Herbal Medicine Flashcards
What is a herbal medicine?
Plants or plant parts used for medicinal purposes
Estimated 30k medicinal herbs
When do the earliest records of herbal medicines date from?
Ancient Egyptionals - garlic and myrrh
Neanderthal man archaeological evidence as herbs
Animals also use plant medicine
3 cultures that traditionally use herbal medicines?
Ayurvedic medicine
Chinese medicine
Western herbal medicine
What is the origin of modern medicine - give 2 examples?
Modern medicine grew out of herbal medicine
GArlic was the principal topical antibiotic in WW1
Metformin is derived from goat’s rue
Asperin’s origins are from willow bark
What’s the difference between a herb and a food?
Sometimes cultural
Foods normally considered for their macro and micros and consumed in large amounts
Herbs are primarily used for the phytochemicals - small amounts offer therapeutic benefits
“poison is in the dose”
What is the difference between primary and secondary metabolites?
*common exam question
Primary - compounds needed for the plant to grow and function e.g. starch, chlorophyll, cellulose
Secondary - assist a plants survival in within its environment - pharmacologically active in humans and central to the benefits of herbal medicine.
What is phytochemistry?
The study of chemicals derived from plants
Two examples of secondary metabolites
Caffeine in coffee - natural pesticide for plant / CNS stimulant
Tannins in tea - protect plant from insects / astringe mucous membranes
4 key beneficial actions of herbs
think - SPINS Ulcers
SPINS Ulcers
anti-SPasmodic - for the digestive system
anti-Infalmmatory
relax the central Nervous System
anti-ulcers
6 examples of phytochemicals and their benefits
think - SAT FAT
SAT FAT
Saponins - steroid like adaptogenic - liquorice
Alkaloids - NS stimulent - berberine
Tannins - astringent (bind to proteins) - yarrow
Flavonoids - anti-oxidant / anti-viral - hawthorn
Anthraquinones - cause evacuation - senna
Terpenes - antispasmodic - lavender
Who regulates herbal medicines in the UK?
THR - Traditional Herbal Registration
MHRA - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
What are the different ways to use herbal medicines?
Infusions
Decoctions
Syrups
Tinctures
Glycerites
Powders
Capsules
Lozenges
Oils
Creams
Lotions
Ointments
Poultices
Compresses
Infusions
Use?
How to make?
Benefits?
Use - preparing delicate / aromatic leaves and flowers
How to Make - 2 teaspoons of dried herbs / 2 tea bags - boiled water and cover. Strain if herbal tea. 3 cups daiily.
Benefits - infusions extract water-soluable phytochemicals, hydrating and good compliance
Decoctions
Use?
How to make?
Use - preparting roots, fruits and bark that need to be cooked
How to Make - place herbs in a pan, bring to the bowl, simmer for 15 mins until reduced by 30%. 1 teaspoon dried herbs per cup / 3 cups daily.
Syrups
Use?
How to make?
Use - thick, sweet medicines for cough and throat remedies. Easy for children
How to Make - make a decoction, reduce until 1/2 water has evaporated.
Add sugar or honey in ration of 2 parts sugar to 1 part decoction.
2 teaspoons / 3 x daily - kids 1/2-1 teaspoon
Caution - sugar
Tinctures
Use?
Strengths?
Use? Alcohol used to extract a wider range of phytochemicals - concentrated and fast-action. Good compliance, long self-life due to alcohol (up to 5 years).
Strength: 1.1 strongest. Shops often sell 1:10
Alcohol strengths vary - 25% min for preservation.
What is the standard dose for a tincture?
5ml / 100 drops in a small glass of water 3 x per day before food.
Always check product labels
Who are tinctures not suitable for? x 3
Alcoholics, some religions and some inflammatory conditions such as gastritis.
What is a glycerite?
Who is it most suitable for?
Herbs steeped in glycerine - a thick sweet liquid. Does not extract as many phytochemicals as tinctures.
Good for children and those who cannot consumer alcohol.
Syrupy texture is good for mouth, throat and chest remedies
Shorter shelf life
Powders
What is a powder?
Benefits?
Normal dose?
Limitation?
Food form of a herbal medicine
Small particles aid assimilation
1 teaspoon, 2 x daily
Short shelf life - 1 year
What is a standardised extract and what are its limitations?
Manufactured to contain a quantified amout of active constituents
Stronger (than traditional extracts) but often
- made using solvents
- ‘spiked’ with phytochemicals
- lack natural balance of phytochemicals
- more likely to cause side effects
How are infused oils made?
Give 3 examples and their usage?
What caution needs to be considered?
Seeping herbs in oil using a double burner
Calendula - dry skin - antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, tissue-healing
Comfrey - sprains, strains and arthritis. Anti-infrmmationry - increases cell proliferation
Garlic - antimicrobial - fungal skin infections
Caution - do not apply hot oil to inflamed skin
How are essential oils made? What is the maximum dose?
Cautions with essential oils
Made - extracting volatile phytochemicals by steam distillation
Max - 20 drops per 100g
Don’t take internally
Don’t apply neat to skin (except lavender and tea tree)
How are ointments, creams and lotions made and what are their uses?
Ointments - oils mixed with beeswax or cocoa butter. Thick for dry, cracked skin.
Creams - oils with emulsifying wax. Moisturising for skin complaints and wounds
Lotions - more water than creams so thinner - cooling properties for inflamed skin.
What is a poultice? Give two examples?
Crushed herbs held against the skin with a bandage
Comfrey leaf - musculoskeletal inflammation - traditionally called ‘knit-bone’
Plantain leaf - soothes and promotes healing
What is a compress? Give an example?
Cloth soaked in a herbal infusion or decoction and applied to the skin
Calendula flower for skin conditons
What factors need to be considered when choosing a dosage of a herbal medicine?
A clients age, bodyweight, degree of sensitivity, allergies, acute or chronic condition?
What to consider with seniors or children for doses?
Seniors are normally given a lower dose
Check drug herb interactions
Children under 2 are not normally given herbal tinctures.
Full adult dose from 14 unless not adult height
What to consider with culinary herbs?
Culinary herbs are herbal medicine
Minimise heat exposure to retain phytonutrients
Best use regularly - 2-3 times per day
What are the 5 actions of herbs in the digestive system
think BAD CAD
Bitter
Aromatic Digestive
Carminative
Antiemetic
Demulcent
What does demulcent mean - give an example?
Soothes and heals mucus membranes - slippery elm
What does antiemetic mean - give an example?
Reduces nausea and vomiting - ginger
What does carminative mean - give an example?
Relaxes digestive smooth muscles - peppermint / fennel
Given an example of a bitter and aromatic digestive?
Bitter - dandelion root
Gentian
Aromatic digestive - cardamom
Benefits and usage of aloe vera? think COW POL
COx - inhibition
COllagen synthesis
Wound healing
POLysaccharides
Moist, cooling
Wounds, burns, GI inflammation
25-100ml juice or gel
Caution - some products laxative
Pregnancy
Benefits and usage of cardamom - thin CaP WeD HT
CArminative
gastro-Protective
Weak Digestion &
Hypertension
1/2-teaspoon daily
Caution - pregnancy
GORD
Benefits and usage of Chamomile
“mother of the gut”
Carm GAB SpaG
CARMinative
GABa - binds to receptors
anti-SPAsmodic
Gluconeogenesis inhibition
Caution - allergy to Asteraceae family
