Anodyne, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic Herbs

Question 1

Salicylate containing herbs

Answer 1

Salix spp. – Willow
Filipendula ulmaria – Meadowsweet
Actea racemosa – Cimicifuga
* Also, wintergreen (topical)

Question 2

Common Name, MOA, Energetics and CIs to Salix spp.

Answer 2

Salix spp. – Willow

MOA: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, febrifuge, astringent – salicin is the active constituent

Energetics: cooling and drying

Contraindications: allergy to salicylates, G6PD deficiency, blood thinners

Question 3

Common Name, MOA, Energetics and CIs of Filipendula ulmaria

Answer 3

Filipendula ulmaria – Meadowsweet

MOA: anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, antibacterial

Energetics: cooling and drying

Contraindications: salicylate allergy

Question 4

Common Name, MOA, and Dist. Characteristics of Actea racemosa

Answer 4

Actea racemosa – Cimicifuga

MOA: antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, alterative, nervine, hypotensive, good for uterine cramps or pain

Distinguishing characteristics: sometimes referred to as an “estrogenic” herb because it is therapeutic in conditions associated with low estrogen; neuralgic pain, SM spasm pain, referral to loins

Question 5

Common Name, MOA, and Energetics of Curcuma longa

Answer 5

Curcuma longa – Tumeric

MOA: alterative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, cholagogue, choleretic, emmenagogue, lowers cholesterol, hepatoprotective

Energetics: cooling to warming, stimulating, moves stagnation

Question 6

CIs and Dist. Characteristics of Curcuma longa

Answer 6

Contraindications: pregnancy or bile duct obstruction

Distinguishing characteristics: used for inflammations of all kinds; may have issues with absorption - best absorbed with fat
+ trials to arthritic, post-exercise pain and inflamm

Question 7

MOA, CIs and Dist. Characteristics of Boswellia serrata

Answer 7

Boswellia serrata

MOA: anti-inflammatory, circulatory stimulant, analgesic astringent

Contraindications: large doses may cause GI distress

Distinguishing characteristics: Resin is used; used in IBD and arthritic dz, lipoxygenase activity

Question 8

Common Name, MOA, energetics and Dist. Char of Zingiber officinale

Answer 8

Zingiber officinale – Ginger

MOA: antiemetic, carminative, stomachic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diaphoretic, diuretic, antimicrobial, expectorant, antitussive, decreases platelet aggregation, increases digestive enzyme activity

Energetics: warming, draws energy to center, stimulating

Dist. Char: great circ stimulant, warming but anti-inflamm; COX2 inhib

Question 9

Common Name, MOA and energetics of Tanacetum parthenium

Answer 9

Tanacetum parthenium - Feverfew

MOA: reduces secretion of inflammatory mediators, inhibits PG synthesis, vascular stabilizer, prevents dilation and contraction, inhibits histamine release; for migraines – inhibits CGRP release within the trigeminovascular system

Energetics: drying and warming

Question 10

CIs and Dist. Characteristics of Tanacetum parthenium

Answer 10

Contraindications: none

Distinguishing characteristics: inhibits 5-lipooxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase

+ migraine HA, studied in RA pain

Question 11

Common Name, MOA, energetics and CI of Rosmarinus officinale

Answer 11

Rosmarinus officinale – Rosemary

MOA: circulatory stimulant, nervine, stimulates hair follicles

Energetics: stimulating

Contraindications: pregnancy
* rosmarinic acid constituent is of note - very anti-inflamm (highest conc found in lemon balm)

Question 12

Name the Topical Herbs!

Answer 12

Capsicum annuum – Cayenne
Arnica spp.
Gaultheria procumbens EO – Wintergreen
Mentha EO

Question 13

Common Name, MOA, energetics and CI of Capsicum annuum

Answer 13

Capsicum annuum – Cayenne

MOA: circulatory stimulant, mucolytic, diaphoretic, cholesterol reducing, gastric stimulant, depletes substance P, anodyne

Energetics: hot

Contraindications: avoid contact with eyes or direct contact with extracts on mucosal membranes

Question 14

MOA and energetics Arnica spp.

Answer 14

MOA: stimulates circulation and macrophage activity, helps resolve edema and echymosis

Energetics: stimulating

Question 15

CIs and Dist. Characteristics of Arnica spp.

Answer 15

Contraindications: LOW DOSE HERB

Distinguishing characteristics: tissue trauma is main indication

Question 16

Common Name, MOA, energetics and CI of Gaultheria procumbens

Answer 16

Gaultheria procumbens EO – Wintergreen

MOA: volatile oil, methyl salicylate is converted to salicylic acid and absorbed

Energetics: cooling?

Contraindications: toxic to kidney

Question 17

Valeriana officinalis

Answer 17

Valeriana officinalis – Valerian

MOA: sedative, relaxant, *antispasmodic, hypotensive, diuretic, anticonvulsant

Energetics: warming, lax

Contraindications: may potentiate other sleep inducing agents, long-term use is not recommended due to GABA activity

Question 18

Stachys betonica

Answer 18

antispasmodic

Question 19

Viburnum opulus

Answer 19

Viburnum opulus – Cramp Bark

MOA: *antispasmodic, astringent, nervines, hypotensive, beta-2 receptor agonist

Energetics: drying

Contraindications: none

Distinguishing characteristics: used for dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, bronchoconstriction, skeletal muscle spasms, pelvic congestion, bladder spasms

Question 20

2 common sources of proteolytic enzymes

Answer 20

Ananas cosmosus – Pineapple

Carica papaya – Papaya

Question 21

Ananas cosmosus

Answer 21

Ananas cosmosus – Pineapple

Question 22

Carica papaya

Answer 22

Carica papaya – Papaya

MOA: increases serum fibrinolytic activity, reduces plasma fibrinogen levels, decreases bradykinin levels, reduces edema and pain, mediates PG levels, modulates some immune cell surface adhesion molecules

Distinguishing characteristics: for the anti-inflammatory effect, both must be at very high dosages away from food

Question 23

Escholzia California

Answer 23

To be filled in

Question 24

What is the importance of understanding the origin of pain, and how would you prescribe differently?

Answer 24

Nerve – reduce mm spasm around Nn

Nociceptive- focus on anti-inflamm