Glossary

Acute: A sudden onset of symptoms or disease

Alterative: Improves and promotes renewal of tissue (see depurative)

Analgesic: reduces / relieves pain

Anaesthetic: The process of blocking the perception of pain and other sensations

Anodyne: same as analgesic

Anthelmintic: Kills or prevent worm infestation

Amenorrhoea: Absence of menstruation

Annual: Completing a life cycle in one year

Antidote: Neutralises the effect of a poison

Anti-acid: Reduces / neutralises stomach acid

Anti-allergenic: Reduces / neutralises allergic reaction

Anti-catarrhal: Prevents /reduces the production of catarrh (mucous)

Anti-emetic: Prevents vomiting

Anti-fungal: Preventing the growth of fungi

Anti-haemorrhagic: Reduces or stops bleeding (same as haemostatic)

Anti-oedematous:  Prevents or reduces an oedema

Anti-oxidant: Refers to a substance that has the ability to stabilize or neutralize the damaging and cancer causing effects of free radicals

Anti-neoplastic: Has an activity against malignant tumours

Anti-platelet: Acts on blood platelets inhibiting blood coagulation

Anti-rheumatic: relives pain in rheumatism

Anti-septic: Preventing infection

Anti-spasmodic: Reduces or stops a spasm

Anti-tussive: Reduces / prevents coughing

Anti-parasitic: Prevent /kills parasites

Anti-pyretic:  Reduces or prevents fever

Anti-viral: Inhibiting or destroying the growth and/or spread of viruses

Aperient: Mild laxative effect

Aphrodisiac: Arouses or intensifies sexual desire

Arborificient: Provokes / causes abortion

Aromatic: Pleasant tasting, a substance that has an aroma

Arteriosclerosis: The build up of fatty deposits (plaque) in blood vessels, leading to the gradual narrowing of those vessels and restricted blood flow

Arrhythmia:  An irregular heart beat (can be fast or slow)

Astringent: Causes constriction of mucous membranes

Bitter: Describes bitter tasting substances; used to stimulate appetite and the liver

Bronchodilator: Dilates and widens the bronchial tubes

Canker: Ulceration (especially of the lips or lining of the mouth)

Carbuncle: A deep-seated pus-producing infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues

Cardiac tonic: Improves the circulation to the heart as well as its contraction

Carminative: Soothes intestinal spasms

Cathartic:  Strong laxative – provokes ‘evacuation’ of the bowels

Chilblains: Inflammation of the hands and feet caused by exposure to cold and moisture

Cholagogue: Promoting the flow of bile

Chronic: The opposite of acute. Chronic means prolonged or slow to heal

Colic: pain due to involuntary abdominal organ muscle contraction

Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the eye or eyelid /the conjunctiva

Cooling: Reduces temperature

Counter-irritant: Relieves congestion and inflammation of deeper tissues. Reddens the skin by increasing blood flow to an area

Croup: Infection of the larynx and/or trachea in infants

Cutaneous: Refers to the skin

Cytotoxic: Descriptive of substances that are directly toxic to cells, preventing their reproduction or growth.

Demulcent: Soothe and protect the gastro-intestinal tract

Depurative: Improves and aids detoxification

Diaphoretic: Promoting perspiration / used especially in fever management

Diuretic: Increasing the flow of urine

Dropsy: Generalised oedema

Dysentery: An infectious disease of the lower bowel, causing pain, severe diarrhoea, and passage of blood and mucus

Dysmenorrhea: Pain on menstruation

Dyspepsia:  A disorder of digestive function characterised by discomfort, heartburn, nausea and general indigestion

Dysponea: Shortness of breath

Dysuria:  Pain on urination

Emetic: Causing vomiting

Emmenogogue: Promoting menstrual flow

Emollient: Softening and soothing, usually referred to for use on the skin

Epilepsy: A disorder of the brain that results in recurrent, unprovoked seizures

Epithelial:  The cells that line the internal and external surfaces of the body

Erysipelas: Synonym: Saint Anthony's fire & Holy fire. A bacterial skin infection that usually affects the arms, legs, or face, characterized by shiny, red areas, small blisters, and swollen lymph nodes

Expectorant: Improves clearing of catarrh in the lungs

Febrifuge: same as anti-pyretic

Fibroids: Benign tumours in or around the uterus

Flora: The flowers of a plant

Haemorrhagic: Provokes bleeding

Hypotensive: Reducing elevated blood pressure

Galactagogue: Increases/ induces breast milk production

Gout: arthritis caused by urate crystals in the joint, especially of the big toe

Haematuria: Blood in the urine

Haemoptosis: Coughing up blood

Haemostatic: Reduces / stops bleeding

Hemiplagia: Paralysis of one side of the body

Hepatic: Stimulates and tones the liver

Hepato-protective: Protects the hepatocytes (liver cells)

Herba: All the aerial parts of a plant

Hydrogogue: Action that acts to remove accumulations of water

Hypoglycemic:  Reduces the amounts of glucose in the body

.Hypertension: High blood pressure

Hypnotic: Induces drowsiness and sleep

Hypotension: Low blood pressure

Immuno-stimulant: Enhances the action of the immune system

Impetigo: Contagious skin disease characterized by pustules

Imposthume: An abscess or swelling

Infusion: Herbal tea

Irritant: Causing irritation to tissue or mucous membranes

Jaundice: A yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes associated with liver or gall bladder problems

Laxative: Stimulated the bowel to produce a bowel movement

Leech (leach/ leitch): Anglo Saxon healer, physician, doctor

Leechbook: Physicians desk’s reference book of the time

Lymphatic: Stimulating to the white blood cells

Maelena: Black stools caused by bleeding in the stomach or small intestine

Menorrhagia: Heavy menstruation

Myalgia: Muscle pain

Narcotic: Induces stupor and insensibility

Nervine: Used to restore nerves to their natural state. Tones and strengthens the nervous system.

Neuralgia: A sharp pain along the course of a nerve

Oedema: Swelling caused by too much fluid in the tissues under the skin

Ointment: Semi-solid herbal preparation

Oxytocic: Stimulates uterine contractions

Palsy:  Paralysis of a muscle or group of muscles

Pectoral: Has an effect on the lungs and lower respiratory tract

Petit mal: A mild form of seizure, characterized by a blank stare and temporary cessation of activity (generally starting in childhood)

Peripheral: On the surface of an organ or of the body

Pleurisy:  Inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the chest cavity

Polycystic ovarian syndrome:  Development of multiple cysts in the ovaries

Poultice:  An herbal preparation made with a ‘paste’ of the plant which is then applied topically

Radix:  The root or tuber of a plant

Refrigerant: Giving a feeling of coolness

Rubefacient: Same as counter-irritant

Scrofula: A form of tuberculosis characterized by swellings of the lymphatic glands

Scurvy: A disease caused by deficiency of vitamin C, characterized by spongy and bleeding gums, bleeding under the skin, and extreme weakness

Sedative: Reduces nervous activity and tension.

Soporific: Same as hypnotic

Spasmolytic: Relieving a spasm, usually a smooth muscle spasms

Stimulant: Increases functional activity and energy in the body or an organ

Stomachic: Stimulates the stomach

Strangury: A condition marked by slow, painful urination, caused by muscular spasms of the urethra and bladder

Styptic: Stops bleeding, usually by clotting the blood

Syphilis:  Sexually transmitted venereal infection caused by Treponema pallidum

Tachycardia: Abnormal high heart beat

Tincture: Liquid form of herb preparation preserved in alcohol

Thrombotic: Helps in reducing / preventing blood clots in the arteries

Tonic: A substance that gives a feeling of general well being

Topical: Applied directly to the skin

Tropho-restorative:  Heals and soothes inflamed mucous membranes

Typhus: An acute, infectious disease transmitted by lice and fleas

Urinary: Used for the urinary tract

Vasoconstrictor: Constricts & narrows blood vessels.

Vasodilator:  Dilates and widens blood vessels

Vermifuge: Same as anthelmintic

Vulnerary:  Promoting wound healing

References used for Glossary:

Bone, K (2003) A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs: herbal formulation for the individual patient: Churchill Livingstone.

Hoffman, D. (2002) Complete Illustrated Guide to the Holistic Herbal: Element Books Ltd.

Martin, E.A. (ed.) (1994) Oxford Concise Colour Medical Dictionary 4th ed.: Oxford University Press.

Williamson, E.M. (2003) Potter's Herbal Cyclopedia UK: Saffron Walden, the C.W. Daniel Company.