GLOSSARY ********** This is provided as handy means of finding out what specific herbal terms mean. To acquaint you with the language of medicinal herbal preparation. We hope you can put this glossary to good use in your alternative medicinal preparation and use. ********************************************************************* ------------------------------------------------------------------- ALTERATIVE: A vague term to indicate a substance which alters a condition by producing a gradual change toward the restoration to health. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ANODYNE: Eases pain. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ANTHELMINTIC: Expels or destroys intestinal worms. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ANTIDOTE: Agents which counteract or destroy the effects of poison or other medicines. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ANTISCORBUTIC: Counteracts scurvy. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ANTISEPTIC: Destroys or inhibits bacteria. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ANTISPASMODIC: Prevents or allays spasms or cramps. --------------------------------------------------------------------- APHRODISIAC: Stimulates the sex organs. --------------------------------------------------------------------- APERIENT: Herbal agents that are mild laxatives to the intestines, being gentle in peristaltic action. --------------------------------------------------------------------- APPETIZER: Stimulates the appetite. --------------------------------------------------------------------- AROMATIC: Agents which emit a fragrant smell and produce a pungent taste. Used chiefly to make other medicines more palatable. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ASTRINGENT: Causes contraction of tissues. --------------------------------------------------------------------- BALSAMIC: A healing or soothing agent. --------------------------------------------------------------------- BITTER TONIC: Bitter tasting properties which stimulate the flow of saliva and gastric juice. Used to increase the appetite and aid the process of digestion. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CARDIAC: Agents which have an effect on the heart. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CARMINATIVE: Expels gas from the stomach, intestines or bowels. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CATHARTIC: Causes evacuation from the bowels. There are different types of cathartics. Aperient or laxatives are mild and gentle in their actions. Purgatives are powerful and produce copious evacuations and are used only by adults afflicted with stubborn conditions. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CHOLAGOGUE: Increases the flow of bile and promotes it's ejection. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CORDIAL: Invigorating and stimulating. --------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNTERIRRITANT: Agents applied to the skin to produce an irritation for the purpose of counteracting a deep inflammation. --------------------------------------------------------------------- DEMULCENT: Soothing, bland. Used to relieve internal inflammations. Provides a protective coating and allays irritation of the membranes. --------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPURATIVE: A purifying agent. --------------------------------------------------------------------- DETERGENT: Cleansing. --------------------------------------------------------------------- DIGESTIVE: Aids digestion. --------------------------------------------------------------------- DIAPHORETICS: Herbal agents that increase eliminative secretions through the sweat glands, thus facilitation elimination of toxic and accumulative waste matter. --------------------------------------------------------------------- DIURETICS: Herbal agents that promote secretions of the urinary system, increasing toxic elimination and accumulative matter along with excess water. --------------------------------------------------------------------- EMETICS: Herbal agents that cause evacuation of the stomach contents via induced vomiting and are usually anti-poisonous. --------------------------------------------------------------------- EMMENAGOGUES: Herbal agents that act upon the reproductive system by strengthening and balancing the cellular tissues by regulating the body's hormonal flow. --------------------------------------------------------------------- EMOLLIENTS: Herbal agents that soothe and soften the external skin surfaces and promote healing by removing foreign toxic matter through absorption. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ERRHINE: Substances which, when applied to the lining membrane of nostrils, creates a discharge of mucous. --------------------------------------------------------------------- EPISPASTICS: Causes blisters, when applied to the surface of the body, and causes sloughing. --------------------------------------------------------------------- EXPECTORANTS: Herbal agents that act upon the mucosal membranes of the respiratory tract, facilitating catarrhal discharge, by rendering them less viscid. --------------------------------------------------------------------- FEBRIFUGE: Reduces fever. --------------------------------------------------------------------- GALACTAGOGUE: Promotes the secretion of milk from the nursing breast. --------------------------------------------------------------------- GERMICIDE: Destructive to germs. --------------------------------------------------------------------- HEMOSTATIC: Capable of slowing down or stopping hemorrhage. --------------------------------------------------------------------- HYPNOTIC: Capable of inducing sleep. --------------------------------------------------------------------- INVIGORANT: A strengthening agent. --------------------------------------------------------------------- IRRITANT: Capable of producing local inflammatory reaction. --------------------------------------------------------------------- LAXATIVE: Causes the bowels to act. --------------------------------------------------------------------- MUCILAGINOUS: Emits a soothing quality to inflamed parts. --------------------------------------------------------------------- NARCOTICS: Herbal agents that have a sedative effect by diminishing the action of the nervous system and vascular system. --------------------------------------------------------------------- NERVINES: Herbal agents that regenerate the entire nervous system, having a calming effect, by altering deranged nervous tissues and neutralizing toxins, that cause irritation of the nerve fibers. --------------------------------------------------------------------- NUTRIENT or NUTRITIVE: Nourishing. --------------------------------------------------------------------- OXYTOCIC: Capable of producing uterine contractions --------------------------------------------------------------------- PECTORAL: Relieves affections of the chest and lungs. --------------------------------------------------------------------- PURGATIVE: Causes copious evacuations from the bowels. More drastic than laxatives or aperient, and are generally combined with other agents to control or modify their actions. Used only by adults. --------------------------------------------------------------------- REACTIVATOR: Restores to a state of activity. --------------------------------------------------------------------- REJUVENATOR: An agent which imparts renewed vigor. --------------------------------------------------------------------- RUBEFACIENT: A substance used externally which causes redness and increased blood supply when rubbed into the skin. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SEDATIVE: Calms the nerves. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SIALAGOGUES: Increases the flow of saliva. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SOPORIFIC: Induces sleep. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SPECIFIC: Agent or remedy that has a special effect on a particular disease. --------------------------------------------------------------------- STIMULANTS: Equalizes circulation and regenerates the tissues of the arterial system. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SUDORIFICS: Increases perspiration, thus facilitating the elimination of toxic waste through the skin. --------------------------------------------------------------------- STOMACHIC: Stimulate the flow of digestive secretions and increases the volume. --------------------------------------------------------------------- TENIAFUGE: Expels tapeworm. --------------------------------------------------------------------- TONICS: Tones the alimentive tract, thus correcting problems of the digestive system. Promotes regeneration of tissues throughout the body. --------------------------------------------------------------------- TOPICAL: Applied to the skin only. --------------------------------------------------------------------- VERMIFUGES: Kills and/or expels parasites or worms. --------------------------------------------------------------------- VESICANT: Raises blisters. --------------------------------------------------------------------- VULNERARY: Tone and heal the muscular and skeletal systems and are often employed along with emollients as a poultice for external wounds. -------------------------------------------------------------------- *************END OF CHAPTER***************