Herbs Flashcards
______ increase ciliary activity, reduce mucus viscosity; liquefy pulmonary secretions
Ex: Eucalyptus, thyme
Expectorant herbs
______ form protective coating
Ex: Mullein, Marshmallow, Plantain
Mucilaginous herbs
What condition(s) are the tannin-containing herbs helpful in addressing?
Acute diarrhea
What herbs were formerly FDA-approved over-the-counter laxatives, but have since been disapproved due to modern efficacy and safety research?
Cascara and Aloe
What constituent of licorice can raise BP and is removed in some preparations?
Glycyrrhizin
What does a carminative do in the digestive system?
Relieves bloating and fullness
What does a cholagogue do in the digestive system?
Promotes bile production and emptying of the gallbladder
What does a bitter do in the digestive system?
Stimulates gastric secretions
What are the pharmaceutical medications with which St. John’s wort is most likely to interact in a significant way?
SSRIs
Protease and reverse transcriptase inhibitors Anticoagulants
Immunosuppressants
What is the relationship between alliin, alliinase, and allicin in the pharmacokinetics of garlic?
Allianase acts on alliin to produce allicin
What does it mean for an herbal to “potentiate” a pharmaceutical medication? What precautions need to be taken in cases like this?
The herb increases the power or effect of the medication
Contraindications should be noted; taken with care
Discuss the history and evolution of the German Commission E and the development of its monographs on botanical therapeutics
The commission E was appointed by a government agency to review phytotherapeutic agents for efficacy and safety
What is a “declared content” on a botanical label and why is it important with potentially toxic herbals?
Name of each ingredient and what it contains
Describe current supplement labeling regulations regarding health claims and structure/function properties of herbs.
In the U.S., the label can describe an effect on the structure or function of the body if supported by a reasonable amount of scientific evidence Therapeutic claims cannot be made on the label or in the package insert
What is an enteric coated capsule? In what ways can they be helpful and at what point should they be used in relation to a meal?
1. Allow for controlled or delayed release of active ingredients
2. Improves ease of swallowing
3. Extends shelf life
4. Masks any unpleasant tastes of active ingredients
5. Taken at least one hour before a meal
6. Coating protects the medicinal core
7. All of the above
- All of the above
What is standardization about and what are its main purposes?
Standardization guarantees the content of one or more active constituents and marker compounds
common preparation using alcohol or alcohol+water to produce extracts of a wide variety of herbs and herb combinations
Tincture
especially useful for giving botanical medicines to children
Syrups
alcohol-free preparation that would be expected to contain only lipid-soluble components
Medicinal Oils
a solution of a volatile substance in alcohol of alcohol+water
Medicinal Spirits
made from fresh plant parts and contain water-soluble components
Plant Juices
water POURED boiling over herb and covered, STEEPED 10 minutes, then strain
(taken off the heat)
made with soft plant materials such as flowers, leaves and soft stems.
Decoction
Maceration
Infusion
Infusion
COVERED with water, boiled, SIMMER 10 minutes, strained
(left on the heat)
used for harder plant materials like roots, seeds and bark.
Decoction
Maceration
Infusion
Decoction
covered with room temperature water, stands 6 hours, strained
Decoction
Maceration
Infusion
Maceration