Constituents & Actions PDF

Constituent - Mucilage Mucilage – A group of polysaccharides that form a gel-like consistency when combined with water. Actions: • Demulcent • Emollient • Anti-inflammatory • Vulnerary • Bulking laxative • Soothing expectorant Marshmallow – Althea off. • Anti-spasmodic Slippery Elm – Ulmus fulvus Pl...

Constituent - Mucilage Mucilage – A group of polysaccharides that form a gel-like consistency when combined with water. Actions: • Demulcent • Emollient • Anti-inflammatory • Vulnerary • Bulking laxative • Soothing expectorant Marshmallow – Althea off. • Anti-spasmodic Slippery Elm – Ulmus fulvus Plantain – Plantago lanceolata Aloe gel – Aloe vera Chia / Flax / Psyllium Mucilage Actions • Emollients – soften, soothe and protect the skin (for topical use only) • Form a protective barrier for the skin that will soothe and moisten any inflammation, irritation or burn • Applied as a gel, salve, oil, cream, lotion or poultice • Herbal Examples: • Aloe gel (Aloe barbadensis) • Plantain (Plantago major) • Chickweed (Stellaria media) • Comfrey (Symphytum off) Mucilage Actions • Demulcents – soothe and protect irritated or inflamed internal tissue • Cooling, soothing and relaxing to raw, hot, irritated or inflamed membranes of the digestive, respiratory and genitourinary tracts • Some demulcents have a soothing effect distal to the site of contact due to a reflex response initiated in the gut • Herbs for soothing the digestive tract: • Marshmallow (Althea off) • Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) • Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva) • Herbs for soothing the respiratory tract: • Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) • Coltsfoot (Tussilago sp) • Herbs for soothing the genitourinary tract: • Corn silk (Zea mays) Mucilage Actions • Vulnerary • Helps with healing wounds – speeds up the natural wound healing process to reach resolution faster • Used both topically and internally • Promotes the laying down of granulation tissue to form a scab or eschar sooner • Allantoin is another constituent that has this action found in comfrey and plantain • Herbal examples: • Calendula (Calendula off) • Comfrey (Symphytum off) • Plantain (Plantago lanceolata / major) Mucilage Actions • Bulking Laxatives • Herbs that contain mucilage can pull water into the colon to soften and give bulk to stool • By bulking the stool, this enhances the body’s reflex signaling pathway to evacuate the stool • Herbal Examples: • • • • Aloe gel (Aloe barbadensis) Psyllium seed (Plantago psyllium) Flax seed (Linum usitatissimum) Marshmallow root (Althea off) Mucilage Actions • Soothing Expectorant • Remove excess mucous from the lungs and soothes irritated lung tissue • Very helpful for dry, sticky mucous that is difficult to cough up • Very helpful for unproductive and irritable coughs • Relax bronchial tissues and loosen mucus to be expelled • Herbal Examples: • Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) • Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) • Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) Constituent - Tannins Tannins – Toning and tightening effect due to the ability to precipitate proteins and reduce secretions. Usually found in those parts of a plant that are shed – leaves, fruits and bark Actions: • Astringent • Hemostatic • Vulnerary • Anti-diarrheic • Dry up secretions Condensed: pre-flavonoids • Green / Black Tea – Camellia sinensis • Red Raspberry leaf – Rubus ideaus • White Willow – Salix alba Hydrolysable: use caution • Horsechestnut – Aesculus hippocastanum • Witch Hazel – Hamamelis virginicus • Uva Ursi / Bearberry – Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Tannin Actions • Astringent • • • • • Binding, tightening and drying effect on tissues Reduce secretions and diarrhea via toning and tightening effect Reduce mucous membrane irritation, inflammation and swelling Improve mucous membrane integrity and form a barrier against infectious agents Speeds wound healing (vulnerary effect) • Herbal Examples: • • • • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Red Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus) Tannin Organ Affinity / Tissue Specificity Gastrointestinal Tract • Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaris) • Green / Black Tea (Camellia sinensis) Kidneys • Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) • Uva Ursi / Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) Lungs • Plantain (Plantago lanceolata/major) Cardiovascular System • Horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) • Blueberry / Bilberry (Vaccinium spp) Female Reproductive System • Shepard’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) • Red Raspberry (Rubus ideaus) Skin & Connective Tissue • Horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) • Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginicus) Constituents & Actions - Tannins • Safety Concerns: • Tannins may be inappropriate in the following conditions: • Constipation • Iron deficiency and malnutrition • Tannins should not be taken with other medications or supplements • Herbs rich in hydrolyzable tannins (Witch Hazel) should be reserved for topical use due to hepatotoxic effects Constituent - Salicylates Salicylates – Ease pain and reduce inflammation. A group of simple phenolics with salicin, methyl salicylate and salicylic acid. Actions: • Anti-inflammatory • Analgesic • Anti-pyretic / Febrifuge • Anti-septic Meadowsweet – Filipendula ulmaria White Willow – Salix alba Cramp bark – Viburnum opulus Salicylate Actions • Anti-inflammatory • Help the body modulate inflammation (not suppress or promote) • Support and balances our own chemical mediators responsible for inflammation – cytokines, interleukins, prostaglandins, leukotriene, etc Salicylate Actions • Analgesic • Soothe and relieve pain • Usually salicylate, alkaloid and resin constituents • Lesson neural sensitivity and pain signals within the nervous system • Inhibit the cell sodium dependent channels to reduce action potential (pain signal) transduction along the nerve fibers • Stimulate and deplete Substance P • Used in low doses for long periods of time • Herbal Examples: • • • • Cayenne (Capsicum spp.) California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) Cramp Bark (Viburnum spp) White Willow (Salix alba) Salicylate Actions • Anti-Pyretic / Febrifuge • Control or reduce fever • Fever is a natural healing process and should only be interfered with if fever gets too high • Herbal Examples: • Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) • Peppermint (Mentha piperita) • White Willow (Salix alba) Constituents & Actions - Salicylates • Safety Concerns: • High doses can be ototoxic and may induce transient hearing loss in zinc-deficient individuals • Toxic overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, tinnitus and dizziness – “Salicylism” • Avoid in cases of salicylate allergy Constituents & Actions - Bitters Bitter principle – bitter, digestive stimulant. A number of constituents brought together by their bitter taste. Bitter Action: Wormwood – Artemisia absinthium • Hepatic Gentian – Gentiana lutea Oregon Grape – Berberis sp • Alterative Dandelion – Taraxacum off. • Stimulates appetite Bitter Greens • Aids liver in detoxification • Regulates blood sugars • Stimulates Parasympathetic Nervous System • Mild laxative • Stimulates release of digestive enzymes, acid and bile Bitters & Hepatics • Hepatics – cholagogues & choleretics • Cholagogues stimulate the flow of bile from the liver and gallbladder • Choleretics increase the volume of bile produced by the liver • Aid in the digestion of food and break-down of dietary fats • Supports healthy liver cells • Hepatoprotective – Turmeric • Hepatotrophorestorative – Milk thistle • Herbal examples: • • • • Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Dandelion root (Taraxicum radix) Bitters & Alteratives • Alteratives • • • • Gradually restore proper nutrition, elimination & metabolic function of the body Blood cleansers / purifiers / detoxifiers Action on the lymphatic, gastrointestinal, urinary and skin systems Improve the body’s metabolism of nutrients, elimination of waste and contain macro/micro/phytonutrients • Herbal examples: • • • • • • Burdock (Arctium lappa) Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus) Cleavers (Gallium aparine) Dandelion root (Taraxicum off radix) Stinging Nettle tops (Urtica dioica folia) Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) Constituents & Actions - Bitters • Safety Concerns: • Use caution with strong bitters or avoid use with: • • • • • • Active or acute inflammatory bowel disease Diarrhea Pregnancy Kidney stones Acute gallbladder disease Reflux or hiatal hernia Constituents & Actions - Flavonoids Flavonoids – “Biological Response Modifiers”. Made up of a carbon skeleton with 2 substituted benzene rings. Mostly found in leaves, fruits and flowers. Actions: • Anti-oxidant • Anti-spasmodic • Anti-inflammatory • Vascular tonic • Connect tissue tonic • Liver-protective Marigold - Calendula off • Anti-allergic Green/Black Tea – Camellia sinensis • Anti-viral Hawthorn Berries – Crataegus sp. Bilberry, Blueberry, etc • Anti-cancer Turmeric – Curcuma longa Chamomile – Matricaria recutita Flavonoid Actions • Anti-oxidant • Redox (oxidation-reduction) regulators – transfer of electrons • Reduce oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species • Inhibits the reduction of dehydroascorbic acid via glutathione by acting as H+ donors allowing resonance stabilization allowing damaging molecules to be unreactive • Slows the aging of cells • Herbal Examples • • • • • Colorful fruits and veggies Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Hawthorn (Crataegus sp) Green tea Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) Flavonoid Actions • Antispasmodics / Spasmolytics: • Prevent or ease spasms or cramping within the musculature (smooth and skeletal muscles) • Also nervine relaxants and carminatives • Salicylates, alkaloids and volatile oils also have this action - has anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory properties - has neuroprotective effects • Herbal examples: • • • • • Hops (Humulus lupulus) Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus) Ginger (Zingiber off)