Botanical Medicine CNS High-Yield Flashcards

Clinical Sciences

Aconitum napellus

Actions: Anodyne

Indications: Neuralgia, severe pain

Contraindications: Extremely toxic, narrow therapeutic window

Notes: Lethal risk-ventricular fibrillation

Atropa belladonna

Actions: Anticholinergic, anodyne

Indications: Muscle spasms, pain

Contraindications: BPH, closed-angle glaucoma

Interactions: Potentiates anticholinergic drugs like TCAs

Datura stramonium

Actions: Similar to belladonna - anticholinergic

Indications: Spasms, pain

Contraindications: BPH, closed-angle glaucoma

Notes: Toxic; potentiates anticholinergics

Gelsemium sempervirens

Indications: Trigeminal neuralgia, pain, fever, insomnia

Contraindications: Hypertension, pregnancy

Notes: EXTREMELY TOXIC; not typically used

Hyoscyamus niger

Actions: Sedative, antispasmodic

Indications: Pain, urinary spasms

Contraindications: BPH, visual blurring

Notes: High toxicity potential

Pulsatilla vulgaris

Actions: Anodyne, sedative

Indications: Female pain (PMS, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis)

Contraindications: Abdominal pain, internal use uncommon

Notes: Female-specific, gentle

Papaver somniferum

Actions: Hypnotic, sedative (contains opiates)

Indications: Pain (via morphine, codeine derivation)

Contraindications: Do not use the raw latex

Notes: Seeds are safe; no opioid content

Avena sativa

Actions: Nutritive, nervine, anxiolytic

Indications: Anxiety, insomnia, withdrawal, eczema (topical)

Contraindications: Celiac disease

Interactions: May reduce statin effectiveness

Notes: Safe in pregnancy

Bacopa monnieri

Actions: Nootropic, antioxidant, nervine

Indications: Memory, cognition, anxiety, epilepsy

Side Effects: Palpitations, nausea

Notes: Safe in pregnancy

Camellia sinensis (Green Tea)

Actions: Stimulant, antioxidant, astringent, antimicrobial

Indications: Physical performance, cancer prevention

Contraindications: Lactation, caution in renal, thyroid, anxiety disorders

Notes: Caffeine content; not recommended in large amounts during pregnancy