Definitions of Herbal
and Medical Terminology
Many words are used to describe herbs and their actions on the body. The following is a guide to Many words are used to describe herbs and their actions on the body. The following is a guide to understanding these terms. Arranged in alphabetical order.
- Adaptogen: invigorates or strengthens the system.
- Alerative: produces a gradual, beneficial change in the body.
- Alkaloid: heterogeneous group of alkaline, organic, compounds containing nitrogen and usually oxygen; usually colorless and bitter-tasting; especially found in seed plants.
- Analgesic: reduces or relieves pain.
- Anodyne: a pain relieving agent, less potent than an anesthetic or narcotic.
- Antifungal: clears and counters fungal infections.
- Antihelmintic, anthelmintic: expels or destroys intestinal worms.
- Antihydrotic: reduces or suppresses perspiration.
- Anti-inflammatory: reduces swelling
- Antimicrobial: destroys or inhibits growth of microorganisms.
- Antioxidant: inhibits binding of oxygen.
- Antipyretic: reduces or prevents fever.
- Antiseptic: cleans, counters germs and other microorganisms.
- Antispasmodic: relieves spasms or cramps.
- Aperient: a mild and gentle acting laxative.
- Aperitif: stimulates the appetite.
- Aphrodisiac: increases sexual desire or potency.
- Aromatic: a strong, volatile, fragrant aroma; often with stimulant properties.
- Astringent: contracts or shrinks tissues used to decrease secretions or control bleeding.
- Basalmic: heals or soothes.
- Bitter tonic: an acrid, astringent, or disagreeable taste that stimulates flow of saliva and gastric juice.
- Calmative: mild sedative or hypnotic properties
- Carminative: stops the formation of intestinal gas and helps expel gas that has already formed.
- Catarrh: inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially of the respiratory tract.
- Cathartic: a powerful agent used to relieve severe constipation.
- Cholegogue: stimulates secretion and release of bile.
- Choleretic: stimulates secretion and release of bile.
- Concentration: the amount of material in a solution in relationship to the amount of solvent; expressed as the ratio.
- Counterirritant: causes a distracting irritation intended to relieve another irritation.
- Decoction: extract of an herb made by boiling or simmering in water; stronger than a tea or infusion.
- Demulcent: an oily or mucilaginous substance that soothes irritated tissue, especially mucous membranes.
- Deobstruent: clears obstruction from ducts of the body.
- Diaphoretic: taken internally to promote sweating.
- Diuretic: promotes urine production and flow.
- Drachm: a rough measurement, basically it is what fits in the palm of your hand.
- Emetic: induces vomiting.
- Emmenogogue: taken internally to promote menstrual flow.
- Emollient: an externally applied agent that softens or soothes skin.
- Essential oil: any of a class of volatile oils that impart the characteristic odors to plants; used especially in perfumes, food flavorings and aromatherapy; also called volatile oil.
- Exfoliant: removes dead skin on the surface of skin.
- Expectorant: increases bronchial secretions and facilitates their expulsion through coughing, spitting, or sneezing.
- Extract: a concentrate, made by steeping raw plant material(s) in solvent (alcohol and/or water), after which the solvent is allowed to evaporate.
- Febrifuge: reduces fever.
- Flatulence: gas in the stomach or intestines.
- Fluid extract: a liquid extract of raw plant material
- Fomentation: application of a warm and moist cloth, soaked in an infusion or decoction, as treatment.
- Galactogogue: increases secretion of milk.
- Glycoside: esters containing a sugar component (glycol) and a nonsugar (aglycone) component attached via oxygen or nitrogen bond; hydrolysis of a glycoside yields one or more sugars.
- Hemostatic: to stop internal bleeding.
- Hepatic: any substance that affects the liver.
- Herb: plant or part of a plant used for medicinal, taste, or aromatic purposes.
- Humectant: a substance used to obtain a moistening effect.
- Hygroscopic: a substance that readily attracts and retains water.
- Infusion: tea made by steeping herb(s) in hot water.
- Lactagogue: increases secretion of milk.
- Laxative: gently promotes bowel movements.
- Maceration: a process of softening tissues by soaking in liquid.
- Mucilage: a gelatinous substance, containing proteins and polysaccharides, that soothes inflammation.
- Mucilaginous: an agent characterized by a gummy or gelatinous consistency.
- Nervine: calms nervousness, tension, or excitement.
- Oleoresin: homogenous mixture of resin(s) and volatile oil(s).
- Pectoral: relieves ailments of the chest and lungs.
- Pharmacognosy: study of the biochemistry and pharmacology of plant drugs, herbs, and spices.
- Phlogistic: referring to inflammation or fever.
- Poultice: soft, moist mass applied to the skin to provide heat and moisture.
- Polypharmacy: combinations of medicinal plants, formulated to gain synergistic effects.
- Purgative: a powerful agent used to relieve severe constipation.
- Regenerative: restores or revives tissue growth
- Resin: any of several solid or semisolid, flammable, natural organic substances soluble in organic solvents and not water; commonly formed in plant secretions; complex chemical mixtures of acrid resins, resin alcohols, resinol, tannols, esters, and resenes.
- Rubefacient: applied to the skin, causes a local irritation and redness; for relief of internal pain.
- Salve: an herbal preparation mixed in oil and thickened with bees wax applied to the skin.
- Saponin: any of several surfactant glycosides that produce a soapy lather; found in plants.
- Sedative: reduces nervous tension; usually stronger than a calmative.
- Sialogogue: stimulates secretion of saliva.
- Soporific: induces sleep.
- Spasmolytic: relieves spasm of smooth muscle
- Stimulant: excites or quickens a process or activity of the body.
- Stomachic: gives strength and tone to the stomach or stimulates the appetite by promoting digestive secretions.
- Styptic: stops external bleeding (usually an astringent).
- Sudorific: taken internally, to promote sweating (also called diaphoretic).
- Tannin: complex mixture of polyphenols; give a color reaction to iron-containing substances.
- Terpene: any of several isomeric hydrocarbons; most volatile oils consist primarily of terpenes.
- Thoratic: remedy for a respiratory ailment.
- Tincture: a solution prepared by steeping or soaking (maceration) plant materials in alcohol.
- Tonic: invigorates or strengthens the system; tonics often act as stimulants or aleratives.
- Tisane: an herbal infusion drunk as a beverage or for its mildly medicinal effect.
- Vermifuge: expels or destroys intestinal worms
- Vesicant: causes blisters or sores
- Volatile oil: odorous plant oil that evaporates readily; also called essential oil.
- Vulnerary: the treatment or healing of wounds.