TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW: Herbal Medicine

When working with herbs for medicinal purposes it is essential to know the meanings of the many terms used.  Here is a list that I found in my files, again from an old yahoogroup:

Definitions of Herbal and Medical Terminology     
                       
Many words are used to describe herbs and their actions on the body. The following is a guide to understanding these terms.  They are arranged in alphabetical order.
    * Adaptogen: invigorates or strengthens the system.
    * Alerative:  produces a gradual, beneficial change in the body.
    * Alkaloid:  heterogeneous group of alkaline, organic, compounds containing nitrogen and usually oxygen; usually colorless and bitter-tasting; especially found in seed plants.
    * Analgesic:  reduces or relieves pain.
    * Anodyne:  a pain relieving agent, less potent than an anesthetic or narcotic.
    * Antifungal:  clears and counters fungal infections.
    * Antihelmintic, anthelmintic:  expels or destroys intestinal worms.
    * Antihydrotic:  reduces or suppresses perspiration.
    * Anti-inflammatory:  reduces swelling
    * Antimicrobial:  destroys or inhibits growth of microorganisms.
    * Antioxidant:  inhibits binding of oxygen.
    * Antipyretic:  reduces or prevents fever.
    * Antiseptic:  cleans, counters germs and other microorganisms.
    * Antispasmodic:  relieves spasms or cramps.
    * Aperient:  a mild and gentle acting laxative.
    * Aperitif:  stimulates the appetite.
    * Aphrodisiac:  increases sexual desire or potency.
    * Aromatic:  a strong, volatile, fragrant aroma; often with stimulant properties.
    * Astringent:  contracts or shrinks tissues used to decrease secretions or control bleeding.
    * Basalmic:  heals or soothes.
    * Bitter tonic:  an acrid, astringent, or disagreeable taste that stimulates flow of saliva and gastric juice.
    * Calmative:  mild sedative or hypnotic properties
    * Carminative:  stops the formation of intestinal gas and helps expel gas that has already formed.
    * Catarrh:  inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially of the respiratory tract.
    * Cathartic:  a powerful agent used to relieve severe constipation.
    * Cholegogue:  stimulates secretion and release of bile.
    * Choleretic:  stimulates secretion and release of bile.
    * Concentration:  the amount of material in a solution in relationship to the amount of solvent; expressed as the ratio.
    * Counterirritant:  causes a distracting irritation intended to relieve another irritation.
    * Decoction:  extract of an herb made by boiling or simmering in water; stronger than a tea or infusion.
    * Demulcent:  an oily or mucilaginous substance that soothes irritated tissue, especially mucous membranes.
    * Deobstruent:  clears obstruction from ducts of the body.
    * Diaphoretic:  taken internally to promote sweating.
    * Diuretic:  promotes urine production and flow.
    * Drachm:  a rough measurement, basically it is what fits in the palm of your hand.
    * Emetic:  induces vomiting.
    * Emmenogogue:  taken internally to promote menstrual flow.
    * Emollient:  an externally applied agent that softens or soothes skin.
    * Essential oil:  any of a class of volatile oils that impart the characteristic odors to plants; used especially in perfumes, food flavorings and aromatherapy; also called volatile oil.
    * Exfoliant:  removes dead skin on the surface of skin.
    * Expectorant:  increases bronchial secretions and facilitates their expulsion through coughing, spitting, or sneezing.
    * Extract:  a concentrate, made by steeping raw plant material(s) in solvent (alcohol and/or water), after which the solvent is allowed to evaporate.
    * Febrifuge:  reduces fever.
    * Flatulence:  gas in the stomach or intestines.
    * Fluid extract:  a liquid extract of raw plant material
    * Fomentation:  application of a warm and moist cloth, soaked in an infusion or decoction, as treatment.
    * Galactogogue:  increases secretion of milk.
    * Glycoside:  esters containing a sugar component (glycol) and a nonsugar (aglycone) component attached via oxygen or nitrogen bond; hydrolysis of a glycoside yields one or more sugars.
    * Hemostatic:  to stop internal bleeding.
    * Hepatic:  any substance that affects the liver.
    * Herb:  plant or part of a plant used for medicinal, taste, or aromatic purposes.
    * Humectant:  a substance used to obtain a moistening effect.
    * Hygroscopic:  a substance that readily attracts and retains water.
    * Infusion:  tea made by steeping herb(s) in hot water.
    * Lactagogue:  increases secretion of milk.
    * Laxative:  gently promotes bowel movements.
    * Maceration:  a process of softening tissues by soaking in liquid.
    * Mucilage:  a gelatinous substance, containing proteins and polysaccharides, that soothes inflammation.
    * Mucilaginous:  an agent characterized by a gummy or gelatinous consistency.
    * Nervine:  calms nervousness, tension, or excitement.
    * Oleoresin:  homogenous mixture of resin(s) and volatile oil(s).
    * Pectoral:  relieves ailments of the chest and lungs.
    * Pharmacognosy:  study of the biochemistry and pharmacology of plant drugs, herbs, and spices.
    * Phlogistic:  referring to inflammation or fever.
    * Poultice:  soft, moist mass applied to the skin to provide heat and moisture.
    * Polypharmacy:  combinations of medicinal plants, formulated to gain synergistic effects.
    * Purgative:  a powerful agent used to relieve severe constipation.
    * Regenerative:  restores or revives tissue growth
    * Resin:  any of several solid or semisolid, flammable, natural organic substances soluble in organic solvents and not water; commonly formed in plant secretions; complex chemical mixtures of acrid resins, resin alcohols, resinol, tannols, esters, and resenes.
    * Rubefacient:  applied to the skin, causes a local irritation and redness; for relief of internal pain.
    * Salve:  an herbal preparation mixed in oil and thickened with bees wax applied to the skin.
    * Saponin:  any of several surfactant glycosides that produce a soapy lather; found in plants.
    * Sedative:  reduces nervous tension; usually stronger than a calmative.
    * Sialogogue:  stimulates secretion of saliva.
    * Soporific:  induces sleep.
    * Stimulant:  excites or quickens a process or activity of the body.
    * Stomachic:  gives strength and tone to the stomach or stimulates the appetite by promoting digestive secretions.
    * Styptic:  stops external bleeding (usually an astringent).
    * Sudorific:  taken internally, to promote sweating (also called diaphoretic).
    * Tannin:  complex mixture of polyphenols; give a color reaction to iron-containing substances.
    * Terpene:  any of several isomeric hydrocarbons; most volatile oils consist primarily of terpenes.
    * Thoratic:  remedy for a respiratory ailment.
    * Tincture:  a solution prepared by steeping or soaking (maceration) plant materials in alcohol.
    * Tonic:  invigorates or strengthens the system; tonics often act as stimulants or aleratives.
    * Tisane:  an herbal infusion drunk as a beverage or for its mildly medicinal effect.
    * Vermifuge:  expels or destroys intestinal worms
    * Vesicant:  causes blisters or sores
    * Volatile oil:  odorous plant oil that evaporates readily; also called essential oil.
    * Vulnerary:  the treatment or healing of wounds.

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