BOTMED (A-D) Flashcards
Achillea millefolium
Yarrow, Hit with an Yarrow
HEMOSTATIC • Topical for wounds, styptic for menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, hemorrhage, hematuria • (Also some bitter, anti-inflam)
Caution: Preg, combining with PPI (all bitters)
Aconitum napellus
Anodyne • Neuralgia, pain
SAFETY: Toxic, narrow therapeutic window, lethal ventricular fibrillation, chest pain
Actaea racemosa
black cohosh
Uterine tonic, spasmolytic
PMS, dysmen, menor, arthritis, myalgia
CI: Early preg
Aesculus hippocastanum
Venotonic, topical for bruises
SAFETY: A/E: nausea (same as for many herbs) • Herb side effect scaling
Allium cepa/sativum
Lipids, athero, angina, impotence, htn, DM (CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH)
Topical antifungal
CI: Bleeding/anticoagulants
Intx: Hypoglycemic
Aloe vera
Topical for burn, frostbite, wound
Internal for demulcent, immune, inflam
Toxicity: GEL VERY SAFE! (esp externally) Whole leaf is EXTREME laxative
Althea officinalis (marsh mallow)
Demulcent in GI tract (gastritis, ulcer)
Demulcent in urinary tract (cystitis, UTI)
CI: Wet cough
Demulcents common CI in “wet cough”
Safe
Angelica sinensis (Female ginseng)
Uterine tonic
Amen, endo, menopause, infert, PMS
CI: Bleeding, menorragia, antiplatelet
Arctium lappa (Burdock)
Alterative (specific to liver)
Skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema)
Blood sugar regulation
Additionally: dyspepsia, biliary insufficiency, hepatitis.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Urinary antiseptic, UTI with alkaline urine
CI: preg
AE: nausea, mild toxicity so watch dosing
Arnica montana
Topical vulnerary and anodyne
Bruises, sprains, strains
CI: Broken skin, NOT FOR internal use
Artemisia annua/absinth/vulg (Worm wood)
Malaria, parasite, cancer
Toxic: High dose neurotoxic!
Absinthum: bitter (anti-parasite, malaria)
Annua: digestive, a bit sweeter
Vulgaris: less used
Asclepius tuberosa
Expectorant, anti-tussive
Fever, cough, pneumonia, bronchitis
CI: Preg
Rarely used
Aspidosperma quebracho
Stimulating expectorant for non-dry coughs
CI: dry cough, preg, lactation, children
Rarely used
Astragalus membranaceus
Immune modulator
Infx, cancer, autoimmune
Safe
Atropa belladona
Blocks muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, THEREFORE
causes smooth muscle relaxation and inhibits secretions,
and acts as anodyne
Muscle spasms, pain
CI: BPH, closed-angle glaucoma
AE: causes dryness
Intx: Potentiates effect of anticholinergics (ex. trycyclic antidepressants)
Avena sativa
Anxiolytic, nervine, nutritional
hypolipidemic as food
SAFE
Bacopa monierri/tinctoria
Memory, cognition
SAFE
Baptisia tinctoria
Immune-modulating, anti-microbial most important
Pharyngitis or other infections, anti-viral
AE: tachypnea, tachycardia (generally means slightly more dangerous than your average herb)
Berberis aquifolium (Mahonia)
Anti-microbial, chronic skin esp psoriasis or acne, bitter
AE: nausea or other GI symptoms
Berberis vulgaris
Cholagogue, hepatic
Liver disease, GB, gallstones, jaundice
LIVER STUFF
“The liver is vulgar”
CI preg
Bile duct obs.
Many drug intx
Boswellia serrata
Anti-inflammatory (d/t resin constituent)
Asthma, UC, OA, RA, etc…
SAFE
Bryonia alba
Anodyne, immune, some sedation
Pain, infection
AE: abd pain, n + v, diarrhea, not really used internally
Rarely used
Calendula officinalis
Demulcent, anti-inflam, vulnerary
Dermatitis, wounds
SAFE
4 C’s of vulnerary
• calendula, chamomile, comfrey (symphytum) (chickweed – don’t need this one)
Camellia sinensis
Green Tea
Anti-oxidant, etc
Tannins (astringent)
CI: Insomnia?
Cannabis sativa
Analgesic, sedative, anti-emetic
CI: Preg, abuse potential
Psychiatric issues like schizophrenic
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Styptic, hemorhage, menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, postpartum hem
CI: Major bleeding (b/c is not effective)
Intx: Anticoagulants
Capsicum frutescens
Antiplatelet, digestive stim
Topical anodyne, anti-inflam (OA, RA, etc)
AE: Burning
Intx: Anticoagulants
Cassia/Senna alexandrina
Catharsis for Constipation
Direct stimulation of bowel movement
CI: Long-term use, laxative dependence
Caulophyllum thalictroides
(blue cohosh)
Uterine tonic, parturifacient (during late preg)
CI: Early preg
MR CC
Ceanothus americanus
Hepatoprotective
Ex: NAFLD, Fatty liver, hepatitis
SAFE
“Americanus have fatty livers” potential way to remember
Centella asiatica
Nervine, Antipyretic, Mental-Tonic
Nervous insomnia, poor memory, infections, venous insufficiency
“100 year old Asian woman with venous insufficiency, dementia
from her old age.”
Chamaelirium luteum
“Cham Luteum tonifies the corpus luteum of your uterus”
Uterine tonic – Amenorrhea, dysmen, endometriosis, uterine prolapse, miscarriage
SAFE
MR CC
Expensive $$$, usually alternatives used
Chelidonium majus
Choleretic, cholagogue – GB
Billiary insuf, gall stone prevention
AE: Nausea, vomiting
CI: Hepatic failure, preg, lac
Chionanthus virginicus
Hepatic, cholagogue, bitter
LIVER, GB
Generally safe
CI: obstruction, cancer (bile duct, pancreatic)
Cineraria maritima
Cataract topically
CI: internal use d/t hepatotoxic (P.A.)
Cinnamomum zeylanicum
GI Issues (N+V, diarrhea)
Causes gastric stimulation, so may be CI for ulcers (good pre-ulcer, not good for active ulcer)
Diabetes + Metabolic syndrome
Caution: GERD, severe gastritis
Coleus forskohlii
Activates cAMP
Adaptogen, Cardiotonic, Immune
Bronchial irritation, dry cough, hoarseness, asthma (main), weakness or debility
Reduce inflame, dec. BP, anti-glaucoma, positive inotropic, prevent platelet agg, bronchodilation
Intx: warfarin, digoxin
Commiphora mukul
“GUGGUL GUM / GOOGLE”
Hyperlipidemia, LDL
Also anti-inflam
CI: IBD
Drug Intx: Beta blockers
Commiphora myrrha/molmol
coMMiphora MolMol is Myrhh
Myrrh is anti-infx, anti-microbe
Infections (GI, vaginal, etc)
SAFE
Convallaria majalis
Milder digitalis
CHF, arythmmia
Same Intx: Diuretic, beta-blockers, much more
Cordyceps sinensis
Asthma (relaxes smooth muscle), cough, bronchitis, respiratory disorders
Potentiates epinephrine
CI: Auto-immune, some drug interactions (Think epinephrine)
Corydalis amibua and spp
Lots of functions (used as additive)
Gastritis, pain, parasites, arrythmia, bacteria
Hypnotic, sedative, tranquilizing
Largely for GI SYSTEM
Can be Toxic, use caution
Not really used
Crataegus laevigata/oxycantha
All heart problems
CHF, angina, arrhythmia, htn
SAFE
Curcuma longa
Anti-inflam, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer
SAFE
Cynara scolymus
“Sionara Lipids!”
Hyperlipidemia, liver/GB issues (also bitter as many hepatic herbs are)
CI: Digestive stim (GERD, etc)
Datura stramonium
Similar to Atropa belladona (recommend thinking about them the same way)
Which means? Spasms, pain all potentially valid.
CI: BPH
AE: Dryness
Intx: Potentiates anticholinergics
Digitalis purpurea
CHF, arrhythmia
Toxic: Narrow therapeutic window, OD lethal
Intx: Many drugs… caution!
Dioscorea villosa
“Die spasms!”
Spasmolytic
Dysmen, endometeriosis, PMS, spasms
SAFE
