Week 2- Materia Medica (Alteratives)

Question 1

Common name for Arcticum lappa

Answer 1

Burdock

Question 2

Common name for Rumex crispus

Answer 2

yellow dock

Question 3

Common name for Urtica dioica

Answer 3

Stinging nettle

Question 4

Common name for Mahonia app.

Answer 4

Oregon grape

Question 5

Common name for Smilax spp.

Answer 5

Species include sasparilla

Question 6

Common name for Curcuma longa

Answer 6

Turmeric

Question 7

Common name for Trifolium pretense

Answer 7

Red clover

Question 8

What is an Alterative

Answer 8

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)

Question 9

What is a depurative

Answer 9

herbs with more spec action of cleaning a particular organ or system ( stem the emunctory)

Question 10

Indications for Alteratives

Answer 10

generalized and chronic dysfunction.  
Digestive, eliminatory, and circulatory hypofunction 
Maldigestion
Hormonal imbalance
“Toxemia”
Acne
Chronic infections
Chronic inflammation

Question 11

define toxemia

Answer 11

Condition produced by accumulation of putrefactive and otherwise toxic waste products.
Not the same thing as toxemia of pregnancy (i.e., pre-eclampsia)

Question 12

Trifolium pratense

1. Family
2. part used
3. Energetics
4. Constituents
5. Actions

Answer 12

Family: Fabaceae

Part Used: Flower

Energetics: Cooling

Constituents: Trifoliin, coumarin, flavonoids, resin, tannin. phytoestrogen

Actions: Alterative, Antitumor, Antitussive, Antispasmodic, Phytoestrogenic

Question 13

Trifolium partense

1. Indications

Answer 13

Cancer					
Cachexia
Gout, arthritis			 
Burns with poor healing
Acne					
Ulcers of the skin or mucous membranes
Spasmodic Cough		 
TB or inflammation of the lungs

Question 14

Preparation and dosage of Trillium partense

Answer 14

Tincture:
Infusion/Decoction
Standardized Extract to 25% isoflavone (Promensil)

Question 15

Trifolium partense

1. Cautions and contraindications

Answer 15

Caution with blood thinners (But unlikely to be a problem)

Caution with oral contraceptives and estrogen positive cancers.

Question 16

Arctium Lappa

1. family
2. Part used
3. Energetics

Answer 16

Family: Asteraceae
Part Used: Root (primarily), seed, leaf
Energetics: Cooling

Question 17

Artium lappa

Constituents

Answer 17

Root – inulin, tannins, mucilage, vitamins and minerals, lignins, phytosterols.

Seed – flavonoids, lignins, volatile oils, fixed oils. Leaves – terpenoids, inulin, tannins, mucilage, volatile oils.

Question 18

Articum lappa

Actions

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Atricum lappa

Indications

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Atricum lappa Preparation and dosage

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Atricum lappa harvesting

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Mahonia spp. (berberis spp.)

1. family
2. part used
3. energetics
4. constituents

Answer 22

Family: Berberidaceae

Part Used: Root bark and stem bark

Energetics: Cooling, drying

Constituents: isoquinoline alkaloids – berberine, hydrastine, oxycanthine

Question 23

Mahonia

1. Actions
2. specificity of seat

Answer 23

Actions: alterative, digestive bitter, anticatartic, antimicrobial, cholagogue, mild laxative.

Specificity of Seat: Liver

Question 24

Mahonia

indications

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Mahonia Prep and dosage

Answer 25

Tincture Decoction Dried Root Bark

Question 26

Mahonia Harvesting

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Rumex crispus 1. family 2. Parts used 3. Energetics 4. Constituents

Answer 27

Family: Polygonaceae Part Used: Root Energetics: Cooling Constituents: small amount of anthraquinone glycosides, tannins, oxalic acid, chyrosaphoric acid, iron, beta-carotene, volatile oil.

Question 28

Rumex crispus 1. Actions 2. Specificity of seat

Answer 28

1. alterative, digestive bitter, nutritive (high in iron), cholagogue, mild laxative, GI tonic, calms irritation of the larynx in chronic cough. 2. Liver GI Larynx

Question 29

Rumex Indications

Answer 29

Skin conditions – chronic skin conditions - psoriasis, eczema, acne Lax bowels, constipation Liver congestion

Question 30

Rumex contraindications

Answer 30

oxalate kidney stones, kidney disease, iron overload, pregnancy

Question 31

rumen prep and dosage

Answer 31

Tincture: Decoction: Fluid Extract:

Question 32

rumex harvest

Answer 32

Don’t eat the leaves. The leaves are very high in oxalic acid, and can cause poisoning – oxalic acid chelates calcium in the blood.

Question 33

Urtica Diocia 1. family 2. part used 3. energetics

Answer 33

Family: Urticaceae Part Used: Leaf, Root, Seed Energetics: Drying

Question 34

Utica Diocia | Constituents

Answer 34

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)

Question 35

Urtica Actions

Answer 35

Leaf: alterative, nutritive, anti-inflammatory, urinary tract tonic Root: astringent, anti-inflammatory, multiple influences of hormone transformation related to BPH

Question 36

Utica indications

Answer 36

Leaf: Skin conditions – chronic skin conditions( psoriasis, eczema, acne) Allergic Rhinitis – freeze-dried leaf Root: BPH, diarrhea

Question 37

Utica Contraindications

Answer 37

Allergy to nettle