Week 6 - Nervines Flashcards
Nervine
- Term that broadly defines a category of botanical medicines that act on the nervous system
- Can be further divided into nerve tonics, sedatives, and hypnotics
Nerve Tonic
- Substance that improves the tone and vigor or function of the nervous system
Sedative
- Also called relaxant
- Decrease stimulation to the nervous system
- Overall effect is calming
Hypnotic
- Often stronger than sedatives
- Cause drowsiness
- May alter mental status
- Often have anodyne effects
Indications for Nervines
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Exhaustion
- Shock/trauma
- Stress modulation
- Pain modulation
Nervines
- Avena sativum (Milky Oat Seed)
- Scutellaria lateriflora (Skullcap)
- Humulus lupulus (Hops)
- Valeriana officinalis (Valerian)
- Piper methysticum (Kava)
- Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)
- Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort)
- Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort)
- Passiflora incarnata (Passion Flower)
- Matricaria recutita (Chamomile)
- Eschscholtzia californica (California Poppy)
Avena sativa - Family
- Poaceae
Avena sativa - Parts Used
- Immature milky seed
Avena sativa - Energetics
- Moistening
Avena sativa - Indications
- Nervous exhaustion
- Nervous headache
- Cardiac weakness due to nervous depression or debility
- Opiate withdrawal
- Nicotine withdrawal
Avena sativa - Contraindications
- May diminish effect of opiates
Avena sativa - Other
- Trophorestorative of nervous system
- In “kick juice” formula to stop smoking
Scutellaria lateriflora - Family
- Lamiaceae
Scutellaria lateriflora - Parts Used
- Aerial parts in bloom
Scutellaria lateriflora - Energetics
- Cooling
Scutellaria lateriflora - Indications
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Teething
- Headache from exhaustion
- Chorea
- Seizures
- Neuralgia
- Muscular fasciculations
- Exhaustion due to illness
Scutellaria lateriflora - Contraindications
- May potentiate the effects of other sedative medications
Scutellaria lateriflora - Other
- Gentle
- Very effective
- Great for kids
- Some consider it trophorestorative of nervous system
Humulus lupulus - Family
- Cannabaceae
Humulus lupulus - Parts Used
- Strobile (its flowering body; like soft pinecones)
Humulus lupulus - Energetics
- Cooling
- Lax
Humulus lupulus - Indications
- Delirium tremens (alcohol withdrawal)
- Restless leg syndrome
- Dyspepsia
- Nervous headache
- Generalized nervous tension
- Insomnia
- Increase lactation
Humulus lupulus - Contraindications
- Depression
- Pregnancy
Humulus lupulus - Other
- Can be put into a pillow
- Non-alcoholic beer study for sleep in stressed population
Valeriana officinalis - Family
- Valerianaceae
Valeriana officinalis - Part Used
- Root
Valeriana officinalis - Energetics
- Warming
- Lax
Valeriana officinalis - Indications
- Sleeping formulas
- Musculoskeletal formulas
- General relaxation
- Nervousness
- Mental depression and despondency
- Hysteria and hypochondria
- Nervous headache
- Hemicrania
- Chorea
Valeriana officinalis - Contraindications
- May potentiate the actions of other sleep-inducing agents
- Long-term use was associated with benzodiazepine-like withdrawal in rats due to GABA receptor activity (one case of life-threatening withdrawal syndrome after surgery)
Valeriana officinalis - Other
- Wean off slowly
- 10-15% has an opposite reaction (alert, awake)
- Increases GABA, which decreases CNS excitation
- Decreases BP through vasodilation and smooth muscle relaxation
- Decreases wakefulness without causing morning hangover
- Helpful in benzodiazepine withdrawal
- Specifically indicated in mental depression with nervousness
- Has synergistic action with cimicifuga
- Proven effective in OCD study
- Proven useful in preventing postoperative cognitive dysfunction after CABG surgery
- Neuroprotective
Piper methysticum - Family
- Piperaceae
Piper methysticum - Part Used
- Roots
Piper methysticum - Energetics
- Warming
Piper methysticum - Indications
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Fibromyalgia
- Cholecystitis
- Ureteral spasm
- Interstitial cystitis
- Tension headache
- Neuralgia
- Kidney stones
Piper methysiticum - Contraindications/Cautions
- Pregnancy
- Lactation
- Liver disease
- Potentiates the effects of alcohol
- Benzodiazepines
- Can be toxic!
Piper methysticum - Other
- Can be toxic!
- Has a very immediate effect (use mostly for in-the-moment anxiety)
- Native to Pacific Islands
- Some people are more sensitive to it, so need to watch for ssx of liver disease
- Long-term use has higher incidence of hepatotoxicity
- Potential inhibition of cytochrome P450
Melissa officinalis - Family
- Lamiaceae
Melissa officinalis - Parts Used
- Whole plant before flowering
Melissa officinalis - Energestics
- Uplifting
- Cooling
Melissa officinalis - Indications
- Nervous dyspepsia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Migraines (particularly where stress is the cause)
- Hyperthyroidism
- Herpes simplex (used topically)
Melissa officinalis - Contraindications
- Hypothyroidism
- Pregnancy
Melissa officinalis - Other
- Called the “gladdening herb”
- Powerful antioxidant effects due to rosmarinic acid
- Inhibits TSH binding to TSH receptors
- Inhibits GABA transaminase
- Improved mental performance in mild/moderate Alzheimer patients
- Improvement in oxidative stress and DNA damage in radiology staff
- Neuroprotective
- Gentle, effective
- Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
- Increases processing speed
Leonurus cardiaca - Family
- Lamiacea
Leonurus cardiaca - Parts Used
- Aerial parts
Leonurus cardiaca - Energetics
- Neutral
- Drying
Leonurus cardiaca - Indications
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Palpitations
- Hyperthyroidism (and look-alike sx)
- Amenorrhea
- Postpartum depression
Leonurus cardiaca - Contraindications/Cautions
- Pregnancy
- Doses over 3g may cause diarrhea, uterine bleeding, or GI upset
- Hypothyroidism
Leonurus cardiaca - Other
- “Motherwort is tonic and laxative, a diaphoretic somewhat like asclepias (pleurisy root), an emmenagogue like cimicifuga, and a nervine like scutellaria”
Hypericum perforatum - Family
- Hypericaceae
Hypericum perforatum - Parts Used
- Fresh aerial parts
Hypericum perforatum - Energetics
- Mildly warming
- Enlightening
Hypericum perforatum - Indications
- Wound healing
- Mild/moderate depression
- Neuralgia
- Nerve injury
- Burns (topical)
Hypericum perforatum - Contraindications
- Induces CYP 3A4 and can cause increased clearance of pharmaceutical drugs (caution with all drugs - check for herb/drug interactions)
Hypericum perforatum - Other
- Synergistic in formulas for pain
- Often gets sprayed, so harvest with caution
- Very low toxicity
- Can cause phototoxicity in large doses
- Antiviral and antiretroviral activity
Passiflora incarnata - Family
- Passifloraceae
Passiflora incarnata - Parts Used
- Whole plant
Passiflora incarnata - Energetics
- Cooling
Passiflora incarnata - Indications
- Anxiety
- Nervous headache
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
Passiflora incarnata - Contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Potentiates sedative drugs
Matricaria recutita - Family
- Asteraceae
Matricaria recutita - Parts Used
- Flower
Matricaria recutita - Energetics
- Cooling
Matricaria recutita - Indications
- Nervousness
- Impatience
- Discontent
- Insomnia
- Particularly useful in children
Matricaria recutita - Contraindications/Cautions
- High doses can cause vomiting and diarrhea
Matricaria recutita - Other
- Only need to use low doses
- Very good for kids
- Can be added as an activator to formulas
Eschscholtzia californica - Family
- Papaveraceae
Eschscholtzia californica - Parts Used
- Whole plant
Eschscholtzia californica - Energetics
- Cooling
Eschscholtzia californica - Indications
- Anxiety
- Overexcitement
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- ADD/ADHD
Eschscholtzia californica - Contraindications
- Pregnancy
Eschscholtzia californica - Other
- In post-surgical pain formula
- Happy and uplifting
- Non-toxic and safe for kids
- Non-addictive and no side effects
