Botanicals - Endocrine

Question 1

There are 4 botanicals in the endocrine system. What are they?

Answer 1

Fucus vesiculosis
Gymnema sylvestre
Lycopus virginicus
momordica charantia

Question 2

Fucus vesiculosis (Bladderwrack, kelp) Indications

Answer 2

Iodine-deficiency hypothyroidism, goiter, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis
Fuc us! My bladder is whacked, I’m fat as fuc, ugly as fuc with acne, all my joints hurt on both sides of my body and now I have this ugly lump on my thyroid. Doc says it all started with possible heavy metal toxicity. What the fuc!

Question 3

Fucus vesiculosis CI

Answer 3

may exacerbate or induce hyperthyroidism; pregnancy, lactation

Question 4

Fucus vesiculosis Interactions

Answer 4

Concurrent use of anticoagulants, antiplatelet and thrombolytic agents may result in increased bleeding

Question 5

Fucus vesiculosis s/e’s

Answer 5

May aggravate hyperthyroidism. Long term ingestion may decrease iron absorption due to binding properties of fucidan. Some bladderwrack products may be contaminated with heavy metals that could cause renal failure. Acne has been reported with Bladderwrack.

Question 6

Fucus vesiculosis constituents

Answer 6

Inorganic iodine salts, organically-bound iodine, polysaccharides (fucoidan), polyphenols

Question 7

Fucus vesiculosis actions

Answer 7

Iodine essential constituent of thyroid hormone, nutritive, anti-obesity, anti-rheumatic

Question 8

Gymnema sylvestre (Gymnema) Indications

Answer 8

Diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, weight loss, hypercholesterolemia

Question 9

Gymnema sylvestre CI

Answer 9

None

Question 10

Gymnema sylvestre interactions

Answer 10

Decreases insulin requirement, potentiates hypoglycemic drugs (metfromin, glyburide, rosiglitazone), may potentiate atorvastatin.

Question 11

Gymnema sylvestre s/e’s

Answer 11

none

Question 12

Gymnema sylvestre constituents

Answer 12

Saponins, triterpene glycosides

Question 13

Gymnema sylvestre actions

Answer 13

Hypolipidemic, anti-obesity

Sylvester Stallon is always in the gym. He is obsessed about not gaining weight and metabolic syndrome.

Question 14

Lycopus virginicus (Bugleweed) Indications

Answer 14

Mild overactive thyroid, hyper thyroidism. Nervousness, insomnia. Pre-menstrual syndrome

Don’t LYC PUS! This virgin doesn’t want to get pregnant so she thinks if she lyc’s pus, she won’t. It may just work cause now her thyroid is working way too fast but she is a nervous wreck, can’t sleep and has wicked PMS which is making her heart irregular. The pus must have had bacteria because now she is coughing.

Question 15

Lycopus virginicus CI

Answer 15

Hypo function of the thyroid hypothyroidism and thyroid gland enlargement. Not be given simultaneously with thyroid hormone preparations. Infertility, pregnancy

Don’t give to hypothyroid patients or people trying to get pregnant or are pregnant

Question 16

Lycopus virginicus interactions

Answer 16

May antagonize hypothyroid medication levothyroxine

Question 17

Lycopus virginicus s/e’s

Answer 17

No health hazards or side effects are known with proper administration of therapeutic dosages.

Question 18

Lycopus virginicus constituents

Answer 18

Caffeic acid derivatives: rosmaric acid, lithospermic acid; flavonoids

Question 19

Lycopus virginicus actions

Answer 19

Normalizes overactive thyroid, blocks conversion of thyroxine to T3 in the liver, interferes with thyroxine production by inhibiting TSH in vitro. Corrects irritability or irregularity of the heart; cardiac sedative. Nervine, calms coughs of nervous origin

Don’t LYC PUS! This virgin thinks if she lyc’s pus she won’t get pregnant. I might just work cause now her thyroid is way too fast. But she’s a nervous wreck, can’t sleep and has PMS bad which is making her heart irregular. The pus must have bacteria b/c now she is coughing.

Question 20

Lycopus virginicus pharmacology

Answer 20

Bugleweed has anti-gonadotropic and anti-thyrotrophic affects. It inhibits the peripheral deionization of T4 to T3. The phenolic constitutions of the herb have anti-gonadotropic effect. They cause a lowering of the prolactin level and have a depressant effect on the thyroid as a result of an inhibition of iodine transport in the release of preformed thyroid hormone

Question 21

Momordica charantia (Bitter melon) Indications

Answer 21

Late onset diabetes, primarily non-insulin-dependent Mellitis (NIDDM or type two)

Question 22

Momordica charantia CI

Answer 22

Pregnancy due to its emmenagogue/abortifacient activity. hypoglycemia; lactation as active chemicals and bitter melon can enter into breastmilk.

Question 23

Momordica charantia interactions

Answer 23

Concurrent use with anti-diabetic agents may result in an increased risk of hypoglycemia. It may potentiate cholesterol lowering drugs.

Question 24

Momordica charantia s/e’s

Answer 24

Possible food intolerance

Question 25

Momordica charantia constituents

Answer 25

Polypeptides with insulin like peptide, triterpenes, proteins and steroids

Question 26

Momordica charantia actions

Answer 26

Hypo glycemic effect, emmenagogue (ripe fruit)

Question 27

Momordica charantia pharmacology

Answer 27

Studies have shown bitter melon has demonstrated hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering) properties or other actions of potential benefit against diabetes mellitus.