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Botanical Materia Medica I > Week 2 - Alteratives > Flashcards

Week 2 - Alteratives Flashcards

1
Q

What is an Alterative

A
  • Nourishing tonics that have a broadly beneficial effect on the body, and that slowly and steadily support a return to a healthy state
  • Not disease specific
  • Differs from Adaptogens, which have more endocrine effects
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2
Q

What is a Depurative?

A
  • Herbs with a more specific action of cleansing a particular organ or system (stimulating the emunctory)
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3
Q

Indications for Alteratives

A
  • Generalized and chronic dysfunction
  • Digestive, eliminatory, and circulatory hypofunction
  • Maldigestion
  • Hormonal imblanace
  • “Toxemia”
  • Acne
  • Chronic infections
  • Chronic inflammation
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4
Q

Alterative Botanicals

A
  • Trifolium pratense - Red Clover
  • Rumex spp. - Yellow Dock, Curly Dock
  • Mahonia spp. - Oregon Grape, Barberry, Mahonia
  • Smilax spp. - Sarsaparilla
  • Arctium lappa - Burdock (Gobo Root)
  • Curcuma longa - Turmeric
  • Urtica dioica - Stinging Nettles
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5
Q

Trifolium pratense - Family

A
  • Fabaceae (pea/legume family)
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6
Q

Trifolium pratense - Part Used

A
  • Flower
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7
Q

Trifolium pratense - Energetics

A
  • Cooling

- Moistening

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8
Q

Trifolium pratense - Indications

A
  • Cancer
  • Gout, arthritis
  • Acne
  • Spasmodic cough
  • Cachexia
  • Burns with poor healing
  • Ulcers of the skin or mucous membranes
  • TB or inflammation of the lungs
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9
Q

Trifolium pratense - Contraindications/Cautions

A
  • Caution with blood thinners (but unlikely to be a problem)

- Caution with oral contraceptives and estrogen positive cancers

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10
Q

Trifolium pratense - Specificity of Seat

A
  • Skin
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11
Q

Trifolium pratense - Preparation and Dosage

A
  • Tincture: 2 - 6 mL per day of a 1:5 tincture of 25% EtOH
  • Infusion/decoction: 1 to 2 tsp per cup, 2 - 4 cups per day
  • Standardized extract to 25% isoflavones: 40 - 80 mg per day (Promensil)
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12
Q

Trifolium pratense - Other

A
  • Part of Trifolium Compound (an Alterative formula)

- Part of Hoxsey Formula (similar to other, but water-based instead of alcohol-based): 5 mLs TID

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13
Q

Artium lappa - Family

A
  • Asteraceae (thistle family)
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14
Q

Arctium lappa - Parts Used

A
  • Root (primarily)
  • Seed
  • Leaf
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15
Q

Arctium lappa - Energetics

A
  • Cooling
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16
Q

Arctium lappa - Indications

A 
- Root
     > Dry and scaly skin conditions - psoriasis, eczema, dandruff
     > Rheumatic/arthritic conditions
     > Anorexia nervosa
     > Cystitis
     > Wounds and ulcers (as a poultice)
- Leaves 
     > Mastitis
     > Joint sprains (as a poultice)
- Seeds
     > Cystitis
     > Skin conditions including exanthema
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17
Q

Arctium lappa - Specificity of Seat

A
  • Skin
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18
Q

Arctium lappa - Preparations and Dosage

A
  • Tincture (root): 2 - 4 mL (1:5, 40%) TID, fluid extract 2- 6 mL (1:1, 25%) TID
  • Decoction (root): 1 tsp/cup, 3 cups per day
  • Seeds: 3 - 9 g qd, infusion - 35 - 40 ground seeds per cup of water, 1/2 - 1 cup up to 6x/day
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19
Q

Mahonia spp. - Family

A
  • Berberidaceae
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20
Q

Mahonia spp. - Parts Used

A
  • Root bark

- Stem bark

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21
Q

Mahonia spp. - Energetics

A
  • Cooling

- Drying

22
Q

Mahonia spp. - Indications

A
  • Skin conditions: psoriasis, eczema, herpes, pityriasis, acne, syphilis
  • Poor gallbladder functions: nausea, fat malabsorption, digestive upset
  • Infections: skin, eye, and intestinal tract (bacterial, fungal, protazoal)
23
Q

Mahonia spp. - Contraindications/Cautions

24
Q

Mahonia spp. - Specificity of Seat

25
Q

Mahonia spp. - Preparation and Dosage

A
  • Tincture: 1 - 4 mL TID (1:5, 40%)
  • Decoction: 1 - 2 tsp/cup, 1 cup TID
  • Dried root bark: 1 - 2 g per day (if use just peeled bark, maybe 1/4 - 1/2 tsp)
26
Q

Rumex crispus - Family

A
  • Polygonaceae
27
Q

Rumex crispus - Part Used

28
Q

Rumex crispus - Energetics

29
Q

Rumex crispus - Indications

A
  • Skin conditions (often chronic): psoriasis, eczema, acne
  • Lax bowels, constipation
  • Liver congestion
30
Q

Rumex crispus - Contraindications/Cautions

A
  • Oxalate kidney stones
  • Kidney disease
  • Iron overload
  • Pregnancy
  • Don’t eat the leaves - very high in oxalic acid
31
Q

Rumex crispus - Specificity of Seat

A
  • Liver
  • GI
  • Larynx
32
Q

Rumex crispus - Preparation and Dosage

A
  • Tincture: 1 - 4 mL (1:5, 40%), 2 - 4.5 mL (1:2) daily in divided doses
  • Decoction: 1 tsp/cup
  • Fluid extract: 2 - 4 mL daily in divided doses
33
Q

Urtica dioica - Family

A
  • Urticaceae
34
Q

Urtica dioica - Parts Used

A
  • Leaf
  • Root
  • Seed
35
Q

Urtica dioica - Energetics

A
  • Drying

- Cooling

36
Q

Urtica dioica - Indications

A
  • Leaf
    > Skin conditions (often chronic) - psoriasis, eczema, acne
    > Allergic rhinitis (use freeze-dried leaf)
  • Root
    > BPH, diarrhea
37
Q

Urtica dioica - Contraindications/Cautions

A
  • Allergy to nettle

- Long-term use may cause mucus membrane drying

38
Q

Urtica dioica - Preparation and Dosage

A
  • Leaf:
    > Food - cooking or steaming fresh herbs will denature stinging trichomes and is safe for eating
    > Dried herb - 8 - 12 g per day
    > Tincture - 3 - 6 mL per day (1:2), 7 - 14 mL (1:5)
39
Q

Smilax spp. - Family

40
Q

Smilax spp. - Parts Used

A
  • Root

- Rhizome

41
Q

Smilax spp. - Energetics

A
  • Drying

- Earthy

42
Q

Smilax spp. - Indications

A
  • Skin conditions
  • Rheumatic pain
  • Hormonal balance
  • Increasing overall resistance to stress
43
Q

Smilax spp. - Contraindications/Cautions

A
  • May increase absorption of digitalis glycosides
  • Pregnancy
  • Toxicity: large doses may cause GI irritation or even ulceration due to the high saponin content
44
Q

Smilax spp. - Specificity of Seat

A
  • Endocrine balance
45
Q

Smilax spp. - Preparation and Dosage

A
  • Classically prepared as a syrup that was often used as a carrier for other ingredients
  • Tincture: 1 - 2 mL (1:5, 60%) TID
  • Decoction: 2 - 4 tsp per cup of water, simmer for 5 - 10 minutes
46
Q

Curcuma longa - Family

A
  • Zingiberaceae
47
Q

Curcuma longa - Part Used

48
Q

Curcuma longa - Energetics

A
  • Cooling (anti-inflammatory)
  • Warming (tastes)
  • Stimulating
  • Moves stagnation
49
Q

Curcuma longa - Indications

A
  • Inflammations of all kinds
  • Jaundice
  • Liver disorders
  • Chronic skin conditions
  • Cardiovascular disease
50
Q

Curcuma longa - Contraindications/Cautions

A
  • Pregnancy (large doses)

- Bile duct obstruction

51
Q

Curcuma longa - Specificity of Seat

A
  • Liver

- Circulatory system

Botanical Materia Medica I (17 decks)

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