The Alternative Health Gazette

Herbal Glossary

If you’ve come across various terms when researching herbs, and don’t quite know what each one means, this introductory glossary should help. Note that we can’t begin to cover every single term you might come across, but these should be the primary ones.

Analgesic Herbs are those taken by mouth for relieving or eliminating pain. Example: White Willow.

Antibiotic Herbs are natural herbs used to fight infections. These herbs work very well to either kill or stop the growth of harmful bacteria, germs, and other organisms within your body. Example: Garlic, Goldenseal.

Anti-inflammatory herbs are used to reduce or relieve infammation. Example: White Willow.

Antiseptic Herbs are used for cleansing and sterilizing. These herbs can prevent, fight, or neutralize harmful bacteria. Example: Garlic, Thyme.

Astringent Herbs are used to shrink tissue in your body and reduce or stop discharge. Example: Black Walnut, White Oak.

Calmative Herbs are used to soothe and calm the nervous system.

Cardiac Herbs are used to make the heart stronger. Example: Myrrh, Saw Palmetto.

Cell Proliferant Herbs are those which promote fast tissue regeneration, growth, and healing. Example: Comfrey, Aloe Vera.

Digestant Herbs contain enzymes and other properties which help with food digestion. Example: Papaya, Garlic.

Diuretic Herbs are used to increase the amount of urine you pass, and reduce water retention in the body. Example: Kelp, Chaparral.

Emetic Herbs are those used to cause a person to vomit. Example: Lobelia in large doses.

Expectorant Herbs are used to force mucus to be expelled from the lungs and respiratory system.

Hemostatis Herbs are used to stop bleeding. Example: Cayenne/Capsicum.

Hepatic Herbs are used for toning, cleansing and strengthening the liver. Example: Dandelion.

Hormonal Herbs contain hormones or hormonal properties, and help the body with hormone imbalances. Example: Black Cohosh, Blessed Thistle.

Laxative Herbs are usually used as mild laxatives to make your bowels move. These herbs work by stimulating bile and scretions instead of being irritants to the bowel. Example: Safflowers/Saffron, Cascara Sagrada.

Nutritive Herbs are those that promote growth and provide nourishment. Example: Slippery Elm.

Purgative herbs are used to cause the bowels to purge quickly. These are often used in combinations with other herbs to help control the severity of the purging. Do not take purgative herbs while pregnant. Example: Buckthorn.

Relaxant and Sedative herbs are used to soothe and quiet as well as helping to calm excitement, irritation or pain. Example: Saw Palmetto.

Stimulant herbs usually create energy, or help increase activities of the body and its organs. Example: Cayenne.

Tonic herbs are used to stimulate, tone and energize the body. Example: Sage.

Statements made in this article may not be approved by the FDA, and should not be taken as professional medical advice.

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