: 1tsp/cup, 3c/day
Seed: 3-9g infusion
What is the action of Oregon Grape?
Alterative, digestive bitter, anticatarrhal, antimicrobial, cholagogue, mild laxative
What are the indications of use for Oregon Grape?
Skin conditions - psoriasis, eczema, herpes, pityriasis, acne, syphilis
Poor GB fx - nausea, fat malab., digestive upset
Infection - skin, eye, and GI
When is Oregon Grape contraindicated?
Pregnancy
How is Oregon Grape prepared and dosed?
Tincture: 1-4ml TID 1:5
Decoction: 1-2tsp/cup, 1c TID
Dried: 1-2g/day
What are the actions of Yellow Dock?
Alterative, digestive bitter, nutritive, cholagogue, mild laxative, GI tonic, calms irritation of the larynx in chronic cough
What are the indications for use of Yellow Dock?
Skin - psoriasis, eczema, acne
GI - lax bowels, constipation, liver congestion
When is Yellow Dock contraindicated for use?
Oxalate kidney stones, kidney dz, iron overload, pregnancy
How is Yellow Dock prepared and dosed?
Tincture: 1-4ml TID 1:5
Decoction: 1tsp/c
Fluid extract: 2-4ml
What are the actions of Stinging Nettle?
Leaf - alterative, nutritive, anti-inflammatory, urinary tract tonic
Root - astringent, anti-inflammatory, hormone transformation related to BPH
What are the indications for use of Stinging Nettle?
Leaf - psoriasis, eczema, acne, allergic rhinitis
Root - BPH, diarrhea
When is Stinging Nettle contraindicated?
Allergy to Nettle
How is Stinging Nettle prepared and dosed?
Food: cooking or steaming fresh herb will denature the stinging trichomes and is safe for eating
Dried herb: 8-12g/day
Tincture: 3-6ml/day 1:2; 7-14ml/day 1:5
What are the actions of Sarsaparilla?
Alterative, antirheumatic, diaphoretic, diuretic, adaptogenic
What are the indications for the use of Sarsaparilla?
Skin conditions, rheumatic pain, hormonal balance, stress resistance
What are the contraindications for Sarsaparilla use?
May increase the absorption of digitalis glycosides, pregnancy
How is Sarsaparilla prepared and dosed?
Tincture: 1-2ml 1:5 TID
Decoction: 2-4 tsp/cup of water - simmer for 5-10min
What are the actions of Turmeric?
Alterative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, cholagogue, choleretic, emmenagogue, lowers cholesterol, carminative, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, vulnerary
What are the indications for the use of Turmeric?
Inflammations of all kinds, jaundice, liver d/o, chronic skin conditions, CVD
What are the contraindications of Turmeric use?
In large doses during pregnancy, bile duct obstruction
