Herbalism and EMR Flashcards

1
Q

Echinacea?

A
  • freshly pressed juice ingestion within 24hrs of onset that increase immune function to decrease duration and intensity of common cold symptoms
  • increase phagocytosis, activate NK cells, decrease IL-6/8, anti-inflammatory properties via decrease in COX
  • AE - unpleasant taste, GI symptoms, headache, dizziness
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2
Q

Ephedra?

A
  • ephedrine+pseudoephedrine mixture that is used to tx bronchitis, asthma and as a CNS stimulant, also promotes weight loss
  • it is an indirectly acting sympathomimetic that promotes NE release from nerve endings
  • AE -insomnia, dizziness, anorexia, palpitations, tachycardia, flushing and urinary retention
  • elevated doses causes increased BP, cardiac arrhythmias and toxic psychosis [do not use in pts with cardiac arrhythmias, hyperthyroidism, CHF, HTN, glaucoma, pregnancy, DM, bulimia and anxiety]
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3
Q

Garlic?

A
  • organic thiosulfinate (primary constituent) that forms in to allicin from alliin by stomach acid
  • Allicin decreases HMG-CoA as well as platelet aggregation (via decrease in thromboxane), elevated NO, fibronolytics, and decreased crcinogenic activation
  • decrease cholesterol and BP
  • AE - allergic rxn, hypotension, nausea, drug interaction with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs
  • pts taking this drug present with garlicy breath, body odor and contact dermatitis
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4
Q

Ginkgo?

A
  • flavone glycosides and terpenoids [active constituents]
  • antioxidant property and increase NO formation
  • decreases blood viscosity, increases vasodilation and increases muscarinic and decreases B-adrenergic effects
  • Uses - intermittent claudication, cerebral insufficiency, dementia/cognitive impairment, pretreatment in coronary artery bypass graph
  • AE - epileptogenic, insomnia, headache, anxiety, and GI disturbance
  • possible drug interactions with anticoagulants and platelets
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5
Q

Ginseng?

A
  • Ginsenoisides (active component)
  • improve mental and physical performance by increasing levels of Ach, 5HT, NE and DA
  • AE - mastalgia, vaginal bleeding due to estrogenic effects, insomnia, anxiety, nervousness, HTN
  • drug interactions with anticoagulants, hypoglycemics, antihypertensives, psychiatric medications
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6
Q

Milk Thistle?

A
  • Silymarin (active ingredient)
  • cytoprotective effect against hepatic injury by alcohol, acetaminophen and amanita mushroom poisoning
  • decreased lipid peroxidation, scavenges free radicals, increased superoxide dismutase, increased hepatic RNA polymerase activity
  • AE - loose stools (rare), but other than that, no significant drug interaction
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7
Q

St. John’s Wort?

A
  • Hypericin and hyperforin [active ingredients]
  • Hyperforin decreases serotonergic reuptake (similar to SSRI and TCA)
  • used to treat mild to moderate depression
  • Hypericin may have some antiviral and anticancer effect
  • AE - mild GI disturbance and photosensitivity
  • drug interaction with pts who are on MAOI, SSRI
  • It also increases cytochrome P450 thereby decreasing effectiveness of other drugs
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8
Q

Saw Palmetto?

A
  • Photosterols, aliphatic alcohols, polyprenes, flavonoids [active constituents]
  • decreased 5a-reductase and antagonistic effects at androgen receptors
  • used to treat BPH
  • AE - GI distress and pain, decreased libido, HTN, headache
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9
Q

Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone)?

A
  • cofactor for mitochondrial electron transport
  • its reduced form is ubiquinol and may function as an antioxidant
  • it is associated with a small decrease in BP therefore can be used to treat CHF, acute MI, CAD, and slow PD progression
  • AE - GI symptoms, rash, irritability, decreased warfarin effects, thrombocytopenia, headache, dizziness
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10
Q

Glucosamine?

A
  • nitrogen containing sugar [major component of glycosaminoglycans] which is an important ingredient of CT such as in cartilage
  • primarily used for Rx of OA to decrease pain
  • AE - allergy, GI symptoms of diarrhea and nausea, increased INR in pts with warfarin
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11
Q

Melatonin?

A
  • N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine – serotonin derivative produced by pineal gland
  • improved sleep onset, duration and quality [helps with jet lag and insomnia]
  • AE - sedation, following-day drowsiness
  • decrease midcycle LH surge, decrease sperm quality, contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation, decreased prothrombin time
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12
Q

Black Cohosh (actaea racemosa)?

A
  • extract from these plants in eastern north america possesses analgesic, sedative and anti-inflammatory properties
  • used to treat symptoms of menopause and premenstrual tnesion
  • physiological effects may be due to binding of black cohosh to serotonin receptors
  • AE - dizziness, headache, seizures, GI disturbance, liver damage
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13
Q

KAVA?

A
  • Kavalactones [active ingredients]
  • roots of the plant are used to produce a drink with sedative properties (relaxation properties)
  • tx short-term social anxiety
  • AE - liver toxicity due to use of stems and leaves, malnutrition, weight loss, renal dysfunction, rash and hematological abnormalities
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