GU herbs Flashcards
What are the renal herbs? Which ones are asters?
Arcostaphylas uva-ursi Equisetum Eupatorium* Hydrangea Juniper Solidago* Thuja Urtica
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Renal antiseptic (NOT a diuretic)
Don’t use >10 days (hepatotoxic), gravid, or simultaneous use with Fe+ (tannins binds them) or with other acid things like vitamin C or cranberry
Equisetum
Diuretic, anti-spasmodic for the GU. For UTIs and stones.
Avoid in pts with severe edema or any electrolyte issues or coagulation issues
Avoid with: hypokalemic drugs, steroids, glucosides, AAs, pseudoepinephrine and licorice
Antagonizes anticoagulants
Drug interactions for renal drugs
Uva ursi: avoid Fe+ (tannins), acidic supplements
Equisetum: avoid anti-coagulants, hypokalemic drugs, steroids, glucosides, AAs, pseudoepinephrine and licorice
Urtica: tannins prevent Fe+ absorption
Eupatorium
ASTER. Anti-lithic, diuretic. Use for stones, UTIs, prostatitis, gout
Hydrangea
Diuertic, anti-lithic. Use for issues of the bladder and prostate
High doses cause dizziness
Juniper
Diuretic, antiseptic, bitter
Specific for lower GU and renal atonia
Avoid in gravid, inflammatory renal diseases
Solidago (goldenrod)
ASTER. Diuretic, carminative, anti-inflammatory
Conditions of the GU and respiratory tract
Thuja
Diuretic, antiseptic
Topically: warts, fissures, ulcers
Internally: conditions of the GU and respiratory tract
High doses: NV, insomnia, abortifacient
Urtica (nettles)
astringent, diuretic
Root: tx for BPH
Flowering plant
Topically joint problems (counter-irritant)
Internally UTI, stones
Avoid in gravid, edema
Tannins interfere with absorption of Fe+
Actea racemosa (black cohosh)
Uterine tonic, E mimic, anti-spasm
For PMS, menopause, early labor; flushing from menopause; causes childbirth
Side effects- sedative (N, bradycardia, hypotension)
Avoid in early pregnancy, lactation and E+ CA, HRT
Angelica sinensis
Tonic for the uterus and liver, anti-spasm, analgesic and sedative
Tx for menstrual issues, menopause
Don’t use with blood thinners, can potentiate; gravid; acute infection. Can cause photo dermatitis
Caullophyllum (blue cohosh)
Cause period, causes birth
Avoid use of nitroglycerin, can interfere
Chamaelirium lute (false unicorn)
uterine tonic, diuretic, brings period
used for period regulation and menopause
NV, anti-platelet activity; may potentiate anticoagulants
What is the major side effect of concern with herbs used for regulating periods and menopause?
Many of them potentiate anticoagulants: ACM (Angelica, Chamaelirium) or antagonize them (Medicago)
Some of them can cause premature labor: ACCMRV (Actea, Caulophyllum, Chamaelirium, Mitchella, Rubus, Vitex)
Caullophyllum interacts with NG
Medicago can potentiate diabetes drugs
Vitex interferes with dopamine blockers, like antipsychotics
Dioscorea villosa
Antispasm, but don’t use in GB disease; can prevent miscarriage (prevents labor as its a muscular contraction)
Medicago sativa
Phytoestrogen, lowers cholesterol; regulates high or low estrogen
Alfafa sprouts can have E coli when they go bad
Avoid in: gravid, gout, SLE, DM (potentiates DM drugs), potentiates anti-coagulants
Mitchella repens
Uterine tonic, causes periods and labor. Don’t use in pregnancy
Rubus ideas (raspberry)
Causes periods, contractions and labor, reduces hemorrhage during labor.
Helps with things in the mouth and eyes- gingivitis, oral ulcers, and conjunctivitis
Viburnum oculus and prunifolium (cramp bark and black haw)
anti-spasm (prevents cramps), brings the period, nerving and sedative, hypotensive
Calms premature labor
Don’t eat the raw fruit, GI irritant
Vitex agnes-castus
Normalizes female hormones and pituitary function. Increases progesterone, decreases E, galactogue
Tx for teenage acne, regulation of menstrual cycle, fertility, menopause
Side effects include NV, HA, dizziness, agitation
Don’t use in gravid, lactation
May interfere with dopamine blockers (antipsychotics)
Which herb prevents premature labor?
Dioscorea
What herbs are used specifically for men?
Pausinystalia (yohimbe), Prunus/Pygeum, Serenoa repens, Smilax, Tribulus terrestris
PPSST!
Pausinystalia yohimbe
aphrodisiac, alpha-2 blocker, serotonin blocker
stimulates erection, salivation, cerebral stimulant
Use in ED, depression
Side effects: insomnia, nervousness, HAs, palpitations, cardiac death
Avoid in schizophrenia, panic attacks, PTSD, CAD, edema, HTN, angina, PUD (mood and heart disorders)
Potentiates alpha blockers, TCAs, MAOIS, beta agonists
Antagonizes atropine, clonidine
Prunus/Pygeum africana
Prostate tonic
5alpha reductase inhibitor (T->DHT; results in increased testosterone and estrogen); potentiates other 5ARIs (Finasteride, Serenoa)
Serenoa repens
Inhibits DHT binding, decreasing prostate hyperplasia
5-alpha-reductase inhibitor
Tx for BPH and ED and low libido
Avoid prior to surgery (potentiates anticoagulants)
Tannins interfere with iron absorption
Smillax (sarsaparilla)
Duiretic, diaphoretic, counter irritant to the skin
Tx for gout, dermatitis, psoriasis, arthritis
high doses irritate GI and kidneys
Tribulus terrestris
Sex hormone enhancer (estrogenic in females, androgenic in males), negative chronotropic
Tx for infertility, impotence, libido, fatigue, CAD
Avoid in gravid, GERD
May potentiate glycosides, beta-blockers, and CCBS
What are the major contraindications for the herbs used to treat the male GU system?
Many of them interfere with medications:
5-alpha-reductase inhibitors: prunus/pygeum, serenoa
Alpha blockers & alpha/beta agonists, atropine, antidepressants: yohimbe
Anticoagulants: serenoa
Glycosides, beta-blockers, CCBS: tribulus
Hemorrhage risk: serenoa
Which GU herbs interact with anti-coagulants?
MACE
Medicago, Angelica, Chamaelirium, Equisetum
Which GU herb interacts with anti-psychotics?
Vitex
Which GU herb interacts with nitroglycerin?
Caullophylum
Which GU herbs can cause premature labor?
A CCM RV
Actea Caullophylum Chamealirium Mitchella Rubex Vitex
