Lec 7: Underground Medicine Flashcards
black cohosh treats
depression and labor
cascara treats
constipation
roots
anchors that pull nutrients up from the soil
rhizomes
underground modified stems that propagate with no seeds
echinacea
echinacea genus has 9, but 3 are medicinal
- greek for hedgehog
3 medicinal echinacea
- pallida
- angustifolia
- purpurea
purpulea is
a purple cone flower
- a perennial species
- member of Asteracea family
0. 5 - 1m in height
- ray and disc florets
ray florets
the outside petal part of the flower w no seeds
disc floret
has pistol for pollens where seeds are formed
purpulea is
dicotyledonous, but distinguished by fibrous roots
sioux used purpulea root for
throat infection and snake bites
Echinacea marketed as
Anti infective agent (was sold as snake oil and said to purify blood from rattle snake bites)
Echinacea use declined with
introduction of antibiotics and penicillin (still used today as immune system stimulant to protect against flu, sore throat, and skin disorders)
Echinacea considered drug as
It is not patent and doesn’t have a known active ingredient
Roots are harvested when plant is
4 yrs old and dried + ground I to capsules