MATERIA MEDICA TEMPLATE

Botanical name: It is important to list the botanical name correctly so as not to ​ misidentify medicinal plants. This should follow the ICN (International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants) format, with two parts, the Genus and ​ ​ Species, and then the author’s name (as the standard abbreviation) in brackets. ​ ​ ​ E.g. Stellaria media (L.) Vill.

You can find author’s name’s from The International Plant Names Index. ​ ​

Common name(s): Common names are an important part of a monograph as there ​ are often many different names for the same plant, and when reading old herbals the common name is used.

Family: Understanding the family that medicinal plants are classified in can help ​ show the links between their uses and constituents. Plants sometimes change family due to DNA testing (we’ll cover more about this in other sections), so we accept the old family as well as the new one.

Parts used: This is essential information when studying any medicinal plant. ​

Dosage (also known as posology) is very important, and this information can often be difficult to find, and sources will disagree depending on their experience. For example Mills and Bone give very high dosages; Matthew Wood gives drop dosages of the same plants for the same conditions. You will need to make a decision ​ about what you consider to be an appropriate dose for your monograph.

Actions: The actions of the plant dictate its uses and allow you to broaden your ​ prescribing.

Indications: Indications is another word for conditions treated, if there are specific ​ conditions that a particular plant ‘treats’, then it should be listed here.

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Contraindications: This is essential information, when a herb should not be given, ​ usually pregnancy and breastfeeding will be noted first as even herbs that don’t interact with medications may not be safe in pregnancy. There are other medical conditions that may be contraindicated, as well as drugs themselves.

External usage: It’s important to note that the external use of a medical plant may ​ be very different to its internal use; this is more often the case with poisonous plants.

Preparations

List the preparations available and their uses: Which preparations can you make ​ with this plant and what are they used for?

Botanical description: How is the plant described botanically? You should be able ​ to identify a plant from this description so it needs to be detailed, and include leaf shape, type, formation, flower type, shape and formation. To get this accurate, use a botanical reference such as a botany book, or a wild flower key.

Habitat: What is the habitat? Where does it grow? ​

Range: Where does it grow geographically and does it grow elsewhere in the world? ​

Method of Collection: How and when should the plant be collected? ​

Conservation/cultivation: Is the plant endangered? Is it cultivated? If the plant is a ​ cultivated species, does it grow in the wild, and if so is it endangered?

Herbal constituents: Herbal constituents are the biochemical (also known as ​ phytochemicals) found within the plant, and they determine its actions and uses. It also determines if it’s poisonous or will interact with medications.

Complete the table and highlight any constituents that are considered the active ​ ​ ​ constituents. ​

Pharmacology: This section should show how the herbal constituents are used ​ within the body.

Research: Are there any clinical research studies on this herb? Provide a short ​ summary of clinical studies found.

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Energetics: What are the energetic associations with this plant? (Any Western, ​ TCM, or Ayurvedic energetics will be accepted).

Traditional Uses: What has this plant been used for traditionally? (Traditionally ​ being pre 1900).

Observation: Observation is a critical skill, what you observe about the plant in ​ question but also what you observe about yourself, from experiencing the plant as a medicine.

What are your experiences of …?

Growing wild:

Smell, taste and feel (fresh plant)

Smell, taste and feel (dried)

References: ​

(Refer to assignment instructions for more details)

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