Semester 3, Week 6, Day 1

Breakfast is done, my daughter is cranky today.  She didn't sleep well last night.  Maybe there will be a nap today.  We shall see.  My rosemary is finally dehydrated.  I filled an entire quart jar with the leaves.  That will make another tincture batch or 3 when I have more alcohol. I took a peek at some of the work for this week's modules and have a LOT of work this week.  I did get that chemistry quiz done yesterday so I only have one thing due for that class this week.  This blog is helping immensely in that class.  I did the quiz and there were a few questions I would not have known the answer to had I not done the research for this blog. I don't know how many of the constituents below I'll get through today but it won't be all of them.  I have to get something turned in today to be able to get those research assignments done on time.  I haven't looked to see what the requirement is exactly but it's probably either an outline or an annotated bibliography.  I hate outlines, love the bibliographies.  They help sort through the articles and if you end up using the source, you can often copy-paste with minor editing into the actual paper. My son has discovered he can climb on the bathroom sink now.  He turned on the hot water.  Fun times.

Continuing with the constituents of chickweed:

Flavonoids: (I feel like I've discussed this one before, recently) all polyphenolic plant pigments of a specific structure. There are over 4,000 of them. These are broken down into categories: Catechins, dihydrochalones, chalones, flavanones (dihydroflavones), flavones, isoflavones, anthocyanides, aurones, flavanols, and flavonols. This general property is immunomodulatory due to antioxidant/free-radical scavenging ability.   (Hoffman, 2006, p. 100-102, 152, 167, 170, 174)

Glycosides: are compounds that contain a sugar unit attached to a non-carbohydrate molecule (aglycone). The sugar makes them easier to absorb, making to aglycone more bioavailable than others. They are categorized by the sugar, aglycone, or the link between the 2. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 41, 48, 199)

Lipids are primarily only soluble in alcohol (best used as a tincture rather than a tea). This group is so vast, it gets a whole chapter in Hoffman which means I don't think it can be broken down to only one action or so. They are part of all biological membranes, provide fuel and store energy, store vitamins and hormones, provide immunological coatings for cells, provide water-proof coatings, and carry vitamins such as A, D, E, and K in the blood. Yes, these are fat cells but this proves why some fat is needed.   (Hoffman, 2003, p. 54-61, 166)

Mucilage are primarily demulcents and emollients. Their slimy coating soothes and protects exposed/irritated surfaces in the gastrointestinal tract. They are great for treating ulcers and can't be digested so they are great for bowel movements. Small quantities even absorb excess water in the colon. These should be prepared as needed rather than stored. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 50-1, 226)

Phenolic acids are best described as antimicrobial in the urinary tract and anti-inflammatory. All phenols are antimicrobial and were first used as antiseptics. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 92)

I'm going to leave this here.  One child is napping and the other is thinking about it.  She fell asleep on the table while I was getting my son to sleep.  Great place...  :(  Have a great day!

Active Constituents:   carboxylic acids
Hydroxycoumarins
Phytosterols (Hoffman, 2003, p. 83, 143)
Saponin glycosides (Hoffman, 2003, p. 49, 200)
Triterpenoid saponins (Hoffman, 2003, p. 79)

a saponin that accounts for the expectorant action