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.