Herbal Medicine Glossary

Apothecary can be scary. Let Herb Deco Help.

Here are some terms to get you started. Learn what each herbal remedy can do for you!

• Abortifacient – Causes abortion.
• Adaptogenic – Helps the body to adapt to stress and supports normal function.
• Alterative – Normalizes or reestablishes healthy nutritive processes.
• Anabolic – Promotes tissue growth.
• Analgesic – Relieves and reduces pain.
• Anaphrodisiac – Represses sexual desire. Inhibits libido and sexual activity.
• Anesthetic – Numbs perception of external sensations.
• Anodyne – Allays pain.
• Anorexia – Lack of appetite.
• Antacid – Helps neutralize stomach acid.
• Anthelmintic – Treats infections by parasitic worms. Expels or destroys parasitic worms.
• Anthraquinones – Irritate the intestinal wall causing a bowel movement.
• Antiallergenic – Alleviates allergic reactions.
• Anti-arthritic – Relieves or prevents arthritis.
• Anti-arrhythmic – Relieves an abnormal heart rate.
• Antibacterial – Kills bacteria or inhibits their growth or replication. Destroys or inhibits microorganisms.
• Antibiotic – With properties that can destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms.
• Anti-cancerous – Effective in treating cancer.
• Anticatarrhal – Efficacious against catarrh. Or in layman’s terms, it clears up phlegm and mucus in the sinuses.
• Anticoagulant – Hinders blood clotting. Prevents blood clotting.
• Antidepressant – Helps alleviate depression.
• Antidiarrheal – Helps treat diarrhea.
• Antiemetic – Helps reduce vomiting.
• Antifungal – Destroying or inhibiting the growth of fungi. Combats fungal infections.
• Antihidrotic – Reduces sweating.
• Antihistaminic – Counteracts the effect of histamine or inhibits its production in the body.
• Anti-inflammatory – Helps counteract inflammation. Reduces inflammation.
• Antimicrobial – Destroys or inhibits microorganisms.
• Antioxidant – A substance that reduces the damage caused by oxidation such as the harm caused by free radicals. Prevents oxidation and breakdown of tissues.
• Anti-parasitic – Kills or inhibits the growth or reproduction of parasites.
• Antiprostatic – Reduces symptoms relating to the prostate gland.
• Anti-rheumatic – Relief of symptoms of rheumatism.
• Antiscorbutic – Helps prevent scurvy.
• Antiseptic – Destroys or inhibits microorganisms that cause infection.
• Antispasmodic – Reduces muscle spasm and tension. Relieves muscle spasm, or reduces muscle tone.
• Antithrombotic – Preventing or interfering with the formation of a thrombus of blood clotting.
• Anti-tumorous – Reduces or inhibits the growth of tumors.
• Antitussive – Helps alleviate coughing. Soothes and relieves coughing.
• Antiviral – With properties that can destroy or inhibit the growth of viruses.
• Aperient – Mild laxative.
• Aphrodisiac – Excites libido and sexual activity.
• Aseptic – Free from contamination by harmful bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms.
• Astringent – Causes contraction of tissues and inhibits the flow of blood or other secretions. Tightens mucous membranes and skin, reducing secretions and bleeding from abrasions.
• Automatic Nervous System – Part of the nervous system responsible for the control of bodily function that are not consciously directed. Like sweating or your heart beat.
• Ayurveda – Traditional Indian system of medicine.
• Bitter – A digestive tonic, alterative, or appetizer. Stimulates secretion of saliva and digestive juices, increasing appetite.
• Bronchodilator – Opens up the bronchial tubes of the lungs.
• Carcinogenic – Causes cancer.
• Cardiotonic – Improves heart function.
• Carminative – Reduces flatulence and gastric discomfort. Relieves digestive gas and indigestion.
• Carrier Oil – Oil such as wheatgerm, to which essential oils are added in order to dilute them for use.
• Cathartic – A drastic purgative.
• Circulatory Stimulant – Increases blood flow, usually to a given area. Like the hands and feet.
• Choleretic – Increases secretion of bile by the liver.
• Cholagogue – Stimulates the flow of bile.
• Colic – Abdominal pain produced by strong contractions of intestines or bladder.
• Compress – A cloth pad soaked in a hot or cold herbal extract and applied to the skin.
• Counterirritant – Superficial irritant used to relieve more deep-seated pain or discomfort.
• Cream – A mixture of water and fat or oil that blends with the skin.
• Decoction – Water-based preparation of bark, roots, berries or seeds simmered in boiling water.
• Demulcent – Softens and soothes inflamed surfaces. Coats, soothes and protects body surfaces such as the gastric mucous membranes.
• Depurative – Detoxifying agent.
• Detoxification – The process of aiding removal of toxins and waste products from the body.
• Diaphoretic – Promotes sweating. Induces sweating.
• Diuretic – Encourages flow or urine. Stimulates urine flow.
• Doctrine of Signatures – Theory that the appearance of a plant reveals its medical properties.
• Eclectic – Popular system of herbal medicine in the 19th and early 20th century in North America.
• Edema – Fluid retention.
• Elixir – A liquid herbal preparation with a pleasant taste, due to the addition of honey or sugar.
• Emetic – Causes vomiting.
• Emmenagogue – Stimulates blood flow to the pelvis and uterine area, may stimulate menstruation. Stimulates menstrual flow.
• Emollient – Softening and soothing, especially to the skin. Softens or soothes the skin.
• Essential Oil – Distillation of volatile oils derived from aromatic plants.
• Estrogenic – Promote or mimic the action of female hormones. With a similar action to estrogen in the body, supporting and maintaining the female productive organs.
• Expectorant – Promotes the discharge of mucous of phlegm from the respiratory system. Stimulates coughing and helps clear phlegm from the throat and chest.
• Febrifuge – Helps to reduce fever. Reduces fever.
• Fixed Oil – A nonvolatile oil (plant constituent). An oil produced by hot or cold infusion (preparation).
• Galactagogue – Increases milk flow.
• Galenical – A medicine, in a standard formula, prepared from plants.
• Hallucinogenic – Causes visions or hallucinations.
• Hemostatic – Capable of stopping hemorrhaging or bleeding. Stops or reduces bleeding.
• Hepatic Restorative – A restorative supports the liver. Affects the liver.
• Hepatoprotective – Protects the liver.
• Humor – An important body fluid in traditional European or Indian medicine.
• Hypertension – High blood pressure.
• Hypnotic – Induces sleep.
• Hypoglycemic – Lowers the concentration of glucose in the blood. Lowers blood glucose levels.
• Hypolipidemic – Regulates cholesterol levels.
• Hypotension – Low blood pressure.
• Hypotensive – Helps lower blood pressure.
• Immune Stimulant – Stimulates the body’s immune defense to counter infection.
• Infusion – Water-based preparation in which flowers, leaves or stems are brewed in a similar way to, what I like to call, herbal tea.
• Inhalation – Breathing of medicinally infused steam or liquid through the nasal passage.
• Intermittent Fever – A fever that occurs regularly. Like malaria.
• Laxative – Encourages bowel movements. Promotes the evacuation of the bowels. Ya know, take a poo.
• Liniment – External medication applied by rubbing.
• Mydriatic – Dilates the pupil of the eye.
• Narcotic – Causes drowsiness or stupor and relieves pain.
• Nervine – Affects the nervous system (can be either stimulating or relaxing). Restores the nerves. Relaxes the nervous system.
• Neuralgia – Pain resulting from irritation or inflammation of a nerve.
• Nutritive – Beneficially nutritious.
• Ointment – A blend of fats or oils that form a protective layer over the skin.
• Oxytocic – Stimulates the smooth muscle of the uterus to contract, hastening or facilitating childbirth. Induces contractions of the uterus.
• Parasiticide – Kills parasites.
• Parasympathetic Nervous System – Part of the nervous system involved in vegetative functions, especially digestion.
• Pectoral – Acts on the lungs.
• Peripheral vasodilator – Improves blood flow, especially to hands and feet, used to treat conditions of poor circulation.
• Photosensitive – Heightened sensitivity to sunlight.
• Physiomedicalism – 19th and 20th century American and British system of herbal medicine.
• Poultice – Herbal preparation usually applied hot to an affected area to alleviate pain and reduce swelling.
• Progesterogenic – Having or stimulating a progesterone-like activity.
• Prostaglandins – Chemicals in plants and the human body that have a hormonal action affecting a wide range of conditions including inflammation and pain.
• Purgative – Strong laxative. A very strong laxative.
• Qi – Vital energy force in Chinese philosophy.
• Relaxant – Tending to relax or relieve tension.
• Rubefacient – Stimulates the flow of blood to the skin, causing localized reddening. Stimulates blood flow to skin, causing warming and reddening.
• Sedative – Soothing and calming. Reduces activity and nervous excitement.
• Simple – An herb used on its own.
• Soporific – Inducing or tending to induce sleep.
• Spasmolytic – Reduces muscle spasms. Relaxes muscles.
• Steroids – Active chemicals of a plant origin, with powerful hormonal actions.
• Stimulant – Increases rate of activity and the nervous excitement.
• Stomachic – Beneficial to or stimulating digestion in the stomach. Eases stomach pain or increases stomach activity.
• Styptic – Stops external bleeding. Stops bleeding when applied topically.
• Sympathetic Nervous System – Part of the nervous system involved in maintaining arousal, alertness and muscle tone.
• Terpenes – Molecules that form the base of most constituents of volatile oils.
• Tincture – Plant Medicine prepared by macerating herb in water and alcohol.
• Tonic – Exerts a restorative or nourishing action on the body.
• Tonify – Strengthens and restores the body systems.
• Topical – Application of the herbal remedy to the body’s surface.
• Vasoconstrictor – Contracts and narrows blood vessels.
• Vasodilator – Increases diameter of blood vessels. Relaxes and widens blood vessels.
• Vermifuge – Expels intestinal worms.
• Volatile Oil – Plant constituents distilled to produce essential oil.
• Vulnerary – Heals wounds.
• Yin and Yang – Complementary opposites in Chinese philosohpy.