DEFINITIONS
OF MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
OF HERBS

Alterative:  Producing  a healthful  change  without  perceptible  evacuation
Anodyne:  Relieves  pain
Anthelmintic:  An agent  which expels worms
Aperient:  Gently  laxative, without purging
Aromatic:  Stimulant, spicy
Astringent:  Causes contraction  and  arrests discharges
Antibilious:  Acts on the bile, relieving  biliousness
Antiemetic:  Stops vomiting
Antiepileptic:  Relieves  fits
Antiperiodic:  Arrests morbid  periodical  movements
Anthilitic:  Prevents the formation of calculi in the urinary  organs
Antirheumatic:  Relieves  or cures rheumatism
Antiscorbutic:  Cures or prevents scurvy
Antiseptic:  Opposed to putrefaction
Antispasmodic:  Relieves  or prevents spasms
Antisyphilitic:  Having effect on or curing venereal diseases
Carminative:  Expels wind from the bowels
Cathartic:  Evacuating to the bowels
Cephalic:  Used in diseases of the head
Cholagogue:  Increases  the flow of bile
Condiment:  Improves  flavor of food
Demulcent:  Soothing, relieves  inflammation
Deobstruent:  Removes  obstructions
Depurative:  Purifies the blood
Detergent:  Cleansing  to boils, ulcers, and wounds
Diaphoretic:  Produces  perspiration
Discutient:  Dissolves  and removes tumors
Diuretic:  Increases  the secretion  and flow of urine
Emetic:  Produces  vomiting
Emmenagogue:  Promotes  menstruation
Emollient:  Softening and soothing  to inflamed  parts
Esculent:  Eatable  as food
Exanthematous:  Remedy  for skin eruptions  and diseases
Expectorant:  Facilitates  expectoration
Febrifuge:  Abates  and reduces  fevers
Hepatic:  Remedy  for diseases  of the liver
Herpatic:  Remedy  for skin eruptions, ringworm, etc.
Laxative:  Promotes bowel action
Lithontryptic:  Dissolves  calculi  in the urinary  organs
Maturating:  Ripens  or  brings  boils, tumors, and ulcers to a head
Mucilaginous:  Soothing to inflamed  parts
Nauseant:  Produces  vomiting
Nervine:  Acts specifically  on the nervous system, allaying  nervous excitement
Opthalmicum:  A  remedy  for disease of the eye
Parturient:  Induces  and promotes  labor  at childbirth
Pectoral:  Remedy  to relieve chest affections
Refrigerant:  Cooling
Resolvent:  Dissolves and removes  tumors
Rubifacient:  Increases  circulation,  produces  red skin
Sedative:  Tonic  effect on nerves, also quieting
Sialagogue:  Increases  the secretion of saliva
Stomachic:  Strengthens  and gives tone to the stomach
Styptic:  Arrests hemorrhage  and bleeding
Sudorific:  Produces profuse perspiration
Tonic:  Remedy  which is invigorating and strengthening
Vermifuge:  Expels worms

Back to Plant Profiles