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Herbal Medicine I (CNM) > L1 FWHM: Introduction > Flashcards

L1 FWHM: Introduction Flashcards

1
Q

What is herbal knowledge derived from?

A
  • Historical and traditional sources (including word of mouth).
  • Naturopathic practices (dating back to Hippocrates).
  • Energetics (similar to the Chinese notion of Qi, and the
    Ayurvedic Prana – mapping the flow of energy in the body).
  • Scientific enquiry – pharmacology and the “evidence-base”.
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2
Q

What is WHM?

A

Western Herbal Medicine

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3
Q

What are the origins of WHM?

A

Hippocrates
Greek physician
(BCE 460-377)

Galen
Roman physician
(CE 130-203)

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4
Q

WHM is based on what system?

A

Humoral System

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5
Q

How long was the humoral system in use for?

A

15 centuries

10x longer than modern med has existed!

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6
Q

What is WHM distinct from?

A

Oriental systems
(TCM, Ayurveda)

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7
Q

What was the particular path WHM took?

A

Development began in W Europe, then to North America, then back to UK and Europe and also Australia.

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8
Q

What are TWO keys areas of knowledge required to develop in order to practise.

give some details for each

A

Knowledge about plants
* *Materia medica**

Knowledge about patients
* pathology/illness
* individual constitution
* practical treatment plans

*body of remedial substances used in the practice of medicine

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9
Q

List the kinds of knowledge about plants that apply to herbal medicine.

A
  • Botany
  • Identification, habitat and distribution
  • Actions (what plants do in the body)
  • Energetics (how plants affect the flow of energy in the body).
  • Chemistry and how it impacts on human health
  • Indications (what conditions plants are used for)
  • Dosage – amount and frequency
  • ‘Herbal Monograph’ – a detailed written study of a single specialised herb
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10
Q

List the kinds of knowledge about people that apply to herbal medicine.

i.e people-related skills we can learn to apply

A
  • Traditional “energetic” diagnostics (tongue and pulse)
  • Naturopathic diagnostics, incl. Iridology
  • Pathology and biomedical diagnosis
  • What are the underlying factors in causing disease?
  • What do symptoms mean?
  • How do we assess and respond to a patient’s needs?
  • How do we manage a patient’s expectations?
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11
Q

Name TWO historical influences on WHM

A
  • Ancient Greek and Roman (Hippocrates, Galen)
  • Ancient folkloric medicine
  • North American developments
  • Phytotherapy (scientific enquiry)
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12
Q

What does the term “Materia Medica” mean?

A

Latin term for ‘Medicinal substances’

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13
Q

What is a “herbal monograph”?

A

Detailed written study of ONE plant.

Tells us what we need to know about the plant: actions, indications, habitat, dose, safety etc.

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14
Q

Name TWO things that is important to know about people or patients in herbal medicine practice?

A

Symptoms and the meaning thereof
Lifestyle
Current medication
Underlaying factors causing disease
Constitution

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15
Q

What do we mean by “herbal actions”?

A

How a herb works in clinical practice

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16
Q

What sorts of actions can herbs have?

A
  • Organ-/Tissue-specific (eg hepatic or cardiotonic)
  • General actions - similar effect on all tissues (eg stimulating)
  • Multiple (eg hepatic, diuretic, laxative, bitter etc.)
  • Patient-specific (respond to the sum of individual conditions)
17
Q

List some organ/tissue- specific herb actions with examples

A
  • Hepatic - acts on the liver - Milk Thistle
  • Cardiotonic - tones the heart & circulation - Hawthorn
  • Diuretic - stimulates urination - Dandelion leaf
  • Diaphoretic – stimulates perspiration (skin) Elderflower
  • Expectorant -stimulates elimination of mucous from the respiratory tract –Elecampane
  • Nervine - relaxes and/or tones the nerves - Skullcap
18
Q

List some general herb actions with examples

A
  • Stimulant - stimulates, no matter what organ or tissue - Capiscum annuum (Cayenne)
  • Astringent - contracts and tones tissues -Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)
  • Demulcent – soothes, lubricates and cools -Althea officinalis (Marshmallow)
  • Vulnerary - promotes wound healing - Symphtum officinale (Comfrey)
  • Nutritive tonic - nourishes - Urtica dioica (Nettle)
19
Q

Where does the term ‘Alterative’ come from?

A

An obsolete word in pharmacology meaning ”a drug that restores normal health”.

20
Q

What is an ‘Alterative’ herb?

and give examples

A

Blood and lymph cleanser
This may be via a number of other actions (hepatic, diuretic, diaphoretic) and also by aiding digestion

eg Burdock root
eg Echinacea, stimulates phagocyte production that promotes clearing up of pathogens in lymph

21
Q

How does an Alterative action ‘restore health’?

A

By working on specific organs (e.g. liver, kidneys, lymph nodes) in order to stimulate certain processes to facilitate the removal of wastes and toxins

22
Q

Name some well-known ‘Alterative’ herbs

A
  • Burdock (Articum lappa, liver, lymph, skin)
  • Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale, liver, digestion)
  • Nettle (Urtica dioica, liver, kidneys)
  • Red Clover (Trifolium pratense, blood cleanser)
  • Echineacea (Echinacea angustifolia, lymph, immune)
23
Q

What are the actions of an ‘Adaptogen’ ?

A

Help us to adapt to the stresses of life. Balancing, modulating

  • Have a normalising influence corrects conditions independent of the nature of the condition
  • Enable more rapid but less exaggerated healing response
  • Are innocuous at a normal dose level – no toxicity, no extreme actions, generally well-tolerated
  • Allow more sustained peak in blood glucose, and a more gradual decline in blood glucose.
  • Are often also described as “general tonics”

e.g. Ginseng root

24
Q

What are some well-known ‘Adaptogens’ ?

A
  • Wild Oat (Avena sativa, nerve tonic, anxiolytic)
  • Siberian ginseng (Eleuthorococcus senticosus, adrenal tonic, counteracts radiotherapy effects)
  • Panax ginseng (adrenal/general tonic)
  • Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea, energy tonic)
  • Borage (Borago officinalis, adrenal tonic)
  • Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera, nutrititive/general tonic)
25
Q

List the Seven Principles of Naturopathy

A
  1. Vis Medicatrix Naturae (the healing power of nature, Qi, prana)
  2. First do no harm (non-invasive, non-toxic treatments)
  3. Find the cause (lifestyle, history, constitution)
  4. Treat the WHOLE person
  5. Doctor as teacher (Latin doceo = I teach).
  6. Establish positive health (as opposed to “killing/curing” disease)
  7. Prevent if possible
26
Q

What are the assessment tools of the professional herbalist?

A
  • The Case Questionnaire (presenting complaints; current medication; medical history; family history; current lifestyle (diet, exercise etc.); systems status screening and assessment)
  • Traditional diagnostics (energetics, tongue and pulse)
  • Iridology (information about individual constitution)
  • Clinical diagnostic skills (palpation, blood pressure, temperature, etc)
27
Q

How is a treatment plan arrived at?

A

1.Decide diagnosis
* Conventional (pathology, differential diagnosis)
* Traditional (energetic)

2.Decide causative factors
* Lifestyle
* History
* Constitution

3.Choose herbs from knowledge bases to fit
* Pathology
* Energetics
* Causes

4.Give advice on lifestyle, diet etc.

5.Monitor treatment and revise as necessary

28
Q

What is meant by primary health care practitioners?

A

A practitioner than can be seen before a doctor

29
Q

List three functions of a Professional Association.

A
  • Arrange insurance
  • Maintain standards of practice
  • Codes of ethics and conduct
  • Accredit training services
  • Provide Continuing Professional and Development (CPD) opportunities
30
Q

As a herbalist, would you be allowed to practice in the UK?

A

Yes, but cannot sell medicine without a license.

31
Q

According to WHO, what percentage of the world’s population uses herbal medicine?

A

80% use as first choice

Herbal Medicine I (CNM) (31 decks)

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