Bod med final Flashcards
What were the guiding principles of the Eclectic physicians?
Safe botanical remedies, moderation in the use of drugs & surgeries, exclusions of chemical poisons
Holistic evaluation: pulse, tongue, complexion evaluation, temperature, nervous tone, elimination, nutrition
What are some of the obstacles, past and present, to the promotion and preservation of the practice of herbalism in our society?
- Herbalism & witchcraft were synonymous – women killed, lost knowledge
What features define the Naturopathic Herbalist?
- Physician educated in biomechanical sciences
- Gather knowledge of plants used around the world
- Incorporate historical uses w/ modern clinical info & scientific studies
- Understand phytochemistry in the context of whole plant medicine
- Employ a knowledge of the energetics of herbal medicines to match specific indications to constitution and/or predicament of patient
- Use multiple therapies to preserve wellness & treat illness (nutrition, homeopathy, physical medicine)
- Physician + herbalist + botanist
Specific indication
- qualities of a remedy that separate it from others in its class of medicinal action – describes symptom picture for which that remedy is most indicated
Understand herbal energetics and tissue states
Hot/cold, tense/lax, dry/damp
Define alterative.
- Herb that alters body in non-specific but broadly beneficial way
- Traditional conceived as “blood purifier” or “blood cleanser”
Nourishing restorative tonics
Compare and contrast alterative and depurative
- Alterative: nourishing tonics that have broadly beneficial effect on the body & that slowly & steadily support return to healthy state
Depurative: more specific action of cleansing a particular organ or system (stimulating the emunctory)
What are the indications for using an alterative?
- Generalized/chronic dysfunction, digestive/eliminatory/circulatory hypofunction, maldigestion, hormonal imbalance, toxemia, acne, chronic infections, chronic inflammation
Trifolium pratense
- Red Clover
- Traditionally used as liver herb, lymphagogue properties, high in phytoestrogens (good for hormonal imbalance)
- Hoxey formula
Rumex spp
- Yellow Dock, Curly Dock
- Liver tonic, digestive system (mild laxative, somewhat bitter, astringent tones gut tissue)
Mahonia spp
- Oregon Grape, Barberry, Mahonia
- Supports liver as emunctory – berberine in inner root bark, gentle hepatic herb
Smilax spp
- Sarsaparilla
- Alterative for balancing sex hormones
Arctium lappa
- Burdock
- Supports skin as emunctory – good for skin conditions (eczema
Curcuma longa
- Turmeric
- Anti-inflammatory, NF-kappa-B
Urtica dioica
- Stinging Nettles
- Liver, anti-inflammatory, nourishing
Roots
fibrous
taproot
adventitious
Stems
rhizomes and corms are modified stems
Leaves
alternate opposite whorled simple vs. compound, palmate oveolate lancate
Flowers
stamen (anther, filament), carpel (stigma, style, ovary), review inflorescence
How are nutritive herbs different from synthetic multivitamins?
- Looking at whole plant vs. concentrated constituents
Medicago sativa
¥ alfalfa
o Phytoestrogen content
Equisetum arvense
- horsetail
- High in silica – tonifying to connective tissue esp. bone, diuretic (urinary tract formulas)
Centella asiatica
- Gotu Kola
- Nourishing, vulnerary, nervine, trophorestorative for connective tissues – modulates deposition of collagen
Avena sativa
- Oat Straw
- Milky oat seed, trophorestorative of nervous system
Urtica spp
- Nettle
- Leaf: anti-inflammatory
- Root: astringent, used for BPH
- Seed: trophorestorative of the kidney
What is a lymphagogue?
- Promotes lymph flow
What are the general indications for the use of lymphagogues?
- Relieve congestion of areas (edema), resolve infection/inflammation (get rid of waste products)
Ceanothus americanus
- Red Root
- Specificity in lungs, pelvic lymphagogue, astringent, stimulating
Gallium aparine
- Cleavers
- Urinary lymphagogue, tonsillitis
Phytolacca americana
- Poke Root
- LOW DOSE
- Pharyngitis, hard/painful glandular swellings, traditionally used for mastitis
Calendula officinalis
- Calendula
- Lymphagogue of breast, safe for breast-feeding (vs. Phytolacca)
Styllingia sylvatica
- Queen’s Root
- LOW DOSE
- Red, dry, irritated mucous membranes - laryngitis
Echinacea spp
- Echinacea
- Tingly quality on tongue = stimulating as lymphagogue
- Trifolium pratense ( lymph)
- Red Clover
- Alterative, lymphagogue for liver
Know the difference between immunostimulants and immunomodulators.
- Immunostimulants: increase activity of immune system – good for fighting off infectious organism, not for use with autoimmune diseases
- Immunomodulators: tonifying effect, more gradual in action, building/fortifying, can downregulate/cool immune hyperfunction
- Echinacea spp.
- Dose-dependent, can take huge doses, safe in pregnancy
- E. purpurea (lymphagogue), E. angustifolia (Eclectics used for septicemia), E. pallida (vulnerary)
Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Boneset
- Viral infections, pain sets into the bone
Astragalus membranaceaus
- Miracle soup, gentle builder, supports tissue integrity
Andrographis paniculata
Bitter, cooling
Sambucus nigra
o Flowers and berries used
o Berries – antiviral
o Flowers are more diaphoretic, used more for cough (expectorant)
Baptisia tinctora
- Wild Indigo
- LOW DOSE – strongly stimulating action
- Antiseptic
Trametes versicolor
- Turkey Tail
- Anticancer
Grifola frondosa
- Maitake
- Antiviral
Ganoderma lucidum
¥ Reishi
o Atopic constitution, cardiac uses: decrease cholesterol/arrhythmia
What are the defining features of an adaptogen?
- Produces non-specific response in organism – Increase in power of resistance against multiple stressors
- Has normalizing influence on physiology
Eletherococcus senticosis
¥ Siberian ginseng
¥ Mild CNS stimulant, fortifying, helps attenuate hangover
Panax ginseng
¥ – Asian ginseng
¥ Strengthens/tonifies qi, weakened state due to chronic illness/stress
Panax quinquifolium
¥ American ginseng
¥ More calming – nervous dyspepsia, mental exhaustion (nervine adaptogen)
Oplopanax horridus
¥ Devil’s club
Used drop-wise to have people establish protection for themselves (shame, embarrassment
Withania somnifera
¥ – Ashwaganda
¥ Sleep formulas, reduce cortisol excess
Rhodiola rosea
¥ Rhodiola, Golden Root
¥ Wild card herb (varying reactions), improves memory/learning ability, high stress situations, high altitude, neurasthenia
Schisandra chinensis
¥ Schisandra, Wu wei zei
¥ Tonifying to lungs, protective to tissues
Occimum sanctum
¥ Tulsi
¥ Made the rats swim the longest, most ergogenic adaptogen?
Glycyrrhiza glabra
¥ – Licorice
¥ “Food of the adrenals”, harmonizer
Cordyceps sinensis
¥ Caterpillar fungus
¥ Mitochondrial function, increases cellular oxygen, aphrodisiac
Adaptogens listed calming to stimulating:
- Calming: Withania, Panax quin,
- Middle: Occimum, Tulsi, Schisandra, Glycyrrhiza
- Stimulating: Rhodiola, Panax ginseng, Eleuthero, Cordyceps
- Emotional realm: Oplopanax
What is a nervine?
A sedative?
A hypnotic?
A nerve tonic?
- Nervine: acts on nervous
- Nerve tonic: improves tone & vigor or function of nerovous system
- Sedative: relaxant – decreases stimulant to nervous system – calming effect
- Hypnotic: stronger sedative – cause drowsiness – often anodyne effects
Avena sativum
¥ - Milky Oat Seed
¥ Alcohol/drug recovery, mental alertness, prevent cognitive decline
Scutellaria lateriflora
¥ Skullcap
¥ Anti-convulsant, stomachic
Humulus lupulus
¥ - Hops
Sedative or hypnotic, sleep formulas, digestive bitter, cholegogue, mild laxative, antimicrobial
Valeriana officinalis
¥ – Valerian
¥ GABA receptor activity, anticonvulsant, calms brain, benzo withdrawal
Piper methysticum
¥ - Kava
¥ Fast-acting, acute anxiety relief, potential hepatotoxicity
Melissa officinalis
¥ - Lemon Balm
¥ Uplifting, antidepressant, sedative
Leonurus cardiaca
¥ –Motherwort
¥ Nervine sedative
Hypericum perforatum
¥ - St. John’s Wort
¥ Antiviral, vulnerary, antidepressant, good for seasonal affective disorder, sunny disposition
Passiflora incarnata
¥ Passion Flower
¥ Anxiolytic (good for GAD - slower acting than kava)
Matricaria recutita
¥ – Chamomile
¥ Anxiolytic, antidepressant, stomachic
Eschscholtzia californica
¥ California Poppy
¥ Antispasmodic, sedative – great for nervous kids/ADHD
Develop a basic understanding of the complex actions of bitters, and how bitter herbs can be used therapeutically.
- Receptors on tongue and oral mucosa stimulate saliva production
- Receptors transmit signals to brain & stimulate digestive processes through vagal efferents
- Bitter stimulus increases ghrelin, which increases & cycle of satiety
- Increases CCK which stimulates secretion of bile and pancreastic juice
- Stimulates motility
- Anti-inflammatory to GI mucosa
- Stimulate proliferation of mucosal cells
- If something is bitter, its mildly laxative (increase secretions & motility)
Define carminative, and understand how carminatives are used therapeutically.
- Prevents formation of/relieves gas – improve digestion
- Mild antispasmodic effects
Define demulcent, and understand how demulcents are used therapeutically.
Coating and soothing mucous membranes
Gentiana lutea
¥ Gentian
o Quintessential bitter herb
Citrus spp.
¥ – Citrus Peel
o Flavonoids of inner rind (white part) – not essential oil – drying, uplifting
Artemesia vulgaris
¥ – Mugwort
Artemesia absinthum –
¥ Wormwood
o Anthelminthic
o Avoid very high doses d/t thujone (volatile oil)
Mahonia spp
¥ Oregon Grape
o Gentle digestive bitter – bitter alterative
Foeniculum vulgare
¥ fennel
o Aromatic carminative
Pimpinella anisum
anise
Mentha piperita/spicata –
¥ – peppermint/spearmint
o Carminative, antispasmodic, anti-emetic
Zingiber officinale
¥ – ginger
o Circulatory stimulant, carminative, warming, anti-emetic
Matricaria recutita -
¥ chamomile
o Carminative, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary
Angelica archangelica
¥ Angelica
Aromatic bitter, carminative, trophorestorative of digestive system
Althea officinalis
¥ Marshmallow
Ulmus spp
¥ Slippery Elm
Glygyrrhiza spp
¥ Licorice Root
Aloe spp.
¥ Aloe Gel
o Long chain polysaccharides, vulnerary (cooling for gastritis, ulcers)
Trigonella foenum-greacum
¥ – Fenugreek
o Rich in mucilage
Define cholegogue and choleretic.
- Cholegogue: increasing excretion of bile
- Choleretic: increasing production of bile
Cichorium intybus
¥ Chickory
¥ Bitter, substitute for coffee
Chelidonium majus –
¥ Greater Celandine
¥ LOW DOSE – hepatotoxicity – unknown why
¥ Specific indication: spastic discomfort of bile duct & GI tract
Chionanthus virginicus
¥ – Fringe Tree
¥ Cholegogue, choleretic, cathartic in high doses, diuretic, bitter, jaundice tx
Curcuma longa
¥ Turmeric
Cynara scolymus
¥ Artichoke Leaf
¥ Cholegogue, choleretic, bitter, tonifying, cholesterol-lowering
Taraxicum officinale
¥ – Dandelion
¥ Root: Bitter digestive tonic, mild laxative (liver)
¥ Leaf: diuretic (kidney)
Silybum marianum
¥ Milk Thistle
¥ Trophorestorative of liver, cholegogue, choleretic, flavano-lignans (for hepatoprotective effects), hepatitis
What are the factors that effect the safety of botanical medicines?
- Relative toxicity & concentration of compound in botanical
- Presence of toxic compound in herb or solubility in preparation
- Route of administration
- Absorbability with oral consumption
- Tenacity of compound to survive metabolism
- Potential for compound to form more toxic compounds after metabolism
- Potential for accumulation
- Rate/effeciciency of excretion
What is the mechanism that is common to most herb/drug interactions?
- If herb would speed up or slow down the Cytochrome P450 enzymes that is breaking down drug
- Either clear drug too fast or drug builds up
¥ Symphytum officinale
¥ LOW DOSE
¥ Effective tx of pain if applied topically
¥ Hypericum perforatum
¥ Burns
¥ Plantago spp. – Plantain
¥ Parallel veination
Stellaria media
¥ Chickweed
Arnica spp
¥ Stimulant at tissue level – stimulates phagocytosis, helps prevent/resolve bruises/sprains/strains
¥ LOW DOSE
¥ Kind of like topical lymphagogue
¥ Helpful w/ pain
circulatory herbs
warming & vasodilating (note: doesn’t mean inflammatory, most are anti-inflammatory) – drivers of formula, used to further the action of other herbs (i.e. adaptogens)
Capsicum annuum -
Cayenne
Ginkgo biloba
¥ Ginkgo
¥ Not hot – increases oxygenation to brain & periphery, supports integrity of microvasculature
Powerful antioxidant & anti-inflammatory properties, antithrombotic
Piper nigrum
¥ Increases absorption of nutrients in gut, rubefacent
Rosmarinus officinalis
¥ Rosemary
¥ Overall stimulant, very tonifying, CNS effects (increased cognition – rosemary for rememberence), hypertensive herb
Zanthoxylum americanum –
¥ – Prickly Ash
¥ Decreases capillary engorgement, works well in lower doses combined w/ adaptogens
Zingiber officinale -
Ginger
What is a trophorestorative?
- A nourishing, tissue-specific herb that is tonic in the deepest sense of the word
- Safe over long period of use
- Restores physical fxn to debilitated organ or organ system
Be able to match the system to the trophorestorative herb below.
- Avena sativa – nervous
- Urtica dioica seed - kidney
- Withania somnifera - endocrine
- Arctium lappa – skin, Classic alterative for tx eczema, psoriasis, acne, seborrheic dermatitis, exanthems
- Centella asiatica – connective tissue, Modulates scar formation, strengthens connective tissue (In the notes, she also has Equisetum arvense, horsetail, as a connective tissue trophorestorative)
- Silybum marianum – liver
- Crataegus spp. – heart, Anti-arrythmic, cardioprotective, cardiotonic, rehabilitative in CHF, anti-HTN, nutritious, rich in OPCs and flavonoids
- Glycyrrhiza spp. - adrenals
- Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry) – eyes, May help prevent, neovascularization in diabetic retinopathy. Rich in anthocyanins – potent antioxidants
- Bacopa monniera - brain
