Lexicon on terms used for herbal properties
Most definitions are being taken from the Glossary in Susun S. Weed book: “Wise Woman Herbal, Healing Wise.”
Adaptogenic: increases body ability to resist stress while restoring normal physiological functioning.
Alterative: promotes a gradual and beneficial change in a being.
Analgesic: relieves pain without slowing healing. Not narcotic.
Antibacterial: kills and prevent the growth of bacteria.
Antimicrobial: kills and prevent the growth of microbe.
Antiseptic: kills or damages septic (infective) bacteria
Antiviral: kills and prevent the growth of virus.
Anti-cancer: prevent the formation and growth of cancer cells.
Anti-depressant: prevents or relieves depression.
Anti-diarrheal: relieves and prevent diarrhea.
Anti-histaminic: prevents and relieves allergic reactions.
Anti-inflammatory: prevents and relieves inflammation.
Anti-oxidant: prevents oxidation. In metal, oxidation produces rust. In humans, oxidation is in part responsible for signs of aging.
Anti-pyretic: reduce inner fires; cools fevers.
Anti-spasmodic: eases or prevents spasms, convulsions and rigidity, especially in the muscles.
Aperient: gentle opener of the bowels; promotes easy, regular bowel movements.
Astringent: Contracts organic tissues; can reduce secretions and diminish swelling.
Bitter: contains principles which nourish and often stimulate the mucus membrane of the digestive system.
Calmative: nourishes the nervous system and calm the whole person.
Cardio-tonic: nourishes and strengthens the functioning of the heart; may increase the force of contractions and slow the beat.
Carminative: expels gas, relieves and prevents flatulence.
Circulatory: promotes a good circulation of body liquids: lymph, blood
Cholalogue: stimulates flow of bile from gallbladder and through the bile ducts.
Cooling: reduces overheating; thins mucus, increases urine, moderates inflammation.
Decongestant: relieves congestion of the tissues, swollen membranes, mainly from the nose and respiratory tracts.
Demulcant: sooths and reduces irritation internally and externally; protects against further irritation.
Deobstruant: slowly loosens and removes obstructions to health/wholeness/holiness, that is, the flow of life, wether material, psychic, energetic or emotional.
Diaphoretic: promotes diaphoresis (copious, profuse sweating), usually by acting on the nervous system.
Digestive: promotes and strengthens, but does not stimulate digestion; often increases enzymatic action in the digestive system.
Diuretic: promotes, sometimes stimulates, the formation and release of urine.
Emmenagogue: promotes normal flow of menstrual blood.
Emmolient: softens and soothes, usually externally.
Expectorant: encourages, sometimes stimulates, expulsion of mucus or fluid from the bronchial tubes, lungs and respiratory system.
Febrifuge: reduces and dispel fever; literally, makes fever flee.
Galactalogue: increases the quality and quantity of breast milk.
Immunomodulator: regulates and normalizes immune functions.
Hemostatic: stops or control bleeding, internally or externally.
Hypoglycemic: decreases the amount of sugar in the blood; usually tonifies the pancreas and liver.
Lithotriptic: dissolve kidney and bladder stones.
Mucilaginous: glue-like, gelatinous, sticky, viscid, moist; mucilaginous herbs coat, soothe and heal the skin and internal mucus surfaces.
Nervine: nourishes, soothes and restores the nervous system; alleviates nervous irritability.
Pectoral: nourishes and strengthens the chest; relieves lung diseases.
Protective: minimizes damage from environmental pollution.
Relaxant: eases tension and pain without sedating.
Restorative: brings back usual functioning; not as strong as rejuvenative.
Sedative: decreases or slows excessive activity; may repress healing function.
Stimulant: increases or spedds up functional activity; often pushes one past normal limits.
Stomachic: a tonic to the action of stomach; nourishes and strengthens.
Styptic slows or stops bleeding by contracting tissues and blood vessels; usually used externally.
Tonic: nourishes the functioning (tonus) of a muscle, organ, or system; invigorates and strengthens all activity.
Vasodilatative: increases the dilatations of the blood vessels.
Vermifuge: causes the expulsion of parasitic intestinal worms without necessarily killing them.
Vulnerary: promotes and quickens the scar-free healing of wounds (vulnerabilities)