L3 Herbal Actions: Alteratives Flashcards
Alteratives
What is the old name for alteratives?
Depuratives
Alteratives
How do alteratives work?
They act on the mechanisms which purify (filter, clean) the blood
Alteratives
How does Echinacea qualify as an alterative?
By promoting and activating phagocytosis to remove pathogens in the lymph
Alteratives
What are the organs primarily affected by alterative actions?
Liver
Kidneys
Lymph nodes
Alteratives
Arctium lappa has an affintity for which other organ?
(as well as liver and kidneys)
Skin
Alteratives
Garlic
Cleans up blood circulation
Lowers BP
Reduces cholesterol
Immune stimulant
Antimicrobial, antiviral
Allium sativum
Alteratives
Burdock root
Arctium lappa
Alteratives
Mountain grape root
Contains berberine so effective in T2 diabetes
Useful digestive stimulatant
Cholagogue
Digestive antiseptic (disturbed bacterial balance)
Berberis aquifolium
Alteratives
Barberry bark
Contains berberine so effective in T2 diabetes
Useful digestive stimulatant
Cholagogue
Digestive antiseptic (disturbed bacterial balance)
Berberis vulgaris
Alteratives
Echinacea
whole plant
most useful alterative
known for being an ‘immune booster’ but more correctly a lymphatic alterative
Echinacea purpurea/angustiafolium
Alteratives
Cleavers
lymphatic cleanser
Galium aperine
Alteratives
Poke root
advanced herbal use only
Phytolacca americana
Alteratives
Yellow dock
Excellent alterative,
works through the liver
Good for skin conditions (acne, psoriasis)
Nutritive (high iron in root)
Rumex crispum
Alteratives
Dandelion
Use root and leaf
Root: liver, cholagogue (for bile)
Leaf: effective bitter tonic
Taraxacum officinale
Alteratives
Red clover
general purpose alterative
used in NA traditions
also a mild sedative
oestrogenic properties
Trifolium pratense
Alteratives
Nettle leaf
excellent alterative
also a nutritive, antihistimine
Root: prostrate
Seeds: kidney regenerative
Urtica dioica
Alteratives
Marigold flowers
Used by french herbalists for liver detoxification
Also for cleansing lymph
Calendula officinalis
Alterative
Rose petals
cooling to the liver,
good for hormone balancing (improves way liver detoxs hormones)
Rosa damascena
Alteratives
Bearberry
good kidney cleanser antispeptic
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
List some herbs with Alterative actions
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Rose petals Rosa damascena
- Marigold flowers Calendula officinalis
- Nettle leaf Urtica dioica
- Red clover Trifolium pratense
- Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
- Yellow dock Rumex crispum
- Poke root Phytolacca americana
- Cleavers Galium aperine
- Echinacea Echinacea purpurea/angustiafolium
- Barberry bark Berberis vulgaris
- Mountain grape root Berberis aquifolium
- Burdock root Arctium lappa
- Garlic Allium sativum
