Herbal Medicine I - Latin grammar and plant parts

Question 1

Latin names:

Answer 1

Latin names are descriptive

Question 2

Officinalis

Answer 2

Salvia officinalis (sage) ‘officinalis’ = ‘official remedy’ used by 18thcentury physicians.

Question 3

Althea

Answer 3

Althea officinalis (marshmallow) ‘althea’ = ‘healing’.
Promotes skin and mucous membrane healing.

Question 4

Montana

Answer 4

Arnica montana (arnica) ‘montana’ = ‘mountain’.
This herb grows high in the mountains.

Question 5

Plant Parts

Answer 5

Herbal medicines are made from leaves, seeds, fruits, roots, flowers, barks.
* The correct part must be used:
* Different parts of the same herb often have different effects and some parts may be toxic!

Question 6

Plant Parts: Leaves

Answer 6

Leaves:
* Dandelion leaves (increase fluid output from kidneys).
* Green leafy parts all high in chlorophyll (alkalising, cleansing).

Question 7

Plant Parts: Seeds

Answer 7

Seeds:
* Milk thistle seeds (liver protection).
* Seeds are generally rich in proteins and essential fatty acids, giving them additional nutritive properties.

Question 8

Plant Parts: Fruits

Answer 8

Fruits:
* Schizandra fruit (liver support, adaptogen).
* Fruits contain sugars (nutritive), colour pigments (anti-oxidant, antiviral), sour plant acids (strengthen digestion).

Question 9

Plant Parts: Roots

Answer 9

Roots:
* Burdock root (detoxification, general support in healing processes).
* Many roots are storehouses for starch, minerals (nutritive, building, grounding).

Question 10

Plant Parts: Flowers

Answer 10

Flowers:
* Chamomile flowers (relax the mind, heal the GIT).
* Flowers are subtle and delicate, and can influence ‘emotional states’.
* Also contain aromatic compounds (digestive) and coloured pigments (antioxidant).

Question 11

Plant Parts: Barks

Answer 11

Barks:
* Cinnamon (promotes circulation and digestion).
Barks are often high in tannins which makes them ‘astringent’ (drying).