Module 1 Q 1 - 39 Flashcards
According to this text, why is herbal medicine coming back into prominence?
Because infectious organisms can develop resistance to conventional
medicine, many conventional solutions are not as effective as they once were.
Why is herbal medicine increasing in demand in Western countries?
- Herbal medicine can complement conventional medicine
- Conventional medicine has not yet discovered treatments/ cures for many chronic illnesses (for example asthma, IBS, and arthritis)
- There is growing concern over the side effects of biomedicine
What plant does morphine come from?
Morphine comes from the opium poppy
Why is using the whole herb important as opposed to individual active constituents?
The active constituents of plants complement each other. They interact in complex ways to produce the therapeutic properties of the herb. A plant might contain hundreds, if not thousands of chemicals that interact with each other.
Is there a clear line between herbal medicine and foods?
There isn’t a clear line between herbal medicine and foods. Our bodies have adapted to digest plant-based foods, which can have medicinal properties. Onion, lemon, papayas and oats are examples.
What is one of the finest examples of a detoxifying herb?
Burdock is one of the finest examples of a detoxifying herb.
What is homeostasis?
Homeostasis is the ability to adapt to the external world, while the body’s internal
workings remain constant.
What is an adaptogenic herb and what herb is a good example?
An adaptogenic herb is a herb that helps people adapt, by either helping to ease nervous/emotional tension, or by working with the body’s physiological processes to maintain health. Ginseng is a good example.
What are the 9 body systems? Please list 2 herbs for each body system.
- Skin - tea tree, calendula
- Immune system - echinacea, lapacho
- Respiratory System - garlic, marsh mallow
- Endocrine glands - ginseng, black cohosh
- Urinary system - buch, cornsilk
- Musculoskeletal system - yellow jasmine, white willow 7. Nervous System - Rosemary, Lemon Balm
- Circulation and Heart - Cayenne, Crampbark
- Digestive Organs - Ginger, Wormwood
What are the 16 categories of active constituents? Please name 1 herb from each.
- Mucilage (lines the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, protecting against irritation, acidity and inflammation) - Slippery Elm
- Phenols (antiseptic and reduce inflammation when taken internally, but have an irritant effect when applied to the skin) - Thyme
- Tannins (draw tissues closer together and improve their resistance to infection) - Oak Bark
- Coumarins (have widely divergent actions) - celery
- Anthraquinones (irritant laxative effect on the large intestine) - Chinese Rhubarb
- Flavonoids (anti-inflammatory and useful in maintaining a healthy circulation) - lemon
- Anthocyanins (keep the blood vessels healthy) - blackberry
- Glucosilinates (irritant effect on skin, increase blood flow to affected area when used as poultice) - radish
- Volatile Oil (extracted from plants to produce essential oils) - tea tree
- Saponins (a. Triterpenoid and b. Steroidal) - liquorice
- Cardiac Glycosides (strong, direct action on the heart) - common foxglove
- Cyanogenic Glycosides (based on cyanide; sedative and relaxant effect on the heart and muscles in small doses) - Elderflower.
- Vitamins - Rosehips (dog rose)
- Bitters - (stimulates secretions by the salivary glands and digestive organs) - wormwood
- Alkaloids (contain nitrogen-bearing molecules; have pronounced physiological actions) - Deadly Nightshade
- Minerals - Dandelion
What ancient Greek philosopher thought plants had a soul?
Aristotle
What tree will most British farm workers still not cut down due to fear?
Elder trees
What plant do Amazonian shamans use?
Ayahuasca
How did traditional herbalists learn from watching animals?
Watching their behavior after they have rubbed against or eaten certain plants. Watching what they will not eat.
What is one of the earliest examples of written herbal knowledge?
The Egyptian Ebers Papyrus
What was the first herbal medicine text to have pictures of plants in it?
De Materia Medica
What herbal pain killers were 11th century monks using?
Opium poppy and marijuana
What was or is the herb galangal used for?
A warming and nourishing spice for the digestive system
What conditions likely lead to the mid 14th century European plague?
open sewers, overcrowding, and ignorance of basic hygiene
Who is known as the ‘Father of Chemistry’?
Paracelsus
Who created an herbal text that was a blend of herbalism and astrology?
Culpeper
What changed with chemical cures and ‘The New Rationalism’?
Modern medicine stopped trying to work with nature and with the body’s healing capacities.
What philosopher claimed that the concept of ‘vital force” was ignorant?
Rene Descartes
What plant is renowned for supplying cardiac glycosides?
Foxglove
