Herbal Medicines

New model question of NCLEX test now including the nurse knowledge of common used herbal medicine. Commonly used herbs are following here:

Aloe: anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect
Angelica: antispasmodic and vasodilator
Bilberry: improves microcirculation in the eyes
Black cohosh: produces estrogen-like effect
Cat’s claw: antioxidant, immune system, lowers the blood pressure
Chamomile: antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory, mild sedative
Dehydroepiandrosteron: convert to androgens and estrogen, is used for erectile dysfunction.
Echinacea: stimulates immune system
Evening primrose: to metabolize fatty acid
Feverfew: anti-inflammatory, used for headaches, arthritis, and fever
Garlic: antioxidant, lowers cholesterol levels
Ginger: anti-emetic

Ginkgo biloba: antioxidant, improves memory
Ginseng: increase physical endurance and stamina
Glucosamine: amino acid to synthesize cartilage
Goldenseal: anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, anticoagulant and to increase blood pressure
Kava: anti-anxiety and skeletal muscle relaxant, sedative effects
Melatonin: hormone that regulates sleep, used for insomnia
Milk thistle: antioxidant, used for liver and gallbladder disease
St. John’s wort: antibacterial, antiviral, and antidepressant
Saw palmetto: anti-estrogen activity, used for UTI infections and BPH
Valerian: to treat nervous disorder (anxiety, restlessness, insomnia)
Zinc: antiviral, immune system

NCLEX - CGFNS : Cultural Diversity (4)

NATIVE AMERICANS

• They use languages include English, Navajo, and other tribal languages.
• They speak in a low tone of voice
• Silence indicates respect for the speaker and eye contact is viewed as disrespect
• Body language is important
• Touch another person’s hand during greetings is important
• Some tribes may prohibit touching of a dead body
• Message is used for the newborn infant to promote bonding
• Members are family oriented and basic family unit is the extended family and in some tribes, grandparents are viewed as family leaders
• Elders are honored
• Religion and healing practices are integrated
• Father does all the work outside the home and mother does responsibility for domestic duties
• It is important to teach children to respect traditions
• Community social organization are important.
• Health is assumes as a state of harmony between the person, the family, and the environment and illness is caused by supernatural forces disequilibrium between person and environment
• Traditional health and illness beliefs may continue to be observed
• They have health risks : injury, alcohol abuse, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, arthritis, gallbladder disease, lactose intolerance, and glaucoma.

So it is important as a nurse when giving care to Native American to:

• Clarify communication
• Be attentive to own use of body language
• Understand that client may be attentive even when eye contact is absent
• Encourage client to personalize space
• Assess for availability of running water, infection control and hygiene practice at home
• Provide modes of healing include herbs, restoration balance between person and the universe, and traditional healers