Week 5 - Adaptogens

Question 1

What are adaptogens?

Answer 1

• non-specific response
  an increase in power of resistance against multiple stressors including physical, chemical, or biological agents.
• has a normalizing influence on physiology
• safe, well-tolerated medicine

Question 2

Eleutherococcus senticosis – Siberian ginseng

Answer 2

Family: Araliaceae
Part Used: root (most researched), stem bark and leaf
Energetics: warm, stimulating (in higher doses), dispels wind dampness

Actions: adaptogen, immunomodulating, mild CNS stimulant

Question 3

Indications/CIs: Eleutherococcus senticosis – Siberian ginseng

Answer 3

Indications: build vitality, increase resistence to infection, stress, and toxicity, improve physical performance, and improve mood

Contraindications/Cautions: Adulteration is common. Monitor blood glucose in diabetics and hypoglycemics

Question 4

Eleutherococcus Actions

Answer 4

Nonspecific antistress effects 
Adaptogenic
Ergogenic 
Anabolic/anticatabolic
Antitoxic
Radioprotective 
Chemoprotective 
Immunoprotective 
Immunoregulatory
Antiviral
Gonadotrophic
Insulintrophic/antidiabetic
Neuroprotective

Question 5

Add’l studies on Eleutherococcus

Answer 5

Reduced recurrence of herpes infections by 50%

prevention of bone-resorption in steroid induced osteoporosis

Question 6

Panax ginseng – Asian Ginseng

Answer 6

Family: Araliaceae
Part Used: root, leaf
Energetics: warming

Actions: adaptogen, tonic, stimulant, hypoglycemic, antitoxic

Question 7

Indications/CIs: Panax ginseng – Asian Ginseng

Answer 7

Indications: weakened state due to chronic illness or chronic stress

Contraindications/Cautions: always buy organically grown roots as some farming practices use considerable amounts of fungicides and pesticides. If used long-term with caffeine, may cause hypertension.

*CI with MAO inhibitors – case report of mania

Question 8

Ren Shen人參 – Man Root (Panax ginseng)

Answer 8

Actions

• Strongly tonifies the basal qi: for extreme collapse, minute weak pulse, after severe blood loss.
• Tonifies the lungs and augments the qi: wheezing, SOB, difficulty breathing with exertion caused by lung qi deficiency.
• Strengthens the Spleen and tonifies the stomach – stimulates appetite, used in chronic diarrhea.
• Benefits the heart qi and calms the spirit – for palpitations with anxiety, insomnia and restlessness due to qi and blood deficiency

Question 9

CIs with Ren Shen人參 – Man Root (Panax ginseng)

Answer 9

Cautions and Contraindications: yin deficiency with heat signs, heat excess, or in the absence of qi deficiency. Contraindicated in stage 3 hypertension. Overdose leads to headache, insomnia, palpitations.

Question 10

Panax quinquifolium – American Ginseng

Answer 10

Family: Araliaceae
Part Used: root, leaf
Energetics: cooling

Actions: tonic, nervine, adaptogen, hypoglycemic

Constituents: steroidal saponin: panaquilon

Question 11

Indications/CIs: Panax quinquifolium – American Ginseng

Answer 11

Indications: nervous dyspepsia, loss of appetite, mental exhaustion

Contraindications: pregnancy (not studied)

Question 12

Panax quinquefolium

Answer 12

Specific Indications.—Nervous dyspepsia; mental and other forms of nervous exhaustion from overwork.

Action and Therapy.—A mild, stimulating tonic whose effects are observed only after quite a long period of administration. It is a feeble nerve stimulant and as such is adapted to nervous exhaustion of a mild type from too close application to work, and to mild forms of nervous dyspepsia and slight stomachic debility. As a medicine it acts kindly and quietly, giving a grateful sense of comfort to the stomach.

Question 13

Oplopanax horridus – Devil’s Club

Answer 13

Family: Araliaceae
Part Used: root, stem bark
Energetics: cooling, stimulating, protective, supporting

Actions: expectorant, respiratory stimulant, hypoglycemic, immunomodulator

Constituents: polyynes, polyenes, glycosides

• ASTHMA AND EMOTIONAL HEALING - Fear & Shame

Question 14

Indications/CIs: Oplopanax horridus – Devil’s Club

Answer 14

Indications: As an energetic medicine for nervous, mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion – often compared to other aralia family adaptogens, but indigenous use s do not mirror this equation. Indigenous use is as an antimicrobial, antirheumatic, and antidiabetic, and respiratory medicine. Modern research has mainly focused on anticancer actions

Contraindications: pregnancy

Question 15

Withania somnifera - Ashwaganda

Answer 15

Family: Solanaceae
Part Used: root
Energetics: warming, balances Vata and Kapha

Actions: adaptogen, tonic, immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory, increases hemoglobin, WBCs and neutrophils, sedative, anxiolytic, antiepileptic, hypotensive, enhances cognition, protects against ulcers, neuroregenerative, antidepressant

Constituents: steroidal lactones – withanolides; iron, alkaloids

Question 16

Indications/CIs: Withania somnifera - Ashwaganda

Answer 16

Indications: high stress causing fatigue, nervous exhaustion, chronic inflammatory diseases, insomnia

Contraindications: pregnancy

Question 17

Classic Use of Ashwaganda

provide the “power of the horse”

Answer 17

increase longevity and vitality
aphrodisiac
tonic nervine
used to treat emaciation of children and debility in the elderly.

Question 18

Rhodiola rosea – Rhodiola/Golden Root

Answer 18

Family: Crassulaceae
Part Used: root
Energetics: astringent

Actions: adaptogen, decreases fatigue, increase endurance, increases work capacity and coordination, increases learning ability, improves memory, decrease in drug-induced arrhythmia, decreased CRP and CK after strenuous exercise, stimulant antidepressant

Constituents: Phenylpropanoids: Rosavin, rosin, rosarin; phynylethanol derivatives: salidroside, tyrosol; flavonoids, monoterpenes, triterpenes, phenolic acids

Question 19

Indications/CIs: Rhodiola rosea – Golden Root

Answer 19

Indications: fatigue, burn-out from highly stressful situations, altitude sickness, intensive learning, neurasthenia

Contraindications/Cautions:
may cause overstimulation and interfere with sleep. May cause vivid dreams, particularly at the onset of treatment.
Contraindicated in bipolar disorder.
synergistic effect with TCAs

Question 20

Rhodiola rosea - Traditional Uses

Answer 20

• prized for altitude sickness.
• tonify the spleen and boost qi. It also enters the lung channel, where it clears the lung and relieves cough.
• Given to newly married couples to increase fertility and assure the birth of healthy children.
• fortify the body against the stress of the long, cold winters.
• enhance physical strength and endurance.
• increase mental work capacity during stress, as a psychostimulant, and as a general strengthener.

Question 21

Schisandra chinensis

Answer 21

Family: Magnoliaceae
Part Used: berries
Energetics: sour, bitter, warm

Actions: adaptogen, mind tonic, CNS stimulant, sexual tonic, sedative, astringent, hepatoprotective, expectorant, antitussive

Constituents: lignans, phytosterols, volatile oils, vitamin C and E

Question 22

Indications, CIs and Cautions: Schisandra chinensis

Answer 22

Indications: depression, irritability, forgetfullness, stress, hepatitis, cirrhosis, coughs, wheezing, shortness of breath, skin rash

Contraindications: pregnancy (empirical, based on uterine stimulant activity)

Cautions: may occasionally cause heartburn

Question 23

Actions: Wu wei zi -五味子 – Five-Flavored Seed

Answer 23

Contains leakage of lung qi and stops coughing
Tonifies the Kidney, binds up essence, and stops diarrhea
Quiets the spirit and calms the heart: for irritability, palpitations, dream-disturbed sleep, insomnia due to injury of the blood and yin of the heart and Kidneys

Question 24

Ocimum tenuiflorum – Holy Basil, Tulsi

Answer 24

Family: lamiaceae
Part Used: root
Energetics: Rama – neutral, Krishna – clearing and warming, Vana- sweet (O. gratissimum)

Actions: adaptogen, nootropic

Constituents: Eugenol, carvacrol, linalool, ursolic acid, limatrol, methyl carvacrol, caryophyllene, vitamin C, Vitamin A, calcium, zinc, iron, apigenin, rosmarinic acid, orientin, vicenin

Question 25

CIs and Cautions: Ocimum tenuiflorum – Holy Basil, Tulsi

Answer 25

Contraindications/Cautions: mild blood thinning effects, monitor in diabetic patients due to hypoglycemic effects

Question 26

Ocimum sanctum: Clinical Use

Answer 26

Adaptogen
Anti Ulcer
Physical /mental performance enhancement
Liver protective
Anti oxidant
Radiation protective
Anti Diarrheal
Anti asthmatic
Anti-inflammatory
Anti diabetic
Anabolic effects
Relaxing , calming
Fertility enhancement
Cardiovascular
Anti viral
Anti-cancer

Question 27

Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Licorice Root

Answer 27

Family: Fabaceae
Part Used: rootlets, rhizomes, stolons
Energetics: moistening, soooooo sweet

Actions: adaptogen, harmonizer, synergist, antiviral, Expectorant, Demulcent/mucoprotective, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-ulcer, Antispasmodic, Mild laxative, Adrenal tonic, Anticariogenic, Flavoring and Moderator

Constituents: Triterpene saponins 2-15%: mainly glycyrrhizin 2-6% (glycyrrhizic or glycyrrhizinic acid) and its aglycone glycyrrhetinic acid (glycyrrhitic acid ), liquiritic acid, glycyrrhetol, glabrolide, isoglabrlide, licoric acid and phytosterols.Flavonoids and isoflavonoids (yellow color), biotin, beta-sitosterol, liquiritigenin, liquiritinCoumarins: Liqcoumarin Polysaccharides: Arabinogalactans, Essential oil

Question 28

Indications/CIs: Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Licorice Root

Answer 28

Inflammatory conditions of the GI tract, cankers, gastritis, ulceration, cancer sores, “hyperacidity” Especially extract know as DGL (Deglycyrrhinized Licorice) is a product that has most of the Glycyrrhizin removed.
Respiratory conditions requiring expectoration and soothing mucilage like bronchitis, coughs and infections.
Adrenal insufficiency, Addison’s disease
Inflammatory conditions, arthritis, other autoimmune diseases
Chronic viral hepatitis, Herpes simplex
Urinary tract infections/ diabetes insipidus
Constipation
Polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, dysmenorrhea.

Contraindications: HTN, hypokalemia, pregnancy (due to phytoestrogen content), kidney failure, potentiates the action of cardiac glycosides

Warnings and Cautions:

• Hypokalemia is the most common side effect
• avoid licorice in pregnancy but doses up to 3 grams a day are likely safe.

Question 29

Classical Uses: Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Licorice Root

Answer 29

Actions:
Tonifies the spleen and augments qi.
Moistens the lungs and stops coughing.
Clears heat and relieves fire toxicity.
Moderates spasms and alleviates pain. 
Moderates and harmonizes the  characteristics of other herbs.

Question 30

North American SpeciesGlycyrrhiza lepidota

Answer 30

Similar uses as glabra and uralensis, but less glycyrrhizin.

Cheyenne made use of the root for diarrhea, ulcers and upset stomach, while the Montana and Black Foot Indians used it most notably for coughs, sore throat and chest pains. The Lakota added the root to general infusions to doctor the sick.

Question 31

Cordyceps sinensis – Caterpillar Fungus

Answer 31

Family: clavicipitaceae
Part Used: fruiting body or mycelium
Energetics: sweet, warm

Actions: adaptogen, immunostimulant, antitumor, antihyperlipidemic, cardiotonic, increases endurance, nephroprotective when coadministered with aminoglycoside antibiotics, antiviral, antioxidant, aphrodisiac, circulatory stimulant, anti-asthma

Constituents: cordycepin, cordycepic acid, galactomannans, polysaccharides, sterols

Question 32

Indications/CIs: Cordyceps sinensis – Caterpillar Fungus

Answer 32

Indications: excessive tiredness, persistent cough, impotence, anemia (supports marrow)

Contraindications/Cautions: adulteration, fumigation and misidentification are a problem in the global marketpalce.

Question 33

Actions: Corcyceps sinensis

Answer 33

Improves the Respiratory Function
Increases cellular Oxygen Absorption by up to 40%
Improves the Functioning of the Heart
Decreases cholesterol, increases HDL
Chronic kidney disease improvement
Reduces Tumor Size in Cancer Patients
Increases NK cell activity
Reduces Fatigue
Improves Stamina and Athletic Performance
Increases cellular energy
Combats Sexual Dysfunction
Improves libido

Chinese:
- Augments the Kidney and tonifies the yang: for impotence and sore and weak lower back and lower extremities from Kidney yang deficiency.
- Tonifies Kidney yang, augments Lung yin
I- t tonifies both yin and yang in different channels
- It can be used long-term