Definitions

Question 1

Herbs that produce an increase in bodily resistance and vitality

Answer 1

Adaptogen

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Adaptogen

Question 3

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

Answer 3

Adaptogen

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Adaptogen

Question 5

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

Answer 5

Adaptogen

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Adaptogen

Question 7

Enable a more rapid but less exaggerated response

Answer 7

Adaptogen

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Adaptogen

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Adaptogen

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Adaptogen

Question 11

Decrease the predisposition to stress

Answer 11

Adaptogen

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Alteratives

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Alteratives

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Alteratives

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Alteratives

Question 16

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.

Answer 16

Alteratives

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Alteratives

Question 18

Herbs that help the body combat inflammation

Answer 18

Anti-inflammatory

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Anti-inflammatory

Question 20

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.

Answer 20

Anti-inflammatory

Question 21

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

Answer 21

Anti-inflammatory eg filipendula ulmaria (meadowsweet)

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Anti-inflammatory

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Anti-inflammatory
Eg matricaria recutita (chamomile)

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Anti-inflammatory

Question 25

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.

Answer 25

Anti-inflammatory

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Antimicrobial

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Antimicrobial

Question 28

Prevent or ease spasms or cramps in muscles

Answer 28

Antispasmodic

Question 29

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

Answer 29

Antispasmodic

Question 30

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

Answer 30

Antispasmodic

Question 31

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

Answer 31

Antispasmodic

Question 32

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

Answer 32

Antispasmodic

Question 33

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

Answer 33

Astringent

Question 34

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

Answer 34

Astringent

Question 35

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

Answer 35

Astringent

Question 36

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

Answer 36

Astringent

Question 37

They produce a temporary leather coat on the surface of tissue

Answer 37

Astringent

Question 38

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

Answer 38

Astringent

Question 39

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

Answer 39

Astringent

Question 40

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

Answer 40

Astringent

Question 41

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

Answer 41

Bitters

Question 42

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

Answer 42

Bitters

Question 43

Can range from mildly flavoured to profoundly distasteful

Answer 43

Bitters

Question 44

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

Answer 44

Bitters

Question 45

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

Answer 45

Bitters

Question 46

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

Answer 46

Bitters

Question 47

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

Answer 47

Bitters

Question 48

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

Answer 48

Bitters

Question 49

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

Answer 49

Bitters

Question 50

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

Answer 50

Cardiac remedies

Question 51

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

Answer 51

Cardiotonic

Question 52

Contain cardiac glycosides and thus have benefits and drawbacks

Answer 52

Cardioactive

Question 53

Ease discomfort caused by flatulence

Answer 53

Carminative

Question 54

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.

Answer 54

Carminative

Question 55

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

Answer 55

Cholagogue

Question 56

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

Answer 56

Cholagogue

Question 57

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

Answer 57

Cholagogue

Question 58

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

Answer 58

Cholagogue

Question 59

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

Answer 59

Cholagogue

Question 60

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

Answer 60

Demulcent

Question 61

When used topically these are called emollients

Answer 61

Demulcent

Question 62

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

Answer 62

Demulcent

Question 63

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

Answer 63

Demulcent

Question 64

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

Answer 64

Demulcent

Question 65

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

Answer 65

Diuretic

Question 66

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

Answer 66

Diuretic

Question 67

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

Answer 67

Diuretic

Question 68

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

Answer 68

Diuretic