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
