Herbal Terminology

"Let food be your medicine and your medicine be your food. Each one of the substances in a person's diet, acts upon the body and changes it in some unique way, and upon these changes the whole life depends, whether in health, in sickness or convalescent."  

Hippocrates 2 000 years ago.

Once upon a time, long long ago, healing plants were an integral part of our forefathers lives, but they never really knew for sure why these plants produced the required results for their ailments, all they knew was that they worked.

So with this in mind, we have compiled a comprehensive list of Healing Plants which highlights a specific medical action and links all the applicable common herbs to that action.

Herbal Terminology - A

ALTERATIVE:  "A substance that produces a gradual, beneficial change in the body".

• betony

ANALEPTIC: "An analeptic in medicine is a central nervous system stimulant medication".

• camphor

ANALGESIC:  "A medication that eliminates or reduces pain".

• aloe
• arnica
• Balm of Gilead
• camphor
• eucalyptus
• holy basil
• lavender
• marjoram
• meadowsweet
• nutmeg
• passion flower
• rue
• St John's wort
• tea tree oil
• tumeric
• wild lettuce

ANODYNE: "A medicine or agent that relieves or soothes pain".

• Balm of Gilead
• wild lettuce

ANTACID:   "An antacid is a substance which neutralizes stomach acidity".

• golden seal
• licorice
• marjoram
• peppermint

ANTI-BACTERIAL:  "An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria".

ANTIBIOTIC: "The word antibiotic comes from the Greek meaning "against" and "life".

• alfalfa
• calendula
• cat's claw
• chamomile
• echinacea
• ginger
• holy basil
• nasturtium
• Origanum
• peppermint
• rosemary
• turmeric

ANTI-CANCER/ANTI-TUMOR

• astralagus
• burdock
• cats'claw
• cranberry
• dandelion
• fennel
• garlic
• green tea
• feverfew
• licorice
• milk thistle
• parsley
• rosemary
• rooibos
• turmeric

ANTI-CATARRHAL: "Counteracting or supressing catarrh (inflammation of the mucous membranes)".

• eyebright

ANTI-COAGULANT:  "A substance that prevents clotting of the blood".

• ginger

ANTI-DANDRUFF

• lavender
  
  
  

ANTI-DEPRESSANT: "An anti-depressant is a psychiatric medication used to alleviate mood disorders".

• ginseng
• lavender
• lemon balm
• peppermint
• rosemary
• St John's Wort

ANTI-EMETIC: "Is a substance that is effective against vomiting and nausea".

• cinnamon
• ginger

ANTI-HISTAMINE: "A substance that counteracts the effects of histamine, used in treating allergies".

• nettles
• evening primrose
• parsley
• ginger
• chamomile
• saffron
• anise
• fennel
• caraway
• basil
• Echinacea
• thyme

ANTI-HYSTERIA

• anise

ANTI-FUNGAL: "A medication used to treat fungal infections".

• aloe
• golden seal
• origanum
• red clover
• thyme

ANTI-HELMINTIC: A substance that expels or destroys intestinal worms (also called vermifuge)".

• cloves

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY: "Refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation".

• aloe
• arnica
• astralagus
• Balmof Gilead
• basil
• borage
• calendula
• devil's claw
• chamomile
• echinacea
• elderberry
• fennel
• feverfew
• gingko
• golden seal
• horse chestnut
• lavender
• licorice
• marshmellow
• myrrh
• meadowsweet
• Oregon grape
• rosemary
• sarsaparilla
• St John's Eort
• tea tree oil
• turmeric
  
  
  

ANTI-IRRITANT:

• camphor

ANTI-MICROBIAL: "A substance that kills or inhibits the growth of micro-organisms such as bacteria or fungi".

• cinnamon
• nasturtium
• red sage

ANTI-NAUSEA:

• ginger

ANTI-OXIDANT: "Antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules".

• basil
• clove
• ginger
• hawthorone
• holy basil
• limeflower
• oregon grape
• rooibos

ANTI-PLATELET: "A substance that decreases platelet aggregation and inhibits thrombus formation".

• cinnamon

ANTI-PYRETIC:  'Are drugs or herbs that reduce fever".

• betony
• feverfew

ANTI-RHEUMATIC: "Anti-rheumatics are substances used to treat rheumatoid arthritis".

• anise
• chickweed
• eucalyptus
• nutmeg

ANTISEPTIC: " Are antimicrobial substances that are applied to iving tissue to reduce the possibility of infection".

• aloe
• bearberry
• betony
• camphor
• calendula
• cinamon
• clove
• chammomile
• echinacea
• eucalyptus
• ginkgo
• golden seal
• lavender
• myrrh
• nutmeg
• parsley
• rosemary
• thyme
• tumeric

ANTI-SCLEROTIC: "Reduces hardening of tissues, especially arteries".

• cinnamon

ANTI-SPASMODIC: "Is a drug or substance that suppresses muscle spasms".

• anise
• angelica
• betony
• blackhaw
• calendula
• cardamon
• catnip
• motherwort
• nutmeg
• passion flower
• parsley
• peppermint
• red clover
• rooibos
• rue
• wild lettuce
• yarrow

ANTI-THROMBOTIC: An antithrombotic is a drug or substance which reduces thrombus formation".

• cinnamon

ANTI-VIRALS: "Are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections.

• astralagus
• cardamon
• echinacea
• eucalyptus
• ginger
• jasmine
• lemon balm
• St John's Wort
• sarsaprilla

APERIENT: "A laxative in the form of a medicine or a food".

• anise
• elderberry

APHRODISIAC: "An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire".

• cardamon
• cinnamon
• sawpalmetto

APPETITE SUPPRESSOR:

• sarsaparilla

ASTRINGENT: "Causing skin or body tissue to contract".

• alfalfa
• bearberry
• betony
• cranberry
• ginkgo
• golden seal
• jasmine
• motherwort
• myrrh
• raspberry leaf
• red sage
• St John's Wort
• thyme
• watercress
• yarrow

Herbal Terminology - B to D

BALSAMIC:  "Means balsam-like in the sense of "restorative" or "curative.

• borage
• eucalyptus
• myrrh
• tea tree oil
  
  
  

BLOOD PURIFYER

• burdock
• sarsaparalla
  
  
  

BONES AND JOINTS

• alfalfa
• cat's claw
• cayenne

• cayenne
• celery
• dandelion
  

• devil's claw
• feverfew
• garlic
• ginger
• peppermint
• primrose
• red raspberry
• St John's Wort
• sarsaparilla
• wintergreen
  
  
  

CARMINATIVE: "Is a herb or preparation that either prevents formation of gas in the gastro-intestinal tract or facilitates the expulsion of gas, combating flatulence".

• anise
• angelica

• betony
  

• camphor
• catnip
• chamomile
• clove
• echinacea
• ginger
• lavender
• lemon balm
• motherwort
• peppermint
• rosemary
  
  
  

CHOLAGOGUE:"Cholagogue is a medicinal agent that promotes the discharge of bile from the system".

• oregon grape
• soapwort
• wild lettuce
  
  
  

CHOLERETIC:   "An agent that stimulates the liver to increase output of bile"'

• fennel
• yarrow
  
  
  

CHOLESTEROL INHIBITOR

• alfalfa
  
  
  

CIRCULATORY STIMULANT

• gingko
• rosemary
  
  
  

DECONGESTANT:" A decongestant is a type of pharmaceutical drug or substance that is used to relieve nasal congestion".

• anise
• eucalyptus
  
  
  

DEMULCENT: "An agent that forms a soothing film over a mucous membrane relieving pain and inflammation.

• nasturtium
  
  
  

DEPURATIVE: "Used for, or capable of depurating, purifying, a purgative".

• Balm of Gilead
• red clover
• sarsaparilla
• soapwort
  
  
  
  
  
  

DETOXIFIER:  "To get rid of poison or its effects".

• alfalfa
• cat's claw
• dandelion
• garlic
• ginger
• goldenseal
• elderberry
• holy basil
• oregon grape
• rosemary
• yellow dock
  
  
  

DIAPHORETIC:  "Is the state of sweating profusely, commonly associated with shock and other medical emergencies".

• angelica
• burdock
• catnip
• elderberry
• soapwort
• tea tree oil
  
  
  

• aloe
• anise
• chamomile
• elderberry
• ginger
• gingko
• golden seal
• parsley
  
  
  

DISINFECTANT: "Disinfectants are subtances that are applied to non-living objects to destroy micro-organisms that are living on the objects".

• holy basil
• oraganum
• red sage
• tea tree oil
  
  
  

DIURETIC:  "A substance that causes more urine to be secreted".

• alfalfa
• anise
• angelica
  

• astralagus
• bearberry
• betony
• burdock
• dandelion
• dong quai
• fennel
• hawthorne
• holy basil
• horse chestnut
• lime flowers
• marjoram
• meadowsweet
• milk thistle
• nettles
• raspberry leaf
• red clover
• saw palmetto
• soapwort
• watercress
  
  
  

Herbal Terminology - E to L

EMMENAGOGUE: "Are herbs which stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area, some stimulate menstruation".

• angelica
• lavender
• motherwort
• rue
  
  
  

EMETIC:  "A substance or agent that induces vomiting".

• elderberry
  
  
  

EMOLIENT:  "A substance that softens and soothes the skin".

• elderberry
  
  
  

ESTROGENIC:  "Having the properties of, or similar to, estrogen".

• licorice
  
  
  

EDEMA REDUCER:  "Edema means swelling caused by fluid in your body's tissues".

• horse chestnut
  
  
  

EXPECTORANT: "Is an agent which dissolves thick mucus and is usually used to help respiratory difficulties".

• anise
• angelica
• cardomon
  

• cinnamon
• elderberry
• eucalyptus
• ginger
• holy basil
• marshmellow
• nasturtium
• peppermint
• red clover
• saw palmetto
• soapwort
• tea tree oil
• watercress
  

FEVER REDUCER

• chamomile
• feverfew
• horse chestnut
• lavender
  
  
  

HEPATIC

• angelica
• fenner
• motherwort
• oregon grape
  
  
  

IMMUNE SYSTEM STIMULANT

• astragulus
• echinacea
• elderberry
• ginger
• ginseng
  
  
  

LACTATION STIMULANT

• milk thistle
  
  
  

LIVER TONIC

• aloe
• dong quai
• motherwort
• oregon grape
• parsley
• wild lettuce
  
  
  

LAXATIVE

• aloe
• dong quai
• motherwort
• oregon grape
• parsley
• wild lettuce

LYMPHATIC TONIC

• burdock
• calendula
• echinacea
  
  
  

Herbal Terminology - M to Z

MUSCLE RELAXANT

• devils claw
• ginger
• hops
• parsley

NERVINE:

• motherwort
• rue
• wild lettuce

PURGATIVE: "Are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to loosen the stool, most often to treat constipation".

• elderberry
• soapwort
• wild lettuce

RUBEFACIENT: "Is a substance for topical application causing dilation of the capillaries and an increase in blood circulation".

• arnica
• eucalyptus
• lavender
• rue

SEDATIVE: "Having a soothing, calming or tranquilizing effect:  reducing or relieving anxiety, stress irritability or excitement".

• chamomile
• devil's claw
• holy basil
• hops
• lemon balm
• lineflowers
• passion flower
• saw palmetto
• wild lettuce

SPASMOLYTIC: "May refer to a type of muscle relaxant".

• camphor
• lavender
• licorice

STIMULATES THE MIND

• nutmeg

STOMACHIC: "while many herbs claim stomachic effect, modern pharmacology does not have an equivalent term for this type of effect".

• angelica

STIMULANT: "are substances which induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical function or both".

• anise
• angelica
• golden seal

UTERINE TONIC

• Raspberry leaf

VASODILATOR: "refers to the widening of blood vessels resulting from relaxing of smooth muscles cells within the vessel walls particularly in the large arteries and large veins".

• dong quai

VENOUS HEALTH BOOSTER

• horse chestnut

VERMIFUGE: "A substance that expels or destroys intestinal worms".

• rue

VULNERARY:"A remedy used in healing or treatment of wounds".

• eucalyptus
• lavender
• myrrh
• nasturtium

And there you have it..... quite an informative list of healing plants and the conditions that they can be used for.

YOUR NATURAL MEDICINE CHEST

What to Keep in your Medicine Chest

Arnica

Keep a tube of this cream for relief for muscle strains as well as bruises.

Calendula

Get this from your health shop in a cream or gel form and use as a salve for burns, cuts, scrapes and insect bites

Chammomile

Use the dried flowers to make a tea and use for stressful situations and also stomach upsets.

Echinacea

You can get these at your health shop as an  extracts or capsuled and use for colds, flu, cuts, infections and scrapes.

Eucalyptus

An absolute must for your herbal medicine chest for respiratory congestion and muscle soreness.

Ginger

Use this herb as a fresh root from your veggie store, or if you like gardening, grow them, it is an excellent medication for colds, respiratory congestion, nausea and stomach upsets

Lavender

Keep Lavender as an essential oil for stress, insomnia and headaches.

Sea Salt

Gargle with this salt for sore throats and also for bath salts.

Tea Tree

Use as an essential oil for skin infections and insect bites.

Valerian

Use as an extract for mild pain relief and insomnia