-
GIT Actions
• Laxatives - bulking & anthraquinone
• Demulcent
• Bitter
• Sialagogue
• Carminative
• Choleric
• Cholagogue
• Hepatoprotective
• Mucous-membrane tropho-restorative
-
Specific Digestive System Herbs
- • Matricaria recutita
- – Chamomile
- – Anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, carminative, sedative (mild),
- anti-ulcer, vulnerary, diaphoretic (Bone 2003:493)
- • Chelidonium majus
- – Greater Celandine
- – Cholertic, cholagogue, spamolytic, mild laxative, antiinflammatory,
- anti-viral (topical), vulnerary. (Mills & Bone
- 2000:335)
- • Cynara scolymus
- – Globe Artichoke
- – Hepatoprotective, hepatic trophorestorative, choleretic,
- chologue, bitter tonic, hypocholesterolaemic, antiemetic,
- diuretic, depurative.
-
• Glycyrrhiza glabra
– Licorice
• Anti-inflammatory, mucoprotective, demulcent, anti-ulcer (peptic),
mild laxative. (Mills & Bone 2000:465)
• Silybum marianum
– St.Mary’s Thistle
• Hepatoprotective, hepatotrophorestorative, antioxidant,
choleretic. (Mills & Bone 2000:553)
• Schisandra chinensis
• Hepatoprotective. (Bone 2003:405)
- • Gentian luteum
- – Bitter tonic, gastric stimulant, sialogogue, cholagogue.
- (Bone 2003:224)
- •Rhamnus purshiana
- – Cascara
- • Laxative (Bone 2003:127)
- • Aloe vera
- • Immune enhancing, antiviral, vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, antitumour
- (Bone 2003:61)
-
• Taraxacum officinale
– Dandeion (Bone 2003:173)
• Bitter tonic, choleretic (root), diuretic (leaf), mild laxative.
• Foeniculum vulgare
– Fennel
• Carminative, appetite stimulating, spasmolytic, antimicrobial.
(Mills & Bone 2000:378)
• Althea officinalis
– Marshmallow
• Demulcent., Mucilage (Bone 2003:321)
-
• Filipendula ulmaria
- – Meadowsweet
- • Antiulcerogenic, antacid, anti-inflammatory, mild antiseptic, astringent.
- (Mills & Bone 2000:479)
- • Ulmus fulva
- – Slippery Elm (Braun & Cohen 2007:584)
- • Demulcent, emollient, nutrient, bulk laxative (larger doses).
- • Geranium maculatum
- – Cranesbill (Bone 2003:166)
- • Astringent, antidiarrhoeal, antihaemorrhagic
-
• Mentha piperita
– Peppermint
• Spasmolytic, carminative, cholagogue, anti-emetic, diaphoretic.
(Bone 2003:507)
- Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD)
- • Pathophysiology (Haslett et al 2002:775)
- – In health the lower oesophageal sphincter is tonically
- contracted, relaxing only during swallowing
- – Occasional episodes of Gastro-oesophageal reflux are
- common in health. However, normal oesophageal
- functioning corrects this with alkaline saliva
-
GORD develops when the oesophageal mucosa is exposed to
gastric contents for prolonged periods of time. This can be
related to:
– Reduced overall gastro-oesophageal sphincter tone
– Normal tone but with frequent episodes of inappropriate sphincter
relaxation; permitting reflux when intra-abdominal pressure rises.
(Haslett et al 2002:775)
– This raised intra-abdominal pressure can be caused by something as
simple as overeating or obesity (Murray & Pizzorno 2006:661)
– Decreased oesophageal tone can be related to; coffee, chocolate, fatty
foods, mints, cigarette smoking, carbonated beverages and alcohol
(Murray & Pizzorno 2006:661)
- • Common Medical Treatment:
- – Antacids and histamine (H2) receptor antagonists
- – These significantly alkalise the gastric juice inhibiting the action of
- pepsin, the enzyme most likely to irritate the stomach. (Murray &
- Pizzorno 2006:661)
- – While this can reduce the symptoms, it also significantly impairs
- protein digestion and mineral disassociation, as well as adversely
- affect gut microflora. (Murray & Pizzorno 2006:661)
- – The production of gastric HCL is energy dependant (Barrie 2006:217)
- which ties in with the naturopathic philosophy that emotional stress is
- related to underproduction of HCL rather than over production.
-
Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD)
• Herbal actions required:
– Demulcent (Mills & Bone 2000:174)
– Bitter (Mills & Bone 2000:174)
– Anti-inflammatory (Mills & Bone 2000:174)
– Carminative (Mills & Bone 2000:174)
-
• Demulcents
- – Assist mucoprotection
- – Best taken after meals and before bed
- – eg.Licorice, Slippery Elm, Marshmallow (Mills & Bone 2000:174)
-
• Bitters
– At low doses can increase oesphogeal sphincter tone and improve gastric
emptying
– They can increase gastric acidity – use cautiously
– eg.Gentian, Wormwood
– Generally considered cooling so often advised to combine with a warming
herb like Ginger (Mills & Bone 2000:174)
- • Carminatives
- – Indicated for functional dyspepsia and in low doses can improve GIT motility
- – Can aggravate reflux by reducing sphincter tone – use cautiously
- – eg. Peppermint, (Mills & Bone 2000:174)
- – Chamomile (Szelenyi, Isaac & Thiemer 1979:218)
-
• Anti-inflammatory
– Relieve symptoms and improve healing
– eg. Meadowsweet, Chickweed, Chamomile
- GORD May be linked to stress, so it is important to consider
- the following herbal actions (Mills & Bone 2000:174)
- • Sedative
- • eg. Valerian (Mills & Bone 2000:175)
- – Nervine tonic
- • eg. Skullcap (Mills & Bone 2000:175)
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