Clinical and pharmacological phenomena in herbal medicine
Therapeutic (pharmacological) effects of a pathogenic hit. Treat some diseases – at the same time cure others. To a large extent, this confirms the idea of typical general pathological processes. Examples: against the background of treatment of cold allergy with desensitizing plants, the patient lost thrush; against the background of taking a sedative collection in psychopathic individuals, there was a normalization of intestinal function, the disappearance of pain (spasms) of a neurogenic nature.
Dysregulatory syndrome occurs with combined functional deviations in all regulatory systems – a complete imbalance – a borderline state under the guise of several diseases. At the same time, taking into account the multiplicity of deviations, multiple regulation is also effective, especially herbal medicine in the “menu mode”.
Pharmacodynamic cumulation occurs, and in this situation, even familiar, harmless plants can bring harm. Example: Urinary incontinence in a woman who has been taking mint for over a year (smooth muscle relaxation).
The phenomenon of expected negative phenomena (melilot – bleeding gums, exacerbation of hemorrhoids; oak – dry mouth, mucous membranes). It is temporarily permissible to use plants that cause deviations, if these funds are used to solve tasks that are vital in this period.
The phenomenon of induction of a new quality.
Example: when a collection that does not contain obvious biostimulants unexpectedly initiates a rise in blood pressure. This can occur, for example, due to the blocking of braking processes or other unaccounted for influences.
The phenomenon of induction of receptor expression (psychotherapeutic and pharmacological). If we say “bitter” – there is a feeling (or expectation) of a bitter taste; drink coffee – the number of caffeine receptors increases.
The phenomenon of pharmacological and psychological dependence on herbal remedies (as in classical pharmacology).
A vector-forming pharmacological push is a transition to a new biochemical stereotype. For example, pathogenetic anti-diabetic treatment with plants – from an adaptive regime to a normalization regime.
Pharmacological reconstruction of morpho-physiological complexes in phytotherapy is fixed by biochemical (atherosclerosis – triglycerides, cholesterol; diabetes – glucose), instrumental methods (ultrasound, CT, R-graphy, endoscopy – tumors, etc.). This indicates profound transformations that can be caused by properly selected herbal remedies, sometimes comparable to surgical treatment (for example, resorption of a tumor node).
The phenomenology of herbal medicine is more diverse than the usual pharmacotherapeutic treatment, it includes general patterns and, at the same time, is specific. This creates the prerequisites for a reassessment of the classical concepts of clinical medicine, taking into account the experience of multifactorial and multicomponent effects.
According to the author’s observations, phytotherapy is successfully practiced mainly by highly sensitive people who love nature and people who seek to solve complex medical problems. At a high sensory level, the phytotherapist combines his feelings and knowledge about plants with the professional perception of the patient.
Features of the impact of phytochemicals on the body
Pharmacodynamic features of individual biologically active substances of medicinal plants depend on the chemical composition of the extract. The total therapeutic effect of extracting from medicinal plant materials may differ in its intensity and quality from the effect caused by the main biologically active substances. The pharmacological effect depends on the dosage form, preparation technology, dose, correct storage of raw materials, etc. The therapeutic effect of a combination of medicinal plants is not a simple sum of the effects of each of the components of the collection.
The pharmacokinetics of a significant number of biologically active substances of many plants with medicinal properties has not yet been fully established. It is known that the main part of biologically active substances is absorbed in the proximal part of the small intestine, so the time of onset and the intensity of the drug effect depend on the rate of evacuation of the stomach contents.