Very soon after you start reading about herbs, you’ll come across technical names that describe the kind of things particular herbs are good for.
Don’t be intimidated by these terms.
They’re just fancy names for simple concepts.
Need to stimulate the flow of bile from your gall bladder? You need a “cholagogue.”
Need to control or stop the flow of blood? Reach for a “hemagogue.”
Are you a mom with a new baby who needs more milk? That’s what a “galactagogue” is for.
Coughing too much? “Antitussive” to the rescue.
Got an itch? Try a “antipruritic.”
Below is a list of medical terms used to describe the effects of herbs.
Medical Terminology
abortifacient – inducing abortion
adjuvant – aiding the action of a medicinal agent
analeptic – restorative or stimulating effect on central nervous system
analgesic – relieve pain
anaphrodisiac – reduces capacity for sexual arousal
anesthetic – induces loss of sensation or consciousness due to the depression of nerve function
antianemic – preventing or curing anemia
antibacterial – destroying or stopping the growth of bacteria
antibilious – easing stomach stress
anticatarrh – reduces inflamed mucous membranes of head and throat
antidepressant – therapy that acts to prevent, cure, or alleviate mental depression
antidiabetic – preventing or relieving diabetes
antidiarrhetic- substances use to prevent or treat diarrhea
antiemetic – stopping vomiting
antifungal – destroying or inhibiting the growth of fungus
antihemorrhagic – controlling hemorrhaging or bleeding
anti-infectous – counteracting infection
anti-inflammatory – controlling inflammation, a reaction to injury or infection
antimalarial – preventing or relieving malaria
antimicrobial – destructive to microbes
antioxident – prevents or inhibits oxidation
antipruritic – preventing or relieving itching
antipyretic – agent that reduces fever (febrifuge)
antirheumatic – easing pain of rheumatism, inflammation of joints and muscles
antiseptic – agent used to produce asepsis and to remove pus, blood, etc.
antispasmodic – calming nervous and muscular spasms or convulsions
antitussive – controlling or preventing cough
antiviral – opposing the action of a virus
aperient – a very mild laxative
aperitive – stimulating the appetite for food
aphrodisiac – substance increasing capacity for sexual arousal
asepsis – sterile, a condition free of germs, infection, and any form of life
astringent – agent that constricts and binds by coagulation of proteins a cell surface
bitter – stimulates appetite or digestive function
cardiotonic – increases strength and tone (normal tension or response to stimuli) of the heart
carminative – causing the release of stomach or intestinal gas
catarrhal – pertaining to the inflammation of mucous membranes of the head and throat
cathartic – an active purgative, producing bowel movements
cholagogue – an agent that increases flow of bile from gallbladder
cicatrizant – aiding formation of scar-tissue and healing wounds
counterirritant – agent producing an inflammatory response for affecting an adjacent area
demulcent – soothing action on inflammation, especially of mucous membranes
dermatitis – inflammation of the skin evidenced my itchiness, redness, and various lesions
diaphoretic – increases perspiration (syn: sudorific)
diuretic – increases urine flow
dysmenorrhea – painful menstruation
dyspepsia – imperfect or painful digestion
ecbolic – tends to increase contractions of uterus, facilitating childbirth
emetic – produces vomiting
emmenagogue – agent that regulates and induces normal menstruation
emollient – softens and soothes the skin
errhine – bringing on sneezing, increasing flow of mucus in nasal passages
escharotic – a caustic substance that destroys tissue and causes sloughing
estrogenic – causes the production of estrogen
euphoriant – produces a sense of bodily comfort; temporary effect and often addictive
expectorant – facilitates removal of secretions
febrifuge – an agent that reduces or relieves a fever
flatulence – excessive gas in the stomach or intestine
galactagogue – an agent that promotes the flow of milk (syn: galactogenic)
hemagogue – an agent that promotes the flow of blood
hemostatic – controls the flow or stops the flow of blood
hepatic – having to do with the liver
herpetic – treating skin eruptions relating to the herpes virus
hypertensive – raises blood pressure
hypoglycemant – agent that lowers blood sugar
hypotensive – lowers blood pressure
lactifuge – reduces the flow of milk
laxative – substance that acts to loosen the bowels contents
masticatory – increases flow of saliva upon chewing
narcotic – induces drowsiness, sleep, or stupor and lessons pain
nervine – a nerve tonic
neuralgia – severe sharp pain along the course of a nerve
parturfaciant – induces contractions of labor at childbirth
purgative – laxative, causes the evacuation of intestinal contents
resorbent – aids reabsorption of blood from bruises
rheumatism – a general term for acute or chronic conditions characterized by inflammation of the muscles and joints (includes arthritis, gout, bursitis, myositis, and fibromyositis).
rubefacient – agent which reddens skin, dilates the vessels, and increases blood supply locally
sedative – exerts a soothing, tranquilizing effect on the body
soporific – inducing sleep
stimulant – temporarily increases body or organ function
stomachic – aids the stomach and digestion action
sudorific – acts to increase perspiration
tonic – a substance that increases strength and tone
– Ken McCarthy
PlantWisdom.org
