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.