> The holistic approach to medicine begins with the assumption that health is a positive and active state, that it is an inherent characteristic of whole and ‘integrated human beings.
#Q
> **Holism** ::: is not limited to any medical technique or theory. Rather, it provides a context in which the whole person is considered—his or her physical as well as mental and emotional health, including quality of life and relationships.
#Q
> **Allopathy** ::: is defined as a system of medical practice that aims to combat disease by using remedies which produce effects different from those produced by the special disease treated; a term invented by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann to designate the ordinary practice, as opposed to homeopathy (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, p. 19).
> **Be on your guard for:**
>
> - Hypotheses presented as undisputed facts
>
> - Hypotheses which can neither be proved nor dis-proved, that is, circular arguments
>
> - Conclusions based on insufficient evidence® Extrapolatng from a narrow context of results, e.g.,from in vitro data to the clinic, without consideration of factors such as dose, metabolism, absorption and distribution
>
> - Claiming scientific persecution (this does occur, of course, but is usually an excuse)
>
> - Developing theories which bear no relationship to experimental findings!
>
> **Pycnogenol** is a legal trademark that refers to a patented process for extracting flavonoids and other substances from pine bark. The product consists of 50% to 65%proanthocyanidins. Although the proanthocyanidins present in Pycnogenol likely have health benefits, not much published research exists to support their use in specific conditions. The evidence cited in the marketing of Pycnogenol is largely extrapolated from more general re-search on flavonoids and proanthocyanidins.
> flavonoids do function as antioxidants.
>
> However, individual flavonoids often display striking differences in activity.
> **proanthocyanidins** are water-soluble and vitamin E is oil-soluble,
> The body needs both water- and fat-soluble antioxidants for effective antioxidant protection. Also, a diverse intake of antioxidants is far better than intake of only one or two isolated antioxidants.
> An overemphasis on **proanthocyanidin** increases the risk that other flavonoids and polyphenols will be under-emphasized.
> **Genistein** and **daidzein** appear to reduce the risk of prostate and breast cancers.
> **Ellapic acid,** related more closely to gallates than to proanthocyanidins, is also a potent antioxidant and cancer inhibitor. The citrus flavonoids, hesperidin, quercetin, rutin, and tangeretin,are abundant and effective.
> **Hesperidin** raises blood levels of high-density lipo-protein (HDL) and lowers levels of low-densitylipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides. It also possesses significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
> **Quercetin** reduces inflammation associated with allergies, can inhibit the growth of head and neck cancers and inhibits the activity of reverse transcriptase
> **Tangeretin** induces apoptosis (programmed cell death)in leukemia cells, but does not harm normal cells.
> free radicals fuel replication of HIV and antioxidants slow it
> Horsetail (fguisetum arvense)
> There is no evidence that Horsetail contains bioavailable silica. It's not water soluable.
>
> **Bioavailability Concerns:** Silica, or silicon dioxide, exists in a form called quartz, which is essentially insoluble in water or alcohol (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, p. 22). This leads to the question of whether any silica is present in horsetail tea or extracts (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, p. 22).
>
> - **Lack of Evidence for Silicon's Role:** A review of medical databases and reference books didn't reveal literature identifying a role for silicon in human metabolism (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, p. 22).
>
> - **The [["Vegetable Silica" Claim]]:** Horsetail formulations are sometimes marketed as "vegetable silica," implying a need for silica and that horsetail fulfills this need, but without sufficient evidence (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, p. 22).
>
> - **The [[Biotransmutation Theory]]:** There's a theory that silicon is "biotransmuted" into calcium in the body, which the author finds questionable without supporting evidence (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, p. 22).
>
> - **Circular Reasoning:** The argument that horsetail must work because it contains silica is considered circular reasoning and based on a lack of knowledge of phytochemistry (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, p. 22).
>
> - **Occam's Razor:** The principle of Occam's razor suggests that the simplest explanation should be preferred. In this case, a simpler explanation based on known flavonoid effects might be more appropriate than complex justifications for an outdated hypothesis (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, p. 22).
>
>
> In conclusion, the document questions the common explanation for horsetail's benefits being due to bioavailable silica, citing concerns about its solubility and the lack of clear evidence for silicon's role in human metabolism (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, p. 22).
> **Essiac** is an herbal combination marketed as a risk-free approach to treating cancer and other chronic conditions (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, pp. 22–23). However, herbalists don't "treat"; they support the body's natural healing processes (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, pp. 22–23). Essiac consists of burdock root, slippery elm bark, sheep sorrel, and turkey rhubarb (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, pp. 22–23). Sheep sorrel is rich in oxalic acid, and increased intake of oxalic acid or its salts raises the risk of developing kidney stones (<i>Medical Herbalism</i>, 2003, pp. 22–23).
> The attention now being given to medicinal plants by science and government must be expanded to include an assessment of the insights and protocols of the phytotherapist.
#Q
**Intellectual Imperialism:** :::The western mindset that we can spontaneously understand the concepts and visions of another culture.
Dong Quai (Angelica Sinensis)
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata)
Health & disease result from a complex of physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors.
**Controlled Study:** The responses of one group (experimental group) are compared with a second untreated group (control group).
**Placebo-controlled Study:** An experimental treatment is compared with a placebo, an inert substance that appears to be identical to the treatment.
**Blinded Studies:** The subjects do not know whether or not they are receiving active medication, the outcome is less likely to be influenced by their expectations.
**Double Blind Studies:** Neither the patients nor the researchers know which treatment patients are receiving. This type of study helps researchers avoid special treatment of subjects based on whether they are receiving the active or placebo substance.
#Q
> The term **pharmacognosy** ::: is derived from two Greekwords, pharmakon (drug) and gnosis (knowledge).
#Q
> **Organoleptic analysis** ::: of plant material involves the use of the senses, including sight,smell, taste, touch, and occasionally even hearing, to identify the plant and evaluate its quality.
**Annotation on _Medical H 1_** (A.Z. Device, 4/23/2025)
Eupatorium cannabinum - Hemp Agrimony
Eupatorium perfoliatum - Boneset
Eupatorium purpureum - Gravel Root
niveus - snow white
galacto, lacteus - milk white
albidus - whitish
ater, mela, melano - pure black
niger - black
anthracinus - coal-black
fuscus, phaeo - brown
porphyreus - red-brown
hepaticus - liver colored
aureus, auratus, chryso - golden yellow
luteus, xantho - yellow
favus, luteolus, lutescens, flavidus, flavescens - pale yellow
viridis, chloro - green
glaucus, thalassicus, glaucescens - sea green
flavovirens - yellowish green
cyaneus, cyano - prussian blue
caeruleus - blue
azureus - sky blue
ruber, erythro - red
roseus, rhodo - rosy
purpureus - purple
**Meadowsweet:** Mild anti-inflammatory, astringent, and carminative. Used for the treatment of musculoskeletal inflammations and digestive problems.
Meadowsweet - Filipendula ulmaria
#Q
**Anabolism:** ::: the _constructive phase of metabolism_ where simple substances are converted into more complex compounds.
#Q
**Catabolism**: ::: the _breakdown_ of complex molecules.
#Q
> **Phenolic compounds** ::: are aromatic substances formed in various ways via the shikimic or malonic acid pathway.
>
> - Essentially these acid pathways are metabolic processes that allow plants to create complex compounds for various purposes from aromatic compounds to chemical defenses.
>
> The nitrogen-containing secondary products, such as alkaloids, are biosynthesized primarily from amino acids.
> **organic compounds:** are compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen.
> **aglycone:** A molecule that can exist with or without a sugar group attached. Without the sugar group, they are known as aglycones. When they contain a sugar group, they are known as glycosides.
**Aromatic Ring:** A carbon ring structure seen, for example, in phenolic compounds alkaloids, and terpenes. It consists of 6 carbon atoms in a flat hexagonal pattern.
- It's a chemical structure that allows the molecule to have special properties and to be more stable. They generally have a strong smell and act as antioxidants, pigments and more.
**Conformation:** The tree-dimensional arrangement of the atoms of a molecule.
**Compound:** A chemical composed of more than one type of atom.
**Functional Group:** Particular groups of atoms in which characteristic chemical reactions take place.
**Glucoside:** A glycoside in which the sugar constituent is glucose.
**Glycoside:** Any compound that contains a carbohydrate molecule. These can be converted into a sugar and a non-sugar component.
**Hydrolysis:** The splitting of a compound into fragments by the addition of water.
**Isomers:** Two or more compounds with the same molecular composition. The number of possible structural isomers increases with the size of the molecule.
**Ligand:** An ion, a molecule, or a molecular group that binds to another chemical entity to form a larger complex.
**Optical Isomerism:** Compounds that have the same molecular formula but differ in the way they rotate the plane of polarized light.
**Oxidation:** The process by which oxygen is added or electrons removed from a molecule.
**pH:** A measure of acidity or alkalinity. Neutral = 7, Acidic = less than 7, Alkaline = higher than 7
**Phenolic:** A molecule containing an aromatic ring bearing one or more hydroxyl groups.
**Precipitate:** A solid that is separated from a solution.
**R:** Shorthand that stands for a variable group, meaning that the group could have any of a number of structures.
**Reduction:** The process by which electrons are added or oxygen lost.
**Stereoisomer:** Two molecules that contain the same numbers and kinds of atoms bonded in the same order, but differ in that certain bonds are oriented differently in space.
**Structure-Activity Relationship:** The relationship between chemical structure and pharmacological activity for a series of compounds.
> The most abundant single organic substance on Earth is **cellulose**, a polymer of glucose, which is the main structural material of plants.
> sugars and carbohydrates are now commonly termed **saccharides**.
> **Carbohydrates** are usually classified according to size and thus solubility.For example, a monosaccharide contains one sugar, a disaccharide contains two, and a polysaccharide contains many sugars.
> In general, the larger the molecule, the less soluble it is in water.
> **Monosaccharides** have three to nine carbon atoms, although five or six is most common. This includes:
>
> - **Pentoses**
>
> - **Hexoses**
>
> - **Tetroses**
>
> - **Deoxysugars**
>
> **ligosaccharides** are molecules formed by the combination of 10 or fewer monosaccharides. The bond be-tween them is called a glycosidal bond. Disaccharides, a subcategory of oligosaccharides, are extremely important in nutrition.
> **Polysaccharides** have 10 or more monosaccharide units.This group can be broken into subcategories of homopolysaccharides and heteropolysaccharides. Glycosides are formed via a bond between a sugar (a monosaccharide or oligosaccharide) and a non sugar molecule (known as the aglycone or genin).
> **Monosaccharides** are described by the general formulaC,(H,O),. Each monosaccharide can exist as more thanone optically active isomer. However, only one form isnormally encountered. Glucose is usually the D-isomer,rhamnose the L-isomer, and so on.
> **Tetroses** (C,H,0,)These do not occur in free form in plants but play vital roles in the biosynthesis of polyphenols.
> **Pentoses** (C;H,)05;)Ribose is a pentose monosaccharide that is found universally in nucleic acids. Arabinose and xylose are present in a range of polysaccharides as well as various glycosides
> **Hexoses** (C,H,,0,)The hexoses glucose and fructose are the free sugars ormonosaccharides that are found most often in plants,along with the disaccharide sucrose
> In **deoxysugars**, one or two alcohol groups have been lostvia reduction.2-deoxy-D-ribose (C,H ,0,)L-rhamnose (C,H 20.)
> **Amino sugars** are constituents of many polysaccharides,elycolipids, and glycoproteins. They contain from three to nine carbon atoms. Five-carbon pentoses and 6-carbon hexoses are most abundant.
> **Oligosaccharides** are composed of monosaccharides or their derivatives linked together via glycosidal bonds. They contain between two and ten sugar units.
> A **prebiotic** is defined as an indigestible food ingredient that selectively stimulates the growth or activity of certain bacteria in the colon. To be effective, prebiotics must es-cape digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract and be used by a limited number of the microorganisms that make up the colonic microflora. Prebiotics may have anti-carcinogenic, antimicrobial, hypo-lipidemic, and glucose-modulating activities
> **Polysaccharides**, also known as **glycans**, are defined as high molecular-weight polymers created through the condensation of a large number of monosaccharide molecules.
> They also serve as energy reserves, in the forms of starch and inulin in plants and glycogen in animals.
> **Homopolysaccharides** are composed of building blocks of a single type of monosaccharide (simple sugar). Examples include: **Glycogen** (animal and fungal energy storage), **cellulose** (plant cell wall structure), **starch** (plant energy storage), and **inulin** (plant energy storage).
Agaricus blazel - himematsutake
Auricularia auricula - Wood ear
Flammulina velutipes - Enoki
Grifola frondosa - Maitake
Lentinus edodes - Shiitake
Coriolus versicolor - Coriolus Mushroom
**What are B-D-Glucans?**
β-D-glucans are indigestible polysaccharides found in various sources, each with unique structures and potential health benefits, primarily focused on cholesterol management and immune support.
**What are sources of B-D-Glucans?**
- Oats, Barley, Yeast, Bacteria, Algae, and Mushrooms.
**What are Dextrans?**
Extracellular polysaccharides produced by certain types of bacteria and the primary cause of plaque.
**What are Inulins?**
They are only slightly digested in the small intestine and fermented by a limited number of colonic bacteria. The sources of inulins marketed as nutritional supplements and functional foods are the roots of chicory (Cichorium intybus) and Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus).
Inulins may have antitumor, antimicrobial, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic properties. They may also have antiosteoporotic activity, as they appear to help improve mineral absorption and balance.®
**Hypolipidemic:** The ability of a substance to lower lipid (fat) levels in the blood.
**Herbs Containing Inulins:**
- _Arctium lappa_ (burdock)
- _Cichorium intybus_ (Chicory)
- _Cynara scolymus_ (Globe Artichoke)
- _Echinacea spp._ (Echinacea)
- _Inula helenium_ (Elecampane)
- _Taraxcum officinale_ (Dandelion root)
**What are the important functions of lipids?**
- Basis of cell membranes and as a form of fuel storage.
- Major structural components of all biological membranes
- Energy reserves and fuel for cellular activities
- Vitamins and hormones (lipids and lipid derivatives}
- Protective coatings with important immunological
functions for cells
- Waterproof protective coverings in plants and some
animals
- Blood-based carriers of fat-soluble vitamins sich as, A, D, E, and K.
**What do Adaptogens do?**
Adaptogenic herbs help increase the body’s resistance to stress.
**What do Alteratives do?**
Alteratives are herbs that gradually restore proper function to the body, increasing health and vitality. Some alteratives support waste elimination processes via the kidneys, liver, lungs, or skin. Others stimulate digestive function or provide antimicrobial actions, while others simply work!
**What do Anticatarrhal herbs do?**
Help the body eliminate excess mucus.
**What do astringents do?**
Astringent herbs have a binding action on mucous membranes, skin, and other tissue, which translates to an ability to shrink tissues and reduce secretions.
**What do bitters do?**
They stimulate gut self-repair mechanisms and increase bile flow and digestion.
**What do carminatives do?**
Soothe the gut wall, reduce inflammation, ease gripping pains, and help the body eliminate gas.
**What do Diaphoretics do?**
Promote sweating and help the body eliminate wastes through the skin.
**What do emmenagogues do?**
Stimulate menstrual flow and function.
**Herbs Relevant to Cystitis and Irritable Bowel**
**Syndrome:**
- Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony)
- Angelica archangelica (Angelica)
- Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry)
- Humulus lupulus (Hops)
- Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal)
- Matricaria recutita (Chamomile)
- Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)
- Viburnum opulus (Cramp Bark)
When creating a prescription, you can adjust the proportion of herbs to emphasize different actions.
**Prescription for Cystitis and Irritable Bowel**
**Syndrome:**
- Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 2 parts
- Viburnum opulus 2 parts
- Agrimonia eupatoria 2 parts
- Angelica archangelica 1 part
- Humulus lupulus 1 part
- Hydrastis canadensis 1 part
- Dosage: up to 5ml of tincture 3x daily
We will also recommend that the patient drink an infusion of Matricaria recutita (chamomile) or Melissa officinalis Lemon balm) often throughout the day.
The strongest effector herbs should be prescribed in smaller amounts while gentle normalizers can be prescribed at higher dosages.
Normalizers:
Herbs that can be considered foods are usually in dosages of 2-4g of herb to 2-4ml of tincture 3x daily.
Effectors:
Stronger herbs are given in a dosage range of 1-2g of herb to 1-2ml of tincture. An overdose may confer too much of the desired action but no toxicity.
Extreme Effectors:
Used in dosages of less than 1ml of tincture. This dosage range must be taken very seriously. Accuracy is essential or the patient will suffer the consequences. Most of these herbs are rarely used.
The 'Part':
Can be represented as 1ml of tincture or 1g of dried herbs. Different preparations may have different concentrations. A fluid extract is twice as strong as a tincture, so only half as much should be used.
A dosage of 5ml is roughly equivalent to 1 teaspoon.
A dosage of 5ml taken 3x daily amounts to 105ml a week.
There is no need for a 5ml single dose to consist purely of tincture. For children, when using stronger effectors, the 5ml dose can be made partly with water.
The best way to work out the parts when using strong effectos is to assign a 1-part proportion to the strongest herb and increase the proportions of the other herbs.
The rate of absorption in the elderly is reduced, but not the amount of absorption. They have decreased stomach acidity and intestinal blood flow. Stomach emptying slows.
Gastric acid secretion is reduced at a rate of about 5% per decade after age 50. Renal function declines by 10% per decade after 40.
Iatrogenic Causes::
Problems induced inadvertently by a physician, surgeon, medical treatment, or diagnostic procedure. This include drug interactions, surgery, dialysis etc.
## **Digestive System:**
Most digestive system problems today are due to abuse from our capitalist diets which cause direct chemical irritation. Examples include overly processed foods, chemical additives, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and tobacco. Soothing demulcents, astringents, and general toning bitters help to reverse some of the damage.
A low fiber diet causes several disorders:
- Obesity
- Gout
- Diabetes
- Kidney Stones
- Hypertension
- Cerebrovascular Disease
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Varicose Veins
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Constipation
- Appendicitis
- Diverticulosis
- Hemorrhoids
- Colon Cancer
- Irritible Bowel Syndrome
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Crohn's Disease
- Dental Caries
- Autoimmune Disorders
- Pernicious Anemia
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Dermatological Conditions
Sugars that cause gas:
Raffinose
Lactose
Fructose
Sorbitol
Raffinose:
Present in large amounts of beans, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, and whole grains.
Lactose:
Sugar found in all milk products.
Fructose:
Sugar present in onions, artichokes, pears, and wheat.
Sorbitol:
sugar found naturally in fruits including apples, pears, peaches, and prunes.