A-C Flashcards
(26 cards)
Achillea Millefolium
“Yarrow”
Constituents: volatile oils(thujone), sesquiterpene lactones
Main actions: Hemostatic, bitter
Indications: passive hemorrhaging, poor digestion
CI: in anything that would worsen from digestive stimulation, pregnancy(in large amounts)
Toxicity: Thujone (emmenagogue, abortifacient, convulsions)
Interactions: PPI antagonist
Aconitum Napellus
“Monkshood”
Constituents: tropane alkaloids
Actions: Anodyne
Indications: neuralgia, pain
CI: Pregnancy, lactation, high/sustained doses
Toxicity: narrow therapeutic window, OD is similar to parasympatholytic (numbness, dizzy, HA, pinpoint pupils, arrhythmia, anxiety, diarrhea, respiratory/cardiac paralysis
Actea (cimicifuga) racemosa
“black cohosh”
Constituents: triterpene glycosides, isoflavones
Actions: uterine tonic, pituitary/estrogen mimetic, spasmplytic, antitussive, nervine
Indication: dysmenorrhea, PMS, menopause
CI: 1st trimester, lactation, estrogen depend-tumors
Toxicity: OD (sedative, bradycardia, hypotension)
Interactions: HRT therapy-estrogen excess. Tamoxifen-reduced hot flashes
Aesculus hippocastanum
“horse chestnut”
Constituents: glycoside lactones, saponins
Actions: astringent, vasoconstrictive, veno-tonic
Indications: topical - hemorrhoids, varicose veins
internal - venous insuff, DVT, varicose veins, edema
CI: high doses
Toxicity-nausea, unprocessed fruit is toxic, IM injection may cz hepatitis/renal failure
Allium cepa/sativum
“onion/garlic”
Constituents: disulfides, phenolic acids, flavonoids (quercetin)
Actions: anti-atherosclerotic, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, antiplatelet (garlic is anti-helminthic)
Indications:
topical-dermatophytosis, onychomycosis, otitis media.
internal-atherosclerosis, hypercoagulation, dyslipidemia
CI: bleeding d/o, anticoagulant therapy, thyroid dz(inhibits iodine uptake)
Toxicity: increased bleeding time, may worsen colick thru breast milk.
Interactions: potentiates anticoagulants, insulin, hypoglycemic drugs
Aloe vera: gel
“Aloe”
Constituents: polysaccharides
Actions: vulnerary, demulcent, inflamm + immune modulat
Indications: topical- burns, wounds. internal-gastritis, IBD
CI: 3rd degree burns, deep/infected wounds
Toxicity: safe herb but may cz diarrhea/cramping
Interactions: additive hypoglycemic effect w/ glyburide, maybe reduced drug absorption dt polysaccharides
Aloe vera: latex
“aloe”
Constituents: anthraquinone glycosides
Actions: cathartic
Indication: atonic constipation
CI: >10 days use, < 12yo, intestinal obstruction, spastic constipation, preg/lactation
Interactions: hypokalemic drugs(diuretics, corticosteroids, cardiac glycosides, glycyrrhiza, anti-arrhythmics
Althaea officinalis
"Marshmallow" Constituents: mucilage, polysaccharides Actions: demulcent, vulnerary Indications: root (GI)- gastritis, PU, IBS, colitis leaves (resp+GU)- pharyngitis/laryngitis, dry cough, asthma, IC, lower UTI CI: wet cough Toxicity: none Interactions: reduced drug absorption dt polysaccharides
Angelica sinensis
“dong quai”
Constituents: coumarins, polysaccharides, ferulic acid
Actions: uterine + liver tonic, spasmolytic, anti-inflamm
Indications: Amenorhea, dysmenorrhea, estrogen balance, menopause, PMS, hepatitis, cirrhosis, HA
CI: menorrhagia, bleeding diathesis
Toxicity: anti-platelet activity, otherwise safe
Interactions: potentiates anticoagulants
Arctium lappa
“Burdock”
Constituents: lignins, sesquiterpene lactones, tannins
Actions: alterative, bitter, hepatoprotective
Indications: root - psoriasis, eczema, OA, RA, poor digestions. Leaves/topical - mastitis, OA, RA, sprains
CI: anything that worsens with digestive stimulation, pregnancy at high doses
Toxicity: nausea
Interactions: PPI antagonist, increases hypoglycemic effects, decreased drug absorption dt increased gut motility
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
“Bearberry”
Constituents: glycosides, flavonoids, tannins
Actions: urinary antiseptic and sedative
Indications: alkali UTIs, chronic bladder irritation w/ pain, tenesmus, blood, mucus
CI: Pregnancy, > 10 days of use
Toxicity: nausea, carcinogenic w/ chronic use. OD: tinnitus, vomiting, delirium, convulsion, death
Interactions: vit C and cranberry acidify urine
Arnica montana
“Arnica”
Constituents: sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, polysaccharides
Actions: topical vulnerary, anti-inflam, immune stim
Indications: Topical - bruises, phlebitis, strains/sprains
CI: large areas of broken skin, internal use
Toxicity: gastroenteritis, HA, nervous disturbance, HTN, muscle weakness, dyspnea, CV collapse, convulsions, coma, death
Interactions: N/A
Artemisia absinthum
“wormwood”
Constituents: sesquiterpene lactones (thujone), lignans
Actions: bitter, vermifuge, nervine, carminative, anti-microb/septic
Indications: poor digestion, intestinal roundworms + pinworms
CI: Large doses dt thujone, pregnancy, lactation, anything that would worsen with digestive stimulation.
Toxicity: intoxication, vomiting, GI upset, HA, dizziness, convulsions, death. Thujone-emmenagogue, abortifacient, convulsions
Interactions: PPI antagonist, maybe decreased drug absorption dt increased gut motility.
Artemisia annua
“sweet Annie”
Constituents: sesquiterpene lactones, volatile oils
Actions: anti-parasitic/microbial/neoplastic, bitter
Indications: malaria, parasitic infections, cancer
CI: Pregnancy, lactation
Toxicity: nausea, whole herb is safe but sesquiterpenes are neurotoxic
Interactions: Combine w/ iron for optimal efficiency
Artemisia vulgaris
“mugwort”
Constituents: volatile oil, sesquiterpene lactones (thujone)
Actions: bitter, nervine, emmenagogue, carminative
Indications: poor digestion, depression, amenorrhea
CI: Anything that worsens with increased digestive stim, pregnancy, lactation
Toxicity: thujone - emmenagogue, abortifacient, convulsions
Interactions: PPI antagonist, potentiates hypoglycemic drugs, may decrease drug absorption dt increased gut motility
Asclepias tuberosa
“pleurisy root”
Constituents: glucosides, tannins, resins
Actions: diaphoretic, expectorant, anti-tussive/spasmodic
Indications: infxn, respiratory tract congestion - bronchitis, pleurisy, pertussis, pneumonia, cough, cold, flu
CI: pregnancy, large doses for several days
Toxicity: N/V, GI upset/diarrhea, anorexia, death
Interactions: maybe cardiac glycosides - digoxin, convallaria, digitalis, leonurus
Aspidosperma quebracho
“quebracho”
Constituents: alkaloids, tannins
Actions: stimulating expectorant, anti-tussive/microbial
Indications: dyspnea, asthma, wet-cough, COPD, TB, pneumonia
CI: dry cough, pregnancy, lactation, infants, long-term use
Toxicity: N/V
Astragalus membranaceus
“astragalus”
Constituents: triterpenoid saponins, glycosides, polysaccharides, flavonoids
Actions: adaptogen, immune-modulator, anti-bact/viral, hepato/cardio-protective
Indications: depressed immune system, infxn-viral myocardiopathy, cancer, male infertility
CI: maybe Alzheimer’s dz and acute infxns
Toxicity: may increase fibrin formation
Interactions: potentiates acyclovir, interferon-1&2. Corticosteriod antagonist.
Atropa Belladonna
“Belladonna”
Constituents: atropine, tropane alkaloids
Actions: spasmolytic, vasoconstrictor, bronchodilator, analgesic
Indications: smooth muscle spasm, asthma, Parkinsonism, tremors, pain from smooth muscle contraction, PMS, GERD
CI: long-term use & high doses, BPH, urinary retention, prostate CA, closed-angle glaucoma, pregnancy, lactation, children
Toxicity: “Hot as a hare, red as a beet, dry as a bone, blind as a bat, mad as a hatter”
Interactions: potentiates anticholinergic drugs & tricyclic antidepressants
Avena sativa
“oat”
Constituents: Starch, polysaccharides, fibre, indole alkaloids
Actions: anxiolytic, nervine, hypolipidemic, nutritive
Indications: topical - eczema, inflamed skin, seborrhea. Internal - fatigue, anxiety, debility, hyperlipidemia, nicotine/opiate withdrawl
CI/Toxicity/Interactions: None
Bacopa monierri
“Brahmi”
Constituents: triterpenoid saponins
Actions: analgesic, anti-helminth/fungal/oxidant
Indications: Cognition, poor memory, anxiety, epilepsy
CI: None
Toxicity: palpitations, nausea, dry mouth/thirst, fatigue
Interactions: CYP450 inducer, increase thyroid hormone + potentiate levothyroxine. May potentiate CCBs and sedatives
Baptisia tinctoria
“Wild Indigo”
Constituents: alkaloids, isoflavones, flavonoids, coumarins
Actions: Immune-stim, anti-microb/catarrhal, alterative
Indications: URI w/ catarrh, mastitis, delirium w/ fever
CI: long-term use, high dose, pregnancy, lactation
Toxicity: anorexia, N/V, hypersalivation, tachypnea/cardia, respiratory paralysis, death
Interactions: None
Berberis (Mahonia) Aquifolium
“Oregon grape”
Constituents: isoquinoline alkaloids
Actions: Bitter, alterative, hepatoprotective, cholagogue
Indications: poor digestion, chronic skin disease, candida, H. pylori, lower UTI, vaginitis
CI: anything that worsens w/ gastric stimulation, late pregnancy
Toxicity: N/V, mucous membrane irritation, hypotension, HF, conculsions, parethesias
Interactions: PPI antagonist, may decrease drug absorption dt increased gut motility, may cz intestinal/vaginal dysbiosis
Berberis vulgaris
“Barberry”
Constituents: isoquinoline alkaloids, chelidonic acid, tannins
Actions: bitter, anti-microb/parasitic, cholagogue, choleretic
Indications: poor digestion, chronic hepatitis, liver disease, gallstones, malaria
CI: anything that worsens w/ gastric stimulation, hyperbilirubinemia, kidney dz, pregnancy, lactation
Toxicity: N/V, mucous membrane irritation, hypotension, HF, conculsions, parethesias
Interactions: PPI antagonist, potentiates barbiturates (phenobarbital), may decrease drug absorption dt increased gut motility
