herbology level 2 lessons 7 and 8

7
The muscles
The muscle tissue may be classified into three types: 1. Skeletal Muscle (voluntary muscle), 2. Cardiac Muscle (heart muscle), 3. Smooth Muscle (visceral muscle forming the stomach, intestines, bladder etc.).
On the bases of function, skeletal muscle is voluntarily controlled, while smooth muscle and cardiac muscle are not subject to voluntary control so is termed involuntary.
Tendons and Ligaments
A Tendon can be described as a tight cord of muscle that attaches skeletal muscle to bone.
A Ligament is a somewhat more elastic band of muscle fibers that attaches bone to bone.
All our muscles tendons, and ligaments benefit from regular moderate exercise.
Disorders of the Muscles, Tendons and Ligaments
1. Bursitis: Acute of cronic inflammation of the bursa. Bursae are saclike cavities filled with synovial fluid and located at tissue sites where friction occurs, such as where tendons or muscles pass over bony prominence. Bursae facilitate normal movement and minimize friction between moving parts.
2. Tendonitis and Tenosynovitis: The inflammation of the lining of the tendon sheath (Tenosynovitis) and of the enclosed tendon (Tendonitis) usually occur simultaneously. The synovial-lined tendon sheath usually is the site of maximum inflammation, but the inflammatory response may involve the enclosed tendon.
3. Tennis Elbow: A strain of the lateral forearm muscles (extensors of the digits and wrist) or their tendinous attachments near their origin on the lateral epicondyle of the humerus.
4. Fybromyalgia: A group of common nonarticular rheumatic disorders characterized by pain, tenderness, and stiffness of muscles, areas of tendon insertions, and adjacent soft-tissue structures.
Herbal Formulas for the Muscles, Tendons and Ligaments

1. A Herbal Formula for the repair of muscles, tendons and ligaments:
1. Feverfew (Chrysanthemum Parthenium)
2. Willow (Salix)
3. Rue (Ruta Graveolens)
4. Comfrey (Symphytum Officinale)
5. Horsetail (Equisetum Arvense)
6. Yucca (Yucca Glauca)
7. Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa)
2. A Herbal Formula for all types of Pain (including Headaches)
1. Feverfew (Chrysanthemum Parthenium)
2. Willow (Salix)
3. Hops (Humulus Lupulus)
4. Catnip (Nepeta Cataria)
5. Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus)
3. A Herbal Liniment (Dit Dow Jow)
1. Camphor (Cinnamomum Camphora)
2. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana)
3. Peppermint (Mentha Piperita)
4. Wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium)
5. Cloves (Eugenia Caryophyllata)

8
The Circulatory System
The Circulatory System consists of the heart and blood vessels. It is also responsible for the Lymphatic Circulation.
1. The Heart
1. The Heart is located in the thoracic cavity between the left and right lungs, it consists of four chambers: The right atrium, right ventricle, the left atrium, and the left ventricle. The heart is lined by the Endocrdium, and enveloped by the pericardium. The valves between the right atrium and the right ventricle are called the tricuspid valves; the valves between the left atrium and the left ventricle are called the bicuspid valves. The valve between the left ventricle and the aorta is the aortic valve, and the valve between right ventricle and the pulmonary artery is the pulmonary valve. In certain dis-ease conditions of the heart some of these valves may become narrowed or blocked incompletely.
A. The Right Atrium is joined to the superior and inferior vena cava, it receives all the blood from the body returning to the heart.
B. The Right Ventricle connects with the right atrium at one end and with the pulmonary artery at the other. It receives blood from the right atrium, and pumps it into the pulmonary artery.
C. The Left Atrium receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary vein.
D. The Left Ventricle, communicating with the left atrium, it also connects with the aorta at the other end. It receives blood from the left atrium, after which its pumps it out through the aorta into the systemic circulation.
2. The blood Vessels
A. Arteries. The thick and elastic walls of the arteries help the heart transport the blood to all parts of the body.
B. Veins. Vessel walls of the veins are thinner and less elastic. Valves along the inner vessel lining assist blood from the rest of the body in its return to the heart.
C. Capillaries These are the minute vessels that connect the arterioles (arteries) and the venules (veins). Their very thin walls allow exchange of certain substances through them. Through the capillaries, blood carries nutrients to various tissue cells, and carries out waste matter from the tissues.
3. The Circulation of Blood
A. Body circulation. In this type of circulation, also called the Systemic Circulation, the blood is pumped from the left ventricle into the aorta where it is transported to all parts of the body via arteries and capillaries, and then returned via capillaries, veins, and the inferior and superior vena cava back into the right atrium and then the right ventricle.
B. Pulmonary Circulation, also called the lesser circulation. Blood from the right ventricle enters the pulmonary artery and into the pulmonary capillary network where exchange of gasses take place. Fresh oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide is released. Finally, the blood is collected by the pulmonary vein for return to the left atrium and then the left ventricle.
The systemic circulation and the pulmonary circulation are inter-related in forming a complete and closed circulation passageway.
This circulation pattern is due chiefly to the regular contraction and relaxation of the heart. The heart beat of a normal person ranges from 60 to 100 times a minute. During ventricular contraction (systole), great pressure is generated to force the blood into the arteries and move the blood stream forward. In an adult, the normal pressure ranges between 90 and 100mm of mercury. The reading is lower when the heart is relaxed, about 60 to 90mm of mercury (diastolic pressure). When the systolic and diastolic pressure are generally higher then normal values, Hypertension is present. When the pressure readings are lower then normal values, hypotension is said to be present. With cardiac relaxation and contraction, the arterial walls show a regular beating action called the pulse.
When the heart contracts and relaxes, certain heart sounds are heard with a stethoscope placed over the chest. The sound heard during heart contraction (systole) is the first heart sound. The sound heard when the heart relaxes (distole) is the second heart sound.
4. Tissue Fluid
During the curse of body circulation, part of the blood fluid content permeates the thin capillary walls and becomes tissue fluid.
Under normal circumstances, the production and return of tissue fluid maintains an equilibrium. However, during the corse of certain dis-eases, excessive tissue fluid production or disrupted fluid return, excessive tissue fluid accumulation systematically or locally will cause edema. If tissue fluid or the fluid content of blood serum is greatly reduced during dis-ease, dehydration will set in accompanied by wrinkling of the skin and reduced elasticity. In severe cases disturbances in circulation or acid-base balance may occur.
5. The Lymphatic Circulation
A. The Lymphatics. Tissue fluid as lymph entering the lymphatic vessels is carried by the lymphatic network which reintroduces the fluid into the circulatory system via the veins.
B. Lymph Nodes. Before the lymphatic network joins with the veins, it converges on lymphatic nodes (located at various parts of the body) which filter out and destroy bacteria and other harmful matter in the lymph. Consequently, lymph nodes assume a protective function. When these nodes are inflamed, they become swollen and painful.
C. The Spleen. Located in the upper left part of the abdominal cavity. The spleen is rather soft, and hard to palpate under normal circumstances. However, when it is enlarged (as in malaria and schistosomiasis), it is readily palpable.
Certain white blood cells, in particular the lymphocytes, are produced at a variety of locations in the body- for example, by the lymph nodes, by little clumps of tissue called peyer's patches in the intestinal tract, and by the spleen.
6. The Blood Forming Organs and the Blood
in the human body makes up 80 percent of the total body weight. When it is deficient (as in excessive hemorrhage or in cases where the blood forming process is deficient), anemia or other circulatory disturbance may Be observed.
The important blood-making organs in the human body are listed as follows:
1. Bone Morrow is the chief blood-making organ. It produces red cells (also called erythrocytes), white cells (also called leukocytes), and blood platelets.
2. The Lymphatic System includes lymph nodes, the spleen, and lymphatic tissue in the bone marrow. It produces Lymphocytes.
3. The Reticuloendothelial system, Functioning chiefly through bone marrow, spleen, and lymphatic node tissue, reticular cells assume phagocytic properties in that certain foreign substances in the blood are swallowed up. Furthermore, this system also produces Mononuclear Leukocytes.
Blood is divided into two components: 1. Blood Cells and 2. Blood Serum.
1. Blood Cells
A. Red Blood Cells: In the normal adult, each millimeter of blood contains 4.5 to 5 million red blood cells. Red blood cells are important substances that carry oxygen and carbon dioxide. The hemoglobin of arterial blood contains more oxygen, which makes arterial blood a brighter red. On the other hand, hemoglobin of venous blood is a darker red.
B. White Blood Cells: In the adult, each millimeter of blood contains 5,000 to 10,000 white blood cells. In the presence of acute inflammatory dis-ease or certain leukemias, the total number of white blood cells may increase. White blood cells exert a phagocytic action on bacteria and increase the body's immunity.
C. Blood Platelets exert coagulating action on the blood in bleeding. In the normal person, each millimeter of blood contains about 1000,000 to 3000,000 blood platelets.
2. Blood Serum: Consisting chiefly of water, blood serum contains proteins, glucose, hormones and other nutrients which are transported to all parts of the body by blood. At the same time, the waste products of metabolism are also carried to the kidneys for elimination outside the body.
Human blood is generally classed into four types: O, A, B, and AB. If blood used for transfusion is not compatible with that of the patient, serious consequences, even death, may result. Thus it is important to cross match and type blood for compatibility first before transfusion.
The important functions of blood are:
1. Supplying nutrients to body tissues.
2. Removing waste products of body metabolism.
3.Transproting hormones and participating in the immunization process.
Disorders of the Circulatory System
1. Purpura: The spontaneous hemorrhaging over large areas of the skin and in the mucus membranes. It results from a deficiency in blood platelets.
2. Anemia: Anemia exists when the red cell count stays persistently below four million.
3. Polycythemia: Polycythemia is the opposite of anemia; the blood has too many red blood cells.
4. Leukemia: An abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells.
5. Phlebitis: An inflammation of the veins.
6. Varicose Veins: Veins that are enlarged and distorted, usually effects the legs.
7. Arteriosclerosis: Harding of the arteries is the process whereby fats carried in the blood stream gradually pile up on the walls of the arteries, like rust in a pipe. This causes the channel through which blood flows to grow narrower. Eventually the organs and tissues supplied by these sick arteries are deprived of their nutrients and this may cause them to dis-function.
8. Hypertension: The elevation of systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure,
9. Hypotension: The below normal systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure.
10. Syncope: The sudden brief loss of consciousness.
11. Orthosstatic Hypotension: An excessive fall in blood pressure on assuming the upright position.
12. Bardycardia: A below normal heart rate.
13. Tachycardia: A above normal heart rate.
14. Angina Pectoris: Chest pain, often accompanied by a feeling of choking or impending death; the pain typically radiates down the left arm. It is usually caused by lack of oxygen to the heart muscle, resulting form Arteriosclerosis.

Herbal formulas for the Circulatory System

1. A Herbal Blood Cleaner and Blood Builder
1. Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense)
2. Devils Claw (Harpagophytum Procumbens)
3. Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale)
4. Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus)
5. Burdock (Arctium Lappa)
6. Echinacea (Echinacea Agustifolia)
7. Yellow Dock (Rumex Crispus)

2. An Herbal Formula for all Heart and heart related disorders.
1.Butcher's Broom (Rumex Crispus)
2. Hawthorn (Crategnus Oxyacantha)
3. Cayenne (Capsicum Frutescens)
4. Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba)
5. Hops (Humulus Lupulus)
6. Suma (Pfaffia Paniculata)
7. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria Majalis)

3. A herbal Formula for the Lymph System
1. 3 parts Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus)
2. 3 parts Echinacea (Echinacea Augustifolia)
3. 1 part Lobelia (Lobelia Inflata)
4. 1 part Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americanna)

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