Medical Terms
A
Adaptogen: Offers general help to the body and increase its ability to adapt to stress.
Alterative: Causes a gradual beneficial change in the body, usually through improved nutrition and elimination, without having any marked specific action.
An: Reduces sexual desire.
Anesthetic: Numbs the feeling in a local or general area of the body.
Analgesic: Relieves pain.
Anodyne: Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.
Anthelmintic: Expels parasites from the gut.
Antianxiety: Helps relieve anxiety. See also Nervine and Sedative.
Antiarthritic: Treats arthritis.
Antiasthmatic: Treats asthma.
Antibacterial: Kills bacteria.
Antibilious: Corrects the secretions of bile.
Antibiotic: An agent that inhibits or destroys a living organism. It usually refers to bacteria or other micro-organisms and is probably synonymous with Antibacterial.
Anticholesterolemic: Prevents the buildup of cholesterol.
Antidandruff: Treats dandruff.
Antidepressant: Used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia and anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder.
Antidiarrhoeal: Provides symptomatic relief for diarrhea. Also see Astringent.
Antidote: Counters poisoning.
Antiemetic: Prevents vomiting.
Antifungal: An agent that inhibits or destroys fungi. Used in the treatment of various fungal problems such as Candida.
Antihaemorrhoidal: Treats hemorrhoids (piles). This would probably be best added to another heading.
Antihalitosis: Treats bad breath
Antihydrotic: Reduces perspiration.
Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.
Antiperiodic: Counteracts recurring illnesses such as malaria.
Antiphlogistic: Reduces inflammation.
Antipruritic: Treats itching of the skin.
Antipsoriatic: Used to treat psoriasis (an autoimmune disease that affects the skin).
Antipyretic: Treats fevers. See Febrifuge.
Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatism.
Antiscorbutic: A plant rich in vitamin C that is used to counteract scurvy.
Antiseptic: Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.
Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
Antitumor: Preventing, or effective against, tumors, it is used in the treatment of cancer.
Antitussive: Prevents or relieves coughing.
Antivinous: Treats addiction to alcohol
Antiviral: Treats virus diseases
Aperient: A mild laxative.
Aphrodisiac: Increases the sexual appetite.
Appetizer: Improves the appetite
Aromatherapy: Plants whose essential oils are used in Aromatherapy.
Aromatic: Having an agreeable odor and stimulant qualities.
Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhea etc.
B
Bach: Plants used in the Bach flower remedies.
Birthing aid: Used in facilitating birth, but not just to cause uterine contractions.
Blood purifier: Purifies the blood.
C
Cancer: Used in the treatment of cancer.
Cardiac: Used in the treatment of heart problems.
Cardio: A tonic for the heart.
Carminative: Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
Cathartic: A strong laxative but less violent than a purgative.
Cholagogue: Increases the flow of bile and its discharge from the body.
Contraceptive: Prevents fertilization occurring in females.
D
Demulcent: Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.
Deobstruent: Clears obstructions from the natural ducts of the body.
Deodorant: Masks smells.
Depurative: Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.
Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration.
Digestive: Aids digestion.
Disinfectant: Used for cleaning wounds.
Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
E
Emetic: Induces vomiting.
Emmenagogue: Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
Emollient: Softens the skin, causing warmth and moisture.
Enuresis: Treats bed wetting.
Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
F
Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.
G
Galactofuge: Stops or reduces the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
Galactogogue: Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
H
Hemostatic: Controls internal bleeding.
Hallucinogenic: Causes the mind to hallucinate.
Homeopathy: A plant used in homeopathic treatments.
Hypnotic: Induces sleep.
Hypoglycaemic: Reduces the levels of sugar in the blood.
Hypotensive: Reduces blood pressure, it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure
I
Irritant: Causes irritation or abnormal sensitivity in living tissue.
K
Kidney: Used in the treatment of kidney diseases
L
Laxative: Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.
Lenitive: Soothing, palliative.
Lithontripic: Removes stones from the kidney, bladder etc.
N
Narcotic: Relieves pain, induces drowsiness and gives a sense of well-being.
Nervine: Stimulates and calms the nerves.
O
Odontalgic: Treats toothache (temporary measure only) and other problems of the teeth and gums.
Ophthalmic: Treats eye complaints.
P
Parasiticide: Treats external parasites such as ringworm.
Pectoral: Relieves respiratory diseases, a remedy for chest diseases.
Poultice: A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
Purgative: A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.
R
Refrigerant: Cools the Body
Resolvent: Breaks down tumors. This might be placed under antitumor.
Rubefacient: A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.
S
Salve: Soothes and heals damaged skin.
Sedative: Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
Sialagogue: Stimulates the secretion of saliva.
Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.
Stimulant: Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.
Stings: Used in the treatment of stings and insect bites
Stomachic: Aids and improves the action of the stomach.
T
Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.
V
Vasodilator: Widens the blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure.
VD: Used in the treatment of venereal disease
Vermifuge: Expels and kills internal parasites.
Vesicant: A blistering agent.
Vulnerary: Promotes the healing of wounds.
W
Warts: Used in the treatment of warts, corns etc.