There are many words used to describe herbs and their actions on the body. The following is a guide to understanding these unique terms.

Adaptogen: a substance that invigorates or strengthens the system (also called a tonic).

Alterative: a substance that produces a gradual, beneficial change in the body.

Alkaloid: heterogeneous group of alkaline, organic, compounds containing nitrogen and usually oxygen; usually colorless and bitter-tasting; especially found in seed plants.

Analgesic: a substance that reduces or relieves pain.

Anodyne: a pain relieving agent, less potent than an anesthetic or narcotic.

Antihelmintic, Anthelmintic: a substance that expels or destroys intestinal worms (also called a vermifuge).

Antihydrotic: a substance that reduces or suppresses perspiration.

Antipyretic: an agent that reduces or prevents fever (also called a febrifuge).

Antispasmodic: an agent that relieves spasms or cramps.

Aperient: a mild and gentle-acting laxative.

Aperitif: an agent that stimulates the appetite.

Aphrodisiac: a substance that increases sexual desire or potency.

Aromatic: a substance with a strong, volatile, fragrant aroma; often with stimulant properties.

Astringent: an agent that contracts or shrinks tissues; it's used to decrease secretions or control bleeding.

Basalmic: a substance that heals or soothes.

Bitter Tonic: a substance with an acrid, astringent or disagreeable taste that stimulates flow of saliva and gastric juices.

Bolus: a suppository poultice used for vaginal or rectal application; made by mixing powdered herb material in melted cocoa butter or similar base and hand-forming suppositories as the matrix cools.

Calmative: an agent with mild sedative or hypnotic properties

Carminative: a substance that stops the formation of intestinal gas and helps expel gas that has already formed.

Catarrh: inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially of the respiratory tract.

Cathartic: a powerful agent used to relieve severe constipation (also called a purgative).

Cholegogue: an agent that stimulates secretion and release of bile (also called a choleretic).

Choleretic: an agent that stimulates secretion and release of bile (also called a cholegogue).

Concentration: the amount of material in a solution in relationship to the amount of solvent; expressed as the ratio.
For example: 1:5 concentration means that 5 parts of an extract contains the equivalent of one part of the raw herb; 4:1 concentration means that 1 part of an extract contains the equivalent of 4 parts of the raw herb.

Counterirritant: an agent that causes a distracting irritation intended to relieve another irritation.

Decoction: extract of a crude drug made by boiling or simmering (cooking) herbs in water; stronger than a tea or infusion.

Demulcent: an oily or mucilaginous substance that soothes irritated tissue, especially mucous membranes.

Deobstruent: an agent that clears obstruction from ducts of the body.

Diaphoretic: an agent, taken internally to promote sweating (also called sudorific).

Diuretic: an agent that promotes urine production and flow.

Emetic: a substance that induces vomiting.

Emmenogogue: an agent, taken internally, to promote menstrual flow.

Emollient: an externally applied agent that softens or soothes skin.

Essential Oil: any of a class of volatile oils that impart the characteristic odors to plants; used especially in perfumes, food flavorings and aromatherapy; also called volatile oil.

Expectorant: an agent that increases bronchial secretions and facilitates their expulsion through coughing, spitting or sneezing.

Extract: a concentrate, made by steeping raw plant material(s) in solvent (alcohol and/or water), after which the solvent is allowed to evaporate.

Febrifuge: an agent that reduces fever (also called an antipyretic).

Flatulence: gas in the stomach or intestines.

Fluid Extract: a liquid extract of raw plant material(s), usually of a concentration ratio of 1 part raw herb to 1 part solvent (1:1).

Fomentation: application of a warm and moist cloth, soaked in an infusion or decoction, as treatment.

Galactogogue: an agent that increases secretion of milk (synonym for lactagogue).

Galenical: herb and other vegetable drugs as distinguished from mineral or chemical remedies; crude drugs and the tinctures, decoctions, and other preparations made from them, as distinguished from the alkaloids and other active principles.

Glycoside: esters containing a sugar component (glycol) and a nonsugar (aglycone) component attached via oxygen or nitrogen bond; hydrolysis of a glycoside yields one or more sugars.

Hemostatic: an agent used to stop internal bleeding.

Hepatic: any substance that affects the liver.

Herb: plant or part of a plant used for medicinal, taste or aromatic purposes.

Humectant: a substance used to obtain a moistening effect.

Hygroscopic: a substance that readily attracts and retains water.

Infusion: tea made by steeping herb(s) in hot water.

Lactagogue: an agent that increases secretion of milk (synonym for galactogogue).

Laxative: a substance that gently promotes bowel movements.

Maceration: a process of softening tissues by soaking in liquid.

Mucilage: a gelatinous substance, containing proteins and polysaccharides, that soothes inflammation.

Mucilaginous: an agent characterized by a gummy or gelatinous consistency.

Nervine: an agent that calms nervousness, tension or excitement.

Oleoresin: homogenous mixture of resin(s) and volatile oil(s).

Pectoral: a substance that relieves ailments of the chest and lungs.

Pharmacognosy: study of the biochemistry and pharmacology of plant drugs, herbs, and spices.

Phlogistic: referring to inflammation or fever.

Poultice: soft, moist mass applied to the skin to provide heat and moisture.

Polypharmacy: combinations of medicinal plants, formulated to gain synergistic effects.

Purgative: a powerful agent used to relieve severe constipation (also called a cathartic).

Raw herb: the form of the plant, or plant parts, unchanged by processing other than separation of parts, drying or grinding.

Refrigerant: a cooling remedy; an agent relieving fever or thirst.

Resin: any of several solid or semi-solid, flammable, natural organic substances soluble in organic solvents and not water; commonly formed in plant secretions; complex chemical mixtures of acrid resins, resin alcohols, resinol, tannols, esters, and resenes.

Rubefacient: an agent, applied to the skin, causing a local irritation and redness; for relief of internal pain.

Salve: an herbal preparation mixed in oil and thickened with bees wax applied to the skin.

Saponin: any of several surfactant glycosides that produce a soapy lather; found in plants.

Sedative: a substance that reduces nervous tension; usually stronger than a calmative.

Sialogogue: an agent that stimulates secretion of saliva.

Solid Extract: an extract of plant material(s) made by removing the solvent from a fluid extract.

Soporific: a substance that induces sleep.

Stimulant: an agent that excites or quickens a process or activity of the body.

Stomachic: an agent that gives strength and tone to the stomach or stimulates the appetite by promoting digestive secretions.

Styptic: a substance that stops external bleeding (usually an astringent).

Sudorific: an agent, taken internally, to promote sweating (also called diaphoretic).

Tannin: complex mixture of polyphenols; may help tone membranes.

Terpene: any of several isomeric hydrocarbons (C10H16); most volatile oils consist primarily of terpenes.

Thoratic: remedy for a respiratory ailment.

Tincture: a solution prepared by steeping or soaking (maceration) plant materials in alcohol and water.

Tonic: a substance that invigorates or strengthens the system (also called adaptogen); tonics often act as stimulants or aleratives.

Tisane: an herbal infusion drunk as a beverage or for its mildly medicinal effect.

Vermifuge: a substance that expels or destroys intestinal worms (also called antihelmintic or anthelmintic).

Vesicant: a substance that causes blisters or sores (i.e., poison oak or ivy).

Volatile oil: odorous plant oil that evaporates readily; also called ethereal or essential oil.

Vulnerary: a substance used in the treatment or healing of wounds.