07 Aug Tue 2012
Glossary
I thought I would share with you friends some of the meanings to words that we herbalists often throw around when describing some of our products . So, I've compiled a list of words in the “ A” section and their meanings. I'll continue to add more starting with “B' in the next couple of days. I hope that this list is helpful.
Glossary
ABORTIFACIENT: A substance that induces abortion, premature expulsion of the fetus
ACE INHIBITOR a drug that blocks the formation of natural body chemical, thus relaxing blood vessels and decreasing water and salt retention. It's used to lower blood pressure or manage heart failure.
ACUTE an illness that comes on quickly, has severe symptoms and a generally short duration. e.g., measles or colds. The opposite of chronic
ADAPTOGEN an agent that increases resistance to stress
ADRENALINE a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that produce the “fight or flight” response. A/k/a epinephrine.
ALTERATIVE: cleansing, stimulating, efficient removal of waste products
AMENORRHEA absence or suppression of menstruation
ANALGESIC: relieves pain
ANAPHRODISIAC subdues sexual desire
ANAPHYLAXIS a severe, life threatening allergic reaction marked by flushing, hives, itching, swelling of the lips and eyelids, throat tightening, sudden hoarseness, nausea and vomiting. It can start within seconds of exposure to an allergy causing substance and can cause death within minutes unless treated immediately.
ANDROGEN hormones that stimulate male characteristics
ANESTHETIC deadens sensation and reduces pain
ANODYNE reduces pain
ANTAGONIST opposes the action of other medicines
ANTHELMINTIC A substance that can help to destroy and expel intestinal parasites
ANTI BACTERIAL destroys or stops the growth of bacterial infections
ANTI BILIOUS reduces biliary or jaundice condition
ANTIBIOTIC kills disease causing bacteria or prevents bacteria from reproducing.
ANTI CATARRHAL eliminates mucus conditions
ANTICOAGULANT slowing or stopping the clotting of blood
ANTI DEPRESSANT prevents or relieves symptoms of mental depression
ANTIDOTE a substance used to counteract a poison
ANTI EMETIC lessons nausea and prevents or relieves vomiting.
ANTI FUNGAL destroying or preventing the growth of fungi
ANTI GALACTAGOGUE prevents or decreases secretion of milk
ANTI HEMORRHAGIC stops bleeding and hemorrhaging
ANTI HEPATOXIC prevents toxins from negatively affecting the liver
ANTI HISTAMINE a drug that blocks the action of histamine, a body chemical released by the immune system, by binding to histamine receptors in various body tissues. In the nose, it stops histamines from making the nasal blood vessels expand ( the cause of runny nose)
ANTI HYPERTENSIVE lowers the blood pressure
ANTI INFLAMMATORY reduces inflammation and associated symptoms such as pain and swelling.
ANTI LITHIC prevents or relieves stones in the urinary organs
ANTI MICROBIAL destroys or prevents the growth of micro organisms
ANTI MUTAGENIC reduces or interferes with mutagenic activity of other substances
ANTI NEOPLASTIC prevents the growth of abnormal or cancerous cells
ANTI OXIDANT a substance such as vitamin E, that works alone or in a group to destroy disease causing substances called free radicals.
ANTI PERIODIC preventing regular recurrences of a disease or symptoms.
ANTI PHLOGISTIC reduces inflammation
ANTI PYRETIC reduces fever
ANTI RHEUMATIC prevents or relieves rheumatism
ANTI SEPTIC a substance used to destroy harmful microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa) or to inhibit their growth.
ANTI SPASMODIC relieves or prevents spasms of muscles and associated tissues
ANTI SYPHILITIC cures or relieves syphilis or venereal diseases.
ANTI THROMBOTIC prevents blood clots
ANTI TOXIC neutralizes a poison form the system
ANTI TUSSIVE: reduces or relieves coughs
ANTI VIRAL opposes the action of a virus
APERIENT mild laxative without purging
APERITIVE herbs that stimulate the appetite
APHRODISIAC stimulates sexual arousal
AROMATIC A substance containing volatile oils that have a strong and stimulating scent
ASTRINGENT has constricting or binding effect ; checks hemorrhages
ATONIC without normal tension or tone