Plants as Alternative Medicines

Question 1

complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM) includes (3)

Answer 1

• all practices outside the domain of conventional medicine
• focus on preventing or treating illness
• promoting health & well being

Question 2

how does complimentary alternative medicine complement mainstream medicine (3)

Answer 2

• contributing to a common whole
• satisfying a demand not met by conventional medicine
• diversifying the conceptual framework of medicine

Question 3

the use of essential volatile oils to heal or improve well being

Answer 3

aromatherapy

Question 4

how is aromatherapy adminstered (3)

Answer 4

1. inhalation
2. oral
3. applied to skin through massage

Question 5

Define classical Aromatherapy and the concept it is based on

Answer 5

• used in conjuction with massage
• the terpenoid oils are absorbed through the skin into blood and lymph systems

Question 6

what are three types of aroma therapy

Answer 6

• classical
• cosmetic
• clinical

Question 7

what is clinical aromatherapy

Answer 7

• use of essential oils internally
• practiced by the French
• used orally, pessaries or suppositories

Question 8

what are bach flower remedies

Answer 8

extracts of flowers claimed to cure negative mental states

Question 9

what is an example of a bach remedy

Answer 9

rescue remedy

Question 10

how are bach remedies prepared

Answer 10

• by placing flowers on the surface of water in a glass vessel in the sun
• the solution is preserved in brandy then diluted

Question 11

what is homeopathy

Answer 11

the use of plant tinctures, metal salts and some animal therapies in very dilute quantities

Question 12

what are three key concepts in homeopathy

Answer 12

• like cures like
• minimal doses
• treatment of whole person

Question 13

homeopathic medicines granted licensure under a simplified registration process as long as the following three criteria are met

Answer 13

• the medicine is for oral or external use
• there is no therapeutic claim
• the concnetration of the product is NMT 1 part/10,000 of the mother tincture

Question 14

New rules in 2007 allowed for licensure with a claim for homeopathic medicines as long as the following 4 things are demonstrated

Answer 14

• the applicant demonstrates that the product is a homeopathic product
• the product does not require medical diagnosis, treatment or monitoring
• efficacy based on use of product in Ireland
• safety of product has bee estalished

Question 15

system of alternative medicine where diagnosis is made by a practictioner influenced by the belief that the illness id due to a lack of balance in the body

Answer 15

medical herbalism

Question 16

herbalistic medicine is a supportive process that focuses on herbs which

Answer 16

• support or modify body function, lift it up so to speak
• triggers the body’s defense mechanisms by trying to normalize body chemistry and elmination of toxins

Question 17

aperient

Answer 17

mild laxitive

Question 18

depurgative or eliminative

Answer 18

• encourage body to eliminate

Question 19

diaphoretic and sudiforetic

Answer 19

promote sweating in feverish states

Question 20

what is sweating thought to do

Answer 20

remove toxins from the body

Question 21

what are routes of elimination (4)

Answer 21

• skin - sweating
• lungs - coughing
• bowel - pooping
• kidneys - urine

Question 22

what are rubefacients and what is the principle in their use

Answer 22

• induce local vasodilation in skin by increasing blood flow, improving cleansing and nourishing of affected tissues

Question 23

what is the concept of ‘Vital Force’ in herbalism

Answer 23

• noursining, supportive and healing actions of herbs towards the common goal of maintaining functional integrity of the organism

Question 24

how do alternative plants work in herbalism and what is an alternative word for them

Answer 24

• change metabolic processes so tissues can best deal with the functions of nutrition and elimination
• ‘Blood Purifiers’

Question 25

use of plant products to treat symptoms of a common minor ailment by self medication

Answer 25

phytotherapy

Question 26

what is a phytomedicine

Answer 26

* medicinal product containing as active ingredients * plants * parts of plants * plant materials * or any combination thereof

Question 27

why is it difficult to assess the safety, efficacy and quality of phytotherapy

Answer 27

because the emphasis is on mild acting whole plants

Question 28

what is often the active part of a phytotherapeutic

Answer 28

secondary metabolite

Question 29

what is an example of a plant that is more active than the secondary metabolite

Answer 29

senna pod is more active than sennoside

Question 30

what are two abortifacients and what do they do

Answer 30

* juniper and pennyroyal * cause abortion

Question 31

what can the toxicity or adverse effects of herbal medicines commonly be attributed to (3 things)

Answer 31

* the wrong plant was collected * it is related to other plants * the herb was contaminated during harvesting, storage or processing

Question 32

the quality of phytomedicines is assured by these (7) assessments

Answer 32

1. correct identification of plants * micro and macroscopic 2. checked for adulteration with other toxic plants 3. correct spectrum or profile of compounds in the correct quantity 4. information of pesticide residue in plant 5. absence of pathogenic organisms * aflatoxins from fungi 6. heavy metal content 7. radioisotope content

Question 33

what is used to replace clinical and tox studies in submissions for licensure for herbal products

Answer 33

bibliographies on pk, tox and clinical effectiveness

Question 34

herbals are often licensed through

Answer 34

"well established use" pathways

Question 35

what is a herbal medicine defined as by EMA

Answer 35

any medicinal product exclusively containin as active ingredients, one or more herbals substances or one or more herbal preparations, or one or more herbal substances in combination with one or more herbal preparations

Question 36

what is a herbal substance

Answer 36

all mainly whole, fragmented or cut plants, plant parts, algae, fungi, lichen in unprocessed, ususally dried form, but sometimes fresh. Certain exudates that have not been subjected to a specific treatment. Herbal substances are defined by plant part used and botanical name according to binomial system (genus, species, variety, author)

Question 37

preparation obtained by extraction, distillation, expression, fractionation, purification, concentration, or fermentation including comminuted or powdered herbal substances, tinctures, extracts, essential oils, expressed juices and processed exudates

Answer 37

herbal preparation

Question 38

what certification is granted under new directives

Answer 38

certificate of traditional use

Question 39

what are the requirements to be granted a certificate of traditional use

Answer 39

* used for \> 30 years 15 of which are in EU * not prescribed of defined strength or dosage * evidence of cGMP production * analytical dossier * SPC * bibliography

Question 40

what does the modified process for 'Certificate of Traditional Use' try to establish

Answer 40

that safety and efficacy of the product has been established based upon the long term use and documented safety profile

Question 41

well established use has this compared with traditional use

Answer 41

* well established use has demonstrated safety and efficacy data while * traditional use is theoretical based upon sufficient safety data and plausible efficacy

Question 42

when can standard marketing authorization be applied for under traditional use of well established use

Answer 42

Well established use

Question 43

Is safety data required as part of the application if a herb is on the community lising? why?

Answer 43

No beacuse safety and efficacy have been established