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Understanding Herbal Actions Flashcards

1
Q

Alteratives

A

herbs that cleanse the blood; support the function of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and bowels

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2
Q

Conditions aided by alteratives

A

skin eruptions and chronic diseases of the skin, allergies, headaches, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, cancer, nervous and mental disorders, dementia

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3
Q

Anodynes

A

relieve pain by lessening the excitability of the nerves and nerve centers - when taken internally they are referred to as analgesics

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4
Q

Conditions aided by anodynes

A

arthritis, sore muscles, joint pain, toothache, over-exertion, headache, sunburn, wounds, fractures

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5
Q

Antacids

A

herbs that correct over acid conditions in the stomach and bowels; many can also be used to alkalize the blood

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6
Q

Conditions aided by antacids

A

dyspepsia, heartburn, reflux, bloating, belching, intestinal cramps, flatulence, irritable or inflamed bowel

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7
Q

Anthelmintics

A

herbs which have the capacity to expel or destroy intestinal worms and parasites

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8
Q

What should (generally) be combined with anthelmintics?

A

Laxative or cathartic herbs to make sure that the parasites are eliminated from the intestinal tract

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9
Q

Conditions aided by anthelmintics

A

Intestinal worms and parasites create a variety of symptoms including chronic diarrhea, bloating, gas, indigestion, cramping, intestinal pain, rectal/anal itching, bloody stools, fluid retention, weight loss/gain, ulcers, colitis, and irritable bowel

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10
Q

Antiarthritics

A

used to relieve and heal arthritic conditions

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11
Q

Conditions aided by antiarthritics

A

joint, connective tissue inflammation and pain

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12
Q

Antibiotics

A

destroy or inhibit the growth of viruses and bacteria; sometimes called antizymotics

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13
Q

Conditions aided by antibiotics

A

any known, suspected, or threatened infection

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14
Q

Anticatarrhals

A

help breakdown and eliminate excess mucus conditions

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15
Q

Conditions aided by anticatarrhals

A

chronic or excessive discharge from the nose, throat, lungs, stomach, intestines, or urinary tract; colds, flu, pneumonia

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16
Q

Antiemetics

A

herbs used to relieve queasiness of the stomach, nausea, and vomiting

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17
Q

Conditions aided by antiemetics

A

nausea, morning sickness, motion sickness, nausea from vertigo, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy

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18
Q

Anti-inflammatories

A

reduce inflammation and relieve the associated swelling and pain

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19
Q

Antiseptics

A

have the power to destroy or prevent the growth of bacteria and delay/prevent the decay of tissue and the formation of pus

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20
Q

Conditions aided by antiseptics

A

cuts, abrasions, wounds, indolent ulcers, abscesses, gangrene, frostbite, active infections

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21
Q

Antispasmodics

A

herbs that relieve nervous irritation, involuntary ticks, twitches, and tremors, muscular spasms, hacking coughs, convulsions, and cramps

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22
Q

Conditions aided by antispasmodics

A

cramps, muscle spasms, nervous ticks and tremors, dry cough, asthma, hiccough, restless legs, involuntary muscle movement

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23
Q

Aperients

A

herbs that produce a mild laxative effect, without griping pains or purging

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24
Q

Conditions aided by aperients

A

occasional mild irregularity, constipation

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25
Aphrodisiacs
herbs that correct conditions of impotence and low sexual desire
26
Aromatics
have a stimulating effect on the GI mucus membranes; aid digestion and expel wind from the stomach and bowels; sometimes called carminatives
27
When should stronger aromatics be avoided?
If inflammation of the stomach or bowels is present
28
Conditions aided by aromatics
gas, flatulence, bloating, dyspepsia, constipation, atonic conditions of the intestinal elimination
29
Astringents
increase the firmness and tone of the tissues; drying by nature and lessen excessive discharges from the eyes, nose, intestines, urinary tract, vagina, draining abscesses, and indolent ulcers
30
Bitters
herbs that, when tasted, promote the flow of digestive juices throughout the body, and stimulate the peristaltic action of the digestive tract; sometimes called digestives or stomachics
31
Conditions aided by bitters
constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, reflux, poor assimilation, anemia, dry mouth, irritable bowel, liver congestion, jaundice, skin eruptions and diseases
32
Cardiac
herbs that improve the power and regularity of the heartbeat
33
Conditions aided by cardiacs
irregular heart beat, arrhythmia, tachycardia, low blood pressure, high blood pressure, valvular prolapsus, weak heart
34
Cholagogues
Stimulates the flow of bile
35
Conditions aided by cholagogues
gallbladder problems, gall stones, sluggish liver, jaundice, poor digestion, constipation
36
Demulcents
help to soften, relieve, and protect irritated or inflamed tissue, particularly mucus membranes
37
Conditions aided by demulcents
canker sores, inflammation of the esophagus, gastric ulcers, intestinal inflammation, irritable bowel, constipation, anal fissures, skin lesions, burns, sunburn, contact dermatitis, diaper rash
38
Diaphoretics
increase perspiration
39
What are the three classes of diaphoretics?
Stimulating- used when the overall condition is sluggish or unresponsive; neutral - safe for general use ; sedative - used when the condition is acute, distressed, or when there is hypertension
40
Stimulating diaphoretics
Angelica, blessed thistle, boneset, buchu, elder flowers, ephedra, garlic, ginger, horseradish, hyssop, pennyroyal, peppermint, spearmint, yarrow
41
Neutral diaphoretics
Horehound, safflower, sarsaparilla, sassafras
42
Sedative diaphoretics
blue vervain, burdock, calendula, catnip, chamomile, lemon balm, motherwort, mugwort, Passion flower, pleurisy root, thyme, vervain, white willow, wild yam
43
Conditions aided by diaphoretics
fevers, colds, flu, edema and skin disorders
44
Discutients
herbs that dissolve and remove tumors and abnormal growths
45
Diuretics
increase the flow of urine; herbal diuretics are usually rich sources of bio-available minerals and do not deplete mineral stores like pharmaceuticals
46
Conditions aided by diuretics
backache, prostatitis, kidney stones, bladder ache, lymphatic swelling, burning with urination, gonorrhea, skin eruptions, water retention, high blood pressure, and obesity
47
Emetics
used to induce vomiting
48
Conditions aided by emetics
food poisoning, stomach cramps, unresponsive fevers
49
Emmenagogues
herbs that promote and regulate the menstrual flow
50
Conditions aided by emmenagogues
delayed menses, irregular cycles
51
Expectorants
aid production and elimination of mucus from the throat and lungs; usually combined with demulcents which are soothing to the mucus membrance
52
Conditions aided by expectorants
bronchitis, colds, flu, respiratory congestion, emphysema, pleurisy, allergies
53
Febrifuges
herbs used to reduce fevers
54
Which herbs help to reduce fever?
boneset, catnip, dandelion, hyssop, Joe pye weed, peppermint, shepherd's purse, white willow, yarrow
55
Galactagogues
promote and enrich the production of milk from the nursing mother (anise seeds, blessed thistle, cumin, dandelion, fennel, fenugreek, red raspberry, vervain)
56
Hemostatics
herbs that arrest internal bleeding or hemorrhaging
57
Hepatics
herbs that strengthen, tone, and stimulate the metabolic and secretive functions of the liver
58
Conditions aided by hepatics
hepatitis, jaundice, sluggish liver, indigestion, constipation, skin eruptions, chronic skin diseases
59
Lithotripics
dissolve and discharge urinary and gall bladder stones and gravel
60
Nervines
support the health of the nervous system; used to relieve pain and regulate the nerve responses
61
What are the three classes of nerviness?
Sedative, building, stimulants
62
Nutritives
supply a substantial amount of nutrients and aid in building and maintaining the body
63
Name herbs that are nutritives
alfalfa, algae comfrey, horsetail, Irish moss, kelp, marshmallow root, mullein, nettles, red clover, rose hips, slippery elm, spirulina, watercress, yellow dock
64
Parasiticides
herbs that kill and remove parasites from the skin
65
Parturients
assist labor and promote easy childbirth; also called oxytocics
66
Name herbs that are parturients
Angelica, black cohosh, blue cohosh, cotton root, dong quad, juniper berries, red raspberry, squaw vine, vitex
67
Refrigerants
cooling to the system
68
Conditions aided by refrigerants
fevers, heat stroke, heat prostration
69
Rubefacients
used as local external applications that stimulate and increase blood flow to the surface
70
Conditions aided by rubifacients
cold hands and feet, numbness in the extremities, muscle or joint pain, inflammation
71
Sialagogues
promote an increased flow of saliva
72
Name herbs that are sialagogues
black pepper, capsicum, echinacea, ginger, licorice, prickly ash
73
Conditions aided by sialogogues
dry mouth, Sjogren's syndrome, poor digestion of carbohydrates, hypoglycemia, diabetes
74
Styptics
arrest bleeding, hemorrhaging and draining wounds; usually strong astringents and applied externally. When taken internally, they are called hemostatics
75
Tonic
increase energy and strengthen the body; effect of tonic herbs is to increase the strength of the muscular and nervous system while improving digestion and assimilation
76
Gall bladder tonic
goldenseal, Oregon grape, parsley, wild yam
77
Heart Tonics
bugleweed, ginseng, hawthorn berries, lily of the valley, motherwort
78
Intestinal Tonics
barberry, blackberry (leaves), cascara sagrada, cranesbill, Oregon grape, rhubarb
79
Kidney Tonics
buchu, burdock, celery, cleavers, dandelion, fo-ti, horsetail, kava kava, parsley, pipsissewa, saw palmetto, uva ursi
80
Liver Tonics
barberry, buckthorn bark, cascara sagrada, dandelion, eyebright, goldenseal, Oregon grape, podophyllum, stone root, yellow root
81
Lung Tonics
comfrey, elecampane, fenugreek, garlic, Irish moss, lungwort, mullein, pleurisy root, trillium, wild cherry
82
Nerve Tonics
celery, chamomile, hops, lobelia, motherwort, oats, Passion flower, valerian, wood betony
83
Sexual Tonics
black cohosh, black haw, carline thistle, damiana, dong quai, false unicorn, ginseng, kava kava, nutmeg, oat grass, quaker button, sage, sarsaparilla (male), saw palmetto, squaw vine, true unicorn, vanilla pods, yohimbe
84
Stomach Tonics
agrimony, blessed thistle, elecampane, gentian, goldenseal, mugwort, Oregon grape, red raspberry, wild cherry, wormwood
85
Vulneraries
promote healing of fractures, cuts, wounds, and burns by protecting against infection and by stimulating cellular renewal
86
Conditions aided by vulneraries
wounds, fractures, burns, traumas, surgery

Practical Herbalism (2 decks)

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