Herbs and Oils Medicinal Uses Quiz

Herbal Drugs for Skin, Eye, and Rheumatic Disorders

• Skin Disorders:
  • Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema): One of the most common eczema forms in children. Exact cause unknown, but likely involves genetics, environment, and/or the immune system.
  • Acne (Acne vulgaris): Caused by blocked hair follicles and oil glands, often triggered by hormonal changes. Includes pimples, blackheads, cysts, and nodules; can affect the back and chest. Treatments include keratolytics, antibiotics, antiseptics, and anti-inflammatories.
  • Psoriasis: An inflammatory, hyperproliferative skin disease causing red, scaly skin that may be painful, swollen, or hot. Treatments include keratolytics, anti-inflammatories, and immunosuppressants.
  • Vitiligo: A disorder causing patches of skin to turn white. This happens because skin's color-producing cells are destroyed.

Marigold (Calendula officinalis)

• Trade Names: Califlora Calendula Gel, Calendula Gel, Calendula Ointment. Other names include Calendula, Holligold, Goldbloom, Golds, Mary Bud, Ruddes, Mary Gowles, Holigold, Marybud.
• Compounds: Triterpene saponins (2-10%), triterpene alcohols, flavonoids, hydroxycoumarins, carotinoids, volatile oil (0.2%), water-soluble polysaccharides (15%), and polyynes.
• Effects: Antimicrobial due to terpene alkaloids, lactone, and flavones in the essential oil. Demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Topical application may enhance granulation and epithelialization of damaged skin. Anti-inflammatory activity of triterpenoid esters tested in mice.
• Indications and Usage (Approved by Commission E): Inflammation of the mouth and pharynx, wounds, and burns. Other uses (unproven) include circulatory issues, ulcers, spasms, swelling of glands, jaundice, wounds, and eczema.
• Precautions and Adverse Reactions: No known health hazards or side effects with proper dosage. Low potential for sensitization after frequent skin contact; contact dermatitis (less than 1%) possible in patch tests with 10% Calendula tincture.

Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)

• Trade Names: Evening Primrose Oil Capsules, Mega Primrose Oil, Oil of Evening Primrose, Original Primrose for Women, Royal Brittany Evening Primrose Oil
• Description: The medicinal parts are the fatty oil extracted from ripe seeds and fresh plants at the beginning of the flowering season.
• Production: Evening Primrose oil is extracted from the fatty seeds using a cold extraction process with hexane in steel or glass-lined tanks. The extract is washed and the solvent removed using low pressure.
• Compounds: Fatty oil, chief fatty acids include linoleic acid (65-80%), gammalinolenic acid (8-14%), oleic acid (6-11%), and palmitic acid (7-10%).
• Effects: Gamma-linolenic acid (a component in Evening Primrose oil) is converted to di homo-gamma-linolenic acid and then into prostaglandin El (PGE1) by the enzyme delta-6-desaturase. PGE1 exhibits anti-inflammatory and cell membrane stabilizer activity.
• Indications and Usage (Unproven): Neurodermatitis, premenstrual syndrome; dietary aid; hyperactivity in children; high cholesterol levels; menopausal hot flashes; mastalgia. A 500 mg capsule approved in Germany for atopic eczema treatment.
• Precautions and Adverse Reactions: Case reports of seizures in schizophrenic patients taking Evening Primrose oil along with phenothiazine medications. Evening Primrose oil may lower the seizure threshold in patients with seizure disorders or being treated with drugs that do.

Avocado (Persea americana)

• Description: Medicinal parts include dried leaves, whole fruit (including seed), and oil extracted from leaves. Avocado oil is recovered from the pericarp and refined as needed.
• Compounds: Fatty oil: chief fatty acids include oleic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, palmitoleic acid (tocopherols, vitamin E).
• Effects: Avocado oil is an emollient that improves rough, itchy skin.
• Indications and Usage: Main ingredient in natural cosmetics.
• Precautions and Adverse Reactions: No known health hazards or side effects with suitable dosages.

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

• Trade Names: Witch Hazel, Witch Hazel Leaf
• Medicinal Parts: Hamamelis water, bark (fresh and dried), roots, branches (fresh and dried leaves).
• Production: Witch Hazel leaf obtained from Hamamelis virginiana leaves collected in autumn and dried rapidly; Witch Hazel bark is dried bark of the trunk and branches of Hamamelis virginiana.
• Compounds: Tannins, catechins, oligomeric procyanidins.
• Effects: Astringent, anti-inflammatory, locally hemostatic (stops bleeding).
• Indications and Usage (Approved by Commission E): Hemorrhoids, inflammation of the mouth/pharynx (leaf only), inflammation of skin, venous conditions, wounds, and burns. Folk medicine uses for non-specific diarrhea, hematemesis, haemoptysis, menstrual complaints. External use for minor skin injuries, inflamed skin areas, hemorrhoids, and varicose veins.
• Precautions and Adverse Reactions: No recorded health risks with proper dosage. Internal use may cause digestive complaints. Liver damage possible with long-term use.

Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis)

• Medicinal Parts: Flowering herb (flower & fruit); dried or fresh leaves and flowering branches of Melilotus officinalis and/or Melilotus altissimus.
• Production: Dried or fresh leaves and flowering branches.
• Compounds (Fresh Plant): Coumarinic acids glycosides, free coumarin (0.4-0.9%), hydroxycoumarins, flavonoids, triterpene saponins, volatile oil.
• Compounds (Seeds): Canavanin (amino acid), trigonelline (alkaloid).
• Effects: Antiphlogistic, anti-exudative, antiedematous effect. Increases venous reflux and improves lymphatic kinetics. Shown to increase wound healing in animal experiments.
• Indications and Usage (Approved by Commission E): Blunt injuries, hemorrhoids, venous conditions (internal use for chronic venous insufficiency issues). External use for contusions, sprains, superficial blood effusions. Unproven uses include diuretic in folk medicine.
• Precautions and Adverse Reactions: No documented health risks with proper dosage. Excessive use may cause headaches, stupor, temporary liver damage in a small percentage of sensitive individuals. Monitoring of liver enzyme values is recommended.

German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

• Trade Names: Chamomile Flowers, Standardized Chamomile Extract, Wild Chamomile, Kid Chamomile.
• Medicinal Parts: Entire flowering herb or only the flowers.
• Production: Fresh or dried flower heads of Matricaria recutita; preparations include the flowers, flower heads, chamomeilla, chamomile, and single/hungarian chamomile.
• Compounds: Volatile oil (0.4-1.5%), flavonoids, hydroxycoumarins, mucilages.
• Effects: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant (chamazulene), anti-inflammatory properties. Some compounds have anxiolytic (anxiety reducing) effects.
• Indications and Usage (Approved by Commission E): Cough/bronchitis; fevers and colds. Skin and mouth inflammation; tendency to infection; wounds and burns. Unproven uses include diarrhea, flatulence, furuncles, hemorrhoids, abscesses, and acne (external).
• Precautions and Adverse Reactions: No documented health risks with proper dosages. Potential for additive detrimental effect with coumarin anticoagulants (like Warfarin) use. Avoid alcohol and benzodiazepines. Allergy to Compositae family compounds (e.g., arnica, yarrow, etc.) is a contraindication.

Brewer's Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

• Description: Mature, debittered, bottom-fermented Brewer's Yeast.
• Production: Fresh or dried cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and/or Candida utilis.
• Compounds: Vitamins of the B group, polysaccharides, proteins, amines, sterols.
• Effects: Antibacterial, promotes phagocytosis.
• Indications and Usage (Approved by Commission E): Dyspeptic complaints, eczema, furuncles, acne, loss of appetite. Folk use for constipation and itching skin diseases.
• Precautions and Adverse Reactions: No recorded health risks with proper dosage. Large quantities may cause gas. Allergic intolerance reactions and migraine headaches possible in susceptible individuals. Avoid use with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis)

• Trade Names: Eyebright, Herbal Eyebright, NuVeg Eyebright.
• Medicinal Parts: Flowering plant. Whole plant gathered during the flowering season.
• Production: Fresh or dried, above-ground plant parts.
• Compounds: Iridoid monoterpenes, lignans, flavonoids, tannins.
• Effects: No documented effects.
• Indications and Usage (Unproven): Eye complaints associated with blood vessel disorders and inflammation in eyelids and conjunctiva. Folk medicine uses for blepharitis, conjunctivitis, styes, eye fatigue, functional eye disorders, coughs, and hoarseness.
• Precautions and Adverse Reactions: No health risks with proper administration, however, external use isn't necessarily hygienic.

Colchicum autumnale

• Description: Fresh flowers, dried ripe seeds (sliced), and cut/dried tubers(fresh or dried).
• Production: Dried seeds harvested during summer/early July from the wild plants. Tubers are cut and dried at 60° or lower before use. Flowers collected during late summer/autumn.
• Compounds: Tropolone alkaloids (bulb), starch, fatty oil.
• Effects: Inhibits cell growth (mitosis) inhibiting phagocytosing lymphocytes which, in turn, produces an anti-inflammatory effect.
• Indications and Usage (Approved by Commission E): Gout and Mediterranean fever. Unproven uses include skin tumors, psoriasis, autoimmune diseases, and other conditions.
• Precautions and Adverse Reactions: Severely poisonous. Signs of poisoning can include gastrointestinal problems (stomachaches, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting). Other complications can occur from kidney/liver damage, hair loss, inflammation, myopathia, and even possible bone marrow problems including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, megaloblastic anemia, or rarely aplastic anemia. High levels of toxicity; should not be used during pregnancy due to possible teratogenic dangers.

Test your knowledge on the medicinal applications of various herbs and oils, including Evening Primrose and marigold. This quiz covers their uses, composition, side effects, and more. Perfect for students and enthusiasts of herbal medicine and natural remedies.