Herbology Terms

Front 1

Alteratives

Back 1

Blood purifiers. Agents that gradually and favorably alter the condition of the body. Help assimilate nutrients and eliminate products of metabolism.

Front 2

Analgesics

Back 2

Herbs that are taken to relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness.

Front 3

Antacids

Back 3

Able to neutralize excess acids in the stomach

Front 4

Antiasthmatics

Back 4

Relieve symptoms of asthma. Some dilute the bronchioles while others help break up mucous.

Front 5

Antibiotics

Back 5

Substances that inhibit the growth of, or destroy bacteria, viruses or amoebas.

Front 6

Anticatarrhals

Back 6

Substances that eliminate or counteract the formation of mucuous.q

Front 7

Antipyretics

Back 7

Cooling herbs used to reduce or prevent fevers.

Front 8

Antispasmodics

Back 8

Herbs that preven or relax muscle spasms.

Front 9

Aphrodisiacs

Back 9

Substances used to improve sexual potency and power.

Front 10

Astringents

Back 10

Substances that have a constricting or binding effect.

Front 11

Carminatives

Back 11

Herbs and spices taken to relieve gas and griping (severe pain in the bowels)

Front 12

Blood purification

Back 12

Removing toxins and acids from the blood by neutralizing with alkalines, stimulating vital organs, removing fat where toxins are contained and eliminating excess "heat"

Front 13

Bolus

Back 13

Suppository made by adding powdered herbs to cocoa butter, refrigerating then inserting into rectum to treat hemorrhoids or cysts or into the vagina to treat infections, tumors and irritations.

Front 14

Cholagogues

Back 14

Substances used to promote the flow and discharge of bile into the small intestine.

Front 15

Demulcents

Back 15

Soothing substances, usually mucilage, taken internally to protect damaged or inflamed tissues.

Front 16

Diaphoretics

Back 16

Herbs used to induce sweating. Include relaxing and stimulating diaphorectics

Front 17

Diuresis

Back 17

Control of fluid balance p 14

Front 18

Diuretics

Back 18

Herbs that increase the flow of urine.

Front 19

Douche

Back 19

Remedy inserted into vagina to treat infections.

Front 20

Electuary

Back 20

Herb mixed into an acceptable medium (honey, maple syrup, peanut butter, etc) to be palatable. It is mixed into a soft pasty mass and ingested.

Front 21

Emesis

Back 21

Vomiting p. 16

Front 22

Emollients

Back 22

Substances that are softening, soothing and protective to the skin.

Front 23

Enema

Back 23

Herbal fluid inserted into rectum to treat nervous conditions and pain assoc. with excess blood toxins. p 22

Front 24

Fomentation

Back 24

Compress applied externally to treat swellings, pains, colds and flu.

Front 25

Gelatin capsule

Back 25

Filled with herbs that should be taken in small quantities, are bitter or mucilaginous or need to be taken regularly over a long period of time. Most common size is "00"

Front 26

Liniment

Back 26

Herbal extracts rubbed into skin for treating strained muscles and ligaments. Also used for relief of arthritis and inflammation.

Front 27

Materia medica

Back 27

Reference the total sum of homeopathic preparations and prescribing options.

Front 28

Oil

Back 28

Process of extracting the properties of herbs by boiling with sesame or olive oil and allowing to stand for two to three days.

Front 29

Parasiticides

Back 29

Substances that destroy parasites in the digestive tract or on the skin.

Front 30

Pill

Back 30

Mixture of herbs and mucilaginous herb powder made into a doughy consistency and rolled into pea sized balls. Useful for strict vegetarians who do not prefer gelatin capsules made from animal gelatin.

Front 31

Poultice and plaster

Back 31

Warm, moist mass of powdered or macerated herbs applied directly to the skin to relieve inflammation, blood poisoning, venomous bites and eruptions. Plaster is similar but the herbs are layered between thin pieces of linen or combined in a thick bas material and applied to skin.

Front 32

Pungent

Back 32

Strongly aromatic smell

Front 33

Purgatives

Back 33

Laxatives. Substances that promote bowel movement.

Front 34

Purging

Back 34

Eliminating excess secretions and toxins.

Front 35

Rubefacients

Back 35

Substances that increase the flow of blood at the surface of the skin and produce redness where they are applied. They draw inflammation and congestions from deeper areas.

Front 36

Salve

Back 36

Preparation that is applied to the skin and remains in place due to its thick consistency.

Front 37

Sedatives

Back 37

Herbs that strongly quiet the nervous system.

Front 38

Sialogogues

Back 38

Substances that stimulate the flow of saliva and aid in the digestion of starches.

Front 39

Smoking

Back 39

Non-nicotine herbs that are smoked in a pipe or water pipe for treatment of coughs and bronchial congestion

Front 40

Stimulants

Back 40

Herbs that increase the energy of the body, drive circulation, break up obstruction and warm the body.

Front 41

Stomachics

Back 41

Tonics. Herbs that promote the functions of the systems of the body.

Front 42

Syrup

Back 42

Herbs mixed with honey or glycerin used in treating coughs and sore throats because it coats the area and keeps the herbs in direct contact.

Front 43

Tinctures

Back 43

Highly concentrated herbal extracts in an alcohol medium.

Front 44

Tonics

Back 44

Herbs that promote the functions of the systems of the body.

Front 45

Tonification

Back 45

Herbs that can build up the energy of the organ systems.

Front 46

Tranquilization

Back 46

Three types: demulcents, nervines and antispasmodics. Herbs and soothing foods that lubricate joints, bones, GI tract and smooth emotions.

Front 47

Sweating

Back 47

Used to treat externally caused diseases such as cold, flu and fever. Two treatment methods - one with relaxing diaphoretic herbs and one with stimulating teas.

Front 48

Vulneraries

Back 48

Herbs that encourage healing of wounds by promoting cell growth and repair.

Front 49

Wines

Back 49

Similar to tinctures except the herbs themselves are fermented to provide the alcoholic medium that preserves their therapeutic essence.

Front 50

Yang

Back 50

Having physiological roots in the adrenal glands, yang in Chinese medicine represents hot-excess-acute disease.

Front 51

Yin

Back 51

The opposite of yang, also having it's physiological roots in the adrenals, yin represents cold-deficient-chronic diseases.

Front 52

Emetics

Back 52

Substances that induce vomiting and cause the stomach to empty.