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Medical and Herbal Glossary
Notes on Medical Uses of Plants
Abortifacient: Causes an abortion.
Acrid: Causes heat and irritation when applied to the skin.
Adaptogen: Helps the body 'rise' to normal stress situations, thus preventing the many chronic degenerative diseases.
Alterative: Causes a gradual beneficial change in the body, usually through improved nutrition and elimination, without having any marked specific action.
Anaesthetic: Numbs the feeling in a local or general area of the body.
Analgesic: Relieves pain.
Anaphrodisiac: Reduces sexual desire.
Anodyne: Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.
Antacid: Counters excess acidity in the stomach.
Anthelmintic: Expels parasites from the gut.
Antiaphonic: Restores the voice.
Antiarthritic: Treats arthritis.
Antiasthmatic: Treats asthma.
Antibacterial: Kills bacteria.
Antibilious: Corrects the secretions of bile.
Antibiotic:
An agent that inhibits or destroys a living organism. It usually refers to bacteria or other micro-organisms and is probably synonymous with Antibacterial
Anticholesterolemic:
Prevents the build up of cholesterol.
Anticoagulant:
Removes blood clots.
Antidandruff:
Treats dandruff.
Antidermatosic:
Prevents or cures skin complaints.
Antidote:
Counters poisoning, see also Stings.
Antiecchymotic:
Prevents or treats bruising.
Antiemetic:
Prevents vomiting.
Antifungal:
An agent that inhibits or destroys fungi. Used in the treatment of various fungal problems such as candida.
Antihaemorrhoidal:
Treats haemorrhoids (piles). This would probably be best added to another heading.
Antihalitosis:
Treats bad breath
Antihydrotic:
Reduces perspiration.
Antiinflammatory:
Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc. See also Antiarthritic, Antirheumatic, Antiphlogistic
Antiperiodic:
Counteracts recurring illnesses such as malaria.
Antiphlogistic:
Reduces inflammation.
Antipruritic:
Treats itching of the skin.
Antipyretic:
Treats fevers. See Febrifuge.
Antirheumatic:
Treats rheumatism.
Antiscorbutic:
A plant rich in vitamin C that is used to counteract scurvy.
Antiscrophulatic:
Counteracts scrofula. (TB, especially of the lymph glands)
Antiseptic:
Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.
Antispasmodic:
Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
Antitumor:
Preventing, or effective against, tumors, it is used in the treatment of cancer. Probably synonymous with Cytotoxic. See also Cancer, Cytostatic, Cytotoxic.
Antitussive:
Prevents or relieves coughing.
Antivinous:
Treats addiction to alcohol
Antiviral:
Treats virus diseases
Aperient:
A mild Laxative. See also Cathartic, Purgative.
Aphrodisiac:
Increases the sexual appetite.
Appetizer:
Improves the appetite
Aromatherapy:
Plants whose essential oils are used in Aromatherapy.
Aromatic:
Having an agreeable odour and stimulant qualities.
Astringent:
Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
Bach:
Plants used in the Bach flower remedies.
Balsamic:
A healing and soothing agent.
Birthing aid:
Used in facilitating birth, but not just to cause uterine contractions.
Bitter:
Increases the appetite and stimulates digestion by acting on the mucous membranes of the mouth. Also increases the flow of bile, stimulates repair of the gut wall lining and regulates the secretion of insulin and glucogen.
Blood purifier:
Purifies the blood.
Blood tonic:
Is this any different to a blood purifier?
Cancer:
Used in the treatment of cancer. See also Antitumor, Cytostatic, Cytotoxic.
Cardiac:
Used in the treatment of heart problems.
Cardiotonic:
A tonic for the heart.
Carminative:
Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
Cathartic:
A strong Laxative but less violent than a Purgative. See also Aperient.
Cholagogue:
Increases the flow of bile and its discharge from the body.
Contraceptive:
Prevents fertilization occurring in females.
Cytostatic:
Slows or controls the growth of tumours. See also Cancer, Cytotoxic, Antitumor.
Cytotoxic:
Destroys body cells. Used in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, where it is targeted against the cancer cells. See also Cancer, Cytostatic, Antitumor.
Decongestant:
Removes phlegm and mucous, especially from the respiratory system.
Demulcent:
Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.
Deobstruent:
Clears obstructions from the natural ducts of the body.
Deodorant:
Masks smells.
Depurative:
Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.
Detergent:
A cleansing agent, used on wounds etc. It removes dead and diseased matter.
Diaphoretic:
Induces perspiration.
Digestive:
Aids digestion.
Disinfectant:
Used for cleaning wounds.
Diuretic:
Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
Emetic:
Induces vomiting.
Emmenagogue:
Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
Emollient:
Softens the skin, causing warmth and moisture.
Enuresis:
Treats bed wetting.
Errhine:
Produces sneezing.
Expectorant:
Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
Febrifuge:
Reduces fevers. See also Antipyretic
Foot care:
Plants that are used in various ways to treat foot problems.
Galactofuge:
Stops or reduces the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
Galactogogue:
Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
Haemolytic:
Breaks down red blood corpuscles to separate haemoglobin.
Haemostatic:
Controls internal bleeding.
Hallucinogenic:
Causes the mind to hallucinate.
Hepatic:
Acts on the liver (for better or worse!).
Homeopathy:
A plant used in homeopathic treatments.
Hydrogogue:
A purgative that causes an abundant watery discharge.
Hypnotic:
Induces sleep.
Hypoglycaemic:
Reduces the levels of sugar in the blood.
Hypotensive:
Reduces blood pressure, it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure
Infertility:
Used in treating problems of human fertility.
Irritant:
Causes irritation or abnormal sensitivity in living tissue.
Kidney:
Used in the treatment of kidney diseases
Laxative:
Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner. See also Aperient, Cathartic, Purgative.
Lenitive:
Soothing, palliative.
Lithontripic:
Removes stones from the kidney, bladder etc.
Miscellany:
Various medicinal actions that need more clarification.
Mouthwash:
Treats problems such as mouth ulcers.
Mydriatic:
Dilates the pupils of the eyes.
Narcotic:
Relieves pain, induces drowsiness and gives a sense of well-being.
Nervine:
Stimulates and calms the nerves.
Nutritive:
A food for convalescents to help restore strength.
Odontalgic:
Treats toothache (temporary measure only) and other problems of the teeth and gums.
Ophthalmic:
Treats eye complaints.
Oxytoxic:
Hastens parturition and stimulates uterine contractions.
Parasiticide:
Treats external parasites such as ringworm This should perhaps be joined with Parasiticide in 'Other Uses'.
Pectoral:
Relieves respiratory diseases, a remedy for chest diseases.
Plaster:
Used in the treatment of broken bones.
Poultice:
A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
Purgative:
A drastic Laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain. See also
Aperient, Cathartic.
Refrigerant:
Cools the body.
Resolvent:
Breaks down tumors. This might be placed under antitumor.
Restorative:
Restores consciousness or normal physiological activity.
Rubefacient:
A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.
Salve:
Soothes and heals damaged skin.
Sedative:
Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
Sialagogue:
Stimulates the secretion of saliva.
Skin:
Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin. See also Antipruritic,
Sternutatory:
Promotes sneezing and nasal discharges.
Stimulant:
Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.
Stings:
Used in the treatment of stings and insect bites. See also Antidote
Stomachic:
Aids and improves the action of the stomach.
Styptic:
An astringent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels.
TB:
Plants used in the treatment of tuberculosis
Tonic:
Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.
Uterine tonic:
A tonic for the uterus. See also Oxytoxic.
Vasoconstrictor:
Narrows the blood vessels, thereby increasing blood pressure.
Vasodilator:
Widens the blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure.
VD:
Used in the treatment of venereal disease
Vermifuge:
Expels and kills internal parasites.
Vesicant:
A blistering agent.
Vulnerary:
Promotes the healing of wounds.
Warts:
Used in the treatment of warts, corns etc.
Women's complaints:
A very vague title, it deals with a miscellany of problems peculiar to the female sex.
DISCLAIMER:
Please be aware that this information is provided solely for informational purposes only. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to using any herbs or treatments made from herbs.
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