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
Ginseng means
Manroot
Ginsenoids are
Bioactive saponins in the root ground tissue
Ginsenoids have
Anti tumor activity, lower cholesterol, prevent memory loss and boost immune system
Ginseng may cause
Hypertension and aergic reactions
Goldenseal name from
rhizome colour and cup like depressions on detachment of floral stem
Goldenseal used for
Antiseptic
- anti-inflammatory
- antibiotic wash for wounds
Goldenseal major medicinal plant
As it’s active alkaloids are isolated
Blood root used for
Rhizome
Blood root propagates by
Attracting ants with oily deposit called Elaiosome.
- needs ants for seed dispersal. Ants take it and hide in underground nestsso the seeds stay safe and grow
Blood root used for
Rheumatism, asthma, bronchitis
sanguinarine
Has Anti plaque and anti gingivitis properties
- cancers of the mouth can develop with too much
Sanguinarine has effects if
Grown near seed oils like mustard seeds as the seeds from poppy can end up in oil and can cause epidemic dropsy
An ancient tradition with blood root
To smear on hand and shake hands with person you hoped to marry as sign of proposal in ancient tribes
