Unit 1 Lesson 1

Question 1

What are herbs

Answer 1

Herbs are any plant or part of a plant that is used in herbalism. Including mushrooms

Question 2

What is herbalism

Answer 2

Herbalism is the practice of using plants, fungi and foods to support our body and health as a whole

Question 3

Evidence suggests we used herbs as far back as? (How many years)

Answer 3

60,000

Question 4

What are some examples of herbal energetics

Answer 4

Excess or deficient, dry or warming, moist or cooling

Question 5

What are primary metabolites

Answer 5

Chemicals that plants use to maintain growth, including starches, proteins and lipids

Question 6

What are secondary metabolites

Answer 6

Chemical used by plants to intervene with outside forces, including pollinators, bacteria, viruses and herbivores (and humans). It is most often through these that herbs work to affect human health although some can be toxic

Question 7

What is salicin and what does it do

Answer 7

Salicin is a phenolic compound. When a human eats it the digestive tract converts it into salicylic acid which eases pain and is anti-inflammatory

Question 8

What does abortifacient mean

Answer 8

An herb that may cause an abortion

Question 9

What is a active constituent

Answer 9

A chemical molecule in a plant that can alter some biochemical process in the body

Question 10

What is an adaptogen

Answer 10

A herb that aids the body in resistance to external stressor,supports the body’s ability to adapt to change, and may stimulate immunity.

Question 11

What are aerial parts

Answer 11

The leaves and flowers of a plant

Question 12

What is an alkaloid

Answer 12

A typically highly active plant constituent containing a nitrogen atom. Usaully in a ring shaped molecule

Question 13

What is an alternative

Answer 13

An herb that works on a general level to tonify the systems of the body involved in nutrient assimilation and waste removal

Question 14

What is an Amino acid

Answer 14

Any of the 20 molecules that are combined to form proteins in living organisms

Question 15

What is an analgesic

Answer 15

An herb that eases pain also known as an anodyne

Question 16

What does annual mean

Answer 16

A plant that goes through a complete life cycle in 1 year, dying after one growing year

Question 17

What does antibacterial mean

Answer 17

An herb that destroys of inhibits the growth of bacteria

Question 18

What does antiemetic mean

Answer 18

An herb that counterreacts or soothes nausea or vomiting

Question 19

What does antihydrotic mean

Answer 19

An herb that slows the production of excessive sweat

Question 20

What does antimicrobial mean

Answer 20

An herb that aids the body in destroying or resisting pathogens. A general term encompassing antibacterials, antifungal and antivirals

Question 21

What does antioxidant mean

Answer 21

An herb that inhibits oxidation and and subsequent free radical damage of important chemicals, enzymes, membranes, cells and tissues in the body

Question 22

What does antiparasitic mean

Answer 22

An herb that destroys or inhibits the growth of parasites

Question 23

Why do we use the whole herb

Answer 23

It’s safer and more effective than using isolated chemicals extracted from a plant

Question 24

What does synergy mean

Answer 24

Synergy refers to the way multiple phytochemicals within a plant or multiple herbs within a formula work together to either enhance another constituent/herbs action or absorption or reduce the toxicity of a constituent/herb