Botanicals - Endocrine Flashcards
There are 4 botanicals in the endocrine system. What are they?
Fucus vesiculosis
Gymnema sylvestre
Lycopus virginicus
momordica charantia
Fucus vesiculosis (Bladderwrack, kelp) Indications
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!
Fucus vesiculosis CI
may exacerbate or induce hyperthyroidism; pregnancy, lactation
Fucus vesiculosis Interactions
Concurrent use of anticoagulants, antiplatelet and thrombolytic agents may result in increased bleeding
Fucus vesiculosis s/e’s
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.
Fucus vesiculosis constituents
Inorganic iodine salts, organically-bound iodine, polysaccharides (fucoidan), polyphenols
Fucus vesiculosis actions
Iodine essential constituent of thyroid hormone, nutritive, anti-obesity, anti-rheumatic
Gymnema sylvestre (Gymnema) Indications
Diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, weight loss, hypercholesterolemia
Gymnema sylvestre CI
None
Gymnema sylvestre interactions
Decreases insulin requirement, potentiates hypoglycemic drugs (metfromin, glyburide, rosiglitazone), may potentiate atorvastatin.
Gymnema sylvestre s/e’s
none
Gymnema sylvestre constituents
Saponins, triterpene glycosides
Gymnema sylvestre actions
Hypolipidemic, anti-obesity
Sylvester Stallon is always in the gym. He is obsessed about not gaining weight and metabolic syndrome.
Lycopus virginicus (Bugleweed) Indications
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.
Lycopus virginicus CI
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
Lycopus virginicus interactions
May antagonize hypothyroid medication levothyroxine
Lycopus virginicus s/e’s
No health hazards or side effects are known with proper administration of therapeutic dosages.
Lycopus virginicus constituents
Caffeic acid derivatives: rosmaric acid, lithospermic acid; flavonoids
Lycopus virginicus actions
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.
Lycopus virginicus pharmacology
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
Momordica charantia (Bitter melon) Indications
Late onset diabetes, primarily non-insulin-dependent Mellitis (NIDDM or type two)
Momordica charantia CI
Pregnancy due to its emmenagogue/abortifacient activity. hypoglycemia; lactation as active chemicals and bitter melon can enter into breastmilk.
Momordica charantia interactions
Concurrent use with anti-diabetic agents may result in an increased risk of hypoglycemia. It may potentiate cholesterol lowering drugs.
Momordica charantia s/e’s
Possible food intolerance
Momordica charantia constituents
Polypeptides with insulin like peptide, triterpenes, proteins and steroids
Momordica charantia actions
Hypo glycemic effect, emmenagogue (ripe fruit)
Momordica charantia pharmacology
Studies have shown bitter melon has demonstrated hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering) properties or other actions of potential benefit against diabetes mellitus.
