Herbal Preparations and Terminology Brandy Webb, ND Botanical Medicine 1 Week 1

Herbal Preparations  Water extraction Infusion - by macerating herbs in hot or cold water Decoction - by boiling or simmering herbs Succus - by expressing juice of a medicinal plant  Syrup - by simmering herbal teas with sweetener  Elixir - contains herb, water, sweetener & alcohol  Glycerite - extraction using glycerin  Miel/Mel - extraction using honey  Acetract - extraction using vinegar  Oxymel - extraction using vinegar and honey

Tinctures  Alcohol or alcohol/water extracts Fluid extracts 1:1 Tinctures (dry) 1:5 Tinctures (fresh) 1:2 and greater Toxic tinctures 1:10 Solid extracts 4:1 or 6:1

Topical Applications  Infused oil - herb macerated in oil  Salve/ointment - oil-based preparation  Cream - water-based emulsified preparation  Poultice - herbs applied directly to skin  Fomentation/compress - cloth soaked in herbal tea applied to skin  Paste/plaster - herbs mixed with flour, cornmeal or wax and applied to skin  Herbal bath - herb added to full-body, hand, foot or sitz bath  Hydrosol - herbal steam distillation preparation

Terminology  Herbal Medicine - use of natural extracts as medicine  Phytotherapy - study of the use of natural extracts as medicine  Pharmacology - study of how medicines affect the body (dosing, toxicity, biochemical effect)  Posology - the study of dosing  Pharmacognosy - science of identifying plant materials and plant constituents

Adaptogens  Regulate and balance the body’s response to stress  Three primary criterion: Innocuous (cause minimal disorders in the physiological functions of an organism) Non-specific action (a wide range of support for the system) Amphoteric (usually has a normalizing action regardless of direction the pathological state)  Panax ginseng, Eleuthroccus senticosus, Withania somnifera

Immunomodulator  Modulate the different functions of the immune system  Can cause immunosuppression or immune activation  Astragulus membranaceus, Ganoderma lucidum, Lomatium dissectum

Analgesic/Anodyne  Analgesic - relieves pain internally  Anodyne - relieves pain externally  Piscidia erythrina, filipendula ulmaria, salix spp.

Anti- inflammatories/Antiphlogistic  Salicylates - Salix, Populus, Gaultheria  Steroidal saponins - Glycyrrhiza, Dioscorea  Volatile oils - Matricaria  Essential fatty acids - evening primrose oil (EPO), Borago, Linum  Resins - Commiphora molmol, Guaiacum officinalis  Sulphurs - Allium spp., Brassica  Demulcents - Plantago, Symphytum, Althea, Ulmus

More Terminology  Anticatarral/mucolytic - facilitates removal and thinning of mucus Eupatorium perfoliatum, Hydrastis canadensis  Antilithic - prevents formation of stones in urinary tract and assists in stone removal Eupatorium purpureum, Hydrangea arborescens  Antioxidant - prevents free radical or oxidative damage to tissues Rosemarinus off., Curcuma longa, Crataegus spp.

More Terminology  Astringent/hemostatic/styptic/ antihemorrhagic - causes constriction of mucous membranes and stop bleeding Hammamelis virginiana, Geranium maculatum  Carminative - dispels gas and relieves colic Foeniculum vulgare, Pimpinella anisum, Mentha piperita  Cholagogue/choleretic - stimulates production and secretion of bile Chelidonium majus, Taraxacum off.  Demulcent/emollient/mucilage - soothes and protect inflamed tissues Althea off., Plantago spp., Ulmus rubra

More Terminology  Diaphoretic/sudorific - promotes perspiration Achillea millefolium, Zingiber off., Capsicum spp.  Diuretic - stimulates urination Taraxacum off., Urtica dioica, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi  Expectorant - promotes expulsion of bronchopulmonary secretions Inula helenium, Grindelia spp., Lobelia inflata  Febrifuge/antipyretic - lower an abnormally high temperature Eupatorium perfoliatum, Melissa off., Sambucus spp.  Essential oil/fixed oil - fragrant plant-derived oil Thymus vulgaris, Melaleuca alterniflora

More Terminology  Nervine/sedative/hypnotic/soporific - induce relaxation/sleep, relieve stress Valerian off., Humulus lupulus, Passiflora  Rubefacient/counterirritant - increases circulation at site of application Capsicum spp., Zingiber off., Allium sativa  Sialagogue - stimulates saliva production Gentiana spp., Achillea millefolium, Xanthoxylum americanum  Stomachic/bitter - stimulates digestive secretions, promotes healthy stomach functioning Gentiana spp., Artemesia absinthium

Prescription Writing

Example  Tea of Gentian 1 tsp per cup of hot water 15 minutes before each meal for the next 2 weeks  Need (3 tsp per day) x (14 days) = 14 tbsp  There are tbsp per ounce of dried leaf/flower  Need to dispense 1 ounce of herb  Prescription Rx: Gentiana lutea bulk herb Sig: 1 tsp per cup hot aq. 15 min a.c. x 2 weeks Disp: 1 ounce Refills: PRN x 3 months

Prescription Writing Group Activity