L3 Herbal Actions: By herb Flashcards
Rose petals
Le Rosier de Damas
Rosa damascena
* Alterative
* Cooling to the liver
* Hormone balancing (improves way liver detoxs hormones)
Poke root
Le Raisin d’Amérique
Phytolacca americana
* Alterative
* Advanced herbal use only
Yellow dock
l’Oseille crépue/Rumex crépu
Rumex crispum
* Excellent alterative, works through the liver
* Good for skin conditions (acne, psoriasis)
* Nutritive (high iron in root)
Red clover
Trèfle commun
Trifolium pratense
* Alterative
* Mild sedative
* Phyto-oestrogenic properties
Nettle leaf
La Grande ortie
Urtica dioica
* Alterative
* Antihistimine
* Root: prostate
* Seeds: kidney regenerative
* Tonic: General tonic*
* Great mineral nutritive
*Matches the three conditions for an adaptogen
Dandelion
Le pissenlit
Taraxacum officinale
* Alterative
* Root: liver, cholagogue (for bile)
* Leaf: effective bitter tonic
Garlic
L’ail (pluriel : ails ou aulx)
Allium sativum
* Alterative
* Cleans up blood circulation
* Lowers BP
* Reduces cholesterol
* Immune stimulant
* Antimicrobial, antiviral
* Anthelmintic (universal ‘anti’!)
Burdock root
Grande Bardane
Arctium lappa
* Alterative
Mountain grape root
Mahonia à feuilles de houx
Berberis aquifolium
* Alterative
* Digestive stimulatant
* Cholagogue
* Digestive antiseptic (disturbed bacterial balance)
* Contains berberine so effective in T2 diabetes
Barberry bark
Épine-vinette
Berberis vulgaris
* Alterative
* Aperient
* Digestive stimulatant
* Tonic
* Cholagogue
* Digestive antiseptic (disturbed bacterial balance)*
* Contains berberine so effective in T2 diabetes
* Immunomodulator
*Has been used to treat MRSA
Echinacea
L’Échinacée
Echinacea purpurea/angustiafolium
* Alterative
* Whole plant is most useful alterative
* Known for being an ‘immune booster’ but more correctly a lymphatic alterative
Cleavers
Le Gaillet gratteron
Galium aperine
* Alterative
* Lymphatic cleanser
Bearberry
La Busserole/Raisin d’ours
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
* Alterative
* Good kidney cleanser
* Antispeptic
Marigold flowers
Souci officinal
Calendula officinalis
* Alterative
* Liver detoxification
* Lymph cleansing
* Vulnerary
Hyssop
Hysope
Hyssopus officianalis
Anthelmintic
Wormwood
Artemisia abSINthium
Anthelmintic (powerful herb
not to be overdone)
Tansy
TanaCEtum vulgarE
Anthelmintic
Rue
Ruta graveolens
* Anthelmintic
* ! Abortificant
Black walnut hull and leaf
Juglans nigra
* Anthelmintic
* Best harvested in hot countries
* The black sticky residue is the effective component
Cloves
Eugenia caryophyllum
* Anthelmintic
* Antimicrobial
Pumpkin seeds
Curcurbita pepo
* Anthelmintic
* Infusion effective against roundworm
Mugwort
Artemisia vulgaris
Anthelmintic
Valerian root
Valerian officinalis
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* Sedative
* Anxiolytic
* Warming (but for some constitutions has heating effect)
* Cerebral stimulant
* Lowers BP
Lime blossom
Tilia europea
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* Sedative
* Good for high BP (esp with Yarrow and Hawthorn flowers)
* Acts on blood vessels.
* Helps reduce cholesterol levels (antihyperlipidemic)
Black cohosh
Cimicifuga racemosa
- Nervine, antispasmodic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Principally for menstrual pain
- Very good for musculoskeletal system, ligament strengthening
- Antirheumatic
- Sedative
- Expectorant
- Oestrogenic
Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera
* Tonic: General tonic
* * Primarily adaptogen
* Strengthens
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* Nootropic
* Sexual tonic
* Combines well with Passionflower in a sleep tonic
* Good remedy for children (settling, teething, failure to thrive)
Mistletoe stems
Viscum album
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* For BP
Chamomile
Matricaria recutita
Chamomilla spp
- Nervine, antispasmodic
- Antiseptic (particulary in digestive tract)
- Carminative
- Warming
- Relaxant
- Anti-allergenic
- Anti-inflammatory
Cramp bark
Viburnum opulus
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* Sedative
* Astringent
* Relaxant
* Known for dysmenorrhea
* Colic, IBS
* Asthma
Passionflower
PassiflorA incarnARta
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* Relieves the stress of being incarnated!
* Anxiolytic
* Sedative/hypnotic
* Analgesic
Lobelia
Lobelia inflata
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* Combined with Avena sativa excellent for tobacco addiction (“Indian tobacco”)
* Purgative (! fatal in high doses)
* Expectorant
* Respiratory stimulant (produces stronger breathing)
Hops
Humulus lupulus
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* Stress-relieving
* Sedative
* Aromatic bitter (digestive aid)
* Phyto-oestrogenic
Wild Yam root
Dioscorea villosa
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* Particulary dysmenorrhea
* Quick acting for irritable bowel (griping, colicky pain)
* Anti-inflammatory
* Anti-rheumatic
* Diaphoretic
* Diruretic
Wood betony
Stachys betonica
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* Anxiety
* Depression (stimulating)
* Anti-inflammatory
Vervain
Verbena officinalis
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* Mild bitter tonic
* Trophorestorative/tonic
* Relaxes and strengthens
* ‘Female character’ (oestrogenic and progestogenic activity)
Skullcap
Scutellaria laTERiflora
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* Trophorestorative to nerves, tonic
* Anxiolytic
* Hypnotic
Nootropics
Gingko
Thins blood, removes deposits in blood, antiasthmatic, antinflammatory
Gingko biloba
* Stimulant (cerebral): thins blood
* Nootropic
* Removes deposits in blood
* Antiasthmatic
* Anti-inflammatory
Rosemary
RosMARinus officinalis
Nootropic: even in a diffuser helps concentration
Stimulant
Sage
Salvia officinalis
Diaphoretic (warming)
Nootropic
Brahmi herb
Bacopa monnieri
* Nootropic
* Used for ADHD
* Also for low thyroid
Siberian gingseng
ELeutherococcus senticosus
* Adaptogen: Gives a can-do attitute
* Protects against radiation
* Nootropic
* Tonic: General tonic
* Deep level immune tonic (bone marrow level)
ELeuthero = freedom coccus = seed
Goldenseal root
Hydrastis canaDENsis
Tonic: Bitter tonic
Ginseng root
Panax ginseng
* Tonic: General tonic
* Known in TCM as herb for ‘old men’
* Yang tonic
* Sexual tonic
Liquorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra
* Tonic: General tonic
* Contains saponins which can be the precursors for adrenal hormones (but in moderation)
Wild oat seed
(Milky oats)
Avoine commune
Avena sativa
Tonic: General tonic
Nervine (anxyoltyic)
For addictions
Astragalus /
Milk vetch root
Astragale
Astragalus membranaceous
* Tonic: General tonic
* Important in TCM (Wei Qi tonic)
* Affinity for the chest (esp immune issues)
* One of the most generally applicable adaptogens
* Deep level immune tonic (bone marrow level)
Gotu Kola
L’hydrocotyle
Centella/Hydrocotyl asiatica
* Tonic: General tonic
* Regenerates micro-vasculature (useful for neuropathy)
* Nootropic
* Vulnerary
* Nervine/thymoleptic
Centuary herb
La Petite centaurée
Centaurium erythraea
* Tonic: Bitter tonic
* Tones stomach
* Tightens gastroesophageal sphincter
Myrrh resin
La myrrhe
Commiphora molmol
* Tonic: Bitter tonic
* Antiseptic
* Antimicrobial
* Helps seal leaky gut
Gentian root
La gentiane jaune
Gentiana lutea
Tonic: bitter tonic
Can be detected at 1 part in 50,000
Marshmallow root
Guimauve officinale
Althea officinalis
Vulnerary
Good in poultices, ‘carrying’ powder
Cayenne pods
Capsicum minimum
Vulnerary
Pain relief and stopping bleeding
Horsetail herb
Prêle des champs
EquiSEtum arvense
Vulnerary
Contains high amounts of silica which is converted in the body to calcium (used for building bones, joints and ligaments)
Good in nutritive formula
Boneset
Eupatoire perfoliée
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Vulnerary
St John’s Wort
Millepertuis
Hypericum perforatum
* Nervine, antispasmodic
* Improves liver detoxification (for drugs)
* Vulnerary
* All round healer
Plantain herb
Le Grand Plantain
Plantago major / lanceolata
Vulnerary
Self-heal herb
Brunelle commune
Prunella vulgaris
Vulnerary
Comfrey leaf and root
Consoude officinale
Symphytum officinalis
Vulnerary
Must ensure bone is set properly before using
