Constituent Actions Flashcards

1
Q

What is a Mucilage?

A

A group of polysaccharides that form a gel-like consistency when combined with water.

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2
Q

what are the actions of mucilage?

A
  • demulcent.
  • emollient.
  • anti-inflammatory.
  • vulnerary
  • bulking laxative.
  • soothing expectorant.
  • anti-spasmodic.
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3
Q

what are some examples of mucilage?

A
  • Althea off (Marshmellow).
  • Ulmus Fulvus (Slippery Elm).
  • Plantago Lanceolata (plantain).
  • Aloe Vera (aloe gel).
  • Chia/flax/Psyllium.
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4
Q

what are emollients?

A
  • one of the mucilage’s functions.
  • soften, soothe and protect the skin (topical use only).
  • form a protective barrier for the skin that will soothe and moisten any inflammation, irritation or burn.
  • applied as a gel, salve, oil, cream, lotion or poultice.
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5
Q

what are some examples of emollients?

A
  • aloe barbadensis.
  • Plantago major.
  • Stellaria media (Chickweed).
  • Symphytum off (Comfrey).
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6
Q

What are Demulcents?

A
  • mucilage action.
  • soothe and protect irritates or inflamed internal tissue.
  • cooling, soothing and relaxing to raw, hot, irritated or inflamed membranes of the digestive, respiratory and genitourinary tracts.
  • some have a soothing effect distal to the site of contact due to reflex response initiated in the gut.
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7
Q

what are some demulcents used for soothing GI tract?

A
  • Althea off (Marshmellow).
  • Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice).
  • Ulmus Fulva (slippery elm).
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8
Q

what are some herbs for soothing the respiratory tract?

A
  • Verbascum thapsus (Mullein).
  • Tussilago sp (Coltsfoot)
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9
Q

what are some herbs for soothing the genitourinary tract?

A
  • corn silk (Zea mays).
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10
Q

what is a vulnerary action?

A
  • mucilage action.
  • helps with healing wounds- speeds up the natural wound healing process to reach resolution faster.
  • used both topically and internally.
  • promotes the laying down of granulation tissue to form a scab or eschar sooner.
  • Allantoin also is another constituent that has this action found in plantain and comfrey.
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11
Q

what are some herbal examples of vulnerary action?

A
  • Calendula off.
  • Symphytum off (comfrey).
  • Plantago lanceolata/ major (plantain).
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12
Q

what are bulking laxatives?

A
  • herbs that contain mucilage can pull water into the colon to soften and add bulk to the stool.
  • Bulking the stool enhances the body’s reflex signalling pathway to evacuate the stool.
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13
Q

what are some bulking laxative examples?

A
  • Aloe barbandensis.
  • Plantago psyllium.
  • Linum usitatissimum. flax seed.
  • Althea off. marshmellow root.
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14
Q

what are soothing expectorants?

A
  • mucilage action.
  • removes excess mucous from the lungs and soothes irritated lung tissue.
  • very helpful for dry, sticky mucous that is difficult to cough up.
  • very helpful for unproductive and irritable coughs.
  • relax bronchial tissues and loosen mucus to be expelled.
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15
Q

what are some herbal examples of soothing expectorants?

A
  • plantago lanceolata.
  • Tussilago farfara. coltsfoot.
  • Verbascum thapsus. mullein.
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16
Q

what is the constituent Tannins?

A
  • they have a toning and tightening effect due to the ability to precipitate proteins and reduce secretions. usually found in parts of the plant that are shed. leaves, fruits and bark.
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17
Q

what are some actions of tannins?

A
  • astringent.
    -hemostatic.
  • vulnerary.
  • anti-diarrheic.
  • dry up secretions.
18
Q

what are some examples of plants with tannins constituents?

A

Condensed:
- Camellia Sinensis (green/black tea).
- Rubus Ideaus (red raspberry leaf).
- Salix alba (White willow).

Hydrolysable; use caution.
- Aesculus Hippocastanum (horse chestnut).
- Hamamelis Virginicus (witch hazel).
- Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (uva-ursi/bear-berry).

19
Q

What do astringents do?

A
  • the action of tannins.
  • binding, tightening and drying effect on tissues.
  • reduce secretions and diarrhea via toning and tightening effect.
  • reduce mucous membrane irritation, inflammation and swelling.
  • improve mucous membrane integrity and form a barrier against infectious agents.
  • speeds wound healing ( Vulnerary effect).
20
Q

what are some herbal examples of astringents?

A
  • Achillea millefolium (yarrow).
  • Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet).
  • Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel).
  • Rubus idaeus (red raspberry leaf).
21
Q

What is some plant/tannin that is good for the GI tract?

A
  • Filipendula ulmaris (meadowsweet).
  • Camellia sinesis (green/black tea).
22
Q

What is some plant/tannin that is good for the CV system

A
  • Aesculus hippocastanum (horse-chestnut).
  • Achillea millefolium (yarrow).
  • Vaccinium spp (blueberry/bilberry).
23
Q

What is some plant/tannin that is good for the female reproductive system?

A
  • Capsella bursa-pastoris (shepherds purse).
  • Rubus ideaus (Red raspberry).
24
Q

What is some plant/tannin that is good for the skin and connective tissue?

A

Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut).
Hamamelis virfginicus (witch hazel).

25
Q

What is some plant/tannin that is good for the kidneys?

A

Equisetum arvense (horsetail).
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Uva Ursi/ Bearberry).

26
Q

What is some plant/tannin that is good for the lungs

A

Plantago lanceolata/major (plantain).

27
Q

what are some safety concerns for tannins?

A

tannins may be inappropriate in the following conditions.
- constipation.
- iron deficiency and malnutrition.
should not be taken with other medications or supplements.
- hydrolyzable tannins should be used only topically due to their hepatotoxic effects.

28
Q

what are the Salicylates constituent?

A

they ease pain and reduce inflammation, a group of simple phenolics with salicin, methyl salicylate and salicylic acid.

29
Q

what are some salicylate actions?

A
  • anti-inflammatory.
  • analgesic.
  • antipyretic/febrifuge.
  • Anti-septic.
30
Q

what are some salicylate examples?

A
  • Filipendula ulmaria. meadowsweet.
  • salix alba. white willow.
    -Viburnum opulus. cramp bark.
31
Q

what is the anti-inflammatory action of salicylates?

A
  • helps the body modulate inflammation (not suppress or promote).
  • supports and balances our own chemical mediators responsible for infammation.- cytokines, interleukins, prostaglandins leukotriene.
32
Q

what is the analgesic action?

A
  • salicylate action.
  • soothe and relieve pain.
  • usually salicylate, alkaloid and resin constituents.
  • lesson neural sensitivity and pain signals within the nervous system ( inhibit the cell sodium-dependent channels to reduce action potentials transduction along nerve fibres, stimulate and deplete substance P).
  • used in low doses for long periods of time.
33
Q

what are some herbal examples of analgesics?

A

Capsicum spp (cayenne).
Eschscholzia californica (califonia poppy).
Viburnum spp (Cramp bark).
Salix alba (white willow).

34
Q

what is the antipyretic/febrifuge action?

A
  • controls or reduces fever.
  • fever is a natural healing process and should only be interfered with if the fever gets too high.
35
Q

What are some herbal examples of antipyretics/ febrifuge?

A
  • Filipendula ulmaria (meadowsweet).
  • Mentha Piperita (peppermint).
  • Salix alba (white willow).
36
Q

What are some safety concerns of salicylates?

A
  • high doses can be ototoxic and may induce transient hearing loss in zinc-deficient individuals
  • toxic overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, tinnitus and dizziness ( salicylism).
  • avoid in cases of salicylate allergy.
37
Q

what is the bitter constituent?

A

bitter, digestive stimulant, a bunch of constituents brought together by their bitter taste.

38
Q

what are the actions of bitters?

A
  • hepatic.
  • alternative.
  • stimulates appetite.
  • aids in liver detoxification.
  • regulates blood sugars.
  • stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system.
  • mild laxative.
  • stimulates the release of digestive enzymes acid and bile.
39
Q

what are herbal examples of bitters?

A

Artemisia absinthium (wormwood).
Gentiana lutea (gentian).
Berberis sp (Oregon grape).
Taraxacum off (dandelion).
Bitter greens.

40
Q

What is hepatics’ action?

A
  • cholagogues and choleretics
    cholagogues: increase the volume of bile produced by the liver.
    Choleretics: increase the volume of bile produced by the liver.
  • aid in the digestion of food and break down of dietary fats.
  • supports healthy liver cells.
  • hepatoprotective; tumeric.
  • hepatotrophorestorative; milk thistle