Moodle at CCNM

Amazing Physiological Facts that Will Change Your Practice of Herbalism!

Plants have engaged in an “arms-race” with fungi for many millions of years, and have evolved multiple mechanisms to inhibit their growth, disable their defenses, disrupt their biofilms, or destroy their cell membranes. We can take advantage of these mechanisms and apply whole plants, with all their synergistic constituents and activities, in direct contact with fungal-infected tissues. Because of the tendency of fungi and prokaryotic microbes to form multi-species biofilms, and specific anti-fungal component may make these herbs important in formulation for any topical infection. We will review the Azole-class of pharmaceutical topical antifungals, and then review the science and practical applications of berberine-herbs, Alliums, Calendula, thymol-herbs, Spilanthes/Acmella, Anemopsis, Commiphora, Usnea, Tabebuia, and Melaleuca, for common oral, vaginal, and skin infections.

Wherever they are found plants containing berberine and related Isoquinoline-alkaloids are used in traditional systems of medicine as major topical and internal medicines. Hydrastis and Xanthorhiza in Eastern North America, Mahonia and Berberis species more widely distributed on the continent, and Coptis species in both North America and China have all become major botanicals in the materia medica of those lands. Recent research on concentrated forms of isolated berberine have demonstrated potential uses for diabetes and several other conditions.

Bitter-flavored herbs are a mainstay of therapeutics on all major systems of herbalism. Bitter substances can bind to bitter receptors in the mouth and gut to produce, through signaling, physiological changes in multiple systems. The humoral effects of bitter substances are viewed as cooling, drying, and draining. Considering both the physiological and humoral aspects, we can arrive at the appropriate use for therapeutic effects and for avoiding adverse humoral effects. Excessive or prolonged use of bitters can cause injury to the digestive process and injure the overall constitution. Understanding the general effect of the bitter flavor we will describe nuances of therapeutic applications for digestive bitters, bitter laxatives, bitter mints, bitter anodynes and bitter demulcents.

An Herban Legend is a persistent, widely and firmly held belief about a plant and its medicinal effects which is not true. The origin of the Legend or its rationale is obscure or forgotten, and is usually based on misinterpretation of some fact of science or tradition. It is repeated, believed and repeated again from textbook to textbook, teacher to teacher, article to article and herbalist to herbalist, across a generation, and guides regular practice. A large number of such Legends, most arising in the last 30 years, infect the modern North American materia medica and weaken the effectiveness of our clinical practice. Each of the herbs, however, have some potent “clinical pearl” unrelated to the legend itself. We discuss Herban Legends and Clinical Pearls for Devil's Club (Oplopanax), Lomatium, Saw Palmetto (Serenoa), Feverfew (Tanacetum), Juniper (Juniperus), Lobelia, Echinacea, Goldenseal (Hydrastis), and Wild Yam (Dioscorea).

Sometimes our most commonplace herbs, often growing abundantly around us, are overlooked in favor of newer, exotic, or imported herbs or preparations. But the commonplace "boring" herbs endure through millennia because they are reliable, potent, and often versatile in their applications. Recent scientific research gives insights into the mechanisms of some traditional uses, and adds knowledge about possible expanded applications. This presentation covers recent research and traditional uses for Urtica, Matricaria, Althaea, Allium sativum, Plantago, Calendula, and Hypericum. These plants are abundant, inexpensive or free, powerful and truly "people's medicines."

Herbalists view their therapeutic agents in the paradigm of humoral and clinical actions, and therapeutic uses. In the long traditions of medical herbalism, dietetics and nutrition have been essential elements of a therapeutic plan, and individual macro and micronutrients may also be viewed as possessing actions identical to those of medicinal plants, such as tonic, adaptogenic, antispasmodic, immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory and so on. In many cases giving herbs with such actions without simultaneously replenishing the nutrient factors that support normal functions simply temporarily masks a deficiency. We will discuss macronutrients, vitamins, minerals and other special nutrients in terms of what their actions would be if they were plants.

Actaea and Caulophyllum species have been used in North American medicine for centuries, and were mainstay herbs in the medical practice of all schools medicine. Baneberry and Black Cohosh of the Actaea genus are frequently viewed today as different medicines even though historically they have been used interchangeably. And while Actaea species and Caulophyllum are not related through constituents or botany, they have many properties in common, and have frequently been used historically as a pair in neurological, respiratory, and obstetrical applications. This presentation reviews the science and the traditions of these three powerful herbs.