Week 2- Materia Medica (Alteratives) Flashcards
Common name for Arcticum lappa
Burdock
Common name for Rumex crispus
yellow dock
Common name for Urtica dioica
Stinging nettle
Common name for Mahonia app.
Oregon grape
Common name for Smilax spp.
Species include sasparilla
Common name for Curcuma longa
Turmeric
Common name for Trifolium pretense
Red clover
What is an Alterative
and herb that alters the bodin a non-specific but bradly beneficial way
- “blood purifier/cleanser”
- nourishing, Restorative tonics
- food-likein character but focuses on digestion, absorption, and elimination
- differfrom adaptogens ( have more endocrine action)
What is a depurative
herbs with more spec action of cleaning a particular organ or system ( stem the emunctory)
Indications for Alteratives
generalized and chronic dysfunction. Digestive, eliminatory, and circulatory hypofunction Maldigestion Hormonal imbalance “Toxemia” Acne Chronic infections Chronic inflammation
define toxemia
Condition produced by accumulation of putrefactive and otherwise toxic waste products.
Not the same thing as toxemia of pregnancy (i.e., pre-eclampsia)
Trifolium pratense
- Family
- part used
- Energetics
- Constituents
- Actions
Family: Fabaceae
Part Used: Flower
Energetics: Cooling
Constituents: Trifoliin, coumarin, flavonoids, resin, tannin. phytoestrogen
Actions: Alterative, Antitumor, Antitussive, Antispasmodic, Phytoestrogenic
Trifolium partense
1. Indications
Cancer Cachexia Gout, arthritis Burns with poor healing Acne Ulcers of the skin or mucous membranes Spasmodic Cough TB or inflammation of the lungs
Preparation and dosage of Trillium partense
Tincture:
Infusion/Decoction
Standardized Extract to 25% isoflavone (Promensil)
Trifolium partense
1. Cautions and contraindications
Caution with blood thinners (But unlikely to be a problem)
Caution with oral contraceptives and estrogen positive cancers.
Arctium Lappa
- family
- Part used
- Energetics
Family: Asteraceae
Part Used: Root (primarily), seed, leaf
Energetics: Cooling
Artium lappa
Constituents
Root – inulin, tannins, mucilage, vitamins and minerals, lignins, phytosterols.
Seed – flavonoids, lignins, volatile oils, fixed oils. Leaves – terpenoids, inulin, tannins, mucilage, volatile oils.
Articum lappa
Actions
Root: alterative, mild digestive bitter, antitumor, antimutagenic, nutritive, antirheumatic, phytoestrogenic, liver tonic
Leaves: used topically as a antimicrobial, anti- inflammatory poultice
Seeds: alterative, diuretic, urinary tonic, vulnerary
Atricum lappa
Indications
Root: dry and scaly skin conditions – psoriasis, eczema, dandruff, rheumatic/arthritic conditions, anorexia nervosa, cystitis, wounds and ulcers (poultice).
Leaves: mastitis, joint sprains (poultice)
Seeds: cystitis, skin conditions including exanthem
Atricum lappa Preparation and dosage
Tincture (root): Fluid Extract Decoction (root): Seeds: 3-9g QD infusion – 35-40 ground seeds per cup of water, ½-cup up to 6x/day
Atricum lappa harvesting
Roots can be dug in the spring or early Fall in the 2nd to 4th year.
Seeds are collected in the fall of the second year.
Mahonia spp. (berberis spp.)
- family
- part used
- energetics
- constituents
Family: Berberidaceae
Part Used: Root bark and stem bark
Energetics: Cooling, drying
Constituents: isoquinoline alkaloids – berberine, hydrastine, oxycanthine
Mahonia
- Actions
- specificity of seat
Actions: alterative, digestive bitter, anticatartic, antimicrobial, cholagogue, mild laxative.
Specificity of Seat: Liver
Mahonia
indications
Skin conditions – psoriasis, eczema, herpes, pityriasis, acne, syphilis.
Poor gallbladder function – nausea, fat malabsorption, digestive upset
Infections: skin, eye, and intestinal tract (bacterial, fungal and protozoa)
Contraindications: Pregnancy
Mahonia Prep and dosage
Tincture
Decoction
Dried Root Bark
Mahonia Harvesting
The root bark can be harvested mid-Summer through Winter. Strip the bark from the stem and roots with a knife when the root is fresh.
Rumex crispus
- family
- Parts used
- Energetics
- Constituents
Family: Polygonaceae
Part Used: Root
Energetics: Cooling
Constituents: small amount of anthraquinone glycosides, tannins, oxalic acid, chyrosaphoric acid, iron, beta-carotene, volatile oil.
Rumex crispus
- Actions
- Specificity of seat
- alterative, digestive bitter, nutritive (high in iron), cholagogue, mild laxative, GI tonic, calms irritation of the larynx in chronic cough.
- Liver GI Larynx
Rumex Indications
Skin conditions – chronic skin conditions - psoriasis, eczema, acne
Lax bowels, constipation
Liver congestion
Rumex contraindications
oxalate kidney stones, kidney disease, iron overload, pregnancy
rumen prep and dosage
Tincture:
Decoction:
Fluid Extract:
rumex harvest
Don’t eat the leaves. The leaves are very high in oxalic acid, and can cause poisoning – oxalic acid chelates calcium in the blood.
Urtica Diocia
- family
- part used
- energetics
Family: Urticaceae
Part Used: Leaf, Root, Seed
Energetics: Drying
Utica Diocia
Constituents
Leaf: lots of vitamins and minerals, amino acids, organic acids, glucoquinines, flavonoids: isoquercetin, quercetin, rutin, kaempherol
Root: Isolectins, 3-beta-sistosterol, 3-D-glucoside, lignans, fatty acids, scopoletin, tannins, formic acid (on root hairs)
Urtica Actions
Leaf: alterative, nutritive, anti-inflammatory, urinary tract tonic
Root: astringent, anti-inflammatory, multiple influences of hormone transformation related to BPH
Utica indications
Leaf: Skin conditions – chronic skin conditions( psoriasis, eczema, acne)
Allergic Rhinitis – freeze-dried leaf
Root: BPH, diarrhea
Utica Contraindications
Allergy to nettle
