*Abortifacient: An
agent that induces or causes premature expultion of a fetus.
(I in no way condone this particular
use of any herb, I am merely giving a discription of the effects in alphabetical
order.)
*Acrid:
Having a hot, biting taste or causing heat and irritation when applied
to the skin.
*Adjuvant:
An herb added to a mixture to aid the effect of the principle ingredient.
*Alterative:
An agent that produces gradual beneficial change in the body, usually by
improving nutrition, without having any marked specific effect and without
causing sensible evacuation.
*Analgesic:
A drug that relieves or diminishes pain.
*Anaphrodisiac:
An agent that reduces sexual desire or potency.
*Anesthetic: An
agent that deadens sensation.
*Anodyene: An
agent that soothes or relieves pain.
*Anthelmintic:
An agent that destroys or expels intestinal worms.
*Antibiotic:
An agent that destroys or arrests the growth of micro-orginisms.
*Anticoagulant:
An agent that prevents clotting in a liquid, such as blood.
*Antiemetic:
An agent that counteracts nausea and relieves vomiting.
*Antihydrotic:
An agent that reduces or supresses persperation.
*Antilithic:
An agent that reduces or supresses urinary calculi (stones) and acts to
disolve those already present.
*Antiperiodic:
An agent that conteracts periodic or intermitten diseases (such as malaria).
*Antiphlogistic:
An agent that reduces inflammation.
*Antipyretic:
An agent that prevents or reduces fever.
*Antiscorbutic:
A source of vitiam C for curing or preventing scurvy.
*Antscrofulous:
An agent that counteracts scrofula.
*Antiseptic:
An agent for destroying or inhibiting pathogenic or putrefactive bacteria.
*Antispasmodic:
An agent that checks or relieves spasms or cramps.
*Antitussive:
An agent that relieves coughing.
*Aperient:
A mild stimulant for the bowels, a gentle purgative.
*Aphrodisiac:
An agent for arousing or increasing sexual desire or potency.
*Appetizer:
An agent that excites the appetite.
*Aromatic:
A substance having an agreeable odor and stimulating qualities.
*Astringent:
An agent that contracts organic tissue, reducing secretions or discharges.
*Balsam:
A resinous substance obtained from the exudations of various trees and
used in medicinal prearations as a soothing or healing agent.
*Bitter:
Characterized by a bitter principle which acts on the mucous membranes
of the mouth and stomach to increase appetite and promote digestion.
*Calmative:
An agent that has a mild sedative or tranquilizing effect.
*Cardiac:
An agent that stimulates or otherwise affects the heart.
*Carminative:
An agent for expelling gas from the intestines.
*Cathartic:
An agent that acts to empty the bowels, a laxative.
*Caustic:
A corrosive substance capable of burning or eating away tissues.
*Cholagogue:
An agent for increasing the flow of bile in the intestines.
*Coagulant:
An agent that induces clotting in a liquid, as in blood.
*Counterirritant:
An agent for producing irritation in one part of the body to counteract
irritation or inflammation in another part.
*Demulcent:
A substance that soothes irritated tissue, particularly mucous membrane.
*Deodorant:
An herb that has the effect of destroying or masking odors.
*Depressant:
An agent that lessens nervous or functional activity, opposite of a stimulant.
*Depurative:
An agent that cleanses or purifies the system, particularly the blood.
*Detergent:
An agent that cleanses wounds and sores of diseased or dead matter.
*Diaphoretic:
An agent that promotes perspiration.
*Digestive:
An agent that promotes or aids digestion.
*Disinfectant:
An agent that cleanses infection by destroying or inhibiting the activity
of disease producung micro-organisms.
*Diuretic:
An agent that increases the secretion and expultion or urine.
*Emetic:
An agent that causes vomiting.
*Emmenagogue:
An agent that promotes mensrual flow.
*Emollient:
An agent used externally to soften of soothe.
*Errhine:
An agent that promotes sneezing and nasal discharges.
*Euphoriant:
An agent that induces an abnormal sense of vigor or bouyancy.
*Exanthematous:
Relating to skin diseases or eruptions.
*Expectorant:
An agent that promotes the discharge of mucus from the respritory passages.
*Febrifuge:
An agent that reduces or eliminates fever.
*Galactagogue:
An agent that encourages or increases the secretion of milk.
*Hallucinogen:
An agent that induces hallucinations.
*Hemostatic:
An agent that stops bleeding.
*Hepatic:
A drug that acts on the liver.
*Hydragogue:
A purgative that produces abundant watery discharge.
*Hypnotic:
An agent that promotes or produces sleep.
*Irritant:
An agent that causes inflammation or abnormal sensitivity in living tissue.
*Laxative:
An agent that promotes evacuation of the bowels.
*Mucligaginous:
Characterized by a gummy or gelatinous consistency.
*Narcotic:
A drug that relieves pain and induces sleep when used in medicinal doses.
When used in large doses narcotics will produce convulsions, coma, or death.
*Nauseant:
An agent that produces an inclination to vomit.
*Nephrittic:
A medicine applicable to diseases of the kidney.
*Nervine:
An agent that has a calming or soothing effect on the nerves, any agent
that acts upon the nervous system.
*Oxytocic:
An agent that stimulates contraction of the uterine muscle, facilitating
childbirth.
*Pectoral:
A remedy for pulmonary or other chest diseases.
*Poison:
A substance that has a harmful or destructive effect when it comes in contact
with living tissue.
*Purgative:
An agent that produces a vigorus emptying of the bowels.
*Refrigerant:
An agent that lowers abnormal body heat.
*Restorative:
An agent that restors consciousness or normal physiological activity.
*Rubefacient:
A gentle local irritant that produces redening of the skin.
*Sedative:
A soothing agent that reduces nervousness, distress, or irritation.
*Sialagogue:
An agent that stimulates the secretion of saliva.
*Stimulant:
An agent that excites or quickens the activity of physiological processes.
*Stomachic:
An agent that strengthens, stimulates, or tones the stomach.
*Styptic:
An agent that contracts tissues, specifically, a hemostatic agent that
stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels.
*Sudorific:
An agent that promotes or increases perspiration.
*Taeniacide:
A substance that kills tapeworms.
*Tonic:
An agent that strengthens or invigorates organs or the entire organism.
*Vasoconstrictor:
An agent that narrows the blood vesseles, thus raising blood pressure.
*Vasodilator:
An agent that widens the blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure.
*Vermicide:
An agent that destroys intestinal worms.
*Vermifuge:
An agent that causes the expultion of intestinal worms.
*Vesicant:
An agent that procuces blisters.
*Vulnerary:
A healing application for wounds.