Nervines

Question 1

what is a nervine?

Answer 1

a category of botanical medicines that act on the nervous system. This category of herbal therapeutics can be further divided into nerve tonics, sedatives, and hypnotics

Question 2

Definition of a nerve tonic?

Answer 2

a substance that improves the tone and vigor or function of the nervous system

Question 3

Definition of a sedative?

Answer 3

also called relaxants, these medicines decrease stimulation to the nervous system. The overall effect is calming

Question 4

Definition of a hypnotic?

Answer 4

often, these are stronger sedatives that cause drowsiness, may alter mental status, and often have anodyne effects.

Question 5

What are some indications for nervines?

Answer 5

anxiety depression exhaustion shock/trauma stress modulation pain modulation

Question 6

avena sativa common name

Answer 6

milky oat seed

Question 7

avena sativa part used

Answer 7

immature milky seed

Question 8

avena sativa energetics

Answer 8

moistening

Question 9

avena sativa action

Answer 9

nutritive trophorestorative (specific for a particular tissue) for the nervous tissue

Question 10

avena sativa indication

Answer 10

nervous exhaustion (nervous headache, cardiac weakness due to nervous depression or debility, opiate withdrawal, nicotine withdrawal)

Question 11

avena sativa contraindications

Answer 11

post surgery

Question 12

avena sativa clinical pearl

Answer 12

Dr Weiman used it on a patient with hypertension and her systolic bp dropped 20 points!

Question 13

Scutellaria lateriflora

common name

Answer 13

skullcap

Question 14

scutellaria lateriflora

energetics

Answer 14

cooling

Question 15

Scutellaria lateriflora

action

Answer 15

nervine tonic

(sedative, antispasmodic, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, stomachic)

Question 16

scutellaria lateriflora

indication

Answer 16

nervous excitability

(insomnia, restlessness, , anxiety, agitation, teething, headache from exhaustion, chorea, siezures, neuralgia, muscular fasciculations, exhaustion due to illness)

commonly used in children

Question 17

scutellaria lateriflora

contraindications

Answer 17

may potentiate the effects of other sedative medications

Question 18

scutellaria lateriflora

clinical pearl

Answer 18

Dr Weiman used skullcap for a patient with angelman syndrome and it helped a lot with the seizures (they decr from 2 per week to 2 per month)

Question 19

Humulus lupulus

common name

Answer 19

Hops

Question 20

Humulus lupulus

part used

Answer 20

strobile (looks like the flower part of plant)

Question 21

Humulus lupulus

action

Answer 21

sedative nervine

(digestive bitter, cholagogue, mild laxative, antimicrobial)

Question 22

Humulus lupulus

indication

Answer 22

delirium tremens (alcohol withdrawal)

(restless legg syndrome, dyspepsia, nervous headache, generalized nervous tension, insomnia, increase lactation)

Question 23

Humulus lupulus

contraindications

Answer 23

depression

pregnancy

Question 24

Valeriana officinalis

common name

Answer 24

valerian

Question 25

Valeriana officinalis

part used

Answer 25

root

Question 26

valeriana officinalis

energetics

Answer 26

warming

Question 27

valeriana officinalis

action

Answer 27

sedative

(relaxant, antispasmodic, hypotensive, diuretic, diaphoretic, anticonvulsant)

Question 28

valeriana officinalis

indication

Answer 28

depression