An Herbalist’s View of Digestion 7Song, Director Northeast School of Botanical Medicine P.O. Box 6626 Ithaca, NY 14851 607-539-7172 www.7Song.com

Materia Medica Aloe – Aloe spp. Hops – Humulus lupulus Angelica – Angelica spp. Iris – Iris spp. Anise seed – Pimpinella anisum Irish moss – Chondrus crispus Balmony – Chelone spp. Lavender – Lavandula spp. Belladonna – Atropa belladonna Lemon balm – Melissa officinalis Black pepper – Piper nigrum Licorice – Glycyrrhiza spp Black walnut – Juglans niger Lobelia – Lobelia inflata Blackberry root – Rubus spp. Mallow – Malva spp. Blue vervain – Verbena hastata Marijuana – Cannabis sativa Bogbean – Menyanthes trifoliata Marshmallow – Althaea officinalis Butternut – Juglans cinerea Meadowsweet- Filipendula ulmaria Cabbage – Brassica oleracea Mugwort – Artemisia vulgaris Calamus – Acorus calamus Oak – Quercus spp. Canadian fleabane – Erigeron canadensis Oregon graperoot – Berberis spp. Cascara sagrada – Rhamnus purshiana Peppermint – Mentha x. piperita Catmint – Nepeta mussinii Prickly ash – Zanthoxylum spp. Catnip – Nepeta cataria Psyllium – Plantago psyllium Cayenne – Capsicum spp. Roman chamomile – Chamaemelum Centaury – Centaurium umbellatum nobile Chaparro amargosa – Castela emoryi Senna – Cassia spp. Cinnamon – Cinnamomum spp. Silk tassel – Garrya spp. Comfrey – Symphytum spp. Slippery elm – Ulmus fulva Crampbark – Viburnum opulus/V. trilobum Southernwood – Artemisia abrotanum Echinacea – Echinacea spp. Spearmint – Mentha spicata Fennel seed – Foeniculum vulgare Tea – Thea sinensis Flax – Linum usitatissimum Turkey rhubarb – Rheum spp. Garlic – Allium sativum Vervain – Verbena spp. Gentian – Gentiana spp. Wild ginger – Asarum spp. German chamomile – Matricaria recutita Wild yam – Dioscorea villosa Ground ivy – Glechoma hederacea Wormwood – Artemisia absinthium Ginger – Zingiber officinale Yerba mansa – Anemopsis californica Goldenseal – Hydrastis canadensis

Non-herbal Digestive Aids Acidophilous Clay Probiotics Activated charcoal Grapefruit seed extract Yogurt-live Castor oil Honey Herbal Preparations Bitter Tonic – Wormwood, Yarrow, Calamus, Southernwood, Dandelion Digestive Aid Tincture- Marshmallow root, Fennel seed, Irish moss, Meadowsweet, Catnip Nervine Tea – Lemon balm, Skullcap, Oatstraw, German chamomile, Passionflower Neutralizing Cordial – Turkey rhubarb, Cinnamon, Goldenseal, Peppermint, Potassium carbonate, Simple syrup Peppermint Spirits – Peppermint essential oil, 50% ethanol (1:15) Trikatu Tincture – Dried long pepper, Black pepper, Ginger (equal parts) Tummy tincture – Catnip, Fennel, Anise, Peppermint, Vegetable glycerin

Therapeutic Actions Adjunct Antispasmodic Deficiency Sedative Alterative Aperient Demulcent Sialogogue Anesthetic Aromatic Deobstruent Stomachic Antacid Astringent Diuretic Tonic Anthelmintic Bitter Emetic Vermicide Antidiarrheal Carminative Hepatic Vermifuge Antiemetic Carrier Laxative Vulnerary Antiparasitic Cathartic Nervine Antiseptic Cholagogue Purgative

Considerations for Digestive Health Allergic reactions Clothing Massage Traveling Bacteria/parasites Diet Occupation Water quality Bathroom habits Exercise Rest Body awareness Hunger Stress Cleanliness Lifestyle Times of eating

Digestive Disorders Allergies Colitis Gas Indigestion Amoebas Constipation Giardia Irritable bowel syndrome Anorexia Crohn’s disease Halitosis Leaky gut syndrome Appendicitis Diarrhea Healing crisis Malabsorption Atony Diverticulitis Heartburn Nausea Bloating Dysentery Hemorrhoids Obesity Borborygmus Dyspepsia Hepatitis – acute Obstruction Bulimia Dysphagia Hepatitis – chronic Pancreatitis Burping Enteritis Hernia Parasites Cancer Flatulence Hiccoughs Perforations Candidiasis Food poisoning Hypersecretory Peritonitis Colic Gallstones Hyposecretory Reflux

2 Shigellosis Steatorrhea Toxemia Ulcerative colitis Spasms Stomachache Turista Vomiting Sprue Stress Ulcer Worms

Other Conditions Related to Digestion Acne Headaches Sleep disorders Body odors Hemorrhoids Sluggishness Diabetes Hyper/Hypoglycemia Syndrome X Fever Impaired immunity Gout Rashes

Organs & Structures Anus Liver Small intestine Bile duct Mouth ƒ Duodenum Cardiac sphincter Omentum ƒ Jejunum Cecum Pancreas ƒ Ileum Common duct Parenchymal cell Stomach Esophagus Peritoneum ƒ Parietal cells Gall bladder Portal vein ƒ Chief cells Gastric pit Pyloric sphincter Stomach cells Large intestine Rectum Teeth ƒ Ascending colon Salivary glands Tongue ƒ Transverse colon Sigmoid colon Vagus nerve ƒ Descending colon

Secretions & Hormones of Digestion Acetylcholine Histamine Pepsin (Pepsinogen) Bile Hydrochloric acid (HCI) Salivary amylase Carboxypolypeptidase Insulin Secretin Cholecystokinin (CCK) Intrinsic factor Serotonin Chyme Lactase Sodium bicarbonate Chymotrypsin Maltase Sucrase Gastric inhibiting peptide Mucous Trypsin (Trypsinogen) Gastrin Pancreatic amylase Glucagon Pancreatic lipase

Other Terms Carbohydrates Minerals Proteins Electrolytes Nutrients Vitamins Fats Peristalsis

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