Definitions
adjuvant
: a plant added to an herbal mixture to increase the effect of the principle
alkaloids
: nitrogen containing ring compounds, secondary compounds (not primary) to a plant's life
alterative
: medicinal substance that acts gradually to nourish and improve the system
analeptic
: stimulates the central nervous system; acts as an antispasmodic and anticonvulsant; improves breathing by stimulating respiratory muscles
analgesic
: reduces, relieves or eliminates pain
anodyne
: soothes and relieves pain
anthelmintic
: expels worms in the GI tract
aqueous
: an extract obtained from a vegetable substance by steeping it in water
antibilious
: acts on the bile, relieves biliousness
anticatarrhal
: reduces formation of mucous
anticonvulsant
: suppresses the rapid and excessive firing of neurons that start a seizure
antiemetic
: prevents or alleviates nausea and vomiting
antihydrotic
: reduces or suppresses perspiration
antilithic
: reduces and suppresses formation of urinary calculi (kidney stones) by dissolution
antiphlogistic
: reduces inflammation or fever
antipyretic
: reduces or prevents fever; also called a febrifuge
antispasmodic
: relieves or prevents smooth muscle spasms
antisyphilitic
: having an effect on or curing venereal diseases
antitussive
: suppresses coughing
anxiolytic
: inhibits anxiety aperient
: having a mild laxative effect without purging; a mild bowel stimulant
basal
: forming a base
bioactive
: interaction with, or effect on, any cell tissue in the human body
carbomer
: series of polymers of acrylic acid used to thicken and smooth cosmetics; mineral derived and water soluble
carminative
: relieves gas and gas pain in the bowels
carthartic
: empties bowels as with a gentle laxative effect
cholagogue
: stimulates gallbladder contraction to promote bile flow
comedogenic
: causes acne or clogged pores; see comedogenic ratings of oils and other substances
cytotoxic
: of, relating to, or producing a toxic effect on cells
demulcent
: relieves inflammation by soothing irritated membrane
diaphoretic
: produces perspiration
dimethicone
: silicone oil; mineral derived; increases the topical absorption rate of oils cutting the greasy feeling of a product
discutient
: causes dispersal or disappearance of a pathological accumulation (tumors)
diuretic
: increases the secretion and flow of urine; reduces water retention
disodium EDTA
: chelating agent; aids in preventing rancidity caused by metals in non-purified water
emetic
: produces vomiting
emmenagogue
: induces or hastens menstrual flow; also called hemagogue
emollient
: an agent that softens or soothes the skin or an irritated internal surface
epispastic
: a substance producing blisters; also called vesicant
esculent
: edible, such as food
exanthematous
: referring to skin eruptions accompanying certain infectious diseases such as measles or scarlet fever
expectorant
: expels mucous from the respiratory tract
febrifuge
: abates and reduces fevers
glyceryl stearate
: an emulsifier
glycosides
: sugar based compounds with toxic side groups, secondary compounds (not primary) to a plant's life
Gram negative/positive
: bacteria that are identified by whether they retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol which classifies two distinctly different types of bacteria based on structural differences in their cell walls
hemostatic
: arrests bleeding or hemorrhage; usually has astringent properties
hepatic
: acting on or occurring in the liver
herb
: short for herbaceous (see definition)
herbaceous
: a type of plant having leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level; a herbaceous plant may be annual, biennial or perennial
herpatic
: treats skin eruptions relating to the herpes virus; or shingles (herpes zoster)
immunomodulatory
: having the ability to alter or regulate one or more immune functions
in vitro
: outside the living body and in an artificial environment
in vivo
: in the living body of a plant or animal
interferon-gamma
: an interferon produced by T lymphocytes and large granular lymphocytes in response to foreign macromolecules
liposomal
: a tiny bubble (vesicle), of the same material as a cell membrane, used to fill and deliver a drug
lithontriptic
: dissolving or destroying stone in the bladder or kidneys
lymphocyte
: cells found in the blood, lymph, and lymphoid tissues, constituting approximately 25 percent of white blood cells and including B cells, which function in humoral immunity, and T cells, which function in cellular immunity
maturating
: to cause a formation or discharge of puss
methylparaben
: preservative, synthetically derived; highly bio-compatible with low toxicity
nervine
: acts on the nervous system, having a soothing or calming effect
opthalmic
: pertaining to the eye
oxytocic
: stimulates contractions of uterine muscles to facilitate childbirth
parthenolide (PTL)
: an active component in Feverfew shown to have anti-tumor activity, inhibition of DNA synthesis, and inhibition of cell proliferation in different cancer cell lines
percutaneous
: any medical procedure where access to inner organs or other tissue is done via needle-puncture of the skin
phytochemical / phytonutrient
: bioactive chemical compounds
phytotherapy
: study of the use of extracts from plants as medicines or health-promoting agents
propylparaben
: preservative, synthetically derived
purgative
: loosens the stool, sometimes vigorously
resolvent
: a medicinal substance that reduces inflammation or swelling
rubefacient
: topical application that produces skin redness from dilation of the capillaries and an increase in blood circulation
sialogogue
: increases flow of saliva
sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)
: also known as NAD-dependent deacetylase, sirtuin-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SIRT1
squamous
: changing skin cells
stomachic
: improves stomach function and increases appetite
soporific
: drugs that are a class of psychoactives whose primary function is to induce sleep
styptic
: contracts tissue to seal injured blood vessels and promote coagulation
sudorific
: produces profuse perspiration
triethanolamine (TEA)
: made from ammonia and ethyl alcohol; an organic base used to neutralize carbomer; water soluble
vasodilator
: dilates blood vessels, thus reducing blood pressure
vermifuge
: expels worms
vesicant
: produces blisters; term often used in connection with large-scale chemical burns but may also include naturally occurring substances in plants such as poison ivy
vulnerary
: heals wounds by increasing cell growth and repair