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Herbal Actions > Definitions > Flashcards

Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Herbs that produce an increase in bodily resistance and vitality

A

Adaptogen

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2
Q

Help the body adapt to and defend against the effects of environmental stress

A

Adaptogen

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3
Q

Increase the body’s nonspecific resistance to damaging man-made factors and illnesses

A

Adaptogen

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4
Q

Must show a nonspecific activity. Increase the body’s ability to resist physical, chemical or biological noxious agents

A

Adaptogen

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5
Q

Must have a normalising influence independent of the nature of the pathological state

A

Adaptogen

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6
Q

Reinforce the nonspecific power of the body’s resistance against stressors

A

Adaptogen

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7
Q

Enable a more rapid but less exaggerated response

A

Adaptogen

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8
Q

Allow a more sustained peak, eg blood glucose is elevated and available for cell function for longer

A

Adaptogen

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9
Q

Foster a more gradual decline, there is a less precipitous drop in blood glucose.

A

Adaptogen

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10
Q

Don’t block the stress response but smooth out the high’s and lows

A

Adaptogen

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11
Q

Decrease the predisposition to stress

A

Adaptogen

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12
Q

Herbs that gradually restore proper function to the body and increase overall function and vitality

A

Alteratives

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13
Q

Appear to alter the body’s metabolic processes to improve tissues’ ability to deal with a range of body functions, from nutrition to elimination

A

Alteratives

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14
Q

Many of the herbs with this action help the body, restoring function and vitality, by eliminating waste through the kidneys, liver, lungs or skin

A

Alteratives

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15
Q

Some of these herbs work by stimulating digestive function, some are immunomodulators, others just work without a known mechanism

A

Alteratives

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16
Q

Folk medicine suggests these herbs are blood cleansers, which cannot be physiologically true as if the blood needed cleansing it would be a medical emergency.

A

Alteratives

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17
Q

Can be used safely as support in diverse conditions but should be considered as primary treatment in chronic and inflammatory and degenerative diseases, arthritis and autoimmune conditions

A

Alteratives

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18
Q

Herbs that help the body combat inflammation

A

Anti-inflammatory

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19
Q

Safe to use for the immediate relief of pain and discomfort but best used in combination with herbs that address the underlying cause

A

Anti-inflammatory

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20
Q

Suppressing symptoms using these will not address the root cause and can therefore potentially lead to development of other symptoms as with the allopathic equivalent.

A

Anti-inflammatory

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21
Q

Many of these herbs contain salicyclic acid, the active component in aspirin but without the dangers to the stomach of aspirin

A

Anti-inflammatory eg filipendula ulmaria (meadowsweet)

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22
Q

Steroids were first isolated from plant material and some herbs contain molecules that may be metabolised into steroidal molecules giving then this action. Such plants will work on autoimmunity

A

Anti-inflammatory

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23
Q

Many aromatic herbs high in essential oils have this property. This makes them particularly useful for the digestive tract when taken orally, for the respiratory system when inhaled, and for the skin when used topically

A

Anti-inflammatory
Eg matricaria recutita (chamomile)

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24
Q

A number of resin containing plants have this action but can exacerbate the problem in the stomach, thus limiting their application in most cases. However they are valuable in some arthritic conditions

A

Anti-inflammatory

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25
Q

Some of the herbs with this action have no apparent or yet identified property that gives them this action. Some demulcent herbs have this effect through their soothing nature. Not antispasmodics, demulcents or carminatives.

A

Anti-inflammatory

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26
Q

Help the body destroy or resist pathogenic microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and viruses

A

Antimicrobial

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27
Q

Whilst having a similar effect, these are distinct from antibiotics which translates literally as anti-life

A

Antimicrobial

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28
Q

Prevent or ease spasms or cramps in muscles

A

Antispasmodic

29
Q

Reduce muscular tension in the body, sometimes easing psychological tension too

A

Antispasmodic

30
Q

Tend to relax the autonomic nervous system rather than the central nervous system, thus promoting relaxation of muscles without any sedative effect

A

Antispasmodic

31
Q

In the intestines, carminative herbs reduce muscle tension and can be used for this effect

A

Antispasmodic

32
Q

Relaxing expectorants will have this effect in the respiratory system as well as broader action throughout the body

A

Antispasmodic

33
Q

This action is sometimes called styptic when applied externally to stop bleeding, due to its tightening action

A

Astringent

34
Q

This action is due to tannins, the term coming from its use in the tanning industry

A

Astringent

35
Q

The effect of the active component in this action is to denature proteins

A

Astringent

36
Q

The active component in this herbal action will create precipitates with herbs that are high in alkaloids

A

Astringent

37
Q

They produce a temporary leather coat on the surface of tissue

A

Astringent

38
Q

This action, by tightening the tissue, has many effects such as reducing irritation on the surface of tissues, reduce surface inflammation, create a barrier against infection

A

Astringent

39
Q

In the gut this action reduces inflammation, improves the symptoms of diarrhoea.

A

Astringent

40
Q

Long term use of this action bmcan be deleterious to health, ultimately inhibiting proper food absorption across the intestinal wall

A

Astringent

41
Q

Of major importance to the digestive system and the rest of the body

A

Bitters

42
Q

Have a broad effect on tone and function result in a treatment for the body as a whole entity.

A

Bitters

43
Q

Can range from mildly flavoured to profoundly distasteful

A

Bitters

44
Q

This action is brought about by flavour, it is picked up by many taste receptors on the tongue

A

Bitters

45
Q

The distinct taste of these herbs is picked up by the tongue but directed to the entire body by the central nervous system

A

Bitters

46
Q

The central nervous system alerts the gut to this action, stimulating the release of digestive hormone gastrin

A

Bitters

47
Q

Effects of this action are stimulate appetite, stimulate digestive juices, aid the liver in detoxification and increase bile flow, help regulate pancreatic hormones and help the gut wall repair damage

A

Bitters

48
Q

Diabetics should be cautioned because of this herbs effect on blood sugar balance

A

Bitters

49
Q

These herbs are contraindicated in pregnancy, kidney stones, gallbladder disease, dysmenorrhea, GORD, hiatus hernia, gastritis, peptic ulcer

A

Bitters

50
Q

Have some kind of action in the heart, some are cardioactive and some are cardiotonic

A

Cardiac remedies

51
Q

Have an observable benefit to the heart and blood vessels but don’t contain cardiac glycosides. Flavones appear to have a role to play

A

Cardiotonic

52
Q

Contain cardiac glycosides and thus have benefits and drawbacks

A

Cardioactive

53
Q

Ease discomfort caused by flatulence

A

Carminative

54
Q

Herbs with this action contain volatile oils that have local anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects on both the mucus lining and the muscle lining the digestive tract.

A

Carminative

55
Q

Have the SPECIFIC effect of stimulating the flow of bile from the liver

A

Cholagogue

56
Q

Specific in that they act on the liver but also act as body tonics. Similar to bitters, but more specific, the secretion of bile helps the whole digestive and assimilative process

A

Cholagogue

57
Q

The bile release by this action facilitates fat digestion and acts as a natural laxative, cleansing the whole system

A

Cholagogue

58
Q

Contraindications for this action include painful gallstones, acute bilious colic, obstructive jaundice, acute cholecystitis, acute viral hepatitis, extremely toxic liver disorders

A

Cholagogue

59
Q

Indications for this action include long term maintenance of dyskinesia of the bile duct, disorders caused by insufficient or congested bile, symptoms of indigestion and to support the liver’s detoxification work

A

Cholagogue

60
Q

These are rich in mucilage and can soothe and protect irritated or inflamed internal tissue

A

Demulcent

61
Q

When used topically these are called emollients

A

Demulcent

62
Q

They are rich in carbohydrate mucilage and thus become slimy and gummy when in contact with water

A

Demulcent

63
Q

Some of this action have effects far from the site of absorption, such as cornsilk within the urinary tract or marshmallow in the lungs so they have more than a direct action but it is unclear how they do this

A

Demulcent

64
Q

All herbs with this action reduce irritation down the whole length of the bowel; lessen the sensitivity of the digestive system; help prevent diarrhoea, reduce digestive muscle spasms that cause colic; ease coughing, and relax painful spasms in the bladder and urinary system

A

Demulcent

65
Q

Agents that help the body rid itself of excess fluids by increasing the rate of urinary production in the kidneys

A

Diuretic

66
Q

Many of these, whilst primarily acting on fluids will indirectly also impact the secretion of minerals and electrolytes and thus have an impact on regulation of blood pressure, nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction

A

Diuretic

67
Q

Increases the secretion and elimination of urine from the body but ancient definition included all herbs that had a beneficial effect on the urinary system so include urinary demulcents and anti inflammatory herbs

A

Diuretic

68
Q

They act by two mechanisms 1/increasing kidney blood flow and 2/reduce water reabsorption in the nephrons of the kidney

A

Diuretic

Herbal Actions (2 decks)

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