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 In this section:

•	What is Herbal Medicine
•	Where Did it Originate
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•	Frequency & Cost
•	Gathering and Storing Herbs
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•	*Herbs & Medicinal Trees*
•	Commonly Used Terms
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Herbal Medicine

Common Terms Used For Herbal Actions

Some of the constituents of herbs produce certain actions within the body. These actions are grouped into the following categories.

Abortifacient: Induces the premature expulsion of the fetus

Adaptogen: Increases resistance and resilience to stress. This appears due to its ability to support the adrenal glands

Alterative: Gradually restores the proper functioning of organs and systems of the body

Anaphrodisiac: Decreases sexual feelings or desires

Antacid: Neutralizes the acid produced by the stomach

Anthelmintic: Kills and expels worms from the intestines

Antibiotic: Inhibits the growth of germs, bacteria, and harmful microbes

Anticatarrhal: Helps to remove excessive mucus from the body, in particular from the respiratory tract

Antiemetic: Prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting

Anthepileptic: Combats the convulsions and seizures of epilepsy

Anti-inflammatory: Reduces the body's natural inflammatory response

Antimicrobial: Helps the body to either resist or destroy pathogenic micro-organisms- some have antiseptic properties while others work by supporting the body's immune system

Antirheumatic: Relieves or cures rheumatism

Antiseptic: Prevents decay and putrefaction

Antispasmodic: Relieves or prevents muscle cramps and spasms

Antitussive: Prevents or improves cough

Antivenemous: Combats poison from animals

Aperient: A mild or gentle laxative

Aphrodisiac: Restores or increses sexual desire

Aromatic: Herbs which have apleasant, fragrant scent

Astringent: Herbs which have a contracting effect on the skin, tissues and blood vessels which helps stop the flow of liquids such as mucus and blood. Usually applied as a topical application on the area affected

Bitter: Used as a mild tonic, with the herbs triggering a sensory response in the central nervous system, causing the intestines to release digestive hormones

Cardiac: Herbs that benefit the heart

Carminative: Stimulates the digestive system, soothes the digestive tract, and prevents gas from forming in the intestines (also helping to expel it)

Cathartic: Causes evacuation of the bowels, either mild (laxative) or rapid (purgative)

Cholagogue: Stimulates the flow of bile from the liver into the intestines

Demulcent: Soothes and protects irritated or mucus membranes and other tissues. Reduces muscle spasms that cause colic and bronchial conditions which causes coughing

Detergent: Cleanses ulcers, wounds, boils and similar lesions

Diaphoretic (Sudorific): Promotes profuse perspiration, helping the skin to eliminate waste from the body. Promotes the dilation of surface blood vessels, which improves circulation

Diuretic: Promotes production and elimination of urine, helping the body to eliminate waste and promote cleansing

Emetic: Causes vomiting

Emmenagogue: Stimulates menstrual flow and the normalization of the menstrual cycle.

Emollient: Used externally to soothe and soften skin

Expectorant: Stimulates the thinning and removal of mucus from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea, acting as a tonic for the entire respiratory system

Febrifuge: Reduces body temperature and fever

Hemostatic: Reduces/prevents bleeding

Hepatic: Promotes the health of the liver by toning, strengthening, and, in some cases, increasing the flow of bile

Hypotensive: Lowers elevated blood pressure

Laxative: Stimulates and evacuates the bowels

Mucilaginous: Soothes inflamed mucous membranes

Narcotic: Addictive substances which reduce pain and produce sleep

Nervine: Calms and soothes the nerves, reducing tension and anxiety. Nervine tonics strengthen and restore the nervous system, nervine relaxants soothe the body by easing tension and anxiety, and nervine stimulants directly stimulate nerve activity

Parturient: Induces or promotes labor in pregnancy

Purgative: Promotes vigorous evacuation of the bowels, often used to relieve constipation

Rubefacient: Increase blood flow when rubbed directly onto the surface of the skin. Also used to ease the pain and swelling of arthritic joints

Sedative: Promotes relaxation and sleep

Stimulant: Stimulates the activity of a system or organ

Stypic: Stimulates the activity of a system or organ

Sudorific (Diaphoretic): promotes profuse perspiration, helping the skin to eliminate waste from the body. Promotes the dilation of surface blood vessels, which improves circulation.

Tonic: Strengthens and restores the entire system, restoring sluggish areas of the body to normal tone

Vermifuge (Anthelmintic): Kills and expels worms from the intestines

Vulnerary: Treats fresh cuts and wounds, usually externally in the form of a poultice, but also works internally on wounds such as stomach ulcers

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