Herbal Chemical Categories: Flash Cards
After studying the common chemical categories of medicinal herbs, we students were assigned to create flash cards that would help us review these categories and their characteristic medicinal actions. We were not going to be graded for depth; it was an activity for purely personal benefit.
The process of condensing many pages of study onto six-by-four-inch cards (two-sided) was slow (three days for ten cards!) but surprisingly effective in helping me to assimilate the core elements learned in the past weeks. The first sheet of cards took me the longest, as I decided exactly what information I wanted to include for each category—and (because I’m obsessive compulsive when it comes to words) as I worked and reworked them in order to achieve the necessary-to-my-mental-well-being consistency.
In addition to chemical categories and medicinal actions, I decided to include notes on how the herbs achieve their medicinal effect (when I could find and understand the information), a brief description of their physical or chemical nature, a list of applicable herbs (taken from the course guide), and important preparation notes (when I could find them).
Because I love language, in many cases I superfluously included Latin or Greek roots to definitions of medicinal action. (My appreciation for demulcents, for example, was increased by knowing that demulcent comes from the Latin word meaning “to caress.”) I also included on each card a botanical illustration of an herb from the respective category. Their aesthetic appeal actually helps me to focus on and learn the material. (Which is why I love studying Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy by Mills and Bone. The prose is lucid and the grammar perfect. It’s beautiful.)
Although they do not appear on the cards, I also looked up the pronunciations of difficult words—so I would know how to say things like “Isothiocyanate Glycosides.”
After the requisite review, I plan to place my cards in my Memory Box for monthly review. The goal is not memorization, however, but familiarity.
Disclaimer: The following is a summary of personal research, shared here for educational purposes and not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any illness. Nor is it intended as a guide for using any of these herbs. Please do not use herbs without an understanding of their proper use and application, and an understanding of their potential toxicity. If you are experiencing symptoms that concern you, please consult your healthcare provider.
A gum is a sticky substance exuded from certain plants and trees, which dries into an uncrystallized, brittle mass soluble in water. These secretions are typically a response to trauma, binding broken plant tissue and having antimicrobial properties.
A mucilage is a sticky polysaccharide substance found in certain plants as a result of normal metabolism.
Materia Medica: Coltsfoot leaves, Comfrey herb, Kelp, Mallow (Marshmallow) leaf and root, Plantain herb, Black or Blonde Psyllium seed
Preparation Notes: Mucilages and gums are readily soluble in water (especially cold water) and insoluble in alcohol. (Alcohol splits the complex carbohydrates into simple carbohydrates.) For demulcent effects in the gastro-intestinal tract, mucilages are best given as powders and capsules.
Polysaccharides are complex, branched carbohydrates (polymers based on sugars and uronic acid). They are found in all plants, especially as a component of the cell walls. Some plants, however, particularly accumulate polysaccharides.
Materia Medica: Aloe Vera leaf, Astragalus root, Chlorella, Echinacea herb and root, Siberian Ginseng root, Reishi mushroom, Shiitake mushroom
Preparation Notes: Polysaccharides are readily soluble in water.
Glycosides are organic compounds composed of a sugar portion, the glycone, and a non-sugar portion, the aglycone. Anthraquinone aglycones are hydrolized from their glycosides.
Materia Medica: Aloe Vera latex, Buckthorn bark, Cascara Sagrada bark, Rhubarb root, Senna pod and leaf
Preparation Notes: The bark of anthraquinone-containing herbs must be cured (by storing for one year, or by heating while exposed to air) to make it useable for medicine.
Salicin is the primary alcohol glycoside used in botanical medicine.
Materia Medica: Meadowsweet flower, Aspen (Poplar) leaf bud, Sweet Birch leaf and bark, White Willow bark
Glycosides are organic compounds composed of a sugar portion, the glycone, and a non-sugar portion, the aglycone. After hydrolysis, the aglycone of cyanogenic glycosides converts to hydrogen cyanide (prussic acid).
Materia Medica: Hydrangea root, Loquat leaf, Peach bark and leaf, Wild Cherry bark
Isothiocyanate glycosides (also called glucosinolates) are sulphur- and nitrogen-containing glycosides. When the glucosinolate combines with the enzyme myrosinase (which is normally stored in another cell compartment) it rearranges into the pungent and corrosive isothiocyanate.
Materia Medica: Black Mustard, Brassica species, Charlock, Horseradish, Nasturtium, Radish, Rape, Scurvy Grass, Shepherd’s Purse, Turnip, Wallflower, Watercress, White Mustard
Phenols are substances that have at least one hydroxyl group attached to a benzene ring.
Materia Medica: Agrimony herb, Alumroot root, Angelica (Don Quai) root and fruit, Bayberry bark and root, Bilberry fruit, Black Haw root bark, Boneset herb, Buchu leaf, Bugleweed herb, Cat’s Claw root, Chamomile flower, Cloves flower bud, Echinacea herb and root, Elderberry flower and fruit, Eucalyptus leaf, Galangal root, Ginkgo leaf, Gotu Kola leaf, Grape seed, Guarana seed, Hawthorn leaf and flower and fruit, Heart’s Ease herb, Horseradish root, Horsetail stem, Khella fruit and root and seed, Kudzu root, Licorice root, Linden flower, Lungwort leaf, Mate leaf, Meadowsweet flower, Milk Thistle seed, White Oak bark, Nettle leaf, Passionflower herb, Raspberry herb and fruit and root, Sheep Sorrel leaf, Silk Tree (Mimosa Tree) bark, Silverweed leaf and flower, Skullcap herb, Spanish Chestnut leaf, St. John’s Wort herb, Tea leaf and stem, Tormentil rhizome and root, Uva Ursi leaf, White Willow bark, Witch Hazel bark and leaf, Yarrow leaf and flower, Yello Dock root, Yerba Santa leaf
Lipids are composed of esters of long-chain fatty acids and alcohols which contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Materia Medica: Benzoin bark resin, Borage seeds, Castor seed oil, Cranberry fruit, Dandelion herb and root, Evening Primrose seed oil, Flaxseed (Linseed), Gymnena leaves, Lecithin (in eggs, beef liver, peanuts), Perilla seed oil, Pumpkin seed, Safflower flower and seed oil, Saw Palmetto fruit, Soy bean
Volatile oils (also called “essential oils” because they carry the distinctive scent, or essence, of the plant) are concentrated hydrophobic liquids containing volatile aroma compounds from plants.
Materia Medica: Allspice unripe fruit, Angelica (Don Quai) root, Anise fruit, Basil leaf, Bay leaf, Bitter Melon leaf and fruit and seed, Black Cohosh rhizome and root, Butcher’s Broom root, Calendula flower, Capsicum fruit, Caraway fruit, Cardamom fruit, Catnip leaf, Chaste Tree (Vitex) fruit, Chickweed herb, Cinnamon bark and twig, Cloves flower bud, Elecampane rhizome and root, Eucalyptus leaf, Eyebright herb, Fennel seed, Fenugreek seed, Feverfew herb, Garlic bulb, Ginger root, Ginseng root, Goldenrod herb, Horehound herb, Hyssop herb, Juniper fruit, Lavender flower, Lemon Balm leaf, Lemongrass herb, Licorice root and stolon, Lovage root, Mullein herb, Myrrh resin, Pennyroyal herb, Peppermint leaf, Pine bark, Rosemary leaf, Sage leaf, Thyme herb, Turmeric rhizome, Valerian rhizome and root, Wild Yam rhizome
Preparation Notes: Volatile oils are readily soluble in water.
Alkaloids, which are derived from amino acids, are substances with nitrogen in the molecule connected to at least two carbon atoms.
Materia Medica: Aconite root, Barberry root, Black Pepper fruit, Bloodroot root, Blue Cohosh root, Boldo leaf, Broom flower, Cat’s Claw root, Celandine herb, Centaury flower, Coltsfoot flower, Comfrey leaf and root, Ephedra herb, Fumitory herb, Goldenseal rhizome and root, Lobelia herb, Motherwort herb, Oregon Grape root, Rue herb, Yohimbe bark
Preparation Notes: Alkaloids are not readily soluble in water. Because of the toxicity of alkaloids, it may be best in most cases to begin treatment with a water- or glycerin-based preparation. Alcohol preparations of alkaloid herbs should be reserved for generally healthy adults.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012