A

Abortifacient: causes induced abortion; see also emmenagogue

Alterative: blood purifiers, treating blood toxicity, infections, arthritis, cancer, and skin eruptions. Help the body to assimilate nutrients and eliminate waste products of metabolism. 

Analgesic: relieves pain without causing sedation

Anodyne: relieves pain when applied externally

Antacid: neutralize excess acids in stomach and intestines, often are also demulcent which coat mucus membranes and moisten tissues

Antiabortive: inhibit abortive tendencies, taken in small quantities during early pregnancy. (does not interfere with natural process of miscarriage)

Antiasthmatic: relieve symptoms of asthma. Some are also antispasmodics that dilate bronchioles, some break up mucus

Antibiotic: destroy and/or inhibit the growth of bacteria, viruses, or amoebas. Stimulate the body’s natural immune response. When taken habitually or in excess, antibiotic herbs are similar to prescription meds in that they can destroy beneficial gut bacteria

Anticatarrhal: eliminate or counteract the formation of mucus. Best used in conjunction with herbs that aid elimination through sweat, urine, and feces (diaphoretics, diuretics, laxatives)

Antiemetic: lessens nausea and prevents or relieves vomiting

Antineuralgic: alleviates pain caused by damaged or irritated nerves

Antiphlogistic: relieves inflammation

Antipyretic: herbs that reduce or prevent fevers, cooling

Antiseptic: applied externally to prevent bacterial growth (includes astringents)

Antispasmodic: Prevent or reduce muscle spasms, applied externally or taken internally for relief.

Antitussive: prevents or reduces coughing

Aphrodisiac: Improves sexual health, supports libido, increases circulation especially to the genitals. Also used for mood support.

Astringent: constricting or binding effect, tightens tissues. Used to stop bleeding or treat secretions from wounds or infections. Also used to give the skin a tighter look. Astringents typically contain tannins which are concentrated in tree barks.

C

Carminative: relieve gas and bloating, as well as pain during bowel movements.

Cholagogue: these herbs are also laxative, as they promote the flow and discharge of bile into the small intestine

D

Demulcent: taken internally to moisten tissues and coat mucus membranes. Protects damaged or inflamed tissues. Used alongside diuretic herbs to protect kidneys and urinary tract.

Diaphoretic: induce sweating. For maximum effectiveness, diaphoretics should be taken after fasting and using an enema. Do not take diaphoretics following laxatives, as it’s too dehydrating. These herbs are taken as a hot tea. There are stimulating and relaxing diaphoretics. Stimulating diaphoretics are used in the case in the case of weakness of the internal organs. Relaxing diaphoretics are used to treat ailments where the pores of the skin are closed and the energy has retreated from the surface. Volatile oils exit through the pores of the skin and sooth the body surface.

Diuretic: Increases the flow of urine. used to treat water retention, lymphatic swellings, nerve inflammations, UTIs, skin eruptions and kidney stones. Taken with a small amount of demulcents to protect the tissues.

E

Emetic: induce vomiting

Emmenagogue: promote menstruation, sometimes increasing blood flow. Commonly used to regulate menstrual cycle. Historically used as abortives. Not to be taken lightly.. when taken in sufficient enough quantities to induce abortion, these herbs also have other severe effects on the body. Avoid when pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

Emollient: softening, soothing, and protective to the skin.

Expectorant: assists in loosening and expelling mucus from the lungs and throat

F

Febrifuge: reduces fever

G

Galactagogue: increase production and secretion of breast milk

H

Hemostatics: slows or coagulates bloodflow, used to stop hemorrhaging. 

Hypotensive: lowers blood pressure

I

Laxative: promote bowel movements

Lithotriptic: helps to dissolve and eliminate urinary and biliary (bile) stones and gravel

N

Nervines: calm nervous tension and nourish the nervous system

P

Parasiticide: destroys parasites in the digestive system or on the skin.

Purgative: see laxative

R

Rubefacient: increase the flow of blood at the surface of the skin and produce redness where they’re applied. Used to draw inflammation and congestion from deeper areas. Useful for treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and other joint problems, as well as sprains. 

S

Sedative: strongly quiets the nervous system, so, by nature are also antispasmodics and nervines

Sialagogue: stimulate the flow of saliva (black pepper, echinacea, cayenne, ginger, licorice, yerba santa)

Stimulant: increase the energy of the body, drive circulation, break up obstruction and warm the body

Stomachic: see tonic

Styptic: externally applied, stops localized bleeding by contracting blood vessels

T

Tonic: herbs that support the function of the systems of the body. Most tonics have general effects on the whole body, but also have marked effect on a specific system.

V

Vasoconstrictor:

Vasodepressants: lowers blood pressure by dilating blood vessels; also depresses circulation

Vasodilator: causes relaxation of blood vessels

Vermifuge: destroys or expels parasitic worms

Vulnerary: encourage the healing of wounds by promoting cell growth and repair