Bot Med I- Adaptogens

Question 1

what are adaptogens?

Answer 1

produces a non-specific response in an organism, increases organisms power of resistance against multiple stressors
has a normalizing effect on physiology

Question 2

what are the 9 adaptogens talked about in this class?

Answer 2

• Eleutherococcus senticosis (siberian ginseng)
• Panax ginseng (asian ginseng)
• Panax quinquifolium (american ginseng)
• Oplopanax horridus (Devil’s club)
• Withania somnifera (ashwaganda)
• Rhodiola rosea (golden root)
• Schisandra chinensis (five-flavor berry)
• Occimum sanctum (holy basil, tulsi)
• Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice)
• Cordyceps sinensis (caterpillar fungus)

Question 3

latin name of siberian ginseng? family? part used? energetics?

Answer 3

eleutherococcus senticosis
family: araliaceae
part used: root, stem bark and leaf
energetics: warm, stimulating, dispels wind dampness

Question 4

latin name of siberian ginseng? actions? indications? c/is?

Answer 4

eleutherococcus senitcosis
actions: adaptogens, immunomodulating, mild CNS stimulant
indications: builds vitality, increase resistance to infxn, stress and toxicity, improve physical performance and improve mood
c/is: adulteration is common in marketplace; monitor blood glucose in diabetics and hypoglycemics

Question 5

latin name of siberian ginseng?

name as many as you can of the 13 actions of siberian ginseng

Answer 5

eleutherococcus senitcosis
nonspecific antistress effects
adaptogenic
ergogenic
anabolic/anticatabolic
antitoxic
radioprotective
chemoprotective
immunoprotective
immunoregulatory
antiviral
gonadotrohpic
insulintrophic/antidiabetic
neuroprotective

Question 6

latin name of asian ginseng? family, part used and energetics?

Answer 6

panax ginseng
family: araliaceae
part used: root, leaf
energetics: warming

Question 7

latin name of asian ginseng? actions? indications? c/is?

Answer 7

panax ginseng
actions: adaptogen, tonic, stimulant, hypoglycemic, antioxidant
indications: weakened state dt chronic illness or chronic stress
c/is: buy organically grown roots, if used long-term w/caffeine, may cause HTN, c/i w/MAO inhibitors dt mania

Question 8

latin name of american ginseng? family? part used? energetics?

Answer 8

panax quinquifolium
family: araliaceae
part used: root, leaf
energetics: cooling

Question 9

latin name of american ginseng? actions? indications? c/is?

Answer 9

panax quinquifolium
actions: tonic, nervine, adaptogen, hypoglycemic
indications: nervous dyspepsia, loss of appetite, mental exhaustion
c/is: PG

Question 10

specific indication of panax quinquifolium?

Answer 10

nervous dyspepsia (mental and other forms of nervous exhaustion from overwork)

Question 11

latin name of devil’s club? family? part used? energetics?

Answer 11

oplopanax horridus
family: araliaceae
part used: root, stem bark
energetics: cooling, stimulating, protective, supporting

Question 12

latin name of devil’s club? actions? indications?

Answer 12

oplopanax horridus
actions: expectorant, respiratory stimulant, hypoglycemic, immunomodulator
indications: for nervous, mental, emotional and physical exhaustion or antimicrobial, antirheumatic, antidiabetic, respiratory medicine, anti-CA
c/is: PG

Question 13

latin name of ashwaganda? family? part used? energetics?

Answer 13

withania somnifera
family: solanaceae
part used: root
energetics: warming, balances Vata and Kapha

Question 14

latin name of ashwaganda?

actions? indications? c/is?

Answer 14

withania somnifera
actions: adaptogen, tonic, immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory, increases Hgb, WBCs and neutrophils; sedative, anxiolytic, antiepileptic, hypotensive, enhances cognition, protects against ulcers, neuroregenerative, antidepressant
indications: high stress causing fatigue, nervous exhaustion, chronic inflammatory dz, insomnia
c/is: PG

Question 15

classic uses of ashwaganda?

Answer 15

increase longevity and vitality
aphrodisiac
tonic nervine
used to tx emaciation of children and debility in elderly

Question 16

what are the 4 neuroregenerative disease models ashwaganda can help in?

Answer 16

alzheimer’s dz/dementia
spinal cord injury
parkinson’s dz
huntington’s dz

Question 17

latin name of golden root? family? part used? energetics?

Answer 17

rhodiola rosea
family: crassulaceae
part used: root
energetics: astringent

Question 18

latin name of golden root? actions? indications? c/is?

Answer 18

rhodiola rosea
actions: adaptogen, decreases fatigue, increase endurance, increase work capacity and coordination, increases learning ability, improves memory, decrease in drug-induced arrhythmia, decreased CRP and CK after strenuous exercise, stimulant, antidepressant
indications: fatigue, burn-out from highly stressful situations, altitude sickness, intensive learning, neurasthenia
c/is: may cause overstimulation and interfere with sleep, vivid dreams, in bipolar d/o, synergistic effect w/TCAs

Question 19

common name of five-flavored berry? family? part used? energetics?

Answer 19

schisandra chinensis
family: magnoliaceae
part used: berries
energetics: sour, bitter, warm

Question 20

common name of five-flavored berry? actions? indications? c/is?

Answer 20

schisandra chinensis
actions: adaptogen, mind tonic, CNS stimulant, sexual tonic, sedative, astringent, hepatoprotective, expectorant, antitussive
indications: depression, irritability, forgetfullness, stress, hepatitis, cirrhosis, cough, wheezing, SOB, skin rash
c/is: PG, may cause heartburn

Question 21

latin name of holy basil/tulsi? family? part used? energetics?

Answer 21

ocimum tenuiflorum
family: lamiaceae
part used: root
energetics: rama- neutral, krishna- clearing and warming, vana- sweet

Question 22

latin name of holy basil/tulsi? actions? c/is?

Answer 22

ocimum tenuiflorum
actions: adaptogen, nootropic
c/is: mild blood thinning effects, monitor in diabetic pts dt hypoglycemic effects

Question 23

latin name of holy basil/tulsi?

name as many as you can of the 16 clinical uses of holy basil/tulsi

Answer 23

ocimum tenuiflorum
adaptogen
anti-ulcer
physical/mental performance
liver protective
anti-oxidant
radiation protective
anti-diarrheal
anti-asthmatic
anti-inflammatory
anti-diabetic
anabolic effects
relaxing, calming
fertility enhancement
cardiovascular
anti-viral
anti-CA

Question 24

latin name of licorice? family? part used? energetics?

Answer 24

glycyrrhiza glabra, glycyrrhiza uralensis
family: fabaceae
part used: rootlets, rhizomes, stolons
energetics: moistening, soooooo sweet

Question 25

latin name of licorice? actions? indications? c/is?

Answer 25

glycyrrhiza glabra, glycyrrhiza uralensis
actions: adaptogen, harmonizer, synergist, antiviral, expectorant, demulcent/mucoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, antispasmodic, mild laxative, adrenal tonic, anticarcinogenic, flavor, moderator
indications: inflammatory conditions of the GI tract, canker sores, gastritis, ulceration, hyperacidity, respiratory conditions requiring expectoration and soothing mucilage, adrenal insufficiency, Addison’s dz, inflammatory conditions, arthritis, AI dzs, chronic viral hepatitis, herpes simplex, UTIs, diabetes insipidus, constipation, PCOS, infertility, dysmenorrhea
c/is: HTN, hypokalemia, PG, KD failure, potentiates the action of cardiac glycosides

Question 26

latin name of caterpillar fungus? family? part used? energetics?

Answer 26

cordyceps sinensis
family: clavicipitaceae
part used: fruiting body or mycelium
energetics: sweet, warm

Question 27

latin name of caterpillar fungus? actions? indications? c/is?

Answer 27

cordyceps sinensis
actions: adaptogen, immunostimulant, antitumor, antihyperlipidemic, cardiotonic, increases endurance, nephroprotective when coadministered w/aminoglycoside abs, antiviral, anti-ox, aphrodisiac, circulatory stimulant, anti-asthma
indications: excessive tiredness, persistent cough, impotence, anemia
c/is: adulteration, fumigation, misidentification