4. Herbal Medicine Flashcards
(161 cards)
1
Q
What effect do alkaloids have on the body?
A
Strong stimulatory effect on the NS
2
Q
Example of an alkaloid
A
Berberine
3
Q
What effect do anthraquinones have on the body?
A
Powerful evacuation
4
Q
Example of an anthraquinone
A
Senna
5
Q
What effect do flavonoids have on the body?
A
Antioxidant
Anti-viral
6
Q
Example of a herbal flavonoid
A
Hawthorn berry
7
Q
What effect do saponins have on the body?
A
Adaptogenic
Steroid like
8
Q
Example of a saponin
A
Liquorice
9
Q
What effect do herbal tannins have on the body?
A
Astringent
Dries out wounds
10
Q
Example of a herbal tannin
A
Yarrow
11
Q
What effect do terpenes have on the body?
A
Antispasmodic in the GIT and lungs
Antimicrobial
12
Q
Example of a terpene
A
Lavender
13
Q
Examples of internal applications for herbs
A
Infusions
Decoctions
Tinctures
Syrups
Powders
Capsules
14
Q
Examples of external applications for herbs
A
Oils
Creams
Lotions
Ointments
15
Q
What are infusions?
A
Used for preparing delicate/aromatic leaves and flowers
16
Q
How should an infusion be prepared?
A
Place herbs in a cup or teapot
Add boiled water
Infuse for 10-15 mins
Strain
17
Q
What is the adult dose of an infusion?
A
2 tsp dried
3 cups/day
2 bags per cup
18
Q
Benefits of infusions
A
Extract water soluble phytochemicals
Hydrating
Good compliance
19
Q
What are decoctions?
A
Used for preparing roots, fruits, bark
20
Q
How should a decoction be prepared?
A
Place herbs in a pan
Cover with cold water
Bring to boil
Simmer for 15 mins
Strain
21
Q
What is the adult dose of an decoction?
A
1 tsp dried herb per cup
3 cups/day
22
Q
What are syrups?
A
Thick, sweet medicines for cough/throat remedies
Easy for children
23
Q
How is a syrup prepared?
A
Make a decoction
Strain
Reduce on low heat until 1/2 water evaporated
Weigh decoction
Add sugar/honey in 2 parts sugar to 1 part decoction
Place in sterilised glass jar
24
Q
What is the adult dose of a syrup?
A
2 tsp, 3/day
25
What is the child dose of a syrup?
1/2-1 tsp, 3/day
26
What are tinctures?
Made by steeping herbs in a mixture of water and alcohol to extract phytochemicals
27
Benefits of tinctures
Phytochemicals extracted in the alcohol are readily absorbed
Good compliance
Long shelf life
(up to 5 years)
28
What is the strongest tincture?
1:1
29
What is the adult dose of a tincture?
5ml in small glass of water
3/day before food
30
Who are tinctures not suitable for?
Recovering alcoholics
Some religions
Inflammatory conditions
31
What are glycerites?
Made by steeping herbs in glycerine
(sweet liquid derived from fats and oils)
32
Who are glycerites good for?
Clients should can't consume alcohol or sugar
33
What conditions are glycerites good for?
Mouth
Throat
Chest
34
Why aren't glycerites as good as tinctures?
Not as many phytochemicals extracted
Short shelf life
(3 months)
35
Benefits of powders
Whole herb is digested
Small particle size aids assimilation
Can be mixed into foods and drinks
36
Why are herbs high in mucilage best taken away from food?
May reduce absorption
37
Adult dose of powders
1 tsp
2/day
38
How are strong tasting powders best taken?
Capsules
39
Why do powders and capsules have a short shelf life?
High surface area increases oxidation
40
What are standardised extracts?
Manufactured to contain a quantified amount of active constituents
41
Benefit of standardised extracts
Stronger than traditional extracts
42
Disadvantages of standardised extracts
Often made using unnatural solvents
Don't have a natural balance of phytonutrients
Can resemble pharmaceuticals so more likely to cause side effects
43
How are infused oils prepared?
Steeping herbs in oil using a double burner
44
How are essential oils prepared?
Extracting the volatile phytochemicals from the herbs using steam distillation
45
What shouldn't you do with essential oils?
Take them internally
Apply neat to the skin
46
Adult dosage for essential oils
Max 20 drops per 100g
47
What is an ointment?
Infused oils mixed with beeswax or cocoa butter
Thick, greasy texture for dry, cracked skin
48
What is a cream?
Infused oils mixed with water using emulsifying wax
Moisturising texture
49
What is a lotion?
Infused oils mixed with more water than in a cream
Cooling effect
50
Dosage for a 14 year old
Adult dose
51
Dosage for a 12 year old
3/4 adult dose
52
Dosage for a 9 year old
1/2 adult dose
53
Dosage for a 6 year old
1/4 adult dose
54
Dosage for a 4 year old
1/8 adult dose
55
Dosage for a 2 year old
1/16 adult dose
56
Why should seniors be given lower doses?
Liver and immune functions decline with age
57
Dosage for 80 year old
3/4 adult dose
58
Why is it important to check for herb drug interactions, especially with seniors?
Many are taking a range of prescribed medications
59
Examples of herbs for the digestive system
Aloe vera
Cardamom
Chamomile
Fennel
Ginger
Liquorice
Oregano
Peppermint
Slippery elm
60
What is a bitter?
Stimulates digestive secretions
61
What is an aromatic digestive?
Promotes strong digestion
62
What is a carminative?
Relaxes digestive smooth muscle
63
What is a demulcent?
Soothes mucous membranes
64
What is an antiemetic?
Reduces nausea and vomiting
65
Actions and uses of aloe vera
Local anti-inflammatory for wounds, burns
Inhibits COX
Wound healing
Collagen synthesis
66
Key constituents of cardamom
Volatile oil
Flavonoids
67
Actions and uses of cardamom
Weak digestion
Flatulence
Bloating
68
Dosage of cardamom
1/2-1 tsp/day
69
Energetics of chamomile
Neutral
70
Key constituents of chamomile
Volatile oil
Flavonoids
71
Actions and uses of chamomile
Anti-inflammatory (COX, NF-kB inhibition)
Carminative
Antispasmodic
72
Key constituents of fennel
Volatile oils
Flavonoids
73
Actions and uses of fennel
Antispasmodic
Carminative
Indigestion
Flatulence
Bloating
74
Key constituent of ginger
Volatile oil
75
Actions and uses of ginger
Antiemetic
Carminative
Anti-inflammatory (inhibits LOX, COX)
Weak digestion
Nausea
76
Dosage of ginger
3 tsp fresh/day
1/2 tsp dry/day
77
Energetics of liquorice
Neutral
78
Actions and uses of liquorice
Anti-inflammatory
Mucoprotective
Demulcent
Expectorant
Ulcers
H. pylori
Coughs
79
Why can liquorice be mildly oestrogenic?
Isoflavone content
Antagonises exogenous oestrogen
Inhibits CYP1B1
80
Dosage of liquorice
1-2 tsp/day
81
When should liquorice be avoided?
Hypertension
Oedema
82
Key constituent of oregano
Essential oil
83
Actions and uses of oregano
Antispasmodic
Antifungal
Antibacterial
GI infections
Flatulence
Bloating
84
Dosage of oregano
1-2 tsp/day
85
Key constituents of peppermint
Volatile oils
Flavonoids
86
Actions and uses of peppermint
Antispasmodic
Carminative
Antimicrobial
Nausea
Flatulence
IBS
87
Dosage of peppermint
1 tsp per cup
88
When should peppermint be avoided?
GORD
89
Actions and uses of slippery elm
Demulcent
Gastritis
Peptic ulceration
GORD
IBS
90
Dosage of slippery elm
2-3 tsp/day
Mix into water
Take away from medicines
91
What is a choleretic?
Increases bile production by the liver
92
What is a cholagogue?
Increases release of stored bile from gallbladder
93
Examples of herbs to support the liver
Globe artichoke
Dandelion root
Milk thistle
94
Actions and uses of globe artichoke
Hepatoprotective
Choleretic
Cholagogue
Sluggish digestion
Nausea
High cholesterol
95
Dosage of globe artichoke
1/2-1 tsp, 3/day
96
Actions and uses of dandelion root
Bitter
Choleretic
Cholagogue
Mild laxative
Dyspepsia
Constipation
97
Dosage of dandelion root
1-2 tsp dried per cup, 3/day
98
Actions and uses of milk thistle
Hepatoprotective
AO
Choleretic
Nausea
Dyspepsia
99
Dosage of milk thistle
2 tsp/day
100
What is anti-catarrhal?
Reduces formation of catarrh or phlegm
101
What is diaphoretic?
Promotes sweating to relieve a fever
102
What is expectorant?
Facilitates the removal of catarrh
103
Energetic of thyme
Warm
104
Key constituent of thyme
Volatile oils
105
Actions and uses of thyme
Expectorant
Antispasmodic
Diaphoretic
Anti-inflammatory
Colds
Sore throat
Bronchitis
106
Dosage of thyme
3-12g dry/day
107
Key constituents of cinnamon
Volatile oil
Tannins
108
Actions and uses of cinnamom
Diaphoretic
Carminative
Blood sugar regulating
Weak digestion
Nausea
Poor circulation
H. pylori
109
Dosage of cinnamon
1-2 tsp/day
110
Key constituent of sage
Volatile oil
111
Actions and uses of sage
Antispasmodic
Antimicrobial
AO
Respiratory infections
Increased cognition
Menopausal sweats
112
Dosage of sage
3-12g dry/day
113
Actions and uses of garlic
Antibacterial
Antifungal
Immune boosting
AO
Anti-inflammatory
Colds/flu
Fungal infections
Dysbiosis
114
When should garlic be avoided in high doses?
Anti-coagulants
Anti-hypertensives
Pregnancy
115
What is an immunomodulator?
Balances and strengthens immunity
(tries to keep colds away)
116
What is immune enhancing?
Increases immune responses
(tries to keep the cold short and mild)
117
Examples of herbs to support the immune system
Astragalus
Echinacea
Turmeric
118
Actions and uses of astragalus
Immune modulating
Chronic/recurrent infections
Infection preventative
119
Dosage of astragalus
9-30g/day dried root
120
Actions and uses of echinacea
Immune enhancing
Anti-inflammatory
Acute infections
Arthritis
121
Key constituent of turmeric
Curcumin
122
Actions and uses of turmeric
Anti-inflammatory
AO
Anti-inflammatory conditions
Liver support
Eczema
Psoriasis
123
What is nootropic?
Enhances brain function
124
What is nervine?
Relaxes the NS
125
What is thymoleptic?
Lifts the mood
126
What is anxiolytic?
Alleviates anxiety
127
Examples of herbs to support the NS
Gingko
Lavender
Passionflower
Rosemary
St John's Wort
128
Actions and uses of gingko
Neuroprotective
Nootropic
Circulatory stimulant
Memory/concentration
Raynaud's
129
Dosage of ginkgo
2 tsps/day
130
Key constituents of lavender
Volatile oils
131
Actions and uses of lavender
Nervine
Anti-depressant
Carminative
Insomnia
Anxiety
Stress headaches
132
Dosage of lavender
3-6g/day
133
Actions and uses of passionflower
Anxiolytic
Mild sedative
Insomnia
Anxiety
Tension headache
134
Dosage of passionflower
1-2 tsp/day
135
Actions and uses of rosemary
Circulatory stimulant
Nootropic
Carminative
Antimicrobial
Memory/concentration
Tension headache
136
Actions and uses of St John's Wort
Antidepressant
Nervine
Depression
Anxiety
Insomnia
137
Why should St John's Wort be used with caution
Additive effect with antidepressants
Increases liver clearance of a range of drugs
138
What are hormone modulators?
Regulate and balance hormone activity
139
What is an emmenagogue?
Promotes menstruation
140
What is a galactagogue?
Promotes breast milk production
141
What is a reproductive tonic?
Promotes reproductive health and fertility
142
What is an anti-prostatic?
Reduces symptoms from the prostate gland
143
Examples of herbs to support the reproductive system
Black cohosh
Chaste berry
Dong quai
Shatavari
Saw palmetto
144
Actions and uses of black cohosh
Emmenagogue
Oestrogen modulating
Dysmenorrhoea
Menopausal symptoms
PMS
145
Dosage of black cohosh
1 tsp per cup of water
146
Actions and uses of chaste berry
Galactagogue
Insufficient lactation
PMS
147
Dosage of chaste berry
1 tsp dried, 2/day
148
Actions and uses of dong quai
Uterine tonic (regulates HPO axis)
Dysmenorrhoea
Endometriosis
Menopause
PMS
149
Dosage of dong quai
4.5-9g/day
150
Actions and uses of shatavari
Galactagogue
Aphrodisiac
Menopausal symptoms
Male impotence
Insufficient lactation
151
Actions and uses of saw palmetto
Anti-androgenic (reduced conversion of testosterone to DHT)
Anti-inflammatory
BPH
Prostatitis
152
Dosage of saw palmetto
1 tsp, 2-3/day
153
What are adaptogens?
Increase resistance to stressors
Mediated largely by HPA axis
Converse energy
154
What are tonics?
Improve tone, vigour and body function
Restore energy
155
Actions and uses of ashwagandha
Adaptogenic
Nervine
Mild sedative
Anti-inflammatory
Immune modulating
Insomnia
Infertility/impotence
156
Dosage of ashwagandha
3-6g/day dried root
1 tsp, 1-3/week in warm nut milk
157
Actions and uses of Korean gingseng
Very stimulating
Cognition enhancing
Male tonic
Stress
Impotence
Fatigue
158
Dosage of Korean ginseng
1-2g dried root/day
159
Actions and use of Siberian gingseng
Adaptogen
Immune modulating
Physical stress
Fatigue
Female tonic
160
Dosage of Siberian gingseng
2-3g dried root/day
161
Which herbs are considered safe in pregnancy in small doses?
Bilberry (vascular support)
Chamomile (relaxation, GIT spasm)
Cranberry (urinary)
Echinacea (immune)
Garlic (CV, respiratory
Ginger (morning sickness, digestion)
Peppermint (morning sickness, GIT spasm)
