Ordliste

 

Ordliste, så du bedre forstår urternes egenskaber. Læs her for at få et overblik før du læser monografierne.

 

Abortifacient

An agent which is used to terminate a pregnancy

 

Absorbent

Aids in the absorption of fluids

 

Acrid

Having a hot, biting taste

 

Action

The therapeutic activity of a remedy. Herbal medicines frequently exhibit more than one action.

 

Active constituents

Chemical components of plants which have been shown to be responsible for or to contribute to the medicinal effect.

 

Adaptogenic

Increases the resistance to physical, environmental, emotional or biological stressors, restores normal physiological function to the body, also known as whole body tonic

 

Adjuvant

A herb added to the mixture to aid the effect of the main one

 

Aldose reductase inhibitor

Inhibits aldose reductase, an enzyme involved in the production of harmful sugar metabolites in diabetes

 

Alexipharmic

Herb warding off disease or the effect of poison

 

Alterative

See depurative

 

Amebicide

Assists in treating bacterial infections

 

Amphoteric

Herb or entire plant extract which have opposite physiological actions e.g. lowers and elevates blood pressure

 

Anodyne

Pain reducing, usually used externally

 

Anthelmintic

Assists in killing or expelling intestinal worms or parasites.

 

Anti-allergic

Tempers the immune response, often by stabilising or inhibiting the degranulation of mast cells

 

Antiarrhythmic

An agent that normalises heart rhythm

 

Anticatarrhal

Reduces the formation of mucus

 

Anticholesterolaemic

Lowers blood cholesterol

 

Anticholinergic

An agent that blocks the parasympathetic nerve impulse

 

Antiemetic

Reduces the feelings of nausea, may relieve or prevent vomiting

 

Antifibrotic

Prevents the formation of fibrous tissue

 

Anti-haemorrhagic

A remedy which stems internal bleeding

 

Antihydrotic

Reduces sweating

 

Antihyperprostatic

Reduces enlargement of the prostate gland

 

Anti-implantation activity

Inhibits implantation of fertilised ovum

 

Antilithic

Reduces the formation of calculi in kidney, urinary system or joints

 

Antionchotic

Reduces swelling

 

Anti-oxidant

Protects against oxidation and free radical damage

 

Antioedematous

Reduces fluid retention by various mechanisms

 

Antiparasitic

Assists in killing or expelling parasites

 

Antiperiodic

Against fever

 

Antiphlogistic

Reduce and counter inflammation

 

Antiplatelet

Reduces platelet aggregation

 

Antipruritic

Reduces itching

 

Antipyretic

Reduces fever

 

Antirheumatic

Reduces the symptoms of rheumatism

 

Antisclerotic

Against atherosclerosis

 

Antispasmodic

Reduces cramping

 

Antitussive

Suppresses the cough reflex

 

Antiulcerogenic

Prevents and heals ulcers

 

Anxiolytic

Reduces anxiety

 

Aperient

Mildly laxative

 

Aperitive

Improves appetite & digestion

 

Aromatic

Herbs with strong odour that stimulate digestive system

 

Astringent

Causes contraction of mucous membranes and exposed tissues.

 

Balsam

A soothing and healing agent A resinous substance obtained from trees

 

Bitter tonic

Bitter herbs stimulate the digestive system via reflexes from taste buds, gastrin and vagus; improves absorption

 

Bioflavonoid

A group of compounds; widely distributed in plants, that maintain the health of small blood vessel walls

 

Calmative

Nourishes the entire body and nervous system

 

Cardio-protective

Decreases the risk of heart damage due to toxins or ischaemia

 

Cardiotonic

Increases the strength of the heart

 

Carminative

Relieves flatulence, usually by relaxing intestinal sphincter muscles

 

Cathartic

Strong laxative action

 

Cholagogue

Increases the flow of bile

 

Choleretic

Increases the production and flow of bile

 

Circulatory stimulant

Improves peripheral circulation

 

Counter-irritant

Produces a superficial inflammation of the skin. Often used to relieve a deeper inflammation by improving circulation. Used topically for inflammation and pain in muscles, ligaments and joints

 

Decoction

Water preparation where the bark, roots or other hardy or woody parts of a plant has simmered for some time, usually 15 to 30 minutes

 

Decongestant

Removes congestion of the mucous membranes

 

Demulcent

Soothes inflamed surfaces such as skin and mucous membranes.

 

Deobstruent

Loosing or removing obstructions in ducts. Could also refer to any obstruction, physical, mental or spiritual

 

Depurative

Improves detoxification of the body (by improving digestion, and the function of liver/gallbladder, kidney/bladder and/or the immune system); also known as alterative or ‘blood purifiers’

Detersive

Cleaning of wounds or ulcers

 

Diaphoretic

Promotes sweating during a fever

 

Discutient

Dispersing or absorbing of foreign or abnormal tissues

 

Diuretic

Increases urinary output and/or increases the excretion of metabolic waste products

 

Ecbolic

Aiding childbirth by increasing uterine contractions

 

Emetic

Causes vomiting

 

Emmenagogue

A herb which increases the strength and frequency of uterine contractions. Used in earlier times as a euphemism for abortifacient, eg. Pennyroyal

 

Emollient

Reduces inflammation and irritation when applied to the skin

 

Epispastic

Prevents nosebleeds

 

Expectorant

Facilitates the removal of excess mucus by various means

 

Febrifuge

See antipyretic

 

Fibrinolytic

Prevents and reduces the development of insoluble fibrin clots

 

Fluid extract

An hydro-ethanolic extract of crude herbal material with a drug solvent ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 (1 part herb to 1 or 2 parts solvent)

 

Fresh plant tinctures (FPT)

An herbal extract made from fresh rather than dried plant material, using a mixture of water and alcohol as the menstruum.

 

Galactagogue

Promotes the production or flow of breast milk

 

Galenical

The crude botanic form of a drug

 

Glycetract

An herbal extract using glycerine and water
as solvents

 

Glycetracta

Plant extracts in glycerine

 

Haemostatic

An agent which can arrest blood loss

 

Hepatic

A remedy which improves the function of the liver and normalises the flow of bile

 

Hepato-protective

Protects the liver against damage from toxins

 

Hydragogue

Causing watery discharge

 

Hypnotic

A remedy which induces sleep

 

Immunostimulant

Stimulates one or more aspects of the immune reaction, also called immuno-modulating or immune enhancing

 

Immunosuppressant

Reduces the immune response

 

Infused oil

A herbal extract using a fixed oil as the solvent

 

Infusion

Herbal tea prepared by pouring boiling water over flowers, leaves or other soft parts of a plant and leaving to steep for a short time usually in a covered vessel.

 

Intract

Fresh plant extract

 

Laxative

Promotes the evacuation of the bowels

 

Liniment

A soothing, oily, liquid preparation for rubbing on the skin

 

Lithotryptic

Dissolving stones

 

Lymphatic

A remedy which improves the flow of lymphatic fluid or increases its detoxifying properties (lymphatic drainage)

 

Maceration

An extraction method where the cut herb is soaked in a solvent for some time before draining and pressing

 

Male tonic

Normalises reproductive function in males

 

Marc

The plant material left after an herbal extract has been made

 

Mel

Honey

Menstruum

The solvent mixture used to make an herbal extract

 

Mucilaginous

Contains mucins (complex carbohydrates) that are demulcent, emollient and soothing

 

Mucolytic

Breaks up or resolves mucus

 

Mucous membrane tonic

Normalises the function and secretions of mucous membranes

 

Natriuretic

Increases the excretion of sodium

 

Nervine

Strengthens and nourishes the nervous system, usually with a relaxant effect

 

Nutritive

Supplies biologically active optimum nourishment in the form of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, carbohydrates and fats

 

Oestrogenic

Promotes the body’s production of oestrogen and/or has the ability to stimulate oestrogen receptor sites

 

Oxymel

Medicinal vinegar with added honey

 

Oxytocic

Stimulates uterine contractions

 

Parturient

Induces or assists labour, facilitates proper delivery of the placenta

 

Partus praeparator

A herb prescribed in the last trimester of pregnancy to prepare and tone the uterus for labour

 

Percolation

An extraction method whereby the solvent is allowed to filter through powdered herb material packed in a cylindrical tube (percolator)

 

Phytotherapy

Plant-therapy, modern term for scientifically validated herbal medicine

 

Protective

Lessens damage from environmental pollution

 

Purgative

Promotes a stronger evacuation of the bowels than a laxative

 

Qi, chi

Vital energy, life force, also know as prana (India)

 

Refrigerant

Lowers body temperature without inducing sweating

 

Relaxant

Eases tension and pain in body and organs – non sedative

 

Restorative

Restores normal function of the body, organ or system

 

Rhizome

Underground, fleshy stem that grows horizontally, as a food-storing organ. Rhizomes have nodes, buds and tiny leaves

 

Rubefacient

See counter-irritant

 

Sedative

Induces sleep

 

Sialagogue

A remedy which increases salivation

 

Soporific

A remedy which promotes sleep

 

Spasmolytic

See anti-spasmodic

 

Stimulant

Term used in traditional herbal medicine to mean circulatory stimulant

 

Stomachic

Improves digestion

 

Styptic

Stems external bleeding

 

Synergistic

When the combined action of two or more substances is greater than the action of the substances in isolation

 

Succus

Plant juice

Sudorific

Producing profuse perspiration

 

Thymoleptic

Improves mood, antidepressant activity

 

Tincture

An hydro-ethanolic extraction of crude herbal material, usually in the ratio of 1:5 (1 part herb extracted in 5 parts solvent)

 

Tonic

Improves the tone, vigour and function of a particular organ

 

Trophorestorative

Herb that restores function and morphology of the organ

 

Uterine tonic

Regulates the function of the uterus and the endometrium

 

Venotonic

Maintains the structure and integrity of veins and improves venous return

 

Vermifuge

Substance expelling worms

 

Visicant

Blister producing

 

Vital force

A life giving energy which permeates all living things, the energy which heals and repairs damaged tissue

 

Vulnerary

Promotes the healing of wounds