Antiseptic: Is a substance that destroys bacteria; usually applied to the skin to prevent infection.
Antispasmodic: A medicine that relieves or prevents involuntary muscal cramps, such as those occuring in epilepsy, painful menstruation, intestinal cramping, or even "charley horses."
Aperient: A mild and gental-acting laxative medicine.
Aromatic: A substance with strong, volatile, and fragrant aroma. Medicinally, aromatics, are used to relieve flatulence, open nasal passages, or eliminate phlegm, and are often added to medicines to improve their palatability. Just the fragrance and flavor alone can provide a psychological lift.
Astringent: A substance that causes dehydration, tightening, or shrinking of tissues and is used to stop bleeding, close skin pores, and tighten muscles.
Balsamic: A substance that heals or soothes.
Bitter tonic: A substance with an acrid, astringent, or disagreeable taste that stimulates the flow of saliva and gastric juice. Such tonics are taken to increase the appetite and to aid the digestive process.
Calmative: A substance that will calm someone down quickly. But is usually not a strong as a sedative.
Carminative: A substance that checks the formation of gas and helps dispel whatever gas has already formed.
Catarrh: An inflammation of any mucous membrane, but especially one affecting the respiratory tract.
Cathartic: A laxative or purgative that causes the evacuation of the bowels. A laxative is a gentle cathartic, while a purgative is a more forceful and is only used in stubborn conditions.
Cholagogue: A substance that promotes the discharge of bile from the system.
Corroborant: Another term for a tonic or other substance that is invigorating.
Counterirritant: An irritant that distracts attention from another, usually an agent applied to the skin to produce a superficial inflammation that reduces or counteracts a deeper inflammation.
Demulcent: Oily or mucilaginous substances that soothe and moisten, providing a protective coating and stopping irritation.
Deobstruent: A substance that clears obstruction from the natural ducts of the body.
Detergent: In medicine, as in the laundry. A substance used for cleansing.
Diaphoretic: A substance taken internally to promote sweating, usually through expansion of capillaries near the skin. Also called sudorifics, they have been used along with sweat baths to promote general and specific health.
Diuretic: A substance that promotes the flow of urine.
Emetic: A substance that induces vomit.
Emmenagogue: A medicine taken internally to promote menstruation.
Emollient: A substance that, applied externally, softens and smoothes skin.
Expectorant: A substance that taken internally, helps the body expel phlegm through coughing, sneezing, or spitting.
Febrifuge: A substance that helps dissipate a fever sometimes called antipyretic>
Flatulence: Gas in the stomach or bowels.
Hemostatic: Any substance used to stop or slow down bleeding.
Hepatic: Any substance that affects the liver, whether helpfully or harmfully.
Holistic: In reference to health, they way of prevention and treatment that takes into account factors such as diet, attitude, emotions, relationships, activities, and constitutions. Holistic therapies aim at treating the whole person. They include herbology, nutrition, fasting, massage, psychotherapy, exercise, creative arts, dreaming, meditation, bathing, acupuncture, and counseling.
Hygroscopic: Having the ability to readily attract and retain moisture.
Laxative: A gentle cathartic; helps promote bowel movements. Laxatives work by stimulating the peristaltic action of the intestinal wall, by moistening the colon, by increasing the secretion of bile, or by relaxing intestinal cramps.
Mucilaginous: Mucus-like, slimy; offers a smoothing quality to inflamed parts.
Nervine: A substance that calms or quiets nervousness, tension, or excitement.
Pectoral: A substance that relieves ailments of the chest and lungs.
Physic: A medicinal substance or preparation.
Polypharmacy: The branch of herbology in which herbs are combined in formulas to increase healing and welness.
Purgative: A strong cathartic, given to relieve severe constipation.
Refrigerant: A substance that cools and reduces fever. A seldom used term, it means the same as febriguge, and antipyretic.
Rheumatism: An ailment characterized by stiffness of joints and muscles.
Rubefacient: A substance that increases blood circulation to the area where it is applied, usually on the skin but sometimes internally.
Scrofula; An infection and enlargement of the lymph glands. Because of modern sanitation and prevention of germs, it is no longer common.
Sedative: An agent that reduces nervous tension; usually stronger than a calmative.
Sialagogue: A substance that causes an increase in the flow of saliva.
Simple: An herb used by itself as a complete form of prevention or treatment, called simpling. Simples are usually very mild, locally grown, or indigenous plants to certain areas and can be found world wide.
Soporific: A substance that tends to induce sleep.
Specific: A medicine that has a special effect on a particular disease.
Stomachic: A medicine that give strength and tone to the stomach or stimulates the appetite by promoting digestive secretions.
Styptic: A substance that stops or check external bleeding. It is usually an astringent, which shrinks the tissues, thus closing exposed blood vessels.
Sudorific: A substance that promotes sweating. Much like diaphoretic.
Thoratic: A medicine used to remedy respiratory ailments.
Tonic: A substance that invigorates or strengthens the system. Often tonics act as stimulants and alteratives. Bitter tonics stimulate the flow of gastric juices, increasing the appetite and promoting the intake of food, which strengthens and invigorates.
Vermifuge: A medicine that destroys intestinal worms and helps expels them. Also called anthelmintic.
Vesicant: A substance that causes blisters and sores. Poison ivy is a vesicant.
Vulnerary: A substance used in treating wounds, usually an antibiotic, antiseptic, styptic, and/or plant that promotes healing through cell regeneration.
