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