L1 FWHM: Introduction Flashcards
What is herbal knowledge derived from?
- 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”.
What is WHM?
Western Herbal Medicine
What are the origins of WHM?
Hippocrates
Greek physician
(BCE 460-377)
Galen
Roman physician
(CE 130-203)
WHM is based on what system?
Humoral System
How long was the humoral system in use for?
15 centuries
10x longer than modern med has existed!
What is WHM distinct from?
Oriental systems
(TCM, Ayurveda)
What was the particular path WHM took?
Development began in W Europe, then to North America, then back to UK and Europe and also Australia.
What are TWO keys areas of knowledge required to develop in order to practise.
give some details for each
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
List the kinds of knowledge about plants that apply to herbal medicine.
- 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
List the kinds of knowledge about people that apply to herbal medicine.
i.e people-related skills we can learn to apply
- 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?
Name TWO historical influences on WHM
- Ancient Greek and Roman (Hippocrates, Galen)
- Ancient folkloric medicine
- North American developments
- Phytotherapy (scientific enquiry)
What does the term “Materia Medica” mean?
Latin term for ‘Medicinal substances’
What is a “herbal monograph”?
Detailed written study of ONE plant.
Tells us what we need to know about the plant: actions, indications, habitat, dose, safety etc.
Name TWO things that is important to know about people or patients in herbal medicine practice?
Symptoms and the meaning thereof
Lifestyle
Current medication
Underlaying factors causing disease
Constitution
What do we mean by “herbal actions”?
How a herb works in clinical practice
What sorts of actions can herbs have?
- 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)
List some organ/tissue- specific herb actions with examples
- 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
List some general herb actions with examples
- 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)
Where does the term ‘Alterative’ come from?
An obsolete word in pharmacology meaning ”a drug that restores normal health”.
What is an ‘Alterative’ herb?
and give examples
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
How does an Alterative action ‘restore health’?
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
Name some well-known ‘Alterative’ herbs
- 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)
What are the actions of an ‘Adaptogen’ ?
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
What are some well-known ‘Adaptogens’ ?
- 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)
List the Seven Principles of Naturopathy
- Vis Medicatrix Naturae (the healing power of nature, Qi, prana)
- First do no harm (non-invasive, non-toxic treatments)
- Find the cause (lifestyle, history, constitution)
- Treat the WHOLE person
- Doctor as teacher (Latin doceo = I teach).
- Establish positive health (as opposed to “killing/curing” disease)
- Prevent if possible
What are the assessment tools of the professional herbalist?
- 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)
How is a treatment plan arrived at?
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
What is meant by primary health care practitioners?
A practitioner than can be seen before a doctor
List three functions of a Professional Association.
- Arrange insurance
- Maintain standards of practice
- Codes of ethics and conduct
- Accredit training services
- Provide Continuing Professional and Development (CPD) opportunities
As a herbalist, would you be allowed to practice in the UK?
Yes, but cannot sell medicine without a license.
According to WHO, what percentage of the world’s population uses herbal medicine?
80% use as first choice
