Botanical Medicine (general)

Question 1

What is the common name for Aconitum Napellus?

Answer 1

Aconite (AKA monkshood, wolfsbane)

Question 2

What is the toxic constituent of Aconitum Napellus and how does it lead to toxicity?

Answer 2

terpene alkaloids (aconitine); reduces permeability of nerve cells to sodium, slows respiration

Question 3

What is the latin name for Gelsemium?

Answer 3

Gelsemium Sempervirens

Question 4

What are the toxic constituents in Gelsemium sempervirens and how do they lead to toxicity?

Answer 4

oxindole alkaloids (gelsemine);

Question 5

What are common uses for Aconitum napellus?

Answer 5

acute, severe pain (neuralgia, ovarian cysts)
initial stages of fever

Question 6

What are common uses for Gelsemium sempervirens?

Answer 6

acute pain; ovarian cysts, trigeminal neuralgia
insomnia
pain with nervous tension
induction of labor

Question 7

What are cautions/contraindications for Gelsemium sempervirens?

Answer 7

cardiac or respiratory weakness
with sedative/antidepressant drugs
myastenia gravis
hypotension
pregnancy and lactation

Question 8

What are the actions of Gelsemium Sempervirens?

Answer 8

febrifuge
sedative
anodyne
antispasmodic
relaxant

Question 9

What are common actions of Aconitum napellus?

Answer 9

antineuralgic
sedative
anodyne
febrifuge
depressant

Question 10

How to dose Aconitum napellus?

Answer 10

diluted in water;** LOW DOSE HERB**

Question 11

How to dose Gelsemium sempervirens?

Answer 11

diluted in water; LOW DOSE HERB

Question 12

What is the latin name for Bryonia?

Answer 12

Bryonia Alba

Question 13

Constituents of Bryonia Alba

Answer 13

Cucurbitacin glycosides (bryonin, byonidin)

Question 14

Common actions for Bryonia Alba

Answer 14

cathartic
rubefacient
immunomodulating
febrifuge
anodyne
sedative

Question 15

What are common indications for Bryonia Alba?

Answer 15

sharp, stitching pains especially due to serous membrane inflammation (e.g. pericarditis), pleurisy, ovarian cysts, infxn

Question 16

What are symptoms of toxicity related to Bryonia Alba?

Answer 16

the fresh root can cause blisters with skin contact and causing serious GI inflammation when taken internally

symptoms of toxicity include
colic, vomiting, profuse diarrhea, gasteroenteritis
cardiac depression with weak thready pulse
temperature drop, dizziness, delirium, death

Question 17

What is Turska’s formula used for? What herbs is it comprised of?

Answer 17

aconitum, bryonia, gelsemium, phytolacca

used in conditions to regulate blood/circulation/lymph:
- uterine/ovarian/mammary cycts
- CHD, angina
- respiratory and neuromuscular conditions

Question 18

Contraindications for Turska’s formula?

Answer 18

pregnancy, cardiac weakness

Question 19

Indications for turska’s formula

Answer 19

circulation and acute pain (aconite)
stitching tearing pains worse with motion (bryonia)
irritability (gelsemium)
need for lymphagogue (phytolacca)

Question 20

What is the common name for Pulsatilla vulgaris?

Answer 20

Pasque flower

Question 21

What constituents are present in Pulsatilla vulgaris?

Answer 21

alkaloids (anemonin), saponins

Question 22

Actions and indications for Pulsatilla vulgaris

Answer 22

nervine, sedative, emmenagogue, anodyne
indication: nervous anxiety, gynecological pain (dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, PMS), insomnia

Question 23

How to dose Pulsatilla vulgaris?

Answer 23

LOW DOSE!!

Question 24

How to dose Bryonia?

Answer 24

LOW DOSE!!

Question 25

What is the common name for Lobelia inflata?

Answer 25

puke weed, indian tobacco

Question 26

What constituents are present in Lobelia inflata?

Answer 26

piperidine alkaloids (lobeline)

Question 27

What are common actions of Lobelia inflata?

Answer 27

stimulating expectorant
lung tonic
nervine
diffusive
relaxant/spasmolytic

Question 28

What are common indications for Lobelia inflata?

Answer 28

asthma
muscle spasm
angina
smoking cessation (has a high affinity for nicotinic ach receptors)
wet/spasmotic cough, URI, chronic lung disease

Question 29

Dosing for Lobelia inflata

Answer 29

low dose (overdose = severe nausea and vomiting)

Question 30

What is the common name for Ephedra sinica?

Answer 30

Ma Huang

Question 31

What part of Ephedra sinica is typically used?

Answer 31

Stems

Question 32

What constituents are present in Ephedra sinica?

Answer 32

alkaloids (ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, N-methylephedrine)

Question 33

What are actions of Ephedra sinica?

Answer 33

alpha and beta adrenergic agonist
releases norepinephrine from sympathetic neurons
decongestant
antitussive
anti-inflammatory
bronchodilator, vasoconstrictive
mast cell stabilizing
increases HR
diaphoretic
diuretic

Question 34

What are cautions/CI for Ephedra sinica?

Answer 34

Low dose
HTN
glaucoma
MAOis
bupropion
achyarryhtmias or ventricular fibrillation
pregnancy
dehydration

Question 35

What part of Aconitum napellus is typically used?

Answer 35

fresh root

Question 36

What part of Gelsemium sempervirens is typically used?

Answer 36

rhizomes

Question 37

What part of Bryonia alba is typically used?

Answer 37

root

Question 38

What part of Pulsatilla vulgaris is typically used?

Answer 38

whole herb

Question 39

What part of Lobelia inflata is typically used?

Answer 39

aerial parts at the end of flowering

Question 40

What are CI for aconitum napellus?

Answer 40

pregnancy and lactation

Question 41

What are CI for bryonia alba?

Answer 41

pregnancy and lactation

Question 42

What are indications for Ephedra sinica?

Answer 42

sinusitis, ashtma, COPD
allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis
urinary incontinence

Question 43

CI for Lobelia inflata

Answer 43

pregnancy and lactation
dry cough
bulimia
infants
nausea may be potentiated by other meds with this SE